New dad near Cleveland seeks time outdoors with family

[Wacholez]

Hello,

Good morning. I type this with one hand while my one week old sleeps on my chest. I live in northern Ohio and want to build a teardrop for several reasons:

- They are cool as heck
- It'll be cheaper than buying a new one
- It is a great investment which we will use as a gateway for our daughter to interact with the natural world. (This is the biggest reason/driving force.)

I've built things in the past but never anything to this scale. I'm thinking about buying the bigwoodycampers.com plans for my first build. If this goes well I am sure I will build another one. A bigger one with all bells and whistles as our family grows.

A little about me:

Married last October
Baby girl born last week on Friday the 13th
I consider myself a renaissance man (beer brewer, saxophonist, artist [paper, pastels, paint, photoshop, photographer], gardener, cook)
I bike and love reading and sci-fi
and I currently am happy as a lark (great job, wife, baby, dog, and huge leather chair)

So, hello, I am Wacholez ('wah-cho-lez'), it is nice to meet you.

[DriverOne]

Hello, Wacholez! You seem to enjoy many of the good things in life. I'm sure the teardrop will only add to your list. Welcome, and I look forward to seeing your ambitions become a reality! Let the build thread begin!

[Junkboy999]

Hey Wacholez

Welcome, Hey check out some of the other Noobie post that have posted the last few month. I believe at least three have posted that they are looking for ideal for at least 3 people sleepers. The experienced builders have posted link to threads that have good ideal for them to follow. With your child still young, she can go in a bunk sideways.

Good luck and welcome again

Terry
Junkboy999

[GerryS]

Welcome to our little group of travelers. Glad to new you.

Camping is a wonderful family building experience, after just getting my raindrop this June, we've already been out just about every weekend, and the reward in time spent just slowing down for a day pays off well during the rest of he time. You're not making a bad decision to do this now with a your family

Make sure you find out where the next "gathering" is near you and go, even of you don't have a drop yet...you'll me a lot of great people. As a bonus, you can see what you like and talk to people who have already made mistakes, hopefully saving you time and a few greenbacks...

[Woodbutcher]

Welcome, you came to the right place. All the info and help you need is right here. I built my first back in 2006 with just what I learned here. Today I will finish the wiring on my third trailer. So be careful they do multiply! Have fun, it is a great way to travel! Your little one will thank you for the experience when grown up.

[Oldragbaggers]

Welcome Wacholez, we are happy that you found us. You are right on, teardrops are cool as heck and building one is a real blast. Congratulations on your marriage and new baby. You sound like a man who knows he's blessed. That's a great thing.

You are giving your daughter a priceless gift, and hopefully launching her into a life filled with adventure. You know what they say about the family that plays together. It's not only good for the family, it's good for the soul. Good for you!!

Looking forward to your build thread.

[Forrest747]

Good luck and have fun.
Go Buckeyes!
I built mine with the option for a little loft to have my girls sleep in the trailer. THe boys can be the bear food.
Plans are great but i have found that there is alot more information and ways to skin a cat (trailer) here, than on plans.

[GerryS]

They aren't cheap but don't forget to look at campinn (tinycamper.com)

The Raindrop 560 Has a great bunk bed arrangement. I'd be happy to show you mine, but northern Ohio is outside of my normal travels.

It's possible you'd see one at a gathering....

Check out their forums too, you might find a local owner.

[WhitneyK]

Welcome Wacholez

A good way to get ideas is to visit a gathering. Check out the Midwest section on the board index or possibly http://www.tearjerkers.net for a gathering near you. Also, if you don't mind, put your city & state on your profile and there may just be a few of "the family" that are near you that you could check out.

Good luck on your build (which ever design you choose) and remember, we like pics (it's worth a thousand words ya' know)

If you have questions, I'm sure it's on here, can't find it, just ask. We've all made mistakes and been confused in different ways. I prefer to learn by "others" mistakes and make less of my own (doesn't always work out that way).