Greetings From Englandshire!

[pbeardsley]

Hi everybody!
Pete is the name and as part of my ongoing mid-life crisis I am having ideas about building a teardrop trailer to visit the folk festivals around the UK. The older I get, the less I like canvas. Awakening at the foot of Mount Snowdon last spring with an icicle on the end of my nose and no feeling in my feet was the last straw! A little more comfort is called for.
I discovered teardrops a few years ago and thought they were cute but nothing special. But now, the more I look into them, the more I think they are just incredible. Fantastic use of space, minimal outlay and you can take them just about anywhere. I just have to get me one of those! I need to learn everything I can about them, so here I am.
I have no idea how this deal will turn out long term. Cashflow, skillset and drive and determination are all unknown variables at the moment, but the enthusiasm is definitely on a high right now. I have a fair aptitude for woodworking, but have never tackled anything this ambitious before and I have a fairly decent set of woodworking tools. Metalworking, I can get by, rather than am good at but I have cutting and welding equipment, though I am currently leaning towards the Wilstow trailer chassis route (similar to the American Harbour Freight chassis I think). I figure if I make a start in the next few weeks, I may be lucky and be able to use it for the last couple of festivals in the Autumn (fall). Optimistic? Who knows. And if I finish it before spring 2014 I can sidestep the "dreaded" IVA test too!
Anyhoo, enough waffle from me. Thanks for letting me join in the forums and I will doubtless ask a huge amount of schoolboy questions when I fail to find what I am looking for in this, frankly mahoosive* forum!

Cheers!
Pete


* Mahoosive: Both massive and huge.

[Woodbutcher]

Welcome Pete. When you need some inspiration go back and read your first paragraph, it should spark you to "get er done". Cold feet and Icicles are big motivators. Post pictures as you go and ask as many questions as you need.

[AlgoDan]

Hello and welcome aboard Pete. If you do lots of reading here and check on designs, you may come up with a simple build. Yes ask plenty of questions from the good people of this forum..Cheers

[pchast]

Welcome. I found hours of instructive reading here and good active advise.

[Vedette]

Yes Pete
There is a massive amount of information here on the forum.
If you get bogged down with long threads on any subject.
Just ask a question.
The only thing Forum Members like more than answering questions is looking at pictures!
Good Luck with your build!
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

[pbeardsley]

Thanks for the warm welcome guys, I'm feeling at home already.

It is quite refreshing to hear everyone say "ask away" as a lot of forums do the reverse and say "use the search function!" which I do try to do, but heck, this is one big forum.

I feel as if I am in limbo a bit at the moment, as I am itching to get started, but practicalities mean it will be a few weeks at least before I can do so and I have to content myself with learning as much as I can.

[Gladtobehere]

Welcome, Pete.

I am also pretty new at the forum, but i thought I would start by asking you a question. To help break the ice.

"What will you be towing your future castle with?". I am currently investigating a bigger trailer and I am finding that there is a ton of stuff to learn about safe towing.

[pbeardsley]

Hi Gladtobehere,

Yes, towing is a whole different kettle of fish! This is another big plus point for the TD in that you don't need a powerful car to tow with.
I am currently driving a 2009 Mercedes C220D which should be up to the job. How about yourself? And what trailer are you looking at?

[Gladtobehere]

Your Mercedes should be way ahead of me on the towing capacity.

I am dreaming about http://www.safaricondo.com/alto1713/indexeng.php.

Currently I have a very small car (Toyota, Matrix) and teardrop, but we are getting by. My dream trailer(see link) is somewhat of a retirement plan/scheme/dream, but with pushbutton settup and possible sleeping for 4 ...... COMFORTABLY!.... What can I say the Alto is beautiful and big bucks...........But I can't take it ($$$) with me, UNLESS I have a trailer. :-)

[pbeardsley]

OOh I don't know. The Matrix specs look pretty impressive to me, especially if you have the AWD option.
I can see where you are coming from with the Alto, a truly beautiful piece of kit, but I am not even going to look at the price tag! I want comfort, but not that much!

[Vindi_andy]

Pete,

Welcome to the forum.

You have reached the first stage of your adiction problem by admitting you have an addiction Trust me these things are addictive. If you dont have a full blown addiction to them yet you soon will have.

I started like you, it was just a Look around to see if I could find an alternative to the tent for going to Kitcar shows, it is going to be towed by my Kit so needs to be fairly lightweight and now Im hooked.

Depending on where in Notts you are you welcome to come and have a nose around my part built and have a cuppa and a chat.

[jackdaw]

Welcome to the Forum from another addicted Brit on the board Pete

We've taken our trailers to Fairport's Croprdy Festival for the last few years, and done Womad a few times too. Teardrops are like campings best kept secret...So many people have never seen one close up before. I hope you're ready for the attention you'll be getting

All the best, Dave