$$$$$

[Chris C]

My girlfriend asked me, on the way home from Minden, "just how much is this tiny trailer going to cost?" I've spent my life "quoting" things and my guess was "between $2,500/3,000". I don't think I've heard anyone mention what their tears cost to build. I realize that no two tears are the same, nor would their cost come out the same, but surely with as many tears as this group has built, there must be some sort of approximate cost comment from the forum. Anyone willing to share their figure?

[Cutterpup]

We just finished ours and the MVA wanted to know how much it cost to build (in order to charge us the titling fee) and to our surprise, we hadn't been keeping a running total-just receipts in a folder, it came to just about $2700.00 .

Dan & Judy

[doug hodder]

Chris, remember when we were discussing woodworking in Minden and you mentioned what your custom table chair might cost? I've got just about 2 table chairs worth into my tear, just totalled the receipts today, and I know there are still some floating around the garage....still cheaper than either one of the boats.....Doug Hodder

[gerry boucher]

Just remember you can't take it with you. If building the trailer makes you happy then do it. The memories you make are priceless. As I write this I am expecting a call from my inlaws that my wife's aunt has passed on. A lovely woman that lived with her sister and stayed at home to take care of their father and their aunt. Ages 91 and 99 when they passed away. They had all the money they could ever want or need. I am living every day like it's my last (within reason) I am thoroughly enjoying building my td. Life is way too short and we are looking up at the grass for a very long time.
Gerry

[Arne]

I think my tear cost me slightly over 2k.... but, no galley. I never added it up, I just kept buying stuff till I couldn't think of anything else to buy.... then I got an a/c..... and reading lights..... and a new vent fan.... etc.

[Marck]

The six-pack has cost me about $760 so far, but keep in mind, Frame was $20 bucks (for 2 frames) and all of the framing lumber, windows, stove, etc were all freebies.
If I was to buy everything... probably wouldv'e cost me about $2500 to $3000

[Cary Winch]

Chris,

I have to agree with Gerry on this. The biggest mistakes I see people complaining about on their tear they built are either that it is too small (build a 5' wide!) or that they cheaped out on too many things.

When in doubt make sure to buy the good quality item for the trailer not the lesser one to make the budget. You will be amazed at how much more pride you will have in the trailer if you use some nice hardware, lights, wood, wheels, windows, upholstry etc. I would set the budget about $5K and then it is a win win situation. If it actually costs that much (and it can) then you were in budget, if it costs less blow the money on its maiden voyage.

Can you do one for $2,500? Yes, you betcha. Is that exactly what you want? The best thing would be to write a wish list (a very long one) of everything you want in the trailer like you were ordering one from someone. And I don't mean just the options, your requirements for the construction too.

I bet if you post your list on this forum someone will be able to tell you pretty close how much it will cost in the end.

Cary

[doug hodder]

I think that Cary makes a very good point.....In my opinion, if you are going to undertake a project like this, and unless your plans are to turn it quickly, why not build the way you want. For me, I started building boats, so there were a lot of things that I needed to learn about boat construction, like nothing is square and everything is curved and both sides better match....A tear is different in that with the exception of the top profile, things are flat and easier to work with.....I'm sure that a lot of people think that I was out of control in my build....I built it the way I wanted, didn't cut corners on the hardware got the fenders I wanted, used the wood that I wanted.... I built it like I was going to hang on to it till they throw dirt in my face. I know that I'm a lot happier doing it this way than thinking about "what I shoulda done". that's why I ended up with 2 boats...........I think that in the long run it's not that much extra to build it the way you want. you'll probably be happier..... Just my thoughts......Doug Hodder

[Woody]

I would agree and disgree with with the costs of a teardrop. When I built mine, the first one it only cost me out of pocket about $900.00. I had amassed quite the material and hardware collection including the trailer for FREE prior to the build. So it wasn't that expensive, however, if I had bought everything then it would probally been approx. $2300.00 - 2500.00. The second one out of pocket expense was about $320.00 so far and it is about 75% done minus trailer frame. I am guesstimating approx about the same out of pocket expense as the first one in price, maybe alittle more due to it being wider. It all depends on how resourceful and imaginative one can be with finding and adapting materials I guess. I got lucky with finding or being given stuff for the builds

[madjack]

...haven't totalled it allup but somewhere in the neighborhood of 3 grand plus about $500 for shipping(shop is 3mi past nowhere) and another $500 worth of stuff we will probably never use, so by the time we finish we will have spent $4000+
madjack(too broke to buy dinner)

[cguardsman]

the way i figure the cost though is that instead of going out and buying a trailer all at once you can build a tear to your liking as you can afford to do so.....thats my story and i'm sticking to it!

[Chris C]

Oh, don't misunderstand me, I plan on building a beautiful tear. My perfectionistic nature wouldn't allow me to do otherwise. I just hadn't actually put a pencil to it and was curious. I don't plan on cutting any corners. I'm building (planning on building) a Cub/Modernistic/Modernaire in a 5 foot wide model on a 5 x 8 (or maybe 9) trailer. Haven't laid pencil to cardboard yet to look at the profile. Don't want it too large or too heavy because I'll be pulling with a Honda Accord. I've spent my life as a builder of things and can't for the life of me see how this could cost much more than $3K..............but I could be wrong.

Thanks for all the responses. Very helpful, as I'm still in the gathering information stage.

[doug hodder]

MadJack.....I held off till someone else bit the bullet... Yeah, I'm just about where you are. I built a woody, and when you get into buying marine grade plys and different type finishes, ie epoxies/automotive clear, it runs into some serious coin. Not to mention, the tools necessary to do it. there are a lot of cheaper fenders, handles, taillights etc... but I built it for the look I wanted....Don't anyone get me wrong, you can achieve a similar look for less $$, but this is the course I took.....boat building experience......Doug Hodder

[madjack]

...Doug, definetly could have built cheaper, didn't use marine ply but did use 14ply cabinet grade ply throughout, also went with the more expensive type of fenders, led lights and other stuff. You get what ya pay for fer sure.
So to all of you out there, build what you want, if it takes a month or a year, just make it yours and remember if you use really cheap sh** for your trailer that is what you will end up with
madjack(still broke but smilin')

[SteveH]

I quit counting at about 3 thousand!