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Teardrop Campers
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Posted by scryn (My Page) on Thu, May 26, 05 at 9:16
Hi, I am new here. My husband and I were pondering buying a small camper. We were thinking about a teardrop camper. Anyone have one of these? Do you like it? We have a 6c subaru outback so I think we can pull a camper of that size with no problem.
We just want something we can drive around with and visit different parts of the USA in. I have never been to any of the parks, we are stuck here in NY and they are pretty far away! I would prefer my own bathroom, but those campers are large and expensive.
We also have a dog and want to be able to bring him with us, which is way we are thinking about buying a camper rather than staying in hotels and B&B's like we used too. I like to be near water also and would hopefully be able to buy a little kayak or something to bring along also.
Also the bed bug hotel thing in the news grossed us out the other day so now I just can't think of staying in a hotel. I mean it creeped me out before, but now it TOTALLY creeps me out!! eeeeewwww!
thanks!
-renee |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Teardrop Campers
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| I've been out of the loop in the backwoods of Maine. What bed bug thing about hotels? Can you post a link? I don't know anything about the type of trailer you are considering. We have a popup that we use when we are not tent camping. They do make some very small tent trailers that open up to a comfortable size for two people and a dog. I just don't know about the towing end of it. We keep a porta potty in the popup and that works fine for us! Good luck! |
RE: Teardrop Campers
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| read if you dare! http://www.cnn.com/2005/TRAVEL/05/12/bt.hotel.bed.bugs.reut/index.html they also covered it on our local news.
Mmm ya, I forgot that some popups can be towed. I always think of the ones you put on trucks.
-renee |
RE: Teardrop Campers
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| scryn - there are some small popup campers that you should be able to tow with your vehicle. And I should think these small tent trailers would be even less weight than the Teardrop trailer you referenced to. PLUS, when the tent trailer was opened up, you would have lots more room! AND ... you would even be able to stand up (not sure what the interior height would be for that Teardrop). One other point to consider ... a porta-potti could also be used with the popup camper if "push came to shove". Dale |
RE: Teardrop Campers
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There is a web-site named Teardrop campers! they have pictures and plans to buy, showing you how to build your own, and also a section on trailers for sale!
As a previous poster said, there are limitations on sleeping area, and you can't stand up inside! The dog would probably have to sleep outside, under the trailer.
A former employer had one. It had a kitchen in back, with a lift up door. Everything was right at hand, with a small water tank, and a sink. You stood out there under a tarp, and the lid, to cook! He also had a tent-like affair that hooked over one side door, where one could step out side to get dressed! (Try getting into your clothes while lying on your bed at home, and looking great when you come downstairs, without arranging the mess first!)
He and i went on a fishing trip to Canada, and towed it with a 1949 Mercury station wagon! but, it can be towed with a 6 cylinder, but a 4 cylinder might not be enough to tow it!
A Porta-potty could be used in a separate canvas thing with a wrap-around type of set-up. But, just camp within walking distance of the shower/ toilet rooms, its lots less messy than having yer hubby carry a big plastic box full of last nights bowel movements a hundred yards to the dump station or the real toilet! Ask me how i know!! (Everybody watches-hoping the think will break or spring a big leak! And, hubby has to smile sweetly as he walks along!)
I think, if you HAVE to bring a dog, a tent trailer would be much better! That way, if and when your dog barks all night, or howls all night, you will be able to enjoy the swearanade, not being shut up in a hard side trailer!
Believe me, i have seen and done it all! So, take my advice-forget the tear-drop trailer, unless you want to look like a fugitive from the "rag-bag", with your rumpled clothes, and from lack of sleep, because, if yer dog barks all night, the neighbors will throw rocks at yer trailer, causing big BOOMS inside ,and getting you out to enjoy the serenade!
by: Rustyj
P.S. Rocks don't make much noise when hitting a tent! |
RE: Teardrop Campers
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| if you or your hubby is ambitious & a good builder you may consider making your own teardrop camper. here are the plans from the 1947 mechanix illustrated article. download the plans for free. you can find people selling these plans on the internet for $60. some of the revised plans call for using a premade trailer from harbor freight & building upon it. it's a good idea since they are fairly cheap at about $229 for the 4'x8' haulmaster trailer which comes complete with DOT certified lights, fenders & wiring harness. teardrops are great little campers. nice to sleep in a cosy little camper & cook in your own little kitchen. good luck & happy camping! |
Here is a link that might be useful: teardrop camper plans
RE: Teardrop Campers/ covered wagon
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My cousin built a neat covered wagon type of tent trailer, and used it for many years! It was a light-weight thing, and looked really neat when set up!
It was just a big rectangular box, about 4x8 or 5x10. The beds slid out on each side, then the ends were stood up, and a cross brace installed from front to back, which hooked into slotted clips on the end panels. There were also spacer pipes down the sides, under the canvas, from front to back end panels, to keep things tight. (I think 2-3 on each side.) A bit of ingenuity will keep things together, like the clips that hold yer mower deck onto yer tractor!
Pieces of pipe held up each end of the sliding bed boxes. One end had a screened window, and the other end had a screened door. The end pieces had "wings" that folded outward to match the bed ends.
Then, a white canvas cover was thrown over the top, and pulled tight with a draw-string, on each end, and the end tied off to a cleat! When the trailer was folded up, the canvas cover was used to cover it for towing!
When they set it up in a camp-ground, it was the talk of the camp! They had lots of room for sleeping. they towed it with a light pickup truck.
I don't know if they had plans for it, or if he just designed it and built it! Maybe somebody knows if plans are available!
by:Rustyj |
RE: Teardrop Campers
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My husband is excellent at building things...when he gets to it!
(you know after our tiling in the bathroom, and the molding in the bedroom and the list goes on and on!)
-renee |
RE: Teardrop Campers
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Hi..my usband has just about finished building our teardrop. he made it a little bit bigger than the satndard 4' x 8' that you see around. It fits a queen size mattress in side along with plenty of storage. The kitchen has hot water, a refrigerator, a propane camping stove, counterspace and a microwave. The only thing missing is a bathroom. I wanted somethoing that required no set up, so if we pulled into the campgrounds on a rainy night I could hit the bath house than go to bed. I've included a link you might find helpful.
Judy |
Here is a link that might be useful: teardrops
RE: Teardrop Campers
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| This is a bit late but my partner and I have enjoyed our teardrop that we purchased a few months ago. I love the idea that we're the smallest camper at each park and we get lots of attention when we pull in. The bed is quite comfortable; a queen size bed that holds the both of us and our small dog without squashing. The galley has lots of storage (as does the inside of the teardrop); I like the idea of simple camping. Most parks have bathroom/shower facilities in addition to electricity/water connections at each campsite. The link that Judy provided has a bunch of fine folks, very eager to help those who wish to build their own (we purchased ours from a fellow who had built it and was interested in making a SMALLER one for himself!) We're looking forward to getting together with other teardrop owners at functions held in different state parks. We pull the teardrop behind a four-cylinder Toyota Tacoma. Most of the teardrops only weigh between 600 - 1200 pounds and when I'm driving, I don't notice the "Pickle Palace" (the current name of ours) pulling in the least. Gail |
RE: Teardrop Campers
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| I see on eBay there's a Dutchman "TAB" teardrop trailer open for bid; (item #4588825213) That bugger looks like it's high enough to stand up in. Dale |
RE: Teardrop Campers
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| Yes, one can stand up in a T@B trailer. Last time we were camping, there were two T@B trailers present. The main reason these folks purchased them was to have something to stand up inside of. Gail |
RE: Teardrop Campers
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| Hi, I've been traveling around the country with my teardrop trailer for about 8 years now, approximately 20000 miles. I like to go to gatherings with other teardroppers. Up here in the North East the gatherings are small, about 6 trailers, but the people have all become good friends. The International Teardrop Gathering was last June in Nebraska and had over 100 teardrops. That was great fun. Teardrops are really easy to build or you can find plenty on ebay. I have a website where I post stories about teardrop, and other technical information about them. There is also a teardrop webring with numerous teardrop websites. There is plenty of information to be seen. One way of deciding if you like a teardrop is to find a gathering so you can see the trailers. There is going to be a huge gathering sponsored by the Southern California Touring Teardrops in March. They expect over 200 teardrops. Good luck searching,
John B. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Teardrop Trailer Information Site
RE: Teardrop Campers
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| Went to the Myrtle Beach (South Carolina) get together last weekend. It was fun! Seven trailers; lots of fun talking about the NEXT one to build. I learned a valuable lesson...in the morning the MEN cook while the ladies sleep in. I've been doing this all wrong! Looking forward to the North/South gathering in August, 2006. It sounds like there may be a good turnout. Gail |
RE: Teardrop Campers
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Hi to everyone. Please check out www.teardropcustoms.com
The site is for everyone interested in teardrops. Buy, sell, or advertise your products and services. Thanks and I hope to see you on the site! |
Here is a link that might be useful: Tear Drop Customs
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