New Mexico Newbie

[Dave Lackie]

Greetings from the Land of Enchantment,

Have been reading for several months and am intrigued. I have never seen a Teardrop but the concept is great, having had a couple vans in the "hippie trippie" days. Any suggestions on seeing a real teardrop trailer fairly local?

I saw the posts on the T@B along with the movie. This on some levels looks very inviting as it is a bit taller. Can anyone speak to build and overall quality of this unit and share other pros and cons, please. There is a dealer in Sante Fe and I plan on seeing one this week.

Other plan is to get the Steve F build manual and go from there, am fairly woodworking literate.

Dave

[bobhenry]

We need another builder ! Tool are minimal and slightly above average woodworking skills are all that is needed. Half of the fun at gatherings is showing of that one original idea that you made work. Build the box on a frame of choice and camp a few times. The ideas and embellishments will come one or two at a time. Its like when you learned to walk the first step is the hardest.

[Mike C.]

Hi Dave,

Welcome to the forum. There are as many ways to build as there are members on the forum. It's all in YOUR head. To get ideas on what some others have done, you might check out the " Hall of Fame", which is located at the top left of each page. Those were some ideas that came out of other people's heads. Some follow the plans meticulously and some followed them loosely, adding their own little changes that make them unique for their needs. Anyway you go, you can't do it wrong, if you are happy and can camp in it. Whatever you decide to do, be sure and post pictures, so we can keep up with your progress.

See you around.

[Miriam C.]

To the playground Dave. Now what you really don't need is "slightly above average" building skills. I built mine and if I can do it most people can. Truth is I had hung paneling, painted and fixed a bunch of stuff. All those pieces come together to make a nice TTT. We love it.

Now if you have some building skills, toss them out or you will build a tank hauler.

Pictures are the currency of choice for advice here so take lots and show often. Keeps the bubble oil level.

[H@nk]

Hi Dave,

Hopefuly I can tell you something about the T@B.
I'm from the Netherlands, at the other side of the ocean, neighbour of Germany. I have been in several T@Bs and have to say, its German. Like Mercedes, BMW and Audi. Built very well, for the long time.Its a small and cozy trailer (RV) , when you have the Off Road version, there will be enough Kilo's you can take with you. The normal T@B has an own (empty) weight of 550 KG and an overall weight of 750KG. Here in Europe it is the same as in your country, everything has to be bigger and bigger, so when you see the T@B, its quite diferent.
When you have more questions, just ask

Greetings and welcome,

[Bill Fernandez]

welcome to the crazy house i hope you have a lot of money because it keeps going out.

[mandy]

Hi there Dave,
It's good to see some one from the Land of Entrapment. I have only seen 1 TD here in ABQ. It looks like some one's building a cubbie it's only part way done and sitting in their drive way. I drive by there so many times I'm sure they probably think I'm stocking them.

It on Carisle inbetween Lomas and Central, it's on the west side of the street.

Have fun
Mandy

[Dave Lackie]

Mandy,

It is amazing that there is actually someone else in Abq interested it a teardrop. Been to look at the T@B in Sante FE? They have several.

Nice to know there is a build going on, perhaps we should get together and knock on their door. See if they are truly a "teardroper " and friendly to the rest of us or a rogue.

I have never seen a real teardrop and want to before I start a build. Just recved the manual from Steve F. Haven't had a chance to read yet and need to get it printed as I don't care to read 255 pages from a computer. looks like it will be a challenge but not impossible.

dave

[NutmegJoe]

Dave... I too used Steve's Manual. My teardrop was the first real building of anything I have done. I had a great time working on it and now I have even more fun camping in it! I finished it last April and put about 8,000 miles and 32 nights on it last summer. If you ever make it up to Colorado there are lots of us around. Stop by for a visit!

[coreyjhen]

Hi there Dave,
It's good to see some one from the Land of Entrapment. I have only seen 1 TD here in ABQ. It looks like some one's building a cubbie it's only part way done and sitting in their drive way. I drive by there so many times I'm sure they probably think I'm stocking them.

It on Carisle inbetween Lomas and Central, it's on the west side of the street.

Have fun
Mandy

That's me! I tried to post yesterday, but I guess it didn't take. The construction will resume when the weather gets better. Stop by and we can discuss things! I'll PM both of you and give you my phone number.

[mandy]

No way this is just too cool I have been dying to go take a closer look of your TD but I never got up the nerve to ask.

Thanks for the invite I'm gonna have to take ya up on that.

Laters,
Mandy

[Roly Nelson]

Hi Dave, welcome to the forum, where you can get all of the trailer building information you want. A T&B isn't a teardrop, since you can stand in it and has no galley under a rear hatch lid. Nevertheless, they seem to be a well built rig and if you've got the bucks, about 12 grand will put one in your driveway. However, if you only want to spend about 1/4 of that amount, you can enjoy all of the numerous benefits of selecting a TD profile, building that one-of-a-kind camping trailer, and joining in with others the many others that enjoy similar interests.

There is a big difference to have the pride of accomplishment of having built your own teardrop trailer compared to going out and buying an expensive much larger trailer. Different strokes for different folks. I suggest you check out the friendly TDers in your area, and forget about ever meeting a "rogue" in the teardrop community. These are the friendliest folks you will ever meet. Good luck on your plans, what ever they may be.

Roly

[Dave Lackie]

Hi there Dave,
It's good to see some one from the Land of Entrapment. I have only seen 1 TD here in ABQ. It looks like some one's building a cubbie it's only part way done and sitting in their drive way. I drive by there so many times I'm sure they probably think I'm stocking them.

It on Carisle inbetween Lomas and Central, it's on the west side of the street.

Have fun
Mandy

That's me! I tried to post yesterday, but I guess it didn't take. The construction will resume when the weather gets better. Stop by and we can discuss things! I'll PM both of you and give you my phone number.

Boy- ya gotta love the internet for getting folks in touch and of course mike for supplying the forum. this is really great thanks for the invite, we should try and set a time where the 3 of us can meet.

dave