BUY OR BUILD?

[Rob]

I was talking to a friend who is considering a teardrop. He has seen ours and likes the idea of small on the outside, but roomy on the inside. I'm also trying to convince him to visit the Dam Gathering. Anyway, I was telling him about this odd collection of souls at the T&TTT and got to thinking yeah, I know that is a bad thing when I'm thinking. Anyway, how many builders/renovators do we have here versus how many buyers. Since I doubt we'll get everyone to pitch in on this, does anyone want to venture a guess?

[Podunkfla]

Both...

[Jst83]

I bought the stuff to build with

OK maybe I didn't buy all the stuff

Really I'm building because I like the personal feeling of having a one of a kind

[Miriam C.]

Ha! You think we are an odd bunch of souls huh. I'm building because I am too cheap to buy and thought it would be cheaper. And it still might be if I quit thinking.

[The Teardrop Nanny]

Dear Rob,

I'll go with the beg, borrow or steal category.........

[Steve_Cox]

I didn't have any choice the "voices" kept telling me to build a teardrop.

[Jst83]

Ha! You think we are an odd bunch of souls huh. I'm building because I am too cheap to buy and thought it would be cheaper. And it still might be if I quit thinking.

I'd have to second that, I thought it would be cheaper. I'd hate to think of what I've got in it. I started keeping track of $ but as it grew I thought I'd give that up and just enjoy. Because it's unique it will be worth everything I put into it.

[SmokeyBob]

I built mine cause I didn't have the to buy one.

[Arne]

I built mine... and with what I learned, I am building no. 2..

If I was new to this, had the money, and found something used that really fit my needs, I would have no qualms about buying it.

It takes a lot of time, and if you have to build a second one to get it right (like me), the cost gets up there as well.. there are several brands on the market that people seem quite happy with.. and they are camping while I am building...

[madjack]

I built mine... and with what I learned, I am building no. 2..

If I was new to this, had the money, and found something used that really fit my needs, I would have no qualms about buying it.

It takes a lot of time, and if you have to build a second one to get it right (like me), the cost gets up there as well.. there are several brands on the market that people seem quite happy with.. and they are camping while I am building...

Arne, you bring up a very valid point...at present there are several VERY nice tears for sale on this board...they are priced at what a top shelf tear would cost to build and would be a very good option for someone to buy and find out what they may or may not like inna tear for a future build...of course then you miss the joy/experience of gorilla glue in your hair and clothes, mistakes with routers/saws/sander, the fact that teardrop time is much slower than anticipated, just how incomplete/needy the stock and emplyees of the box stores are and all the rest of fun things that come along with "rolling" your own...
madjack

[doug hodder]

I'm too much of a Scotsman (cheap) to buy one, did buy a tent trailer once, but for me, I've found an immense amount of satisfaction in knowing that I built my own, keeps me out of trouble, I learn new things all the time, and sharpen up on a lot of skills that I can apply to projects down the road...Doug

[bledsoe3]

I thought it would be cool to build it my self. As I got into it I found out I didn't have the time, patience, space, tools or skills to do it myself. But it was too late then. I also got that look from my wife too.

[asianflava]

My wife says that I have this "urge to build things". We found ourselves looking at campers that didn't fit our needs (too heavy for our tow vehicle) so I decided to build.

[Ron Dickey]

I only saw one way.

but if you buy get one that you can change inside to suit our needs other wise you may not have what you really wanted which is what you might have more so if you build.

if you buy you can sell it if you are not happy and start again or build now that you know what was missing.

Ron D.

[bobhenry]

Too Cheap !

I wanted to invest on the installment plan. A piece here and there , a found bargain, Here and there a freebie. It's a hobby not a job enjoy it.

Started my 5'6" x 11 Sunday 4/15 . Don't fall on the floor laughing . A friend gave me 2 dock handrails made of 2 1/2" light gauge square tubing
with just the tongue and axle set off of a 4x8 HF trailer it now rolls and is stuck together. One of my boys is a production welder he has volenteered to clean up my spot and stick welds. I know pictures pictures~~~ I'm still of the 35mm generation have to finish the roll and scan them later.
BUT IT LOOKS GOOD AND DEAD DIE FLAT SIDE TO SIDE!!