Archive for July, 2010

General information from teardroptribune.com

Welcome from Chris Baum

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

Hi again….it’s Chris Baum here hoping that you are enjoying your summer and are able to get out camping.  It’s been pretty hot this summer and sales of Little Guys are just the same.  Our factory is producing more trailers than ever before in our 8 year history!

We have been able to make many new friends over this first 6 months of this year and look forward to making your acquaintance too!  Please share a picture or story about yours with us and we’ll send you a small gift.

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Happy Trails…

Featured Customer: Wayne Rogers

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

This issue’s featured customer is Wayne Rogers – below you will find some of his comments and adventures with his new custom 6×10 RT.

It is almost 800 miles from Ipswich, Mass to Sugar Creek.  That went fine and the accommodations were superb. I was so glad that we picked the trailer up at the factory. The questions that we had were corrected quickly by your people. When we left the factory and arrived at the corporate offices in Massillon I wanted to shop the options in the display case but the wife wanted to move on.  She got antsy wanting to reach our camp site early so I had no time to shop.

I had made reservations at camp ground on lake Ontario in NY for Friday night. As it worked out it was a really nice site right on the water. Now I know that you do not have an appreciation for my wife’s phobias. My wife has every phobia that you can think of. You name it she is afraid of it! Well….. when you were describing the integrity of the trailers cabin you told us jokingly that “It is so tight that you need to keep the windows open in order to breath”. This is not a good thing to tell my wife. She took this as littoral. When we camped that night in upstate NY she insisted that all the windows be open because we need to breath. In the middle of the night, about 2 or 3 AM she was awakened by the nose of a local bear pressed to her side screen 5 inches from her nose! I was awakened by her screams. The bear left after 20 to 30 seconds of her screaming. It was a moment that we will both remember for a long time! Nice first night! We still laugh about it.

Now for some first impressions. The trailer pulls effortlessly. It was like there was nothing behind me, no wind buffeting, no effects at all. When we arrived at the site everything went easy we pulled in, plugged in and went to sleep! During the drive starting in Sugar Creek  it took me a few miles to find a happy spot for fuel mileage. On the trip back I split the driving miles almost 50/50. I drove 390 miles on Friday and 385 on Saturday. On Friday because of the late start I found it necessary to push the speed limits. I was doing 80 to 85 MPH on the way to our NY camp site. The Jeep normally gets 20 +-.5 MPG. On Friday at 80 to 85 MPH the fuel mileage dropped to less than 16 MPG! On Saturday I laid back to around 60 to 65 MPH and got 20.8 MPG!!! WOW! Once I found the Jeeps sweet spot the MPG was predictable. The R/T does not seem to burden the drive at all. In NY on the NY thruway there were some terrible rains and winds. All traffic stopped many times for 10 minutes at a time with nothing at all moving! The R/T showed no bad manners in the terrible weather and NO LEAKS. All in all we are very happy.

A final note; You were correct. I got many, yes many inquiries about the R/T along the way. Before we left Ohio I was asked if it was made in Ohio and I said “Yes in Sugar Creek” The reply was “ Where the hell is Sugar Creek”?

Teardrop Stories: Bob’s Teardrop

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

This story was contributed by Dr. Sharon and Bob Richart from Parish, FL.  We found it to be so liberating, that no matter your RV, teardrop or fifth wheeler, the spirit of adventure lives on and must be shared.  Without further adieu…

The Inspiration

It all started back in September of 2000 when I was living in Torrance, CA. I was looking for plans to build a camper for my Nissan pickup so I could be a little more comfortable while I explored the natural wonders of sunny southern California. After a short search on the Internet with little results, I thought I would take a look for camping trailer plans. It was during that search that I saw my first teardrop. I was intrigued by the compact size and functionality of the teardrop design. After spending the entire night starring at my computer and looking at hundreds of photos I decided that I would indeed build a teardrop.

Searching for Plans

Now that the decision was made all I needed was suitable plans to begin construction. I bought a $60 set of plans for a KIT replica I found online and anxiously awaited their arrival. Disappointed by what I got, I found myself creating my own design by combining the back half of the KIT profile with the chassis design of Larry Sorensen’s Outback Teardrop. Builders today have a much wider selection including some excellent plans from Kevin Hauser at Kuffel Creek.

Construction

I set out ordering axles, wheels, lights, metal, wood and everything else needed to complete my teardrop and waited for the materials to arrive. With every intention of documenting my project like Larry did, I began to build the trailer on my patio and moved to the shared garage of my townhouse once the chassis was complete. As the work progressed, I found myself less intent on the documentation than on the completion of the project (sound familiar to anyone out there). With lots of help and encouragement from Larry, Grant Whipp, and countless others on the discussion board, my completed teardrop rolled out of the garage in time for the Southern California Touring Teardrops Gathering held at Sweetwater County Park in March of 2001.

I have included photos of the original construction and ongoing modifications on the Construction page.

Epilogue

The experience and satisfaction of building and using this little trailer has been priceless. From the challenges of construction to the adventures I have had, I do not regret for one second the decision I made.

To all of my friends in the teardrop community I say thank you and may you always enjoy your teardrop time!

I gave this trailer to my youngest son John in the spring of 2009.

Campfire Chatter: Teardrops and Tiny Trailers

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

This month features the classic book: Teardrops and Tiny Trailers

Buckle up as Douglas Keister takes you for a decidedly retro ride in the world of diminutive travel trailers in Teardrops and Tiny Trailers.

The demand for vintage trailers-the smaller the better-has risen dramatically in recent years, with the most in-demand trailers being “teardrops,” first manufactured in the 1930s and containing just indoor sleeping space and an outdoor exterior kitchen.

For more information, or to purchase, please visit the:

http://www.teardropshop.net/best-sellers/teardrops-and-tiny-trailers-book

Until August 15, 2010, get $10 off of any purchase of $50 or more  from the Teardrop Shop when you use the discount coupon code: 10OFF

Dutch Oven: Recipes for the Campsite- Pizza

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

How about surprising your family with pizza while camping? I used a pre-made pizza crust that comes in a tube. When going camping, that is a lot easier than taking flour and the other ingredients to make pizza dough. Remember, any type of pizza that you can make at home, you can make in a Dutch Oven!

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Dutch Oven Pizza

Vegetable oil
Tube of pre-made pizza crust
Small can of tomato sauce
Shredded mozzarella cheese
Grated cheddar cheese
Garlic powder
Salt and Pepper to taste
Sliced onions
Pepperoni Slices

Ask Gus

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

Jarrod (Santa Fe, NM) – Do you think the Rascal does better with 12” or 13” tires?

Funny you ask, Jarrod…

I’m not sure if I met you in my travels or not, but I have had both sized tires.  Originally, in ’05 the Rascal had 12” tires on it.  As far I knew, it was normal, but I did notice it was a little bumpy.  In ’06 I had my Rascal overhauled and upgraded to 13” – while it looked much larger, it also towed much smoother.  I know the company dropped 12” tires right around that same time.  In a car or on a cycle, the same holds true…

Yours,

Gus