my faithful pal rusty and i packed up the new teardrop over the weekend and drove to missouri.

on friday night we stayed at onondaga cave state park in leasburg, missouri. the high for friday was 55 and the low was 26. we didn't do much upon arrival other than walk around the campground and start our fire. we were one of four campers there on friday. i ended up using a small ceramic heater with a thermostat at night. i started off not using it, but i woke up at one point at my poor dog was shivering, so i turned it on. we were out of the park by 8:00 saturday morning and spent the day driving thru the mark twain national forest. the element towed the teardrop just fine and we traveled up and down several hills and around sharp turns. we arrived at the trail of tears state park in jackson, missouri around 3:00. we were one of three campers on saturday. the high for saturday was 58 and the low was 22. i once again used the heater on saturday night. i slept with the roof vent open both nights and i ended up cracking one window saturday night because i was getting a little warm.

sleeping in the trailer was comfortable, however i definitely need to add some padding to the mattress some how. of course, i totally forgot to pack a pillow so i had to use a balled up sweatshirt to sleep on! other than the pillow, i didn't forget anything major.

i need to construct some sort of small shelf to place the heater. i didn't feel comfortable placing it on the floor in fear of knocking it over. aside from that i don't foresee any major mods needed.

i had one couple stop and ask about the trailer and several other vehicles drive by slowly to check it out.

if the weather is nice i may go out again this coming weekend.

HC - i've got the itch to look into painting the trailer the same color as the element... white is just too boring!

onondaga cave sp
http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv28/kcdr18/camping%20photos%202010/005.jpg

onondaga cave sp
http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv28/kcdr18/camping%20photos%202010/009.jpg

onondaga cave sp
http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv28/kcdr18/camping%20photos%202010/008.jpg

trail of tears sp
http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv28/kcdr18/camping%20photos%202010/025.jpg

trail of tears sp
http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv28/kcdr18/camping%20photos%202010/023.jpg

trail of tears sp
http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv28/kcdr18/camping%20photos%202010/018.jpg

trail of tears sp
http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv28/kcdr18/camping%20photos%202010/021.jpg

Looks fun and cold!
I'm trying to get out next week, unfortunately it's spring break so I'm struggling to find a campground opening.

Thanks for the post. Looks and sounds like it was a good time.
I would like to be a "Tear Dropper" before too long.
I'm tempted to build one myself....
Although, the purchased ones would be more "instant gratification".

Again, thanks for sharing 2Kirks

HC - i've got the itch to look into painting the trailer the same color as the element... white is just too boring!



Ha, ha -- yes, you have a blank canvas just begging for expression. :-)

I think Little Guy does custom graphics, you may want to consider that as a personal touch that does not incur the expense or maintenance of a complete paint job.

I think a couple contemporary decals with your E's color dominant and then outlined in black would look really sharp.

LG once asked me what the paint code number is on Galapagos Green Metallic because a customer wanted a graphic in that color.

Looks like you had a great time. Takes dedication to get out this early in the season!

Coleman sells a sleeping bag for dogs. Gidget has an exceptional coat but when it got down to the teens she was climbing atop my sleeping bag so after that I threw a couple more sleeping bags in for her use and mine in the future, if need be.

i wasn't able to get out for the whole weekend, but i did manage to get away saturday for a one night outing. i traveled to southern illinois and stayed at giant city state park. the temps were hanging around 60 during the afternoon... it was cloudy all day and finally started to rain during the night.

i didn't take too many photos due to gloomy weather...

http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv28/kcdr18/camping%20photos%202010/004.jpg

http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv28/kcdr18/camping%20photos%202010/006.jpg

http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv28/kcdr18/little%20guy%20camper/003.jpg

Have you given out any tours yet?

The camp host at our last trip asked if he could be our manager:grin:

Too kool; so jealous! Thanks for sharing!

no tours, but i've had several slow drive-bys and a handful of stoppers.

Nice set up. To me, the E and the Little Guy match. Nice motif. I try to match mine up too, but its hard depending on your materials and spray painting abilities. The hitch mounts are nice and convenient. I came off my hitch with a double tongue to hall bikes and teardrop. A lot of play but hasn't broke yet. We been itching to get out camping up here in PA and we are looking forward to this weekend. Have you checked out your local Tear Jerkers Chapter??

i'm taking the teardrop out again this weekend to a "north central" group outing in missouri. i believe the chosen campground is pershing state park. this will be my first official outing with a tear jerker crowd. i'm looking forward to it.

i'll post some pics next week.

i love your setup! a teardrop is on my wish list....maybe one day!

TOTALLY COOL! Glad you had fun. I hope next time you get out the weather is PERFECT. :)

Hey there Itsanegirl, I can help you build one if you want. Check my pics at my profile page. They can be real inexpensive or they can be expensive..

here's some pics from the tear drop gathering i attended in missouri over the weekend. there were several custom built trailers there... it was neat to see the variety of tear drops.

http://s666.photobucket.com/albums/vv28/kcdr18/tear%20jerkers%20-%20pershing%202010/

Great pics, thanks!

A wide array of great looking teardrops.


:-)

Nice pics, some pretty cool looking TD's there:roll::-)

while I was camping in GA this last week there was a TD get togeather there also.about 8-12 TD's. some new some old some hand made some not. & there was a 29 model a ford towing one also. there was one nice big one that we liked, I'm tring to remember what the mfg was, but my braincant forget shiet and wont remember anything importaint (like spell check witch to me is like salt, & I don't use it either ) sorry no pics ot the td's. but I was wondering why do you have a TD camper and then put it in the tent????:razz:

why do you have a TD camper and then put it in the tent????:razz:

Are you referring to a screenroom or canopy that shields the kitchen galley from rain and sun?

I run a canopy off the back of my Element for the same reasons. My teardrop does not have a kitchen so I often cook on the trailer tongue box. And I like to lounge on the Element's tailgate.

Someone had their teardrop in a tent?


:?

a lot of tear drop campers use a canopy or tent-room of some sort for either protection from the sun and/or a place to change clothes.

i own one of the tent-room things, but i don't like to use it because of the set up time. i usually take it with me just in case though. if i do utilize it, it's to provide me with some shade during the day.

I use a tent off the rear of my tear. It originally was bought for my VW van to go around/ off the side door. I also add an outdoor carpet, 2 chairs and the E rear table/spare tire cover. If it rains the whole weekend , I don't feel cooped up in the tear. It also adds a little of security or to not make the alcohol so obvious in a camp ground:grin:

How about posting some pics of the interior of the camper?

i'm attending my second teardrop gathering this weekend near frankfort, kentucky.

i'll try taking lots of pics and post when i return.

i attended my second tear jerker event last weekend. this one was in kentucky. there were 5 tear drops in attendance.

i'm going to another gathering in indiana this weekend... 40 trailers are scheduled to be there!

http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv28/kcdr18/tear%20jerkers%20-%20elkhorn%202010%20-%20KY/012.jpg

http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv28/kcdr18/tear%20jerkers%20-%20elkhorn%202010%20-%20KY/022.jpg

i have more pics at:
http://s666.photobucket.com/albums/vv28/kcdr18/tear%20jerkers%20-%20elkhorn%202010%20-%20KY/

You are a teardrop trooper. Love your pics. :-)I've yet to attend a t-drop event.

Am just back from our first camp of 2010. Gave so many teardrop tours, am going to ask Little Guy for more (and updated) brochures. They gave me a bunch when I bought mine.

Have you been giving a lot of tours?

here are the pics of gathering i went to last weekend. there were 40+ trailers there! i was the only one towing with an element, but there was a couple camping in a tent with an E.

http://s666.photobucket.com/albums/vv28/kcdr18/tear%20jerkers%20-%20spring%20mill%202010%20-%20IN/

i dropped off my teardrop this morning to get painted to match our element. i won't have it back for a few days, but i'm looking forward to seeing how it turns out.

hiker_chick: have you had any issues with your caulking? did your paint job adhere to it well?

so... the body shop where i took my trailer calls yesterday and says they no longer wish to attempt to complete the job due to all the silicone used on the seals and joints. they said the paint wouldn't adhere to it well, if at all, and didn't think i or they would be satisfied with the finished product. doh!

i called a second shop for their opinion and they agreed.

Shoot!

Mine's just fine and my paint shop never expressed any concern. It was painted in October 2007.

Its in covered storage most of the time. I'd keep asking around.

The trailer skin is designed to take auto paint and I doubt that Little Guy's caulking is anything special.

HC: when you had yours painted, did the body shop remove the original caulk prior to painting and then reseal it once completed?

i contacted a third local shop and they suggested completing the job in this manner, however their estimate was $1900 - which is more than i was hoping/willing to pay right now.

HC: when you had yours painted, did the body shop remove the original caulk prior to painting and then reseal it once completed?

i contacted a third local shop and they suggested completing the job in this manner, however their estimate was $1900 - which is more than i was hoping/willing to pay right now.

No. Caulking only came into play when they felt that it and the diamondplate needed to be painted over, for aesthetic reason (the caulking was sloppy). And when they decided to bake the paint at a less-hot temperature than usual.

You may want to revisit the option of having Little Guy (or someone else) match some graphics to your E's color code.

Less maintenance and less expensive. You should also call Little Guy and see what they say about what your paint shops are saying.

Sorry this is turning out to be a hassle.

here's a few pics of the interior of my little guy, the stuff i carry in the element, and the exterior of the trailer as well.

http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv28/kcdr18/little%20guy%20camper/038.jpg

the upside down fan on the left is an electric heater. i didn't like leaving it on the floor at night so i hung it from the ceiling. as you can see, i don't have a galley... just wide open space!

http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv28/kcdr18/little%20guy%20camper/039.jpg

i have a cabela's organizer hanging on the one wall. i does use it too much, but its nice to have the storage there.

http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv28/kcdr18/little%20guy%20camper/042.jpg

i carry most of the basic "tools" i may need in the toolbox on the front right of the trailer. the storage bin on the front left is for wood. the storage bin in front of the tire is for my shoes at night.

http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv28/kcdr18/camping%20photos%202010/044.jpg

as you can see, i pack light. i typically take one small duffel bag of clothes, a book bag for magazines & books (and is useful if hiking), one of the black canvas bags contains food and the other is for dirty clothes.

not pictured, i also carry a cooler of some sort on the front of the trailer for drinks and food.

i have an "e-z" up room, but i rarely take it with because i hate setting it up. if i need shelter, i hang out in the element!

Looks great! I don't recall yours being without a galley and cabinets. Looks like you have it nicely organized.

Did you get the Fantastic Fan Vent?

And have you given more thought to color-matched graphics?


:-)

i do have a fantastic fan... 3 speed i believe.

i'm still working on what to do with the exterior. i've got a couple ideas in mind... hopefully one will pan out!

Totally digging the Cabela's organizer!

Nice rig!

jamie