PeeWee Campers [split from thread in Newcomer's Corner]

[peewee-campers]

[Split from thread in Newcomer's Corner titled "PeeWee Campers is joining you!]

I'm pretty sure I could never look past the $10,000 price tag. You did see the name of this website and forum?

Bob

Bob,

I guess "cheap rv living" is a relative phrase. Different people have different levels of what they consider cheap enough, yet good enough, to meet their needs. Discussions about these different levels are what makes your forum interesting and what drew us to it. 

There are many, many teardrops on the market that price out above $10K - in fact, much more than $10K. So our price for the Half Pint teardrop is cheaper than many other teardrops that may be of equally high quality. We realize, however, that a $10K price tag is not for everyone.

We readily admit that there are cheaper teardrops too. But most of the cheaper teardrops have thin plywood walls, little or no insulation, are built on a bolt-together utility trailer frame that is not really designed for use as a teardrop trailer frame. 

These cheaper teardrops have a multitude of problems. Don't let anyone kid themselves--once the weight of a teardrop is put on them, 100% of these cheaper frames twist as they bounce down the highway or venture off-road. This causes the teardrop body to leak and start to shake apart. (No amount of glue or screws used in the construction will stop this.) So in the end, you may have saved money to start, but you have to keep spending money for repairs, and the frustration can be horrendous. Here's just one sad, true life example of this (the frame actually broke and left them stranded for three days): http://myeco20s.com/byeteardrop/ Unfortunately, this happens over and over again in the teardrop industry, but NOT with our trailers. 

We want to support the do-it-yourselfer on your forum with advice, referrals, safety tips, etc., because we don't think of D-I-Y-ers as our competitors. They are the people we admire. They are actually the ones who started the industry decades ago and have since revived it! There will always be people who want to do it themselves. Many, many of them are capable of building good teardrops, and we applaud them. For people who can't or don't want to build their own, we have to provide a product that is strong, well-built, safe, legal, comfortable, easy to license, etc.

 

[akrvbob]

I guess my first thought was you can buy a pretty good sized new trailer for $10-$12,000 that would be much bigger. But, the quality of one of those would be very, very low.

There is good logic in buying a high quality small trailer versus a very-low quality bigger trailer.

And then the light-weight and very good back-road ability factor in as well. Lot'sof factors to take into account.
Bob

 

[jonthebru]

You need better pictures on your website. For a small tow vehicle this looks to be well built. You also need to be able to directly refer someone who owns for example a family van or mid sized SUV to a place to get a tow hitch installed. Good luck.

 

[SoulRaven]

I have been looking at the smaller trailers/teardrops and the differences are huge. It just all depends on what one is looking for and how one will use it, plus one's budget. It is hard to find the teardrops with insulated sides, most just have the plywood and are maybe covered over with a very thin sheet of aluminum.

I can see that PeeWee's selling point is the construction and that is well detailed on their website which is unusual.

Using more expensive materials will run up the price. Sadly, that is why so many of the great RV manufacturing ended up out of business. People saw something for the half the price and didn't think about "value". Now, it is all about the monthly payment they advertise being lowest.

Yes, those new smaller full amenity trailers for $10,000 to $12,000 have an expected lifespan of 5 years. I still see my favorites from the 70s for sale every one in awhile and in pretty good darn shape. "Barn finds" can look almost new!

Choice is good.

 

[peewee-campers]

You need better pictures on your website. For a small tow vehicle this looks to be well built. You also need to be able to directly refer someone who owns for example a family van or mid sized SUV to a place to get a tow hitch installed. Good luck.

Did you get a chance to see the video? 

Thanks for the feedback on the tow hitch. I think we can work that information in on one of our pages.

 

[peewee-campers]

I have been looking at the smaller trailers/teardrops and the differences are huge.  It just all depends on what one is looking for and how one will use it, plus one's budget.  It is hard to find the teardrops with insulated sides, most just have the plywood and are maybe covered over with a very thin sheet of aluminum.

I can see that PeeWee's selling point is the construction and that is well detailed on their website which is unusual.  

Using more expensive materials will run up the price.  Sadly, that is why so many of the great RV manufacturing ended up out of business.  People saw something for the half the price and didn't think about "value".  Now, it is all about the monthly payment they advertise being lowest.  

Yes, those new smaller full amenity trailers for $10,000 to $12,000 have an expected lifespan of 5 years.  I still see my favorites from the 70s for sale every one in awhile and in pretty good darn shape.  "Barn finds" can look almost new!

Choice is good.

Good point about lifespan. You are right. Many of the tears built today by some of the "limited quantity" builders might only last 5 years. But in 30 years, because of our construction, our Half Pint teardrops will still be around.

 

[cherterr]

Um?? Shouldn't this OP be under 'Products" or "Trading Post"?

 

[VanDwellerMod]

Um?? Shouldn't this OP be under 'Products" or "Trading Post"?

The original OP remains in the Newcomer's Corner forum.  The posts about the PeeWee Camper itself has been split off and now resides in the Products forum.