$4,999
Holts Summit, Missouri
Category
-
Length
8
Posted Over 1 Month
*This camper was purchased during a former Buy-It-Now eBay listing. Unfortunately, the buyer was struck by a severe (and expensive) medical condition, and we mutually agreed to terminate the sale in his best financial interests.* BACKGROUND STORY: I considered purchasing a 35-foot travel trailer once. "It's $35,000," they said. I gasped. "You get 8-9 mpg," they said. My knees unhinged. Once they said, "Insurance is about $1,500 a year," I had to be mopped off the floor. In that 35-foot travel trailer, that Mother Nature mausoleum, I wouldn't be able to explore any city boulevards, spiral up any parking garage or boondock in any dispersed campground. All those daring dirt mountain roads, those squiggly gray lines in my Rand-McNally atlas, would be denied to me. SALES PITCH: So I built this. I built it for you. It's a 5.5x8-ft teardrop camper. · It's never been used. · You can tow it with a Camry. (I'm not kidding. It weighs less than 1,000 pounds.) And you can roll it as easily as a Wal-Mart shopping cart (ish). · Both the front door and rear hatch lid lock, so your stuff stays safe. · And you can camp anywhere – in a state park 30-amp campsite, an abandoned lakeshore or a Wal-Mart parking lot. Most importantly, it's a helluva good bargain, and it gets you outdoors without leaving you defenseless. PRODUCT DESCRIPTION: If rain pours down like artillery fire, you can take refuge inside the insulated 5'4'' X 6'2'' cabin. Crawl onto your full-size bed and enjoy the thunderstorm through an 18x24 glass window. If it's hot outside, turn on the cabin cooling fan. Or close the outdoor shutters, drop the vinyl blinds, and we'll leave the two of you alone, you rascals! That's right – two. This extra-wide model has all the amenities for a couple: a double bed, storage shelving, clothes closet, makeup mirror with fold-down table, key hooks, and even a chalkboard. You can write each other romantic messages. Or compose Honey-Do lists. Your choice. This camper is outfitted with a 105-AH 12-volt deep-cycle battery that powers the ceiling light, cabin cooling fan, galley light, and two 12-volt cigarette lighter outlets. You can charge all your electronics (smartphone, computer, GPS, etc.) and even have a movie marathon. If you prefer developed campgrounds, then you can plug into campsite electricity, which will automatically charge your battery and activate a surge-protected powerstrip with four 120-volt receptacles and two USB ports. Alright, alright! I won't keep dragging you down this narrative sales pitch. Just one more thing: This clamshell teardrop camper has a full-size kitchen with: · Wash basin (no running water) · Custom cabinetry · Semi-insulated sliding cooler compartment (insulated on three sides - open on the fourth) · Towel rack · Storage hooks · Kitchen knife set (shown in pictures) · Mini cutting board · Ceiling light Thanks to the overhanging hatch lid, you can even cook in a drizzle. FEATURE OPTIONS When I say "options," that means I have some recommendations on what you should add yourself. I wouldn't charge you to "install" a propane stove, for instance. Just lay down a foam mat underneath and place it on the countertop! · 2-burner propane stove (I recommend 10,000 BTU per burner) · Full-size bed (choices: air bed, all-cotton futon, 4-inch upholstery foam mattress, or down mattress topper) · 12-volt thermoelectric cooler. You can plug it into the powerstrip once you're connected to 120-volt electricity, or purchase a small 300-watt inverter and charge it from the 12-volt battery. CONSTRUCTION FAQ: This is my FIRST teardrop camper (that's right, I'm a virgin). I've included some factoids for geeks like me who want to know how everything is made. 1. Is it waterproof? Yes ... but bring a bath towel, just in case. · Underside: elastic rubberized foundation coating · Walls: spar urethane, exterior siding stain, housewrap · Roof: aluminum flashing exterior, exterior siding stain, housewrap · All joints sealed with clear roofing sealant, window white/door silicone, and/or aluminum piping tape. The door is protected by a 3/4-inch exterior plywood cover that, as shown in the pictures, transforms into an awning. *IMPORTANT MAINTENANCE NOTES* In order to keep this trailer waterproof, some maintenance will be required. 1. This roof is protected in part by an exterior fashioned from overlapping aluminum flashing. It is not .032 aluminum siding! You MUST periodically check and possibly re-tape the roof seams with aluminum tape. 2. The hatch lid hinge (living plastic) is not waterproof in itself. So I've covered it with a Reflectix baffle attached using PL Premium exterior construction adhesive and aluminum tape. Again, you MUST periodically check and possibly re-tape the baffle to ensure a waterproof joint. 2. Can I drive off-road with this? Can I speed at 80 mph? First of all, you should never endanger other people's lives by speeding, you clay-brained guts, you knotty-pated fool! * Answer One: Haul Master, the manufacturer of the underlying trailer 4x8 trailer with 12-inch tires, recommends a maximum speed of 55 mph. For what it's worth, most trailer manufacturers say that to cover their legal rumps. Answer Two: I will allow you, dear driver, to brave the occasional gravel street or paved dirt byway. But if you take my precious camper on a washboard road or 4x4 trail and break it, then know that I have a very particular set of skills. I will look for you, I will find you, and I will [not be nice to] you.** *William Shakespeare, Henry IV, Part 1. **Liam Neeson, "Taken" (2008) 3. Will the camper "sweat" in the morning like my old aluminum camper or canvas pop-up? No. Thanks to radiant polyisocyanurate insulation in the roof and walls, and carpet square insulation on the floor, this camper will keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter. There's also a cabin cooling fan to circulate fresh air. It's protected by window screening and an all-weather roof vent. 4. How are the walls constructed? The walls are a "sandwich" of 1/4-inch Baltic Birch plywood, housewrap, radiant insulation (R-4.4), and 5-mm lauan plywood. The interior is primed and then coated with three coats of latex paint. ***If you have ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, send me an e-mail! Just ask my family – I have a bad habit of tracking down unsuspecting people and yammering about my camper project. I'm more than happy to have fresh meat.*** CONTACT INFORMATION: Call, text or e-mail. My name is Andy. This thing was a labor of love, guys, and I hope it ferries some lucky soul on the next Great American Road Trip. I built it to the best of my ability, and I hope it lasts for decades to come. Cash only. Title in hand. As-is/where-is. Best offers accepted.
