teardrop are good

[willyn]

;D
not much on the site about teardrops we seem to have fits and starts on them
so here is mine in Albany around 550 ks from perth

and a nice photo of me and Lyn relaxing after dinner
A man has to indulge in a quiet drink and a bit of skullduggery every now and then

well guess id better have another Tooheys
wadda ya reckon

Will and Lyn

[Roehm3108]

Our man Will - - - the only person who can stand up in a Teardrop, put on a T-shirt and still not touch the ceiling
Seriously though, Will, could it be that there is already so much information on teardrops on the American sites that not much more can be added here
Ray

[sportsman 1]

Hi guys,

I am always interested in the Teardrop aspect of V Ving, they are certainly an integral part of the movement. Mine certainly gave me some movements on the Darwin trip. (11,000 miles in 7 weeks and we only spent 5 nights not sleeping in it, due to staying with friends (3 nights) and cra##y weather (2 nights)) We have had it on the road for 6 years now and have travelled all over Aus, looking back I have never had as much fun travelling as I have with the Sportsman.

I am intending to post some items in "down memory lane" on TD's in Australia when I get some time.

Ray, regards your comments re TD's on the American sites I have looked there but it really doesn't have much to do with the Original Aussie built Teardrops. I think we can do a much better job here as far as our TD's go.

Will, is yours an original build or a repro, bit hard to tell from the one photo, I can see some obvious items of slightly non originality!!!

Happy TDing to all,

Leigh.

[Franklin1]

Hey Will, ...I dunno about havin' another Tooheys...yer already startin' ta look a bit glassy-eyed in the photo!! ;D

cheers,
Al.

[willyn]

Gidday franklin Ray and Sportsman ;D
yep its a real one 1952 built from a dc3 aircraft panel
as the story goes it was built by Mercury Caravans around 1952
when I found the van it was derelict under a tree
would you believe right next door to the holiday home of John Day Caravans WA the largest caravan dealership in the southern hemisphere
obviously money is the motivation
I would have done it up and put in the showroom as a point of interest for historys sake
however the guy I brought it off was the former Whiteman park Curator and he didnt even have a tarp over it
so it sat under a tree in his front yard for ten years
before I found it in Mandurah they originally had enough panel to build 3 in that design and was reputed to be the first commercially built full aluminium body in australia according the Curator who sold it to me built by Mercury Caravans of Carlyle Western Australia

and was why he hung on to it for ten years in the hope of restoring it (which didnt happen)It still has a timber draw bar
even though it has 19 wheels on it I still have the original wheels here
I rebuilt the rear kitchen cabinets put a new floor in it and coated the inside with a blue multi fleck finish and brass fancy hinges etc.
I sprayed it with two pack to resemble the original alumimium colour because it was to tarnished to restore succesfully

Will

[Deleted]

Hi Will

I like the idea of the front window in the TDs. They let a lot more light in. The one i installed in the "Splinter hilton" hinges open and lets a nice breeze in to help keep things cool ( and thin out the overnight farts) inside the van.
The 2 vents i fitted in the lantern roof side ensures that i dont get any condensation ( or asphxiation) overnight.

TD advantages.
. Light
. Low.. less wind resistance
. Compact.
. Easy to manuvuer in traffic, van parks, up driveways etc.
. Take up little space when stored away.
. Thisa one is debatable .. i reckon they are cute /cool

Out of all the above i would put "less wind resistance" as the biggest advantage .add to this "light/low" and this all adds up to equal better fuel consumption and less wear and tear on the towcar and less stress on the towcar driver as well..

TD Disadvantages.

. Cant stand up inside:
. Dont have kitchen/cooking facilitys and cant cook a meal inside. some will argue that ya can boil the billy on a small hinge down table inside. havent tried making the morning cuppa in there yet. Its on the "to Do" list.

. Only 2 berth.. or maybe three if the missus consents to you inviting a girlfriend around for the night.
. Have to get out in the rain and other elements to access the kitchen at the rear ( unless you have a giant annexe that extends over 90% of the TD.
. Cannot "Fly and insect proof" The kitchen area .
. Have to get dressed "horizontally" ( unless your name is WILL)

biggest disadvantage from the list above... dunno ya learn to live with all of 'em. each is as eqaully annoying as the next. But any disadvantage listed is far outweighed by the advantages above them.
I could have sold mine 10 times over at swap meets and weekends away. No way... I reckon they're great.
I am fortunate to have a full sized van as well .. with another resto underway i have plenty of choices and i take whatever suits the tour or trip away best.

I could write a list about the advantages and disadvantages of owning a full sized van but it would be the exact opposites of what i have written above.

So.... no matter wether ya own a TD or a full sized van ... ya just gotta love vintage vans and the enjoyment they bring us.
"AINT THAT THE TRUTH" ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

rEdDo