Bobby Morgan and his son, Ryan, build simple, but beautiful woody teardrop trailers in Marietta, Georgia. The
Teddybear Teardrop company has already been featured on the
Tiny House Talk blog and Bobby mentioned that building them with Ryan has brought the two of them closer together.
“It takes me back to a time where myself and my father would build things together,” Bobby said. “I know he would be proud of these campers and I wish that he could have seen one. Now we have a four-year-old little girl running around, she helps me go buy the things we need to build teardrops, and hopefully soon she will be able to carry on the tradition of building them as well.”
Where does the name Teddybear Teardrops come from?
Teddybear Teardrops has a special meaning to us. We have Teddy Bears everywhere, we have always like them, my son kept one as a companion while growing up, so it just seemed perfectly normal to name our teardrops after the bear.
How did you become interested in building teardrop trailers?
I got interested in teardrop campers in 2009. I was browsing camping and camper sites on the internet when I saw a picture of one and instantly I was hooked. I loved the simplicity of them, as far as being lightweight and being able to be towed with just about anything.
I have always loved camping, whether it be a tent or a Class A motorhome. I wanted to build one immediately, but with my work schedule the way it was (having to travel sometimes up to two months at a time) my wife said no. So I just researched and dreamed of building one for almost three years.
Then I got injured and couldn't do the job that I loved. So my son Ryan and I bought a trailer, came home and told my wife that we had to build one, since we had a trailer. She wasn't so sure at first but as our first Teddybear Teardrop started to take shape, she started to like it. Plus she could see how much better it made me feel to be building something.
When we got it mostly finished, we took it to Tennessee for a teardrop gathering. Everyone who saw it loved it. I really enjoyed sleeping in it that weekend. At that point I decided to start building them for everyone who wanted one. It was tough at first to find buyers, so I took them to car shows and other gatherings. People loved our teardrops. Some wanted just basic shells and others wanted all-out glamour.
What are the specifications of your trailers?
We build a 4x8 that weighs around 750 lb, and a 5x8 that weighs around 1,200 lb. They range in price from $7,200 upwards to $9,700, depending on what people want. We put 110v and 12 volt inside and in the galley. We insulate the ceiling and floors. I just love the look of wood exterior.
What do you feel make the Teddybear unique?
What I feel make Teddybear Teardrops unique is the fact that we build each and every teardrop the way our customer wants it. I have an attachment to each teardrop that we build. Each one has its own personality and sometimes an attitude while we are building it.
What are some interesting features of your trailers?
We use spar urethane for the exterior and interior to prevent water damage, and white aluminum on the roof to reflect heat. Most of our customers want the simple style, without appliances. But with our numerous cabinets there is plenty of room for storage, without everything falling out when you open the galley hatch.
Where do you like to go camping and where is your dream camping trip?
I have camped mainly in the southeastern United States. But my dream is to do what one of my customers did: travel
Route 66 and to take in all the sights and roadside explorations along the way. I will get there one day.
Photos courtesy of Bobby Morgan/Teddybear Teardrops
