On Monday morning, Ocracoke residents Bill Monticone and Jim Borland embarked on an adventure to the Wild West. They’re towing the adorable teardrop trailer that Bill recently built for his daughter, Stephanie.
On their way they’ll stay first with friends in NC, and then head to Rapid City, SD. They planned a route through Wyoming, Montana and the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho. They’ll be camping along the way, but Bill was quick to assure me that they’ll take turns sleeping in the trailer or the tent. (The interior is rather cozy.)
After their mountain visit, they’ll turn south for Heber, Utah, where the teardrop will find its new home with Stephanie, and her husband, Brian Potempa.
Bill built the teardrop trailer for Stephanie, at her request.
“Steph sent me a picture about four years ago, of a bunch of woodies [wood-paneled station wagons] pulling teardrops with surfboards on top. Basically she said ‘Build me this.’ So I did,” Bill said.
If Bill’s daughter falls in love with the teardrop half as much as mine did, she’ll be one happy camper! Mariah Daisy was ready to move right in, and after I snapped a few pictures, she took over the camera and shot no fewer than 80 extreme close-ups of the trailer’s many features. (Thank goodness for digital.)
Bill started working on the teardrop last October, and built it with the help of his friend Susse Wright. Susse and Bill have also built a boat together. He says they are both into fiberglass and epoxy.
Doing some online research first really helped. Bill bought a full-size pattern of the trailer’s side view, which helped him lay out his design. The trailer is made out of ¼ inch and ¾ inch birch plywood, with fiberglass over that.
The axles, tires, fenders, windows, and hardware were also available online. Joe Schwerzler, a friend of Bill’s who has a house on Ocracoke, did the welding and built the metal frame. Stephanie picked out the fabric for the mattress at IKEA, and Bill and Susse made the cover.
Bill is an excellent carpenter and craftsmen, with amazing attention for detail. He's got a good eye for space-saving solutions. As a former boat-dweller, I could appreciate the special touches in the storage cubbies and galley, and the extra table/prep space that attaches over the left fender. Bill even included a shower – when the teardrop is parked and the hitch is down, the campers can add a pole for a sun-shower bag.
The teardrop is so cute, it’s sure to elicit ooh’s and ahh’s everywhere it goes from here to Utah.
Bill says he’s happy to give the teardrop away because he knows it’ll be in good hands.
“Stephanie takes care of things really well,” he said. No doubt she learned that from her dad.
