Teardrops?

[Stephen]

I looked, but didn't see anything on teardrop trailers.

My wife and I have had one for a couple of years and do all our camping in it. We love it. Yes, when the weather gets bad, things get a bit cramped. However, this last weekend we had to make a quick 1200 mile journey to a wedding. As I drove past folks towing MUCH larger trailers I thought, "I bet my mileage is better than yours!"

We have a tent made to attach to the side of the trailer and a canopy that we place over the back. Wind can be a problem, but we haven't blown away yet. Would I like to be able to stand up when it has rained for three days straight? Yep. Do I want to spend a lot more getting something with all the comforts of home and need a much bigger vehicle to pull it? Not yet. 

I just wondered if there is anyone else out there or you have met someone. How is it going?

Here's a link to a pic of our setup.
https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipPKKDQPpLhOsm1YgK3o7_kExIgPh8PyBwo31x45

PS If a guy can spend a year and a half in a Prius, I think I can do it in a teardrop. whaddayathink?

 

[SoulRaven]

This is my thread here: https://vanlivingforum.com/Thread-Tiny-Trailers-and-Tear-Drops

I am considering the possibility and found others online that are.

 

[GotSmart]

I have three members of my family that are Tearjerkers, all with antique vehicles.

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

My favorite set up to date was a Jeep Wrangler and tear drop that I camped next to in Glacier National Park. I was doing a cross country trip out of my 2 door wrangler and a tent and man he looked so comfortable. Have been thinking of getting one ever since.

 

[Cosmo]

Vistabule Teardrop trailer.



a few more years and I am done with work forever. Looking forward to living again

Cosmo

 

[Rugster]

Stephen, your link didn't work for me, would like to see it

 

[SoulRaven]

Vistabule is nice. I love it! I don't, however, love its price tag. Base is $16,995 before options and nearly everything is an option and after I added the options I would want, it was over $20,000. : ( There are some 1/2 the price or less that still get good reviews, I'm liking this one: and also this one:
Both have websites. I'd like not to spend more than $10,000 complete and it has to be pretty good for that. I have looked online at many of them. I am looking at a cargo van tomorrow though and if that doesn't change my mind I have to make a decision pretty quick.

 

[Stephen]

Stephen, your link didn't work for me, would like to see it

Sorry Rugster. I have a huge problem posting pics. I've read the 'how to' several times and still can't get it right. The link works for me, but doesn't seem to work for anyone else. At some point I will figure it out!

 

[Stephen]

Vistabule is nice.  I love it!  I don't, however, love its price tag.  Base is $16,995 before options and nearly everything is an option and after I added the options I would want, it was over $20,000. : (   

I do like the look of vestibule, but it is a bit high in price. Mine is a Little guy Silver Shadow. A bit over 11k after the stuff I wanted in it. It was more than I wanted to pay, but then I'm cheap, ask my wife!

 

[arctic cat]

To an ex infantryman any sleeping arrangement could be a 4 star hotel.   I'm now an expeditioner/overlander and traveled solo.  For years it was just me and my Jeep living three to 4 months out of the year.  My last trip to Alaska I did in my Jeep sleeping in a tent raining all the way.  You just have to make the best of the situation you are.   With said a couple of years ago. I purchased a small teardrom that I could pull my head down to sleep.   I'm 5'7 and TO ME it was a serious upgrade. This one came in with a matress, but I place a 3 inch memory foam topper and I sleep better there than any other place.    I just going to post some pictures if you have questions just ask.

 

[Stephen]

Wow Arctic cat. That looks like a great setup. It's good to hear from someone doing it. We love our little trailer!

 

[ZoNiE]

That Vistabule is about the best TD design I have ever seen. The quality of materials and construction make it worth the price. The attention to detail, like the batwings for the galley, the passthrough, the vista window, the footwells, the portholes for air flow, the screens. This one has it all.
The guy that makes it has also gotta earn a living, and he should earn it. You can spend easily that much trying to build your own...

You can cool this thing with a 5,000BTU window unit (optional) and that will run on a Honda 1K, If I recall, as they only draw about 500-600 watts and the Honda can handle the LRA.

 

[ZoNiE]

Scratch that, Honda 2K would be better.

 

[arctic cat]

Wow Arctic cat. That looks like a great setup. It's good to hear from someone doing it. We love our little trailer!

and I had been from coast to coast on that setting.  Unfortunately I know have a girlfriend and 80 LBS Labrador Service Dog.   So I'm setting a a older military van for towing vehicle.  But I will be using the same teardrop trailer to sleep in and the same reefer, not much will change.   Ohhh trading the unleaded fuel one burner stove for a propane one, ha ha ha.    Actually I would be using both based on a the occasion.

 

[SoulRaven]

It isn't that tears like the Vestibule and also the Camp Inn aren't worth the price but a high price sends many in the other direction. Heck, I'd love to have Lincoln Navigator and am sure they are worth the price, but instead, I bought a 2007 Dodge Durango. It gets the job done.

I like the MyPod, very cool, but too small sadly at this point. The Silver Shadow is also very nice. The one thing about the Little Guy products is that they are easy to come by at a dealership. When ordering from the mom and pop type teardrop builders, they often want at least 1/3, sometimes more, down and giving a few thousand to someone, well, you'd need to be very careful. Businesses sometimes just shut down. Contracts? If you can afford the legal fees to enforce them, they are great!

I still agonizing over choices and may have to go larger to accommodate another person and another dog. : (

 

[Stephen]

. . . The Silver Shadow is also very nice.  The one thing about the Little Guy products is that they are easy to come by at a dealership.  When ordering from the mom and pop type teardrop builders, they often want at least 1/3, sometimes more, down and giving a few thousand to someone, well, you'd need to be very careful.  Businesses sometimes just shut down.  Contracts?  If you can afford the legal fees to enforce them, they are great!

I still agonizing over choices and may have to go larger to accommodate another person and another dog.  : (

I liked the Camp Inn and the Vistabule, but decided on the Silver Shadow. As it was, we had to wait 3 months to get it. The thing is VERY comfortable! I an anxious to see how I like doing more than a week or so in it. Maybe after a couple of months I'll wanna buy a Class A. Ok, not unless I win the lottery!

 

[arctic cat]

It isn't that tears like the Vestibule and also the Camp Inn aren't worth the price but a high price sends many in the other direction.  Heck, I'd love to have Lincoln Navigator and am sure they are worth the price, but instead, I bought a 2007 Dodge Durango.  It gets the job done.

I like the MyPod, very cool, but too small sadly at this point.  The Silver Shadow is also very nice.  The one thing about the Little Guy products is that they are easy to come by at a dealership.  When ordering from the mom and pop type teardrop builders, they often want at least 1/3, sometimes more, down and giving a few thousand to someone, well, you'd need to be very careful.  Businesses sometimes just shut down.  Contracts?  If you can afford the legal fees to enforce them, they are great!

I still agonizing over choices and may have to go larger to accommodate another person and another dog.  : (

MY POD accommodate me my GF and my 80lbs lab when he wants in, a little tight but comfy.   I picked mine from the factory in Ohio as a demonstrator, no one  ever slept in and paid $4,500 cash.