Tiny Trailers and Tear Drops

[SoulRaven]

For some time, I have been looking at tiny trailers and teardrops like the Casita, Scamp & other molded fiberglass and in teardrops, the Little Guy which encompasses everything to a tiny "pod" to a stand up height teardrop.  I have found blogs of people full-timing in just about everything at this point.

Since I am 61 years old, I want something manageable now and for at least, hopefully, 10 years into the future, maybe 20!  I am willing to sacrifice space for ease of everything else.  The number for this adventure is now just myself and my dog, Rinnie, chow/shepherd that spent her first year of life raised in an RV park so highly social.

The bathroom to or to not is one stumbling block along with my being particular about construction and materials being used.  I want more than "pretty" or "cozy".

I was just wondering if anyone is really thinking about going this small with an RV.  I considered a van but with my plans, I think separate units is the way to go, and I own a 2007 Dodge Durango to tow with.  Stealth is not a consideration.

And, yes, I do realize how small these units are and the challenges that will bring.  I like miniature, a fascination to me since childhood.

 

[Konaexpress]

Hi, 

I've been considering teardrops too. They are small but can be pretty cheap to build. I figure I can build one at or around 800 lbs and fully fitted with everything for 2K-3K.

I already figured out how to make a ext heated shower for it but the toilet is giving me trouble. Need a little head room for those porta-potty things. If you are single and only use one side for your bead, you just might have enough room to slip a potty into it.

John

 

[rvwandering]

One of the members here fulltimes in a little TAB. She attended the RTR last year and again this year so we had a chance to see her trailer in person and talk with her. She loves everything about it and is still very happy with it after more than a year of living and traveling. Here's a guest post that she did on Bob's blog - http://www.cheaprvliving.com/blog/retired-living-teardrop-trailer/

 For something a little larger check out Becky's casita - http://www.cheaprvliving.com/blog/guest-post-safety-for-the-single-female-traveler/
 
 I also met several other single woman at the this year's RTR who are fulltiming in small trailers. Hopefully they'll see this post and can give you some firsthand information. Have fun deciding!

 

[SoulRaven]

A couple of things worthy of mention...

Teardrops make lousy hangouts in foul weather, it can last for days/weeks.

Most people prefer a permanent bed with separate seating. Setting a bed up/down every day gets old in a hurry.

 

[speedhighway46]

Also check out rvsueandcrew.net who has been full-timing in a Casita for several years.

 

[LeeRevell]

Terminology.....   Scamps, Casitas, and such are known as "Fiberglass Eggs" or simply "Eggs".  They are not teardrops.
Other small trailers are the aluminum "Canned Hams", so-called due to their shape.  Similar in size to the Eggs.

Canned Hams tend to be older and cheaper to buy.  People value their Eggs highly and they tend to be more expensive.  If you are tall, these wee trailers will be tight, with no stand up height.  I nearly bought a Scamp 13ft from a buddy but realized I'd need to totally strip it and rebuild it to fit me.  Internal volume is similar to a full size standard body van.
Another buddy has a nice vintage Teardrop that he tows behind his Honda Element.  Nice rig, but really little more than a 'hard tent'.

Sometimes you can find a deal on the U-Haul small trailer, which seems to be a modified Scamp.

 

[SoulRaven]

Height is not a problem as I am 5'4". Lots of times I wished I was taller but now, it looks like an advantage to be shorter. For me, being in a bigger space or smaller one inside is about the same. I do not like being inside but can keep busy with thread crochet or reading reference materials forgetting where I am, more or less.

The larger T@B can have a wet bath and I had figured that using one side of the T@G would allow for a porti-pottie which could be placed outside in an attachable screen room with privacy curtains a lot of the time. I do really like their screen/privacy tent because it attaches in a way that doesn't leave that gap where critters can come in, the larger kind anyway.

I will probably be putting items in storage in KS, not that much, if my adult son with Down syndrome goes into residential here and returning during the late spring to early fall each year to workcamp or volunteer. With any luck, I will get him moved to the SW sooner than later once I figure it all out.

 

[Dewave]

I've done some research on the teardrops, canned hams, foamies, trailer conversions etc. Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers aka http://tnttt.com has tons of info and a for sale section in the forums.

 

[LeeRevell]

I often wish I were shorter!  The only real advantages to being tall are reaching things on high shelves and in changing lightbulbs.  But the tall gene runs on both sides of the family.  Sleeping crossways in a van simply doesn't work for me.  Same with the small trailers.  Scamp lists their trailers as being 6'6"" wide inside but this is not correct.  Their height inside might be six feet but I think that is a conservative guess too.  Length of the "13Ft" is about ten feet inside.  The 13ft is total length including tongue.

 

[SoulRaven]

LeeRevell brings up an important issue with the trailers, especially fiberglass molded like Scamp, etc. I have seen several posts and even people walking inside doing tours and manufacturers tend to stretch, in this case, shrink the truth. Also, anything with roof A/C hangs down a few inches into the ceiling. There was someone 6' that did a video on Scamps, etc. at a rally and her head was rubbing most of the ceilings and the beds with the curve in the corner shrink up too as you move inward toward the wall. And, always make sure you understand with the length whether it is the "box" or the box + tongue. There is enough variation and it changed on regular stick built trailers several years ago so age makes a difference too. I think cargo trailers are measured by box length, thus a 6 x10 would be longer once you add the hitch.

 

[BobBski]

http://www.runawaycampers.com/ Starting at $2495 with ac

 

[acfdexpo]

Don't know what your budget is but I really like these http://www.parkliner.com.  Also this website ://fiberglassrv.com.

 

[VJG1977]

There are a lot of options  in the light weight trailer line-up. Here are some links.

[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif][font=arial, sans-serif]http://uhaulcamperfun.blogspot.com/p/find-your-own-fiberglass-camper.html[/font][/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif][font=arial, sans-serif]/http://www.fiberglass-rv-4sale.com/[/font][/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif][font=arial, sans-serif]http://www.scamptrailers.com/[/font][/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif][font=arial, sans-serif]http://rvs.smartcarguide.com/scamp-13[/font][/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif][font=arial, sans-serif]http://bolerlife.com/Specs/specs.html[/font][/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif][font=arial, sans-serif]http://www.fiberglassrv.com/[/font][/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif][font=arial, sans-serif]http://www.eggcamper.com/[/font][/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif][font=arial, sans-serif]http://www.camperfinds.com/small-travel-trailers-for-sale[/font][/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif][font=arial, sans-serif][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]http://escapetrailer.com/[/font][/font][/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]
[font=arial, sans-serif][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][font=arial, sans-serif]http://www.bigfootrv.com/[/font][/font][/font][/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]
[font=arial, sans-serif][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][font=arial, sans-serif]http://www.casitatraveltrailers.com/[/font][/font][/font][/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif][font=arial, sans-serif][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]http://www.casitaforum.com/invboard/[/font][/font][/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif][font=arial, sans-serif][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]http://www.escapeforum.org/[/font][/font][/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif][font=arial, sans-serif][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]http://www.escapeforum.org/[/font][/font][/font][font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif][font=arial, sans-serif][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]http://www.escapeforum.org/[/font][/font][/font]

 

[Dust-In-the-Wind]

Not overly concerned with budget?  Just looking for the best of the genre?  I've been up close and personal with one of these and it's quality can't be beat, in my opinion.  Good, family-type business.

http://olivertraveltrailers.com/

 

[SoulRaven]

Oliver is top of the line. Over $40,000 for the smaller and almost $50.000 for the larger is way, way over my budget. I see them as kind of the Cadillac of the group. Oliver just returned to producing the trailers a couple of years ago after a break due to the RV industry hitting a low, other manufacturers also felt the hit. It is truly an elegant trailer and I have not seen anything negative brought up about it. I have dog that is part chow and she is a fur factory.

I am more of a "camper" than an RVer. Some will know the difference. I like to be outside and want the unit to be easy to clean and have more simple repairs. For me, it was love at first sight for the Cricket trailer: http://crickettrailer.com/ It runs more than it is probably worth considering what comes with it but I have camping equipment. It can run on solar and do quite well if what I read is true. I am trying to talk myself out of it. No OSB and no carpet on the walls are a real bonus. I like the fabric sides and that could be lined with Reflectix or one could keep it down during colder/hotter weather.

Lots of choices and none are ever a perfect match. Used units of the more popular ones run high and still go quickly.

 

[Konaexpress]

That cricket is really cool looking. (Thumbs up!)

Have you looked at building you're own?

John

EDIT: besides weather, I can't see how living from one of these would be any different from a cargo trailer.

 

[Patrick46]

I've got a bit I can ad here...

We (the Wifey & I) had a teardrop for almost 5 years. It was a really nice older 5' x 10' Lonely Teardrop. We towed it behind my hot-rod panel truck.
We had a ball in the thing, and it was kinda like sleeping in a treefort.


the things we didn't like about it were that you had to lay on your back to put your pants on, you had to sit in the door just to put your shoes on/off...otherwise you got dirt all over your bedding, no bathroom facilities whatsoever, and like someone else posted...it's pretty much just a hard sided tent.

We now have a 1967 Aladdin canned ham, that is permanently in our back yard on blocks. (a small guest/tea/book room, and a place for my wife to plant even more flowers).  
We also have a 18' Prowler TT, that we're using until we find the right deal on a Casita. Good deals on Casitas are hard to find as they hold their value really well! They're great rigs! Lightweight, easy to tow, have everything (including a full bathroom), and as long as you get their 17' models...that have 6'4" headroom. (which I need)

for someone looking for a great, lightweight, fully serviceable TT to full time in, you can't go wrong with a Casita.

 

[akrvbob]

I have a friend with a tall T@B and she is very pleased with it, full bath that's actually usable.
Bob

 

[SoulRaven]

I came across the guest blog on the T@B: http://www.cheaprvliving.com/blog/retired-living-teardrop-trailer/ and also this one with motorcycle/Little Guy: http://www.cheaprvliving.com/blog/full-timing-on-a-harley-and-a-tear-drop-trailer/ Me, on a motorcycle? Maybe 30 or 40 years ago I might have been that adventurous.

I planned to build some years ago. I even have the plans for a Glen-L Sequoia: https://www.glen-l.com/campers/sequoia.html I tend to have more dreams than skills when it comes to building.

 

[Konaexpress]

How about a caned ham about the size of a teardrop? You can call it Spam......

You could fit a shower toilet combo in one, they do it in boats all the time. Boat builders are the masterminds of small living spaces.

You could make it light too if you use a sandwich core idea with 2" walls.

John