Best method for getting in and out of a teardrop

[TommyMiles]

Hi, at 35, I've been exploring teardrop trailers and have specific brands in mind for a potential purchase. Given my limited agility and bad knees, I'm wondering about the best method for getting in and out of a teardrop. Do people crawl in on hands and knees, or is sitting and rolling in or out a common approach?

[mary and bob]

Our teardrop is a 1946 Modernistic, 4 feet wide, one door. We use the "open door, sit down, roll back in" method. Reverse that to get out. We are in our mid 70's but have actually not slept in our teardrop for the last 10 years, so that means we did use it up into our mid 60's.

[DJ Davis]

Tommy,

My homebuilt teardrop has doors that are 36" wide (40" tall), so it's easy to get in/out just about any way one chooses. I put 1/2" foam, interlocking gym flooring squares on the floor when the bed is not set up for sleeping. This gives a bit of padding for when I need to crawl inside for some reason, plus it adds insulation from below. When the 4" medium-density foam mattress is laid out, I sit down inside the door, lay down toward the pillow with my upper body and draw my legs up until they clear the doorway, then extend them to the bottom of the bed. If it's just me, I crawl in, sit down, close the door, and flop down where I want! Getting out is always done by sitting cross-legged at the door, opening it, unfolding my legs to hang out the door, and then stepping into my shoes of choice on the mat by the door. In bad/cold/rainy weather, I bring my shoes inside at night. Sitting in the doorway, I remove them, then put them in a "shoe bag" (a large plastic shopping bag) and place that in a corner at the bottom of the mattress. Exiting the next day, the same routine is followed as for "decent" weather except for putting on the shoes while sitting in the doorway.

Sorry if this is more than you expected for a reply. I'm a Texan and we LOVE to talk and for me that trait extends to the electronic media, as well!

[tony.latham]

The same way you get in bed. You sit in the doorway--just like you do with your bed--and swing into it. That's why teardrop doors need to be placed at where your hips are when prone.

That's one reason teardrops have survived and proliferated for 80 years.

Tony

[DJ Davis]

The same way you get in bed. You sit in the doorway--just like you do with your bed--and swing into it. That's why teardrop doors need to be placed at where your hips are when prone.

That's one reason teardrops have survived and proliferated for 80 years.

Tony

***BEST ANSWER*** I completely forgot about mentioning door placement in the planning stage.

[philpom]

Slightly different answer here but it works well for us. Our tiny camper was built with the headboard towards the back. The single door is placed near the front like a traditional teardrop. When it's time to go to sleep I just climb in head first and instantly I'm ready to zonk. Getting out is a short butt scoot out the door. The door is by our feet.

Imagine how you might get in bed after being up really late after a good time???

[working on it]

Slightly different answer here but it works well for us. Our tiny camper was built with the headboard towards the back. The single door is placed near the front like a traditional teardrop. When it's time to go to sleep I just climb in head first and instantly I'm ready to zonk. Getting out is a short butt scoot out the door. The door is by our feet.

Imagine how you might get in bed after being up really late after a good time???

Mine is set-up the same as yours (except I have a second door, JIC); it was designed/built when I was 61-63 y.o., so it was easy to get in and out. Now, at 73, with bad back, knees, and you-name-it, I can't get up and out of the trailer without help.

getting in: Love under overhead shelf.....getting out: use lifting noose and grab handles

inside cabin arrangement.jpg (245.15 KiB) Viewed 192 times

A few years back, I put in an overhead crossbeam above my mid-torso (when laying down), which has two sturdy "gate" handles (the same as I use everywhere else on the trailer) and a hanging "noose" mounted on it. The crossbeam is a 4x4 mounted via lag screws between the walls, (it's not needed to support the roof), and easily supports my 225# weight and more. I lift myself with the soft noose, grab the handles, and lift/scoot forward to the door (after I remove the locking bar, while still reclined).

no, the noose isn't big enough to hang myself, to the objection voiced by my wife

lifting noose and grab handles.JPG (74.04 KiB) Viewed 192 times

I then kick the door opened, and propel myself to sit up resting on the doorsill, before I exit. I do have to watch out for the overhead stereo shelf, mounted between and above the door frames, and alway look out before I step onto my Ikea Bolmen stepstool (I have a phobia about snakes).

cheap, sturdy, easy-to clean; doesn't seem to move even in thunderstorms

Ikea Bolmen stepstool.JPG (31.9 KiB) Viewed 192 times