Will a teardrop work for me and if so which one?

[AS115]

Hi All,

Would love some direction whether a TD is the way to go for me. I'm a single mom with 2 young kids, so I need something that sleeps at least 3, maybe 4 if a friend joins us. I really want to have a toilet and shower in addition to a small kitchen. What are my options? How light are teardrops? I have a Honda Odyssey right now although I need to get a new car by the end of the year. I owned a 2004 Rockwood Forest River HW2516G PUP for a few years, but it was just too much work to set up and too close to the tow rating for me to feel comfortable hauling it around with my kids.

I love the idea of building my own, but I don't have a garage right now and can't imagine having time to do that while my kids are young. Besides, it would take me forever, and I'd like to get out camping next year.

So if a teardrop will work, which ones should I look for? I'd like to buy used, if possible. I live in the mid-Atlantic.

Thanks!

[Vedette]

Wow!
This whole question hinges on:
1. the age of your kids?
2 whether you have taught them to camp.
3 Who you are bringing the friend for?
4. How much money are you willing to spend?
5. And whether you are ready to be part of an amazing family?
Teardrop camping is the be all end all of camping IMHO But is seriously addictive.
It is more than a hobby....but just short of a cult??
Are you truly ready for it??
If so....from what you have said in your 1st post I can only suggest, depending on the answers to the 5 questions I have posed.
The first thing you should realize that "you need to buy! Just forget about the build part!
How old are you?
Not being pushy here but, advise can only be given if one has all of the facts.
This may be a life changing decision for you, as it was for us. But, at least I had had some experience and inclination as to what we were getting into and where we were headed.
All I can say is the people you will meet as a Teardrop Camper will renew your faith in mankind, and be a positive experience for you and your children, no matter what their age.
Please feel free to PM me if you want the rest of my suggestions, without exposing any personal information in open Forum.
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

[48Rob]

So if a teardrop will work, which ones should I look for? I'd like to buy used, if possible.

No.
You need a small travel trailer.
The market is full of older small to medium sized travel trailers that sell in the $2500.00 and under range.
Since you're buying a new car soon, size it to be able to pull 3-4 thousand pounds and you'll be set.

Rob

[stumphugger]

This might work.


It still would be very crowded inside, so you'd have to get along well and hope for nice weather--eat outside. It is lightweight, and sets up fast. The top can be put up in less than a minute. You have 10 feet of living space inside. The potty is stored under a dinette seat. The shower is outdoors. It has a sink, 3 way fridge, two burner stove top, little furnace and water heater. There isn't much storage because it folds up. The box on the front is a wonderful thing.

I find it a little bit crowded with just me and my Labrador, but you might find it all right. There are different configurations to choose from.

[kirkman]

I think you would be happy with, as they call them fiberglass Egg camper like a scamp. Here is a web sight dedicated to these kind of campers.
http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/
Great group of people they will help you out. I bought one after my wife said she needed more room very light weight easy to tow. I towed my first one with a 4 cylinder small SUV. Here are some pic's of my old one you can get them with a bathroom and a shower also! You can pull one very easily with your Honda.
Jason

The bed is a double bed.

This front couch opens up into bunk beds that my 17 year old fits on.

Small kitchen sink and stove most have a built in stove.

Mine had a ice box but most have a frig.

And a porta potty that pulls out under the couch.

[sagebrush]

With your list if requirements you would be better off with a fiberglass "egg" than a teardrop.
Here is a link for "eggs" for sale.

http://www.fiberglass-rv-4sale.com/node

Check Craigslist also. Prices should start coming down now that the camping season is about over.
We found our Scamp on Craigslist only 3 miles from our house

Happy Hunting

[Vedette]

From her posted list of wants? Yes a small light standie would probably be the best suggestion.
Bolers are very common here in our area.
Our local street Rod Run saw over 30 Bolers in attendance.
Street Rodders love them because of the weight!
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi
PS
I am not old enough for a standie just yet.........maybe in 25 years??

[stumphugger]

scamps are really nice but not avialbe in ready to find numbers. your probaly going to be looking a while to find one. they are nice though and will suit you well. but like I said they are not a dime a dozen on the used market and I dont even know if they are still manfacturing them.

slow

Scamps are still in production, and they are one of the easier to find used trailers. Scamps are manufactured in Minnesota.

Casitas are very nice too, and have a bit higher clearance than the Scamps. Casitas are manufactured in Rice, Texas.

Neither have any dealers. To buy new, you deal with the factory. Most folks love them. I plan to maybe go up another notch eventually and go with a Casita.

Trilliums are now made in the U.S. They can be bought at a few retail dealerships, and found used in the usual places.

[mikeschn]

What Rob says! I don't think you'd be happy with a teardrop for long...

Mike...

So if a teardrop will work, which ones should I look for? I'd like to buy used, if possible.

No.
You need a small travel trailer.
The market is full of older small to medium sized travel trailers that sell in the $2500.00 and under range.
Since you're buying a new car soon, size it to be able to pull 3-4 thousand pounds and you'll be set.

Rob

[AS115]

Thanks, everyone! I'm going to concentrate on taking care of getting a new car, in the 4500-5000 tow range, then start looking for a trailer of some sort. Maybe I'll build a teardrop with my kids once they get older and I have a little more time.

[AS115]

btw what is a Toler?

You all have introduced me to some new campers, such as the Trillum. Very cool and retro!

[drhill]

Not a Toler, A Boler.

It is a small fiberglass trailer. Most popular is the 13' model. They haven't been built for years and the used ones are popular as least in Western Canada.

When I saw the title of your post I thought you would have hundreds of replies as there are hundreds (thousands?) of different teardrops. I just finished building one this summer and love it. But yes, if you want a toilet, look for something bigger.

[rahtware]

There is a new "teardrop" that covers most of her items; the T@B clam shell has the kitchen under a rear hatch like other teardrops, but has standing room and a small "bathroom" in the main cabin. With the price starting above 16k+US these are not cheap trailers. Like the fiberglass "eggs" the toilet/shower room is almost unusable for a plus sized adult, but are great to have if you take kids camping. I checked out a 13 foot Scamp and liked it but it was too heavy for my Element to tow.
One of the best things about having a teardrop is the close community of fellow teardroppers, but I think you will also find that in the "egg" and classic trailer communities.

[48Rob]

Yes, the clamshell may work for her, good option!.

http://www.moixrv.com/rv/conway+ar/litt ... +clamshell

There are a lot of small travel trailers out there that may fit the bill, but they aren't traditional "Teardrop" trailers.

Rob

[AS115]

There is a new "teardrop" that covers most of her items; the T@B clam shell has the kitchen under a rear hatch like other teardrops, but has standing room and a small "bathroom" in the main cabin. With the price starting above 16k+US these are not cheap trailers. Like the fiberglass "eggs" the toilet/shower room is almost unusable for a plus sized adult, but are great to have if you take kids camping. I checked out a 13 foot Scamp and liked it but it was too heavy for my Element to tow.
One of the best things about having a teardrop is the close community of fellow teardroppers, but I think you will also find that in the "egg" and classic trailer communities.

Yes, the clamshell may work for her, good option!.

http://www.moixrv.com/rv/conway+ar/litt ... +clamshell

There are a lot of small travel trailers out there that may fit the bill, but they aren't traditional "Teardrop" trailers.

Rob

Rahtware and Rob,

Is the distinction of a teardrop that the kitchen is outside? I really like the TAB that you both mentioned - the bath is perfect given our sizes but I do wonder where I'd stow my kids . They're not old enough to sleep separately in a tent.

I really like the idea of the kitchen being outside, but am wondering what are the pros and cons of that set up vs. a small/ultralite hybrid or TT. For me, if it's raining we'd pull out and do something else anyway since an adult and 2 kids aren't going to hang out all day in any size camper that I'm willing to tow. If we're at camp, I want to be outside not in a trailer.

My immediate concern is I need to buy a car by the end of the year, so I'm going to post separately about what people use to tow.

Thanks!

Thanks!