Hi, this is Craig hyjacking Betsey's account....again...
I am the primary designer of the Camp-Inn Raindrop. I initially designed it because one of our employees wanted a teardrop that could fit 2 kids and 2 adults. We drew up several designs, but none worked very well. I had not seen the original airstream design and the new Basecamp hadn't been introduced yet.
The day I brought the initial drawings into work, we all thought it looked a little weird, but couldn't find anything else really wrong with it, so......We built one. It worked out so well that we decided to offer it as a new product.
It has a couple drawbacks and several advantages.
The main drawback is that it is more complicated to build. You have to join the front part to the rear without having a weak spot. You have to create a stiffer frame to help keep the body rigid. You have to have curved windows (which are a bit tricky)
Another drawback is it doesn't look like a teardrop. We intentionally named it the Raindrop so the purist teardroppers wouldn't throw rocks at us.
Here are a few of the advantages.
1. It has the same queen size bed as our more traditional teardrops. (the trailer is the same as a teardrop from the front of the doors back) (the mattress doesn't extend into the curved front, so no clipped corners)
2. The extra 2 feet in length allowed us to add the bunkbeds (for the 2 kids) The bunkbeds are run crosswise, so kids have to be under 4'8" to be comfortable.
2. The bunkbeds could be converted into a couch. (it only encroaches on the bed by 2" so the bed is 6'4" with the couch set up.
3. The full height front end allowed comfortable seating height. A teardrop front curves overhead limiting headroom.
4. The front allowed more windows.
5. It allows a little more open space for those who feel cramped in a traditional teardrop.
6. We made the couch so it would drop down so the cushion was flush with the mattress. If you put your pillow on the couch cushion, it makes the bed almost 8 feet long. So even basketball players can fit.
7. The couch gives a place for a dog to sleep.
8. The couch gives some extra storage when you are in bed.
Here is the couch and the bunkbeds.
Here is a page with pictures of the Raindrop. At the end, there are a few pictures giving hints as to how it was built.
http://tinycamper.com/topsecret/
Hope this helps.
Craig