Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

http://reno.craigslist.org/rvs/3782106377.html

2012 Cricket Trailer ( www.crickettrailer.com ) Loaded with tons of options and like new! Can be pulled by a Subaru!!! Featured on Extreme RV's. Has full hookups/composting toilet(never used) , sink/running water, hot water, fridge/freezer/ sofa bed for 2/ 1 ceiling cot for 120lbs or less/ ample storage/ Thule storage basket on roof/ bike rack and more! Asking 19,000 but will consider all reasonable offers. Call for more info (775) 338-3880.

They aren't the most flattering photos, especially for a $19000 trailer. It looks like someone with no depth perception designed it.

It looks like someone with no depth perception designed it.
if I remember correctly, NASA engineer designed this after one of the moon vehicles. so I think he had depth. hehehe

lancew wrote: if I remember correctly, NASA engineer designed this after one of the moon vehicles. so I think he had depth. hehehe

You are very correct, amazing packaging really. He even managed to get a shower in there too.

Looks very functional and economical, but still trying to digest the aesthetics...

price lowered to $16,000!!

who's a buyer??

Thinking what dream trailer I could have for $16k!!

Shady

It looks crowded inside to me.

Things like this always amaze me. It's only a year old, and they're wanting to sell it. Ouch...they are going to take a beating on this one. I wonder if it's a life changing thing that happened, or they just didn't really like it after they got it. Doug

Just saw a segment on these on a show that was on the other day... extreme trailers or something like that. Probably on the travel channel.

They actually look pretty cool. Not sure it's worth $19k though. Or even $16k for that matter. Maybe.

Owners probably got tired of being laughed at for buying such an ugly trailer.Looks like Picasso designed it when he was drunk.

Apparently a few people have never heard of one of the major rules of true design: Form follows function. This thing has it all.

I applaud the engineer that came up with this design. Its forward and creative thinking like this that pushes our society to evolve.

I'd LOVE to have one of these parked at my house! Maybe I can pick a used one up in a few years when they come down in price.

oth47 wrote:Owners probably got tired of being laughed at for buying such an ugly trailer.Looks like Picasso designed it when he was drunk.

EXCELLENT!!

Wifey and I going to Picasso Museum Paris next month... Let you know if it is featured there!!

Shady

oth47 wrote:Owners probably got tired of being laughed at for buying such an ugly trailer.Looks like Picasso designed it when he was drunk.

Redundant. Picasso was always completely wrecked on absinthe.

I guess you have to appreciate modern architectural aesthetics to like this one.
I like it from a functional standpoint. I definitely like the thought process.
I love the bonded aluminum and insulation application. For space age inspiration it trumps organic materials though its a bit cold.
The form I guess was inspired by the cricket flexing its exoskeleton... except the cricket expands in motion and contracts at rest.
This cricket RV does the opposite... expanded at rest. Maybe that's a minor design interpretation to be ignored.
I can handle that if aerodynamics is good. I noticed that the rear is narrower which takes its cue from air turbulence reduction.
But there's still a lot of external surface irregularities to be aerodynamic.
So, does the absence of atmospheric friction in space justify orthogonal surfaces for a terrestrial vehicle?
Maybe something's lost in translation.
For aerodynamics the front height is a bit tall. But if you have a taller tow vehicle the trailer would be in the slipstream.
I like the fenestrations. I like the two exits. I like the two couch/bed options.
The interior looks very much like the inside of the space station, like a lab -- engineering aesthetics aka industrial.
Something though about that picture window skews my picture-postcard view. I guess I'm not that avant garde. I like a horizontal horizon.
The bungee cord ceiling appointments are not my first choice. But I like the drop down kids bunks.
I think the inspiration of using all surfaces comes from the space station where gravity is next to nil and any surface can be up or down and presents itself for use accordingly.
My bottom line... its just my personal opinion, but I wouldn't feel at home in this RV just as I wouldn't feel at home in the space station. Though this RV goes 'where no one has gone before', there seems to be a disconnect with my notion of the underlying romance of camping -- to reconnect with nature. Well, "its a base camp" the designer would say. But even a camp is still a home away from home.
Christopher

I liked the Cricket when I saw it in person. I thought the irregular shapes were to add strength to sections. Flat paper and foil can't hold anything, but if you crease them you can support weight. The construction seemed to be good, but there were about six rivets popped. The custodians of the show vehicle advised that they have put in over 15,000 miles in the past few months hauling a lot of display material including in a roof top carrier. You can sleep in it in a Walmart parking lot un-popped. At the campground, with the top up, quite roomy feeling. Way more than adequate for hardy campers or soloists. But the pricing is puzzling. Originally out at $9980 (or so) for the base model. Now that RV is selling very well and manufacturing is ramping up, the base is $16,000 and change. Mr. Spock would say illogical.