Next step up from a TD?

[Martinjmpr]

Although Liz and I both love Bubbles, I'm just wondering what would be considered the "next step up" from a teardrop?

Here's why I'm asking: We've done a lot of camping over the past 2 years with Bubbles, and we have a bunch of trips planned for next year (including several TD gatherings!)

But we both realize that sooner or later we're going to get tired of crawling in on our hands and knees, and that as our granddaughter gets older, sooner or later we're going to want to take her with us.

So, I'm just kind of "looking down the road" to see what options we should consider when we "outgrow" Bubbles.

We belong to the Southwest Vintage Camper Association and we have seen some very nice restored vintage campers from the 50's, 60's and 70's. But I'm not sure if I want to take on the amount of work neccessary to restore one of these old trailers. I've heard horror stories about water damage, electrical problems, floor rot, frame damage, etc, and when I look at these vintage trailers, the thing that occurs to me is that "this is like having another house to maintain!"

See, one of the things we both like about Bubbles is that she's simple: She has slab plywood walls (no "sandwiching" of a frame between inner and outer panels), no electrical other than her tailights, and no gas. The vent fan is solar and we use battery powered lights. The frame is simple and stout and if a light needs rewiring, I can access it easily from under the trailer. There is no running water and no holding tanks for gray or black water. As a result, she doesn't require a lot of maintenance, which we both like.

So I'm just wondering if anybody out there makes a stand-up trailer that is as simple and basic as our Bubbles. Most of the standup trailers I see have gas, internal electrical power, and running water, all of which need to be carefully maintained. There is also the issue of weight: Bubbles weighs about 1,000lb, and I don't really want to pull anything that is much heavier than that, I would say maybe 1500lb max.

I suppose we could buy an old trailer and just not use the sink or stove (or even disconnect or remove them) but we would still be faced with issues of leaky roofs (which seem to be a real problem with old trailers), chasing down electrical gremlins, etc.

I guess in my mind, I would see something like one of the small fiberglass-shell trailers like the Burro, Casita or Scamp, but with a very basic interior.

I know the stock answer here is "build your own!" but I don't know that we have either the time or the skills to do that. It took us 3 1/2 months of using virtually all our free time to basically "rebuild" Bubbles, and we didn't really do anything to the exterior structure, other than to sand it and protect it. Building a trailer from the ground up is, I'm afraid, a little beyond our current abilities.

I'm sure we're not the only people to ever have this thought, so I'm curious, for those of you who did, what was your solution?

[tony.latham]

I think you've got your heart set on a standy of some sort. I took a look at Bubbles. Sweet! A step up from there? I can tell you this; it was huge to go from a 4x10 to a 5x10. That extra foot is enormous, both in the cabin and the galley. Plus we really upgraded our mattress.

TL

[Martiangod]

An older Egg may be your answer, the older ones, you could do a quick sand and paint if needed, the older ones are pretty basic inside.
You may consider a cargo conversion, would give you many of the things you want and you can leave out what you don't want. Not many manufactured trailers in the last 30 years a really bare bones, most if not all will have gas, water and propane, although you don't need to use them systems

[mikeschn]

I'd go with a giant teardrop/small standie. It's really not that much harder to build than a standard sized teardrop. But the extra space you gain is amazing.

And there are multiple floorplans you can choose from!

Mike...

[KCStudly]

Keep an eye out for the classified ads here.

Miriam got a great deal on the green lantern not too long ago. http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=49808

[PKCSPT]

I just want to say when it was time to take my granddaughter camping I bought a tent to attach to the side. I love the extra flexibility it gives. Need more room put it up, don't want extra room leave it home.
As for when I just get to not bending so good I am thinking along the lines of a Scamp or something similar.

I love Bubbles, has it really been 2 years since you redid her?

[Vedette]

Sounds like you are not really convinced that you want to leave the Teardrop World to go over to a "Standy". You were not willing to give up the things that make a Tears so unique.
A larger Teardrop maybe!
I am thinking of going from a "Simca" (small French car) that "Miss Piggy" was constructed from.........to a 1947 Oldsmobile Fleetline as our next project. It has cool lines and could be larger inside??? Even though we already have a full Queen in "MP" and lots of headroom!
Just my 2 cents worth!
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

[prohandyman]

Martin
Sent you a couple of Pms
Dan

[Rainier70]

If you are going larger and want to still keep it light, I would look at some of the foam trailers..... OR.......You could look at the dark side......those of us that have cargo trailer conversions. Many of the smaller cargo trailers are in the 1000 lb range ... empty. My 6 x 12 was abt 1100lbs when I started and I know that there are lots of lighter ones. If nothing else you look at some of the conversions just to get ideas on how others have utilized the space.

[angib]

I guess in my mind, I would see something like one of the small fiberglass-shell trailers like the Burro, Casita or Scamp, but with a very basic interior.

It does sound like these are the closest fit to your wants.

Probably the Compact Junior comes closest to your weight target at 1000-1300 pounds, with early 13ft Scamps/Burros a little heavier. Have you visited the Fiberglass RV forum to see if they sound interesting (or, to see if you get addicted...).

[mary and bob]

We bought an old Uhaul fiberglass camper, similar to a Scamp or Burro, and are now spending the winter in it in the south. Uhaul made these campers in 1984 & 85, rented them until 1992, then sold them. We will never part with our teardrop, but the Uhaul is better for longer time camping, we can stand up or sit in it. We removed the propane and water systems. The trailer weighs 1250 according to the title, and has no brakes. We pull it with a 2003 Honda CRV. The fiberglass campers are very popular, and used ones sell fast. They also have their own issues too. You may want to look over on fiberglassrc.com for some ideas and campers for sale. There is also a site for fiberglass campers that are for sale, but I don't remember the exact wording of it.

[rebapuck]

All the electrical, plumbing and gas is there only if you put it in. Build a standy as barebones as you want.

[rowerwet]

most people think of a tent trailer (pop-up) as the next step up from a tear. Older pop ups were built lighter and simpler for the average car to tow, today they are massive heavy, complex and require a bigger heavier TV to pull them. Just about every pop up will have a sink with a water jug, garden hose hook up, a propane stove, and a electric system 12V battery/120 external with an inverter. Those systems are easy to not use if you don't want too, or remove is you really don't want them.

[kayakdlk]

I always thought a step up from a traditional teardrop would be something like the "Rondack Lodge" by Steve Frederick (plans at http://www.campingclassics.com). You are able to stand up (unless you are over 5'9"). It has a queen bed, seating and table area for four, a pottie and still keeps the traditional teardrop rear kitchen galley. I think simple and the best of both a small standie and a teardrop. Still relative simple small and lighter weight. A very possible project in a few years for me.

Dan

[Catherine+twins]

I know you said you DID NOT want to build. However, you are most likely to get what you want by building OR hiring someone to build for you.

Do you have any handy friends or friends of friends? For example, one of my now-retired former co-workers is game to try anything. While we were still working together we would surf the web (hey, our job is/was fixing computers, we had plenty of time to play on our computers at work) and look at tiny houses and later tiny trailers. After he retired he put together several tiny "cabins" to park at his land in the mountains and rent out to hunters in the fall. He also put together a shower trailer for the same location. When I built Penguino1 he loved it, and really wants to help out with Penguino2. I know if I wanted to, I could hire him to do the whole thing.

Okay, so you don't find someone that way. There must be other ways to find someone to help/take over the build. You already have a TD, can you park it somewhere with a sign on it, not a "for sale" sign but a "help wanted" one? Or talk to some of the people in the vintage trailer group and see if you can find someone to build you a new RETRO standy to your specifications. I assume they have a board where they discuss their projects, so you could slip in your question. Or post here in a new topic, "Help Wanted, Build a Standy in Colorado." I know at least one person here had her trailer built by doing something like that. Have an exterior in mind, like maybe http://tnttt.com/VintagePlans/wanderbug.pdf or something similar, and be able to pull out your plans any time someone expresses interest.

Finally, spend some time in the Foamies section. As you have noted, the build can be very simple, and building with foam makes it very light. (Not TOO light if you ever have to drive in windy conditions. BTDT!!!)

Catherine

ps Oh, and I just saw this in another thread. Might be worth a look.
http://www.tealinternational.com/TailFe ... rplan.html