what is it? it is and it isn't...a Teardrop

[DMcCam]

I believe 3 things designate a teardrop. 1) it has to have a bed inside. 2) it has to have an exterior galley under the hatchlid. 3) Must be low enough so you can't stand in it. Ta-dah.....a teardrop trailer.

Hey Roly, you forgot number 4; it has a teardrop shape! I believe it's 'a home built tiny travel trailer' and a very cool one at that!!!

Best,

Dave

[working on it]

I would call it a camping pod.
structure wise, a thinner sheet with a curve in it is as strong as a thicker sheet that is flat.

I lean toward the "camping pod" description, since it more accurately depicts function & form. I had already named the trailer before I had a grasp on what I was actually building; I saw, later, that its' jokingly-named "Hairy Hominid Research Vehicle" tag was along the same lines as "Cryptozoological Camper", or "Monster Mobile", or "Sasquatch Shelter", all aimed as jests toward my wife, but not really indicative of the rugged and ready for anything structure I was trying to construct. "Camping Pod" sounds accurate. Concerning the strength that the teardrop curve adds vs. a flatter piece...only if it is the same thickness, is the bent piece stronger. Since I couldn't curve 3/4" plywood, I made it flat.

[rowerwet]

I think you are talking about puncture resistance instead of aero loads, my roof is 1/4" luan skinned with painted 10 oz canvas, no punctures yet, and I can stand on the roof. whatever works for you, I was shooting for light weight.

[jstrubberg]

Not a big fan of slapping labels on things myself.

It's a camper that meets your needs. Good enough for me.

[danlott]

It seems to me that just about everyone wants to claim their trailer is a "teardrop trailer". I hate to quote Wikipedia, but their definition of a teardrop trailer is very good.

A teardrop trailer, also known as a teardrop camper trailer, is a streamlined, compact, lightweight travel trailer, which gets its name from its teardrop profile. They usually only have sleeping space for two adults and often have a basic kitchen in the rear.

I believe most everything else that people have on here falls into the "Tiny Travel Trailers".

Either ways I enjoy seeing the wide variety of trailers and ideas that everyone comes up with.

Dan

[PKCSPT]

I just think it is cool looking.

[Ron Dickey]

when I built the boxkite it had a curved front like a td but now galley in the back and was square backed.

But I always ended my answer with "Shhhhh it thinks it is a teardrop!!"

And so it is.

Ron

[Shadow Catcher]

I dislike labels as I think they limit thinking. We were in a KOA headed back from California and one individual came up and asked if ours was a "cricket", and I replied close, it is a grasshopper design. The original Mega Mini was a direct copy of the Grasshoppers including the three rear galley doors and because the guys at Eye4Design saw a conventional looking faucet in the galley they included a water heater, one of the things Nancy loves most!

[DMcCam]

The term 'Teardrop Trailer' is the proper name for a specific design of tiny travel trailers. If you are speaking to someone who is already familiar with these little camping trailers they will understand 'teardrop' as a general classification. However if the trailer is not teardrop shape, to the uninitiated the use of the word 'teardrop' makes no logical sense and is confusing.

Even though my trailer has the shape, saying it's a Teardrop Trailer most of the time brings a blank stare. Those who have never seen or heard of one before cock their heads and say, 'a what?' It's only after I show them the profile as a teardrop shape do they understand the name.

Now when people ask me, 'what is it?', I say, "it's a Teardrop Trailer, a small, lightweight travel trailer with a sleeping space for two and a basic galley style kitchen under the hatch in the rear. The name comes from the teardrop shape…would you like a tour?".