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Last Updated on October 29, 2024 by Paul Clayton
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What Is The Best Teardrop Trailer?
The question, “What Is The Best Teardrop Trailer?” is subjective and depends on individual needs and preferences. However, several stand out for their robust build, off-road capabilities, and luxurious amenities.
Key Takeaways:
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- Teardrop Trailer Overview: Teardrop trailers are compact, affordable, and fuel-efficient, providing the basics for road trips and camping. They fit easily in tight spaces and are ideal for couples or small families.
- Top Teardrop Trailer Models: The article highlights various models, each catering to different needs:
- Luxury Models (e.g., TAB by nuCamp, Little Guy Max) offer full kitchens, bathrooms, and entertainment systems, providing high-end comforts.
- Off-Road Capabilities (e.g., Escapod TOPO2, Base Drop) feature rugged builds and all-terrain tires for adventurous campers.
- Minimalist Choices (e.g., Polydrop, Vintage Overland) emphasize lightweight and simple designs, focusing on essential needs and easy towing.
- DIY Options (e.g., Ultimate Big Woody) allow enthusiasts to custom-build trailers at a lower cost with basic amenities.
- Cost Range and Value: New teardrop trailers typically cost between $12,000 and $60,000, while used models can be cheaper. They offer significant value through compact design, affordability, and ease of towing with smaller vehicles, making them cost-effective alternatives to traditional RVs.
- Features and Customization: Common features include queen-sized beds, outdoor kitchens, and options for solar power, insulation, and additional storage. Many models offer add-ons like AC, bathrooms, and heating options for customization.
- Buyer Tips for Used Trailers: To find a good deal on a used teardrop, shoppers should research model values, compare prices nationwide, shop during the offseason, and be prepared to negotiate.
It combines the classic teardrop design with modern features such as a fully equipped kitchen, a spacious sleeping area, and storage. Its high clearance and off-road tires make it suitable for all terrains.
So, the road-tripping adventurer in you wants you to buy a teardrop trailer. And why not?
Not only are you leaving a small footprint on this world compared to a conventional RV (recreational vehicle for the uninitiated), but it’s compact enough to easily fit the tightest parking spot and is perfect for two people.
An average-sized teardrop trailer is only about 5’ tall and 10′ long. And that’s not a lot of room, is it? Your bathroom at home could be way bigger than that.
Other Teardrop Camper Recommendations
- Building Your Own Custom Teardrop Trailer
- 12 Cool Retro Campers That Are New
- 5 Best Teardrop Campers with Slide Outs with More Space Than You Expect
- 7 Best Teardrop Campers with AC: Stay Cool
- Our 10 Favorite Micro Campers: Small Yet Brilliant
- 6 Fantastic Teardrop Campers With Bathrooms
Do you think the teardrop should, at the very least, accommodate your basic indoor activities, such as cooking and sleeping? And maybe a little more?
With teardrop trailers becoming popular once again and having evolved since its modest beginnings in the 1930s, manufacturers are also building more ambitious models to suit the needs of the modern man or woman.
Teardrop campers are often more affordable options than a typical travel trailer. With our top 13 teardrop trailers, you will be amazed at how spacious they can be.
We wholeheartedly recommend any one of them as your next teardrop trailer purchase. They are perfect for two people traveling together on the road.
From small-scale manufacturers such as Little Guy Travel Trailers to a more familiar Winnebago brand, these travel trailers are taking RVing to a higher level with their generous floor plans.
Come to think of it, teardrop-style trailers are often much more capable and luxurious than you might initially think.
For each teardrop trailer on our list, we will list items you probably would not expect to find inside a traditional travel trailer. It’s not magic – it’s space redefined, teardrop camper style!
Top Teardrop Trailers
1. TAB Teardrop Camper by nuCamp
Weight: 1,826lbs and up
Price: $37,000 and up
Features:
This top-of-the-line teardrop trailer features many awesome extras, such as an indoor kitchen with a propane stove, two burners, and a spacious fridge.
Like all other electronic appliances, the fridge can be powered by a propane tank, a 12v battery, or an external power source.
You can eat your meals in the dining area, which can transform into a queen-sized bed when you’re done, allowing plenty of extra sleeping room.
For an additional fee, even more extra features are available, including a fully functioning bathroom with a shower, mirror, and working toilet. Other options include air conditioning, additional cabinet space, extra vents, and an outdoor shower.
There is plenty of room for recreation and necessity, with 6 feet of headroom and an entertainment system with a large television. If you’re looking for a trailer that provides a good amount of extra comfort, this may be the teardrop trailer.
2. Self-Build Ultimate Big Woody Teardrop Trailer
Weight: 1,000lbs and up
Price: $3,000 and up
Features:
A teardrop trailer with a unique retro-styled design, this trailer also comes at a smaller price point for those who don’t need all the bells and whistles of some of the higher-end trailers.
This trailer features all the basic camping necessities you’ll need and will not burn a huge hole in your wallet.
However, one small caveat: you must assemble the trailer yourself. While this may be a fun project for some, it may be too much for others.
The assembled trailer will include many features, such as an outdoor kitchen with a refrigerator, tables, and a patio.
It will have wiring for a 12V battery or an external power source. It will also have plenty of overhead storage space, a double-sized bed, and even room for a small television.
You can purchase blueprints to assemble your teardrop trailer from scratch or purchase small kits that include all the necessary parts.
While the kits provide a more convenient way to build the trailer, most needed parts can be found at your local hardware shop and may be less expensive.
Depending on your specific needs as a camper, this trailer has tiered options that include more features.
3. Oregon Trail’R FronTear Teardrop Camper
Weight: 1,100lbs and up
Price: $18,000 and up
Features:
This is a convenient and minimalistic teardrop trailer. Its downsized design doesn’t sacrifice storage space or comfort.
Unique and simple options for storage allow you to camp freer while still bringing along everything you need.
The basic option includes an outdoor kitchen, a concealable side table, and plenty of cabinets to store your necessities. It also has a large double bed and two doors, one on each trailer.
While the features are minimal, the true beauty of this trailer lies in its compactness—few other trailers offer this much comfort in this succinct package.
For those who appreciate this trailer yet may need more features, numerous options can be added to the base design for an additional fee.
These include televisions, extra tables, air conditioning, and other things that may give campers extra comfort.
4. Polydrop Teardrop Trailer
Weight: 760lbs and up
Price: $12,500 and up
Features:
This teardrop trailer features an exceedingly sleek and ultra-lightweight design, making it seem slightly more stripped-back than it is regarding extra features.
This is a trailer you can take anywhere, and it has the features to back it up.
A 100W solar power system is included, allowing you to use electricity even when camping off the grid.
This unique feature is part of the trailer’s base design and is one of its biggest selling points for campers who don’t want to rely on traditional campground amenities or often unreliable batteries.
In addition to the ability to generate and use solar power, this trailer features hefty insulation and a heater, which means you can take it into cold climates without worrying about losing too much heat.
However, remember that you may have trouble using solar paneling without sunlight!
In addition to the insulation, this trailer has plenty of ventilation methods, which makes controlling the temperature even easier.
5. Escapod TOPO2
Weight: 1,600lbs and up
Price: $33,990 and up
Check out our full review here.
Features:
This teardrop trailer is for those more focused on the outdoors than indoors.
The new TOPO2 from Escapod Trailers is created in a single-piece monocoque body that includes all the integrated systems at the base level.
While it doesn’t feature a hefty amount of extra odds-and-ends, what it does feature is nicely wrapped up in a versatile and durable package that can hold its own on rough terrain.
While it looks like a basic teardrop trailer, it has the mechanics to handle rougher roads than most of the competition, and its all-terrain tires won’t give out on the dirt.
The base design has two doors, one on each side, insulated walls, air conditioning, a cooler for food and drinks, and an outdoor kitchen.
Extra options are available, including a stove, a water tank, a bike or kayak rack, awnings, and the unique option of a rooftop tent that can house a couple of extra campers.
The trailer includes a queen-sized bed with a Stargazer window that allows you to watch the skies while relaxing before bed. This window also allows for extra ventilation, along with the included fan.
6. Base Drop by Colorado Teardrops
Weight: 1,470lbs and up
Price: $24,500 and up
Features:
If the name of this teardrop trailer doesn’t give it away, this is a trailer that is a little bit larger than the average.
With its convertible queen-sized bed and dual bunk beds, this trailer easily accommodates a family of up to 4.
However, this extra room isn’t the only thing that makes this teardrop trailer stand out from the competition.
The queen-sized bed converts into an indoor dining room with a table and a sofa. There is also an outdoor kitchen that allows you to make all of your meals easily and comfortably.
There are options for an included stove and cooler, but those will add to the overall cost.
Although this teardrop trailer has more room than the competition, it can still comfortably fit in the average garage.
This, along with the large all-terrain tires, means that no amount of versatility and mobility is sacrificed in making this trailer spacious enough to house your family.
7. Vistabule Teardrop Trailer
Weight: 1,520lbs and up
Price: $23,995 and up
Features:
For those who don’t like the feeling of confinement that teardrop trailers can often inspire, this open and breathable teardrop trailer may be the one for you.
With four large windows and two separate portholes allowing for botched airflow and sight-seeing, this teardrop trailer will enable you to stay in touch with nature while still providing all of the necessary creature comforts that campers have expected.
The windows and screen vents allow maximum airflow, while the amenities provide good camping comfort.
An outdoor kitchen can make meals, while a convertible indoor eating lounge can be set up for supper and turned back into a bed when you’re done.
This teardrop trailer has doors on both sides. The extra-large front window allows you to gaze out from your bed and watch the skies as you fall asleep.
8. Little Guy Max
Weight: 3,060 lbs and up
Price: $32,999 and up
Features:
If you’re looking for a teardrop trailer that provides the maximum number of luxuries possible, this may be the one for you.
This trailer crams about as many goodies as you can inside of a teardrop trailer, and those campers who appreciate their creature comforts may look past the hefty price tag that comes along with them.
Of course, the main selling point of this teardrop trailer is its many features—a fully functioning indoor kitchen, a bathroom, a water heater, air conditioning, and an entertainment system with room for a large television.
As well, there’s the typical indoor dinette set that transforms into a bed.
On top of all the extras that this teardrop trailer provides, it is also incredibly spacious.
There are 6 feet 7 inches of headroom, meaning that even the largest campers can maneuver around this trailer comfortably.
9. Humble Hut Tear Drop Camper
Weight: 900lbs and up
Price: $63,900 and up
Features:
This teardrop trailer won’t be within every camper’s price range, but its unique design may make it stand out to the right camper with the funds to afford it.
It is made entirely of wood, formed without any screws, and finely constructed with love put into every detail.
The interior of this teardrop trailer isn’t fancy, but it provides the space you’ll need to sleep and feel comfortable while camping.
There aren’t many extra features, just a mattress and a little storage, but features aren’t the selling point of this teardrop trailer.
In addition to its stunning and unique design, this teardrop trailer completely opens on one side via two oversized doors.
This lets you turn your indoor teardrop trailer into a luxurious outdoor camping space.
10. Pika by Timberleaf
Weight: 1,025lbs and up
Price: $24,150 and up
Features:
This teardrop trailer may be the choice for those who don’t want to pay a higher price and simply need their basic needs met.
With plenty of storage, a double bed, and decent features, this comfortable and stylish trailer won’t set you back with an exorbitant price tag.
This trailer features an outdoor kitchen with a cooler, insulation, air conditioning via a fan, two separate doors, and a large window opening on top for stargazing. An awning is also an option on the outside.
The base design of this teardrop trailer already includes all-terrain tires, but there is also the option to add more suspension for those who want to camp in areas with rougher roads.
All this comes together to create an excellent teardrop trailer for adventure-seeking minimalists.
11. Vintage Overland Teardrop Trailers
Weight: 600lbs and up
Price: $21,000 and up
Features:
Inexpensive and lightweight, this teardrop trailer features a few extras besides a bed, some storage, and a little counter space, constituting an outdoor kitchen area.
There is no bathroom or other extra features. However, you do get a reliable and lightweight bedroom on wheels.
There is a double bed with a small window for ventilation and a fan included right above it. This allows for a good amount of airflow while sleeping in case things get too hot.
This trailer features a stylish design unique to its Danish heritage. It’s also so lightweight that you shouldn’t have much problem carrying it along, even behind smaller vehicles.
Are Teardrop Campers for you?
These teardrop campers make you think twice about getting a more conventional RV, not only because of the price but also because you may realize that you don’t need much space to experience a home-away-from-home atmosphere.
All you need is creativity, smart planning, and compromise. Yes, you can fit your queen-sized mattress; you must be strategic. As you have discovered from our 13 teardrop camper examples, no space is wasted; it can always serve a purpose.
While you manage your expectations, you may find yourselves pleasantly amazed when you step inside the not-so-small world of the iconic teardrop campers. It will take you to places, literally and figuratively speaking. Living big in a teardrop-shaped trailer is not impossible indeed. But then again, is it really for you? Despite all the details I have provided here, only you can answer that.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Teardrop Camper cost?
The average cost of a new Teardrop trailer is around $18,000. However, prices can vary from $12,000 to $60,000. Used models will likely cost between $5,000 and $50,000.
Are they worth it?
Teardrops are great value for anyone looking for a small pull-behind camper. They are cheaper to buy and can be pulled with a much smaller car, making them more fuel-efficient.
Do Teardrop Trailers have bathrooms?
Many Teardrop trailers contain bathrooms. For example, the Little Guy Mini Max includes a bath, shower, and toilet facilities.
Are they aerodynamic?
Given their shape, teardrop trailers are naturally aerodynamic. Additionally, their lightweight nature, coupled with their aerodynamic shape, provides additional fuel savings.
Do they have AC?
Several teardrop trailers come with AC as standard. For example, the TimberLeaf Classic has AC and many additional features.
How do you heat one?
A small space or ceramic heater can quickly and efficiently heat the small interior space of a teardrop trailer. I would avoid propane heaters due to the risks around carbon monoxide.
How Much Does A Teardrop Trailer Weigh?
Teardrop trailers weigh between 500 and 3,200 pounds, averaging around 1,500 lbs. These weights open up a huge range of cars and SUVs suitable for towing.
Used teardrop trailer for sale: Tips For Getting a Great Deal
Buying a used teardrop trailer can save a lot of money. Before jumping in head first, it’s worth researching and learning how to get a good deal.
- Check Nada RV or JD Power for the estimated value of the model you’re interested in.
- Research models for sale nationwide to see if the price is consistent.
- Shop during the offseason.
- Don’t be afraid to negotiate.
- Know how much you want to spend, and don’t deviate from it.
- Ask for extras or a discount.