Confession...Teardrop Camping is Work! Our Step by Step Camp Setup
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- Опубліковано 2 сер 2024
- Let's be honest here. Teardrop camping is work. But, how much work is really involved with teardrop trailer camping? We will be taking you through a visual demonstration of our teardrop campsite setup. We will show you why this particular form of overlanding requires a bit of work. We will also be sharing the benefits of some of this "work" as well.
In this episode of Playing with Sticks we will be busting out every part of the teardrop camper trailer "outdoor living area." From parking, the camping toilet, side entry tents, solar panels, outdoor kitchens, and many other facets of teardrop camper life. This is not camping made easy, but more like camping made enjoyable.
Timestamps of Actual Work Steps involved: 1:25 and 8:20
If you are new to the channel make sure you check out our playlists on teardrop trailer tips and tricks, small camper comparisons, overland trailers, and videos on the oh so lovable Scamp fiberglass trailer. If you are interested in any items in these videos they all can be found in previous videos on the channel.
Looking for a detailed list of all the gear we currently use? Link Below: www.amazon.com/shop/playingwithsticks
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Our current toilet amzn.to/2T5HAA9
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The larger Clam that many folks own (love this one because wind/shade flaps built in amzn.to/3fP69LE
Clam tent attachable wind/sun awnings (fits most Clam tents) amzn.to/2Wy6I52
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Thank you for joining us on the journey! - Авто та транспорт
One of the greatest joys in my camping is this: when I set-up a site, it's all there. There's a living room a kitchen and a bedroom. When I tear down, there's nothing left...you can barely see that we were there. Teardrops are attractive precisely because they emulate this sort of option while adding significantly more comfort (countertops, enclosed sleeping space...etc.).
Class C's and fifth wheelers want an apartment. It's possible that these folks want to be outdoors, but they definitely want the option to be indoors. It's a different philosophy altogether and I'm not here to yuk on someone else's yum. At the end of the day, getting out on the road with a 40 foot 5th wheel is better than not getting out at all but, for me, I'll take the teardrop on a fire trail (towed behind a normal car) over the mobile apartment at a KOA every day of the week.
As always, thanks for the video.
We completely agree with the whatever gets you out there is the way to go 40 foot or 10 foot. Wish we had more fire trails up here. Not like the Lower 48 in terms of forest service roads and fire trails. Roads are a bit few and far between up here.
I think I get you. Camping doesn't feel like camping in a fully decked out rv.
You got it Alexander.
Oh but it DOES. To each his own, true. I have an 18'- small in the RV world, but it is self-contained and I'm not spending time setting up everything, sometimes in the pouring rain. I still enjoy a waterfront site. Just sitting outside with coffee made in an electric percolator. LOL.
Camping in a Teardrop isn't for everybody and that's fine. I remember a few years ago, camped just outside Yellowstone and we were parked next to some big RV's. I said to my wife, "I'm sure glad we don't own one of those big expensive beasts, what a headache just to maintain it". Later I heard one of those RV owners comment to his wife, "Can you imagine trying to sleep in that tiny little thing?"
No doubt, we were both happy with our personal choices for camping, as we should be.
What a great scene you painted. So true. I'm very glad we were not all created to think the same way.
I am a minimalist by nature and my ideal camping trip was done on a motorcycle with a couple of friends. I got too old and out of shape to camp and hike, but I missed it terribly. At first I felt like a sell-out for buying a teardrop size camper. Now I realize it was the best decision ever. my wife is now willing to go too and I get to share the outdoors with my grandson and my dog.
You sound a lot like us. Big fans of overland bike travel and avid backpackers. When we got the teardrop we were kind of hush hush about it as well. Now we scream our love for small camper trailers from the rooftops, well more like mountaintops up here!
Honestly, everything you say is so spot on. I need to simply get out there and you are the one who has reassured me I only need a small teardrop as I want to be outside in nature and not carry around a gas guzzling cash machine. No bathroom, no tanks to dump, no nasty hoses… only a side tent for privacy and a portable toilet. Thank you so much!
Thanks for telling it like it is! The best part of teardrop camping is setting up camp. Its like playing house. I love cooking in the little kitchen and watching the boys and my husband relax and chat. We love the "go where the day takes you" living and staying up late around camp fire and star gazing. My husband and I sleep in the teardrop and the boys and our dog tent camp beside us. I love falling asleep to the muffled conversations from their tent. It is family life at its finest!
What you described is music to our ears. May and I were just talking about how much we miss this. With our boys being so young we tend to go to bed, or at least May does, a lot earlier. This has decreased that quiet time around the fire and the beautiful midnight Alaskan sunsets. Can't wait for the day the boys are in the tent and we are in the teardrop. Currently it is the boys and May in the teardrop and dad in the side entry tent. They wake up every morning saying how hot they were and I wake up saying how cold I was. But, I do have the better views out my screened Clam walls :)
You are in the midst of those wonderful snuggle years when the kids make the schedule. Enjoy each stage. They are all wonderful! (We are trying a clam tent our next trip, you inspired us.) Hi to Mae! She is a sweet mom.
Yes, nesting is the perfect word to describe it.
Couldn't agree more! setting up, cooking, breaking down etc is all the so much fun! We love our teardrop and all of the comfort gear that we have acquired! We have a Camping and right away loved the side entry tent so we got one for each door, then on to a Clam screen room for summer, a Clam ice house for winter, a Joolca hot shower, we've got some great options to choose from for each trip! It's the best playhouse ever!
My wife, 3yr old daughter and I just did a 5 week long trip camping out of our Outback. We had all our stuff crammed in our car and on our roof rack. We slept in the car with a blow up bed. Every camp site we got to we’d take everything out and set up. It was about an hour and a half of setting up. We had all sorts of stuff to keep up busy. We brought a projector/screen, guitars, art supplies. My wife made jewelry. We had everything ( and more )that was in this video except the tear drop trailer. Now we are in the process of starting to build our own camper trailer. We got a free 7x5 trailer from family in Washington that we brought back down to San Diego. We had to get the hitch installed in Washington.
By the way if you live in Spokane don’t ever go to Snows Auto, they do terrible work. I have to fix a ton of stuff they didn’t put back correctly.
Anyways can’t wait to finish it and get back out there. Thank you for sharing your video!
That sounds like an amazing trip. With that setup many people would feel sorry for you. Glad to see you have similar views to us in that you found it enjoyable. Good luck on the build. Sounds like a great little project! Love West Coast travel by the way. You will have such beautiful and fun destinations to take your new trailer to.
We subscribed because your comments are more real than any of the others. Been camping for 30 years from minimal to motor homes. Your comments don’t skip the real truth like everyone else does. Great job.
Thank you. That comment means a lot to us. The "realness" sometimes gets folks a little heated. We thought if we were going to put these videos out there we need to be as real as possible, because that is what we would hope others would do for us. It has been great too having real conversations in the comments. We had some ideas that we thought were spot on, but folks have shared alternatives with us that really changed our mind on some of the things we thought we had figured out.
So delighted that UA-cam suggested I watch this! I’ve got camping in my blood. Even the homes I had with a yard, I set up and slept in my tent when I needed to chill. I’m older, having had back surgeries so I have been researching beds on wheels. Never knew about class A,B, C. Can’t decide if I should haul with my 2009 AWD SUV or sell it for a camper van. Your video made my decision much easier. I have not been my easy going self since living in this lifeless condo. The only cure for my happiness is camping and I will search for a teardrop now.
Thank you for this video and thanks to everyone here for your comments!
Wow, this is one of those comments that makes this UA-cam thing all worth it! Your search for the perfect teardrop will be a tough, but fun one. There are so many great options out there, it really is hard making a decision.
never give up, never surrender. back surgery be damned....get that pack back on your back. say No to trailers
Haha. Many of the viewers of this channel do both. Sometimes I find as people, we become proud of our simple pursuits almost to the point of ruining experiences. I think there is a time and place for backpacking and I think there is a time and place for small camper camping. If you force yourself to do one or the other I think you’re missing out on opportunities. I think if many of us are honest with ourselves know one size fits all approach is going to make us happy forever. Variety is the spice of life!
Got my vote!!! Happy Family!
I think camping with a teardrop is still camping it's just a bed on wheels not like a rv when every thing you could possibly need is inside. Teardrops are made for people that want to be outside enjoying the outdoors
We would agree with this. Our tent camping trips and our teardrop trips are almost one and the same.
Abel Maldonado We have a small 17 foot RV and let me tell you, it is work. I don’t just arrive to my site pull out my chair and sit down and I’m done.
@@Scraparella I know it still takes work setting up but what I ment was it has all the comforts of home inside I know because I bought my parents a 18ft camper and it's nice
Which you can do with a class A RV. It's a choice to set up everything outside and then sit inside or outside or sit outside and plan your outdoors experience. Why have a teardrop and then pack 3 extra tents and outside tables, chairs, cooking and washing up equipment . Mine is set up and ready to go in my trailer, allowing me more time to enjoy my outdoor experience.
When I get home i empty my fridge, wipe out my beverage cooler, collect my dirty laundry and go into my hone to start planning my next holiday. No drying wet tents, cjeanibg and repacking the trailer. Teardrops are not the camping experience I want to have.
@@cheryl5601 that's good if you need the room and can afford it but i can park a teardrop any where and don't need rv hook ups like i said it's more of a camping experience button get me wrong ifci could afford one I would use it 😜
Hi Drew! Hope you all are safe and healthy! We couldn’t agree more and could never deny that basic camping is difficult...but truly rewarding! With children the set up and take down process can be tricky and hard but again totally worth it! Nothing can compare to the quality family time exploring the outdoors anywhere you choose! After being winterized, yesterday I opened the camper and started preparing it for the season. Hard as the work was to put the 37in military tires back on it was completely satisfying walking around it to once again see and appreciate the accomplishment of what we did with so little!
You said it perfectly. It is difficult, but rewarding! Love that you stuck with the military tires to keep some of it's original charm. And you are right about the kids. Just with the addition of our newest child setup and take down got one child tougher :)
We have a 17' fiberglass Casita travel trailer and absolutely LOVE it. We can go everywhere the big rigs go but they can't go everywhere I can go. Camp takes 30 minutes to set-up and while I am enjoying an finely handcrafted microbrew from the comfort of my champ chair, I get to watch the guy in the big rig across the road from me putter for two more hours. Dragging a furnished apartment into the woods so the spouse can play house is ridiculous.
Love the 17' Casitas. Perfect size. Small, but big enough to have a table that doesn't need removed every time you want to use the bed. Hard to beat the lifestyle of towing a fiberglass trailer.
I subscribed a while back and have watched pretty much every video you uploaded. I have to say that this is my ABSOLUTE favorite! Not only was it funny and entertaining, it was so useful to hear the real side of traveling like this with a significant other. I learned about the type of gear you use, but also what kind of things that go through your mind when the three of you are out there! Your "tell it like it is" approach is refreshing and more educational than the typical how to videos. Thank you!
Wow, thank you! We really appreciate this comment.
Great video! I love the “work”! See you soon.
Thank you! Appreciate the comment.
So true....its alot of work to pack everything in a tiny camper. Then unpacking everything and opening everything up. Then put everything away the next day. I just did all this at Yellowstone last week. Luckily I have kids big enough to help lol. It was actually father son time. Passing down knowledge.
Sounds like an amazing trip. Can't wait to do more of the father son trips when the boys get older. I bet you are getting excited as the Overland West Expo is right around the corner. We were hoping to make it down there, but probably will have to wait for next year.
You all prolly dont give a damn but does anybody know of a trick to get back into an Instagram account..?
I somehow lost the account password. I love any tips you can offer me
@Colt Aarav instablaster ;)
@Thiago Lian i really appreciate your reply. I found the site thru google and Im trying it out atm.
Takes a while so I will reply here later with my results.
@Thiago Lian It worked and I finally got access to my account again. Im so happy!
Thank you so much you really help me out!
I really enjoy your videos, candid & honest style! Blessings to you and your family!!!
Thank you Mirna! That means a lot to us.
Great video man ! Love how passionate you are.
Being outdoors is camping out. You are so right. Thanks for the post.
Glad it resonated with you Jon!
Love “How to do the basics”. I think these acts are taken for granted by those watching camping videos, so highlighting them is valuable “new” or remembered “oh-yeah!” knowledge. Thanks!
It can be a challenge for us determining what type of video content to highlight. We want to grow with and learn from the veteran campers, but we also want to speak to the newbies and those on the fence of purchasing a small camper trailer. Glad you, a "veteran" appreciate these basic videos as well.
Playing with Sticks, You are on the right track! Basically, I am a newbie again with my “need” for a small camper to continue. I am learning a lot. Hope I can add a little in related areas. Yeah....your video path is right up my alley. Thanks!
I get it! I love it 🥰 thank you for this wonderful video.
Yay! Another person who gets it. Honestly we weren't sure how many people have had similar experiences to ours. It is funny when these videos are first published we get like minded comments. But, then as the video expands out to a wider audience we start getting the differing views. It will be really interesting to see the comments when they make it to the RV crowd :)
It has to be what you and your family enjoy. You guys always look happy to be camping together. Side benefit for me, I get to enjoy your videos!
Thank you. We always appreciate the sweet comments like these.
Great video! Thanks for sharing.
I agree with you when you say people in big RVs tend to spend their time inside the RV and miss out of the beauty of the outside. I love the idea of having a little tear drop but don't have one. For the moment I will be sticking with my little instant up tent or my swag. Yes there is "work" involved in setting them up and since having knee replacements I'm not allowed to kneel so have to use a camp stretcher, so a little added work but still worth it. I get to enjoy the campsite within about 15 minutes. I am pleased you were able to find a way for you and your wife to enjoy camping and get out to enjoy nature. My husband comes camping sometimes but really doesn't enjoy it, hopefully one day when he retires and hopefully that'll be soon. :)
Big fans of the instant up tent as well. Lately we have been telling folks if we could find a bed for our instant up tent that is as nice as our teardrop bed we may have to consider more tent camping again. Currently as I (Drew) am sleeping in the side entry tent due to the growing family I have been using an aerobed. It is really comfy for me, even after multiple days, but it doesn't quite cut it for May. It is a really fast setup like yours. 30 second instant up tent with a 45 second aerobed with covers already attached before inflating. Like we said I love the work, but I also like some parts of the camp setup to be quick and easy. It is more of the creative work that I enjoy the most. Picking a flat area, a good place to hang the hammock, etc.
You hit the nail on the head brother.....Nothing beats sitting out in nature with just a mesh net for mosquitos. The smells, sounds and sights like God intended for us to live...City living is just a another jungle with concrete on top of it, people tend to forget that.
Glad you could relate Marco.
Great honest video thanks so much for sharing! Just picked up a 2016 Silver Shadow Teardrop myself. I have had tents, pop up, pull behind trailer's of different sizes and even a class C. A lot of people say I am going backwards I say I am going back to the basics!
That is neat to hear your progression, wait regression 😄
I moved to Kodiak a couple years ago with a teardrop I built but never used. My family and I have been out a few times and I agree completely with you and your wife's thoughts about camping. Just enough FUN work for me and a lot relaxing for her. Stumbled onto your channel a few weeks ago. Thanks for the ideas, tricks, and recommendations! Glad to hear you made it out recently. We did too! Nick
A teardrop would be a fun little trailer to take all over the "Emerald Isle". We typically come down to Kodiak early June with our RAVN Miles. Unfortunately with everything going on with RAVN we probably won't be making it down this year. Glad you were able to get out Nick!
I enjoy your vids so much, and appreciate all of your knowledge sharing with us. Thank you !!!
Thank you David!
Love this channel.
Well said. Just back from a trip, during which a friend walked onto our site and chuckled saying "you are always working on something". Like you, I enjoy the set up and tinkering that comes with tiny camper camping.
I just sold a Class C and learned a costly lesson. To own such a rig, you need three things: 1. Lots of money 2. Lots of mechanical ability (If not lots of mechanical ability, more money), and 3. Lots more money.
Love this! They also say the same thing about a vintage trailer. Even though you often know upfront the costs associated with a decision, sometimes it is hard to steer clear of it. Case in point with the next trailer we will be highlighting on this channel, we knew upfront it could and probably would be a money pit.
1234
I prefer the middle while the wife loves the heavy 5th wheels but of course she doesn’t work for a living...
True, I have a 77 gmc class a 23 ft and love it. I'm. Always fixing it, tweaking it , burns more gas, parts are cheap. Being easy to move, I might stay somewhere one night and be in a better soon the next
LOL all you need now is a boat..need the same 3 things!
What is a Class C?
As a person who's tent camped off and on most of my 63 yrs of life, the preparing, lugging, setting everything up leaves me feeling wiped out. I've been daydreaming of owning a teardrop for a while. I've finally ordered one and I'll be ready to go next spring! I'm so excited and can't wait. I've never cared to own a larger unit with the many luxuries involved. I like roughing it, but that's just me and of course to each his own. I've camped with my kids since they were very young and now my grandson is my camping buddy. I'll even try going solo as my husband could care less about camping! Now that I know this is going to happen for me, I've found your videos and just want to say thanks for all your tips etc. Your family is adorable! Northern Michigan isn't quite like Alaska but it's beautiful with great camping areas!!
We have heard great things about Northern Michigan. Beautiful area! You made a great choice of you and your grandson. A teardrop really leaves it up to you to decide how much work you want to do. If we wanted to we could just roll into camp and hop in bed. If that is your style one thing we often suggest to people is getting a mattress for your teardrop that is small than the floor's footprint. This way you can step in your teardrop and not have to take off your shoes outside, you can keep a night stand, and even a small portable toilet next to your bed. The toilet beings you can't stand up is a little awkward, but we know multiple people in their 60s who feel this is the best option for them. A great channel if you don't know about it is Hang'n with Herky ua-cam.com/channels/deAbiqg9p5GqVSlKTndUXQ.html We love how they set up their interior. Similar to what we are describing above. Excited you have joined the Playing with Sticks family Marianne. Looking forward to hearing from you once you get your trailer.
Thanks so much for taking the time to provide this information. I can handle this type of "work". I'm ready to purchase my teardrop trailer!
Yes! Welcome to the club Rhonda. You are going to love it.
Small trailer camping? Can pull with almost any car or even a motorcycle trike. Have to figure out gear. What works for you. Would say try to get the best from the get go. Gear just has to work very well in the field. Your experience is that much more fun when gear is working! Camping with less is the best! NOT BRING THE HOUSE. Good video happy camping!!
We wished we had learned from our mistakes. However, we continue to purchase gear that 1 year later we end up upgrading. I think we are starting to come around to the idea of buy once, cry once.
You got it made my friend! Little camper, pretty wife and super cute kid! Live the dream! Sometimes we don't know how lucky we are!
Thank you. I always enjoy being reminded of the blessings I have. It doesn't take a whole lot to enjoy this beautiful life we were given. I really is the simple things. But, at the same time it doesn't take a whole lot to easily take for granted all the blessings we have as well. We are truly living the dream! Hope you are living your best dream as well. Thanks for the really sweet comment.
You weren’t given a beautiful life, no one is. You worked for it. Always remember that.
What a cute little kid, hey dad, give him a big hug. You know your a lucky guy.Keep on camping!
Ahh thank you. Been giving the little guy hugs all day. Lately he has been such a big fan of fishing we can't pull him away from the water. As a dad, I can't help but just want to squeeze the little guy for having a passion for something that really gets me going as well. Thanks again for the really sweet comment.
I have been camping for many years in different variations of tents, or a bivvy.
I now have a square back teardrop, which is essentially a bed with a slide out kitchen.
I LOVE my teardrop camper. I set up an awning off the side for shelter to the door I use.
After pulling up and deciding where to face the door, setting up the awning, pulling out my camp chair, getting the kettle on for a cuppa coffee/tea etc. I'm done in about 10 mins, it's great!
I would not be bothered to have a huge RV, 5th Wheeler, caravan or camper van.
You're exactly right, I'm out there to be outdoors... I too would get cabin fever inside.
I have plenty of shelter if I need it, I can put sides on my awning - to keep out wild weather.
Camping is about keeping it simple - and as I said - I love my teardrop, it's the best option I have used so far.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, I'm subbed.
:-D
Fun meeting folks on here with similar camping habits to us. Someday we hope to have a squardrop like yours that is a little less in terms of setup time. Like we mentioned we enjoy the setup, but there are times where we are going across the State and stop for multiple one night stays. These are the stays you wish you had a teardrop with the built in awnings and easy to attach sidewalls. Plus would also be nice to have an attached kitchen.
Great video! Totally agree with you. The small ”work” is definitely the fun part at the campsite. It’s part of winding down after a hectic work week. I will share this to my partner. Hopefully we’ll get a camper trailer soon. Greetings from Sweden!
My wife saw the video yesterday and said, "wow, you really do like all this work. I thought you were just pretending to like it to be nice to me." It really can be a great way to wind down. Always fun to know folks are watching the channel all the way over in Scandinavia. Greetings to you all from Alaska! Hope you get the chance to get that trailer soon.
Well done!! I agree with you!!
Yes, always fun to know we aren't the only ones who love the fort building.
Great video! Love y'all's outlook on camping. Keep up the good work.
Thank you Theodore! One of our favorite names by the way. One of our children has that as their middle name.
100% agree! Great video. Thank you 😊
You're so welcome Linda!
You and your family are fun.Thanks and good luck on your adventures.Just purchased a used Little Guy and your videos are helpful.
I love the work that camping takes, you feel accomplished when you look around, it is you built you own house. I get you man!
👍
Very well said!!! We got our teardrop to get out and be a part of nature. And nature can be challenging at times! That’s okay. It is all a part of the experience.
It CAN be challenging. This weekend the weather was great, which should have posed no challenges. But the first day out the great weather got us playing a bit too long and it was a scramble before sundown to get everything setup for the evening. Setting up camp around midnight isn't always the most fun experience. But, waking up to mountains and rivers outside our door made it all worth it.
Fabulous! Gorgeous family! ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you!
This is the reason why I got the smallest RV with full kitchen and bathroom, a Starcraft 14RB. To me it's either go camping for the sake of camping, or RV and have all the amenities. Here in Toronto, it gets pretty cold in the winter and unless are willing to deal with walking in snow shoes through a few feet of snow and have a hot tent and a wood burning stove, it's pretty bleak. Having a nice heated place to chill and relax and still be able to do all the outdoor activities until it gets too cold is soo nice. I get that you have a family to take care of and I think for you the teardrop has it's place. If it were me though, I would go the overlanding route. You have basically the same setup as a teardrop but now you're opened to even more accessible terrain. It would require you to ditch both the car and the trailer and swap to a truck or suv, but in my opinion, it's a better overall setup but to each his own.
We completely agree on your overland comment. We are slowing working over into that direction. We have the Jeep, our family has outgrown the little 4X8 teardrop. We are ready for a newer teardrop that can get off the beaten path and support a rooftop tent for the growing family.
One of the best, honest videos I have seen so far, to prepare myself for the outdoor adventure . Thank you! Greetings from Germany
Great to here! Hello from Alaska!
Great video, I've owned and RV and it's not a camping experience. Just got my first teardrop and it's perfect. Just like tent or car camping, but with amenities you come to enjoy of an RV. Kitchen, comfortable bed to stay toasty warm in.
My best friend is a Winnebago RV'er and took a tent to a nearby nat'l park for better gas mileage. I got better MPG's towing my trailer than he got burning diesel in his RV hauler. I unloaded my motorcycle, made the bed, set up my awning and then helped them set up their tent... Breaking camp took me 20 minutes. Going home with a tailwind, I averaged 28 mpg!
Another aspect of my lil camping trailer is security! When I go hiking or riding the bike, I can lock up everything. I've had stuff stolen when 'gone to the store' before...
Mileage and security. Both great advantages. I would love to take a motorcycle on my trips. You are living the dream.
@@PlayingwithSticks , Since adding the 6x8 awning, and the 6" memory foam tri-fold mattress, I'm enjoying my tiny home/toy hauler even more! my 24" TV doesn't compare to your projector but the 6" Jenson 3 ways turn it into a theater! Videos like yours make these DIY campers a never-ending adventure!
Man, excellent video and wonderful insight. It's a good reminder that, often, the most meaningful experiences in our life are the ones we worked for. I'm as guilty as anyone for wanting to avoid any kind of work during my leisure time, especially since my career is a very physical one. But when I really think about it, when it comes to camping, the things I get the most enjoyment out of are things like setting up the tent, building a fire, and so on. We've been considering buying a camper in the next year or two, and likely will get something small and portable. Thanks for this video. I'm glad I came across it.
Fun to hear you can relate Ryan. When I made this video I actually wondered if nobody would be able to relate.
I love your easy lifestyle camping set up!!! Im about to show my wife this video and she is gonna believe in the small camper teardrop set up and not the big RV style. Thank you.
Awesome! A great compromise between teardrop and RV is a fiberglass trailer like a Scamp or a Casita. We are currently out in a pop-up camper and would suggest that as well. Has a lot more setup required, but it would eliminate all the need for side entry tents and outdoor gear.
Great video…thank you
Your family is wonderful. Love this video. It is better than tent camping anytime. I hope to share my experiences soon.
Glad you enjoyed this one Jean! And yes, looking forward to hearing/seeing your experiences.
Balance, so critical to a healthy life
My setup and gear is almost identical as yours, even that blue 5 gal. water container, tables and stove. I got a black rugged 4x8' sleeper teardrop and I'm pulling it with only a 2017 Ford Fusion sedan. I've gone as remote as Chaco Culture National Historical Park (not an easy drive), and made it alright. Started in 2018 and have travel thousands of miles for almost 2 consecutive months at a time with basically zero experience and learning as I go. It is a little bit of work and a learning curve but not hard at all. This by far has been the most satisfying experience I've ever had. The only somewhat difficult parts are, water and food management, parking in reverse (since I rarely detach from the car) and setting up the awning from the camper on a windy day..lol. I Boondock most of the time and finding those ideal spots can be a challenge, but it can be solved with a little bit of research and planning ahead of time.
Your setup and your lifestyle sounds a lot like us. We are still working on the water and food management as well. Fortunately for us, not a whole lot of wind near most of our boondocking sites up here.
Ive watched several of your videos before and have looked into all the different types of RV camping. A 20 year old van to fifth wheels, travel trailers, and tear drops but none ever seemed like a good enough choice. Bigger RVs make me feel like I am secluded from nature despite it being right outside the rig. Smaller trailers always had this feeling of "whats the point", due to it feeling like its basically "a set up tent" that you tow. But your videos and the way you and your family talk/enjoy your teardrop has finally convinced me. This IS the way to go for me. Thank you for sharing and bless you and your family.
Make sure you check out the Scamp videos as well. A 13-16' fiberglass trailer is a great fit in-between the teardrop and larger RV style camping. Also very minimal maintenance. So great to hear these videos are helpful for you Mathew!
So many ways to camp. I have a 23 gmc motorhome, and love it because it's small and parks anywhere. We don't set up much at campsites because we're always on the go. It's a traveling coach. Even if we have a camp spot we leave in the morning to the beach, and park there. Make breakfast at the beach. We look around and big trailers and rvs and all the stuff they set up and think 'why all the junk'
Love your style Trent. I like the idea of moving the camper to different locations for different scenery and needs.
Its always a battle between being cost effective and the experience itself as well. That is why I think Teardrops are one of the best ways to go.
Very true. We have found most often if we are frugal the outcome tends to be a bit more rough and work. With the teardop this is also true, butit somehow also enhances the experience. And for us, being well...frugal, there is a funny little joy we receive from knowing we didn't have to take out loans or buy a larger vehicle, or spend twice as much on gas to get to the same destination as someone else. And I wouldn't call the feeling pride. It is the same feeling I get when I catch a salmon and eat it. There is something special about living closer to the land and knowing your harvest or end result came from a no cost/low cost, you get out of it what you put into it in terms of effort type of activity.
So True, Less is almost Always more when it comes to the pursuit of camping. Camping isn't about finding as much comfort level as one must, but challenging your comfort level to explore, discover & push boundaries of what one can do while camping. Excellent video, keep up the good work & Carpe' Diem !
You said it much better than us. Thank you for sharing.
Hi, I've watched your videos for a long time and learned a lot from your journey. Because I'm currently planning an extended trip to Alaska, I recently re-watched this video. I decided to subscribe just to say "thank you" for your input over the years (and that is a bigger action than it sounds, because I almost never subscribe to any channels). The quality of your posts (like this video) has been consistently relevant over time and I appreciate the effort that requires. If I had a growing family like yours I would have bought a teardrop years ago (just to have a place to get out of the rain and wind when the weather turns bad for days); but because I'm primarily overlanding alone, I'm still able to pack everything I need (including a mountain bike and kayak) in or on the racks of my lifted Subaru Outback Onyx. Best wishes to you and your family during the new year. 🌈
I love my 4x8 with a side tent, the set up is part of the fun
Hey, a fellow 4X8 owner!
Its fun. I cant wait until the campsites open up in Alberta. 🇨🇦 I love your youtube channel.
Thanks Peter! Any word on when yours will open up? Some of our favorite camping memories were in the Canmore, Banff, Jasper area. We just adore that part of Alberta.
I don’t EVER want to mess with a tent, that is the reason I purchased a teardrop trailer. I pull it with my little 2003 Mazda 3. I would open up the trailer and go to sleep. The next morning it was time to set up the picnic table, organize the back of the pick up with the coolers and get the chairs out. I love it.
That sounds like a great setup Jan. Love that you can tow your trailer with such a small vehicle. The benefits of that combination are pretty amazing. I think if we didn't have kids we would probably have a lot more days out without the tent going up. But, with the kiddos we learned quickly to get that tent up fast because we never know when the swarm of mosquitoes will hit.
Playing with Sticks I camp at the state parks and have not had any problems with mosquitoes. I got rid of my screen room with my tent. I wonder if the park service maintains the bug population near the camp sites.
@@meadowlarkgal23 They may have good airflow. If there is a breeze we do just fine, but in the wooded areas where it is tough to get a small breeze through it can get pretty bad up here quick.
Very great info thanks so much for sharing !
Glad it was helpful Isabella!
I’ve always tent camped but recently enjoyed a few days at beach with family in their new camper trailer. The set up was 15 min and had all amenities of home. I did find that we spent more time inside than I would have liked, as it was very cold and raining, but enjoyed the dry warm area to play board games, as opposed to dealing with damp sleeping bags. I discovered at 70 that I have a bit of a claustrophobia problem once encased in bottom enclosed bunk area. Having the ceiling 2 feet above my head was a major problem but didn’t want to disrupt the children sleeping above me. After positioning myself with head at the opening to bed I was able to sleep but was a weird experience. I’m looking at a teardrop for a cross country trip with my brother, who has a truck camper, this summer.
Unfortunately I have been claustrophobic since birth. So is the majority of my family. They can't believe that I love sleeping in a teardrop. But, it is strange once you get inside one and lay down you realize there is so much space above your head. But, like you If I sleep backwards in my teardrop with the cabinets over my head I get that same uneasy feeling. The only time I have to do this is when I am too lazy to unhitch and the upward slope is on the backend of the teardrop.
I admire your family. I am trying to purchase a teardrop and it’s great getting all the advise that you have to share. Thank you.
Glad to hear this Jarrod! Thank you.
Awesome video - thank you! You don’t mention it, but I am so impressed with the wonderful experience you are providing your children. A beautiful gift you are sharing with them!
Thank you so much Gary! That is one of the main reasons we started this channel. #1 to help show families you can keep living and enjoying life even when you have kids in diapers and #2 to find a hobby our kids can grow and learn from.
Love this video! You are so honest and most people wont admit what a pain it is to haul, store, maintain, wash a class A. Not to mention the gas! Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great sharing on why teardrops work better for your family. Sounds like my family actually. I appreciate your POV.
Glad to hear this resonated with you. When we make these videos we often wonder if others feel the same way.
Good job. We have been camping in a teardrop for over 2 years in Montana, North Dakota and Minnesota. We love it, we can get places other campers can't go. We have a travel trailer that just sits in the yard. When we did go with that we found all we did was use it for the bathroom and sleep in it, the rest of the time we were outdoors. We have the bigger Clam and it works out great. The bathroom stuff is a on going project. We are in our 60's and have meet people older than us that are traveling fulltime in teardrops, so you don't have to be young to enjoy the good life. Keep up the good work.
These types of comments inspire us. Really neat to hear about the other folks you have met along your journey doing this lifestyle full time. Your trips sound amazing! When we hear folks are traveling in these areas we always like to give the Black Hills a shoutout. It is one of our favorite midwest destinations. As is Wyoming and Montana.
Thanks for sharing this! Story was a great way to help would-be teardroppers relate to the decision to invest in the hobby
Love hearing that this was helpful Stewart.
Great video and explanation. You good sir, have described what I need out of a camping trip. We are very alike. I like the teardrop as well. I was going to build my own last year but built a Cargo trailer conversion instead. We love it. I think this fall I will start a teardrop build as well. Keep up the good work.
Right on! Love meeting like minded people on here. Big fans of the converted cargo trailers as well.
Love your plan. We have a large clam we camp with cots but plan to get teardrop soon. We do have a nightime potty . Our clam had optional panels and floor. We use both.. Keep it up. We camped,hiked,traveled every summer,spring, with our son. He is techie but not like his friends. At 17 he would rather go hike in the woods on a Sat than sit around.
We truly hope our boys will turn out like yours. We try our hardest to stay away from the screen time and inspire more with natural activities. I know at some point they are going to get it all from their friends. But we are hoping we have instilled a strong love of the outdoors in them that wins over.
Convenience and comfort, camping is about doing without a lot of that so we can enjoy not only the beauty, majesty, and simplicity of nature but also so that once we get back home we can enjoy all the time, work, maintenance, cost, and complexity we go through to have a modern home life, something we then often can't wait to escape from to go camping.
Very well said. On a slightly different note someone made a comment on here about a year ago about how in the past life was hard. So for them a vacation was a time to rest and pamper themselves. Today, with modern conveniences and technology sometimes the best way to relax/reset is to go out looking for those same hard moments our ancestors of the past worked so hard to avoid.
I completely agree! I love setting up camp and having a comfortable dry Outdoor living space and a cozy warm sleeping space in our Scamp. And I love the Cuteness factor of the small trailers. (Westetn Washington = rain)
Love the Scamp as well! Perfect trailer for where you live.
What a fantastic video. Thanks for sharing.
Glad you enjoyed it Ronald. It was one of those topics we think and talk about a lot. Thought it was time to share it with the larger community.
great video and great points. We have owned our teardrop for 2 years and will never go with a larger RV. It takes a while to get it down to a science, but we have just a few main things we deal with: the awning, the Clam shelter, some camp chairs, and our prep table., Our kitchen is already ready to go thanks to the T@g. We love the time outdoors and are never bored. Even when it rains.
Thanks for sharing Richard! You sound a lot like us, but you have the benefit of the galley kitchen. Wish we had a proper kitchen.
I’m going to refer people to this video when we are ask why we love our NuCamp Tag XL Boondock. You explain it so well. Thanks for sharing 🤓
Our pleasure! We haven't seen many of the Boondock trailers up here in Alaska. But this summer we had the chance to pop down to the Lower 48 and saw a few out and about. What amazing little campers. Just looking at one from the outside makes you want to go on an endless adventure!
Thank you for this video. You lifestyle is perfect
Glad you enjoyed the video Ken! Thanks for the kind words.
I've camped as a young kid with my family, and now with my family over the span of nearly 40 years. The important thing is getting out and interacting with nature in whatever way that makes you/your family/group happy. There are advantages and disadvantages to every type of camping, so in turn there is no "perfect" way of camping. Having done everything from tent camping to driving a motorhome, there is a good amount of work in all of them, just in different ways.
Love this perspective Mathew. You are so right in terms of the work. Someone also pointed out with the larger RVs there still is work, but more of it takes place at home which we don't all get to see.
@@PlayingwithSticks It's quite true. One of the appeals of a motorhome is that your camping experience essentially starts once you're on the road. That moves a lot of the work that others do at the campground to the home.
You guys are awesome. Thank you for your videos. This is a great approach and honest chat to how you camp thanks for sharing.
Glad you enjoyed it. Also, really glad to see you up and active on here again. You are a FIGHTER!
Playing with Sticks thanks so much you guys are the best!
Nice technical and philosophical discussion. Peace!
Glad you enjoyed it Kent! It was a fun video to make.
You've nailed it!!!
Yes!!! Thanks Norman. Feels good for this concept to resonate with others.
I envy you. Pure and simple. Envy. Keep doing what your doing. We love it.
Thanks so much. We will do our best to keep them coming!
Loved this video! You did a great job explaining the benefits of a teardrop. I've got a Little Guy Silver Shadow Special Edition and I wouldn't trade it for anything.
Awesome! Thank you! Those Silver Shadows are adored by many. Like you I don't think many of their owners would ever sell them!
This has helps me alot with the decision to get a teardrop, I want something simple like camping but comfortable nights sleep this the best of both worlds!! Thank you so much!!
You nailed it with that description. It is basically camping, but with a bed as comfortable as home. A bed on wheels and an outdoor living room!
ABird from Oz... We're on the same page. I'm ready to purchase a teardrop, no doubt about that. Want to keep that footprint as small as possible.
@@LuvNatTurner 100% agree feels like the best choice! 😍
@@PlayingwithSticks perfect match really, we are limited where I am to purchase one so after restrictions lift we may need to travel to find a good teardrop to suit our needs 😀
have u considered the starcraft 14rb? It's just slightly bigger but has all the amenities, full kitchen and washroom.
I love this. This is way better than a large RV
Glad you enjoyed it. The large RVs have their place. But, for our current lifestyle, we agree that the small camper is the way to go.
"Maybe we often try too hard to create an outdoor experience for ourselves that is TOO comfortable". Right on! I'm the type who makes fun of people in RVs, watching TV and getting fat. I'm 64, and retired, and still not ready to embrace the lifestyle my folks loved with their 25 foot trailers and class A RVs. I'm just starting to think about "upgrading" to a teardrop (squaredrop) from a pop-up truck camper.
Our house is divided on this one. For me I sometimes wonder if a pop-up truck camper would be best for our family. But, my wife is all about the cute factor. And I will admit I have a bit of an infatuation with small camper trailers, especially vintage trailers and modern trailers built from older designs. Even though a teardrop is a bit more hassle in terms of towing, it also has so many benefits, especially if you are towing it with your daily driver.
I just posted a slideshow video of a teardrop rally. They were pretty cool to look at, but I need something just a tad bigger. I did own a Scamp and loved it! That was perfect for me and everything was ready to go when I pulled into the campsite. I also have a CLAM and love it. So easy to set up.
We like to have the best of both worlds. We currently own a teardrop and a 13 foot trailer. Our trailer is very similar to the Scamp in that everything was in it and ready to go. Also you can't beat a warm coffee from the interior range, standing room for changing clothes, and a nice little area to use the bathroom. But, what we still notice is we spend more days using our teardrop than using the 13ft trailer. I think this is because we take more 3-5 day adventures than we do week or longer adventures.
We have a small fiberglass camper and I love it. We think of it as the bunkhouse. My goal is for my family to spend as much time outside away from screens as possible. We take a screen room and pop it wherever makes the most sense based on camp layout. Also, you can go so many places or squeeze into the last tent site at a place with a small camper vs the extremely large RVs. Love this video!
Love that style of camping. Funny that today we have to battle a bit with getting our kids away from the screens. I wonder what families were battling with when we were all kids? I know my parents fought a lot of little battles to ensure we had the chance to get outdoors and stay outdoors long enough to learn some great skills. So glad they pushed through and found a way for us to have fun outdoors at such a young age.
Bonjour,
Je suis française et je vous découvre dans cette vidéo. J'adhère complètement à votre réflexion. J'ai troqué mon camping car pour une teardrop pour les mêmes raisons que vous. I like it 🥰
Merci pour le partage 🙏
What a great video, this should be a teaching video for couples thinking of camping together, great content and a good explanation of what some of us campers need to do to keep occupied
Thanks Rich. Glad you enjoyed it.
Couldn’t agree more, I feel like I’m in a miniature retirement unit in a big van, love doing “the work” and often still looking for things to do days later...gotta be outdoors...
Love the miniature retirement unit comment. We just took out our remodeled 13 ft trailer this week and we said the same thing. We said it felt like we were renting a AirBNB tiny home. Finally had the chance to bring the hammock to setup, but we had so much fun hiking, eating, and playing by the water we never even had the chance this week to decorate the campsite.
This was very helpful! My husband wants a trailer and I love tent camping. You summed up what I I think was my hesitation was about a trailer, getting bored. I don’t want to experience cabin fever in a trailer and I’m not going to enjoy the point of camping. So this was very helpful for me! Thanks
Glad it was helpful Nenah!
Thank you for sharing!
Our pleasure Julie!
Preaching to the choir! One thing I enjoy when backing my teardrop in and leveling is the lack of yelling. Seems a lot of bigger units need yelling to accomplish the same thing.
That is true, there is quite a bit of yelling. From the more classy large RV owners we have adopted the 2 way radio approach. Pretty nice when you know you are picking through a small boulder field behind you.
Great job explaining the why😀🥰
Thank you greg! 🤗
Camping with a family is always going to be work. I solo camp with a teardrop. Setup is parking, hookups, setting out chairs and rugs, and then relaxing. With the pandemic I’m adding a cassette toilet and a pop up privacy tent. But bad weather just means I crawl inside with a good book or a video. The most work is cleaning up the trailer when I return. Great video, thanks!
Solo camping. I sometimes miss those days :) My wife would agree with you in that the cleaning up tends to be the toughest. This is not the most minimalist thing to do, but what has really helped us is to have a set of everything that lives permanently in the trailer (clothes, utensils, books, bear spray, etc.).
We have a small teardrop; nucamp 400 BDL (15' of living space) we've had for over a year and our longest trip was three months from Florida to Alaska and back. It was just my wife and I and our Australian Sheppard. While we did numerous shake down trips to prepare, we quickly found on our long trip we had over packed. This is important, because this initially impacted the way we packed and how we setup and broke camp. As our trip went on, we reorganized and eventually used our Thule Luggage Container as storage for stuff we didn't need. We normally tried to spend at least two days at each location and initially would setup our nucamp awning, lay out our indoor/outdoor carpet and pull out our heavy camping chairs. Added to this we would disconnect from our TV and do all the trailer hookup stuff. Very time consuming when we wanted to do other stuff. So, before putting up the awning we did a weather check. If the weather forecast was good, no awning. For chairs, we picked up two very light weight chairs that when collapsed were small. These were quick and easy to set up. If we didn't plan to drive around our stop, we kept our TV connected. For trailer hookups, we just used electric and water and didn't bother with sewer until the morning we were leaving. We developed check list for setup and breaking camp, who did what - my wife took care of everything inside and I did everything outside. Our efficiency improved and we normally could from waking up, be on the road within 45-mins and that included time for coffee. Bottom line, we prioritized what was important to what was nice to have. Constantly reviewing what you pack is key; too may RVers/campers carry too much stuff and all that stuff distracts from the real reason you are traveling/camping. Best of luck. Stay safe
Sounds like a great trip you had from Florida to Alaska. I bet it wasn't the most pleasant in terms of comfort, but it sounds like you learned a lot along the way. Like you we do a 2 night minimum as well, as it is not worth all the work to just pack up again the next morning. Our systems are changing weekly, we still haven't got it all figured out, not even close. But, each week is easier than the week before it. And we have been doing this non-stop in the summer with the same camper for over three years. You would think we would have figured it out by now. I think having a new kid every other year is part of the required changes though.
@@PlayingwithSticks Thank you for the reply. It was just my wife and I, so having young children definitely makes things more interesting and challenging. We have to say, on our long trip there never was an uncomfortable night in the trailer. Now, there were some sketch RV parks in the BC and the Yukon but they were probably sketch because we were at the end of the season so maintenance etc., wasn't as important. Safe travels and hope our paths cross on the road.
I used to own a 36 ft fifth wheel with slideouts. I only slept in it. I cooked outside, sat in a chair outside, found things to do outside. Now I tent camp. I found that Setting up camp is one of the more enjoyable parts of camping.
For me anyway.
It is funny because at first we thought we wanted to escape the setup. But, now we find ourselves going backwards. Like you we may end up in a regular tent sooner than later.
I heard that😊
Butt, I kinda like the security, comfort and simplicity a smaller camper offers.
Happy trails✌