I ordered my first camper ever two months ago. Your videos really convinced me a small camper was the right thing for me but the waiting list for these is long. I bought a 5x10, it should finally be done next week. I can't wait to start camping with it!
Oh my goodness you must be so excited! We are both very impatient people so knowing we only had a week left to get the trailer would drive us crazy 😜 camping in the fall as your first trip can be a bit tougher if you were in a colder climate. If you have time I would check out hanging with Herky, Charles Moman, and Cosmo Weems’ channel. All three of these folks do a great job in terms of preparing for the elements. I think hanging with Herky has the best outdoor living space, Charles and his wife have the best interior in terms of comforts, and then cosmos great because he likes to push the extremes and do some winter camping and integrate backpacking with tear dropping in terms of gear to keep you warm. Congratulations Adam we’re super excited to hear about your first adventure!
@@PlayingwithSticks I am extremely excited to do some fall camping before the winter weather hits! I am still waiting patiently for that call to go pick it up, I am hoping it's before the end of this week. I've seen some of Cosmos videos but I'll have to check out the other two. I have yet to find a video of this company's camper online so I will probably make a video of my first adventure with the new camper.
I want no features just space in mine. The Road Toad Tote is what I want if my wife could sleep in it. The only other option would make a bed in a mini van and I sleep in the tear drop. 73@@harrymills2770
Absolutely agree with 18 bed on wheels, 14 move by hand, 13 baby step up, 12 4-cylinder TV, 11 nature, 8 bug-out, 6 galley, 5 upgrade, 4 safety, 2 low maintenance, and 1 low cost, and my hubby and our HOA are all about 17 ‘garagability.’ I didn’t think about - but agree with - 7 greener, and 3 cuteness factor. But I’d add they are ideal for solo campers (for many of the reasons above). Great list! I’m looking forward to hearing more about your solar generator.
The HOA one is big. I think a lot of people don't think about that when purchasing a trailer. And then you never know if you have to move someday and will end up somewhere with HOAs. SOLO CAMPERS very true. And I think if you add a bit of technology like a tv/projector or a bit of wifi a solo traveler could go months on end and feel just like they are living at home. Excited to share our solar generator thoughts. Plus, it is one of the most beautiful sites we have ever filmed in so excited to show you that as well.
Additional to the other post. what can you do 10, 20, 30+ $$$$. We can take a really nice trips with a teardrop. The cost is a less. Mine is lighting enough to. pull with my Trike that’s one of my reasons. The venture starts from A to B. Destination of choice of camping and along the way. Can dry camp wherever and still have comfort. Thanks! happy camping to all !!
@@Bateluer Yes, you share very similar thoughts to us on this one. Over time we have become much more open to squaredrops such as the Runaway trailers as they offer quite a lot in terms of value, are fairly mass produced, and are loved by many. We are suckers for a nice ma and pa operation that builds beautiful wooden teardrops. But at the end of the day both styles (squaredrop and traditional) get you to the same destination. I say all this just to say if the cost or build time is enough to turn some people away from purchasing a teardrop, they may want to look into the squaredrops as an option.
@@PlayingwithSticks I admire the simplicity of teardrops being an old ( and I mean OLD) tent guy, but my Casita 17 Liberty allows me to have more room (esp standing up) and a bathroom/refrig/inside bed. Am I spoiled? Maybe, but I can still get into very small campsites and go down some fairly gnarly roads that motorhomes and fifth wheels can't navigate. It's always a balancing act for all of us, when my loading up and breaking camp is always less than 15-20 minutes, even in the rain, I am relatively content. Your family is enviable and your joy with each other shows. Your videos are great, too. Safe travel...
@@richardhouvener6423 We definitely see your side of the argument. That may be why we always have one teardrop and one 13' trailer in our possession. We truly love both styles of trailers. Now our current 13' being vintage definitely doesn't get us to near as many fun places as you can go with your fiberglass trailer. Ours is a bit fragile.
Writing from the bottom of the world...... New Zealand. Thank you so much for your awesome videos, they’ve convinced me, a solo mature camper that this is the right option for me. My new teardrop is being built now... I’m so excited! Blessings to you and you family and thank you for sharing 😀
Now this is fun...New Zealand! Crazy that we all get to interact on here. Is your build more of a homebuild from someone in the community? Or is it from a larger scale manufacturer down there in New Zealand? If it is larger scale would love to have a link to their website. Would be fun to see what type of teardrops they are building down there. Any idea on your build date? I bet you are getting really anxious to get out there. Can't wait to hear about your first trip. We don't get a lot of info from New Zealand, so would be neat to hear.
Playing with Sticks My build is from a New Zealand manufacturer called KPod. www.kpod.co.nz/ I’ll send you an update on my first trip. Thought you might also like to see this book that has recently been published in New Zealand showcasing teardrops :-) donandmarilynjessen.co.nz/product/my-mini-could-tow-that/
It's not just for the "mature camper." I'd've killed to have one of these for my travels, when I was younger. It's still very appealing to me as an older guy.
That is great! Definitely have us beat in terms of years on the road. We have said before we have a lot in common as we both love our teardrops and 13' trailers!
I actually did consider buying a teardrop trailer back in 2011. At that time I had a Scion xA that I had purchased new and was looking at the Little Guy teardrops that were sold near me here in Wisconsin. The long and short of it was that the Scion was not recommended to tow anything and when I retired in 2013 I sold my car because I was able to get along fine without one using my recumbent bike and a cargo trailer. So I went for 5 years without a car until my daughter ended up in a hospital and recovery in another city so I needed a vehicle to be able to see her which is when I bought a 2004 Honda Odyssey and even that put a dent in my meager savings, but I have that set up to allow me to stay in it or live in it as a plan B.
Sorry I thought I responded to this comment Steve. Love the plan B idea. Especially today, it really isn't a bad idea for folks to be thinking about a plan b.
I built a square drop this spring. I can say it was fun to build among frustration lol. I took pictures along the journey as well.I have had so many people look and many stop and ask about it. Thanks for the inspiration!! Keep up the great work!!
Do you have your pictures posted anywhere? Would love to see them. And yes, I could imagine there would be some frustrations. Quite the labor of love those builds can be.
My wife and I grew up tent camping and backpacking and then we met, had 4 kids and continued tent camping for over 30 years with the kids (and still do). For our recent retirement gift to ourselves, we purchased a Timberleaf Teardrop trailer (built in Colorado) and just love it. In all those years I never minded and even enjoyed the work of setting up tents, sleeping pads and bags, canopies, etc, but now that we have the tear drop, camping is so easy! I can imagine it is harder for an RVer/UAVer (Urban Assault Vehicle user) to downgrade to a teardrop after they have their TVs and A/Cs and non camping urban toys with them, but to go from a tent to a teardrop it is fantastic! I still feel like I am camping, and now that we go to multiple sites in a row touring around, because we are retired, I don't have to worry about rain and wet tents any more. We still cook outdoors and enjoy the outdoors! We are totally self contained. Best wishes camping!
We love our teardrop! It comes with a wet bath and inside kitchen. It does require more maintenance, but it is worth it for us. Those mountain views are so BEAUTIFUL! Thank you for sharing!
Joyce what kind of teardrop do you own? I am guessing maybe a T@B or Mini Max? The wet bath and kitchen sounds great. We go back and forth with the maintenance. I think that is why we own two trailers. One is less maintenance, easier to take out and store and the other is a bit more glamping for us. Great to have the best of both worlds. We are kind of spoiled! Glad you enjoyed the mountain views Joyce.
@@PlayingwithSticks We have a 2019 T@B 400 Bondock Lite. In the summer of 2019, we traveled over 7,000 miles (from coast to coast) in our little T@B. We are impressed with the quality built of the unit. We camped several years in a tent, then we started our graduation of different units: popup, 19 ft TT, 24 ft TT, 29 ft TT, 21 ft AFrame, tent, and finally our T@B. Just like you said in your video, starting small, going larger, and ending at smaller. The last adventure with the tent was fun, and you really feel like you are camping, but those trips to the bath house at night and trying to keep your food cold via ice in a cooler became more tiresome than fun. The ground has become harder over the years, and the mosquitoes are more hungry, too....lol. I am glad that I had the fun experience of tent camping in earlier years, but the small 18 ft T@B is so much better for my husband and myself as we travel our wonderful county to explore the awesome National Parks.
@@joycemoses2411 This is an amazing testimony. I think we are going to have to pin this one in the comments later. Thanks for sharing Joyce. Hoping we can get to some of those beautiful National Parks one of these days as well.
I've actually been talking to my parents about getting into tear drop campers because of bug out situations. I think it would be great for them because both of my parents can't really sleep on the ground anymore, and they'd be able to haul more things needed to survive if necessary.
I think you’re onto something. These trailers would make an excellent bug out shelter. And when you’re not using it to bug out there pretty fun to take to the campgrounds. We’ve worked pretty hard to ensure our bed in our teardrop feels just as good as our home bed.
Just found your channel & doing a bit of binge watching tonight - I'm late to the party with comments - My wife & I are in our mid 50's and our wonderful kids are working and off to college, We are life long backpackers and tent campers. Owned a tent trailer and bunk house trailer as our family was growing. We've been tent campers for over 15 years now and I noticed the last few years I was doing solo trips more and more. This winter my wife casually mentioned that something with more protection from the elements, had a bathroom & shower, and could guarantee her warmth & safety in winter would be nice. We ended up with a trailer that has a RV queen bed, outdoor shower, tiny cassette toilet bathroom, heater & A/C, fresh water tank, & outdoor kitchen galley. It's a bit more than a tear drop, far less than a full travel trailer, is seriously off-road capable, & has substantially increased our camping trips as a couple. We are both very happy to be out camping together very frequently again as we did as a young couple. I really appreciate and agree with what you've presented in this video. we are very fortunate to live in a time where we have so many options available get out and enjoying the nature. I suppose our trailer would be looked at as a bit much to the tear drop community & it's definitely looked at as too tiny by the full size RV community. However, we are very happy in our odd trailer that provides us the perfect amount of comfort & outdoor experience that allows us to enjoy the outdoors together. Afterall - that's what the goal of all campers we think.
Love hearing this. I find there’s different trailers for different seasons of our lives. Like you, I think many of us end up with a range of trailers over a lifetime. There’s a stat out there that says the average trailer owner will own five trailers in your lifetime. It’s kind of crazy when you think about it. But I think I’m on trailer number three right now. So I’m almost there. Really glad to hear you found something that works great for your family.
My reason!! As we travel through the mountains the Widths & Heights & length. What road you travel. You still can travel those roads. Can pull with most any vehicle. And like you said trailer has no plumbing or water issues to worry about. Because is always the last thing you realize of camper trailer. Can do mods to your teardrop to meet your needs as needed for each individual person(s). I still do a little tent camping as traveling. The whole idea of going camping is to be in nature & sounds. A teardrop also helps with your carbon footprint. Not to be in a big rig that I see all the time.. what’s the point of that! Thanks to all!! Happy Camping!!
Love your reasons here. Good point on the roads. Its never fun knowing you are limited only by your trailer. We are starting to feel that way a bit lately as we use the Jeep more and more. The Jeep and teardrop because it is lifted pretty high and has independent suspension can get many more places than our Matrix could go. BUT, now we are getting to those fun places and see others going even further where we can't go and we see now why people love their offroad trailers. Funny, we never thought we needed one when driving the Matrix. But once you start seeing the possibilities your eyes open to a whole new world of camping opportunities.
Do you own any of the new products built especially for SUV camping. Like the mattresses or the attached tents? Seem like neat concepts, but we don't know anyone with them.
I lived 2 to 3 days a week in my cherokee for 5 years. Finally got a explorer. More height so I can sleep length wise without claustrophobia. In cherokee I was sleeping sideways killing my neck n hip. Really I need a armada well prefer a Tahoe but they are to expensive
@@joelincolnlincoln6315 When we moved over from the Jeep to the Matrix we were surprised how much room we gained. The Matrix is like 6'2" or 6'3" of head to foot room when laid completely flat. And, compared to most vehicles we have slept in there was no bump under some part of our body to make that happen. Nice to have a vehicle that folds 100% flat.
Playing with Sticks , No, I repurpose my own things as they satisfy my needs. I do have a mototote for my ebike and Yakima rails for a roof box. There’s a tent in the box to hold my campsite while I’m away so the site doesn’t get poached.
Thank you for the content of your channel. We did a lot of pondering and decided to buy a teardrop for many of the reasons listed. Coincidently, we decided on the Bean teardrop shown in this video thumbnail but in their "Meaner Bean" model. We have tent camped for 40+ years. Now retired we are camping more often and year round and getting tired of rolling up and deploying a wet tent. Sometimes we resort to motels:( Most of our trips involve primitive roads and routes that push the limits of our Land Rover. That left us few options for RV camping. We ruled out vans, sprinters and truck campers... too big and limited off road, plus we love driving our Land Rover. The roof top tent option seemed a huge waist of space on our much needed roof rack and it's just a tent. We looked at popup tent trailers but they are less mosquito proof than our pack tent. Even the hardtops have wet fabric to worry about rotting and airing out and true off road models were limited. So our reason for buying a teardrop was nothing else would work. The Meaner Bean will essentially follow us anywhere. The downside of towing outweigh the benefits of having:18 gallons of water, a hot shower, an integrated awning area, the instant covered kitchen complete with sink, stove and refrigerator/freezer... and no need to air out a wet tent and damp sleeping bags. This teardrop also has a second roof rack and lockable storage so we can carry more toys on our trips. Keep up the good work!
Thank you for your thoughts and decision making process details. I am currently in the “campers and priorities” lists stage with my choice still changing daily 😬. 🤣. Still fun. Enjoy your great Meaner Bean! Nice!
Bravo! We couldn't have said this any better. You basically took 5 of our videos and summed them up in two paragraphs. For the past 4 months we have been trying to make a video with our friends NestEgg Teadrop. In the process we have been studying fiberglass trailers and have been REALLY impressed with what we have found from BEAN in terms of taking fiberglass teardrops and pushing it to the limits. Their R&D, Engineering, and mindset is second to none. Honestly at first we didn't take them too seriously because we thought they were another overpriced teardrop manufacture out there. Not that all teardrop manufacturers are overpriced, but there are a few that have been popping up around the country. Since going out to Valiant Trailers in Alaska and getting to know off-road teardrops more, we now realize those Bean trailers are worth every penny and more. Honestly now we don't even see them as high priced after knowing what goes in to the build process. You got yourself a trailer built to outlast you, but instead of a utilitarian tank design it has life and character. Thanks again for this great response. This is what we were hoping to hear more about from folks who watched the video.
Playing with Sticks, Good point about price and value. I came to the same conclusion: Campers that I thought were really expensive I now see as a great value when everything is considered. Still, nothing wrong with starting inexpensive and learning what characteristics are really valued, or just seeing an inexpensive camper for what it is used for: a bed at a local campground with minimal investment 😃
@@mikemead2315 You always seem to say things better than us. You nailed it here. Last spring we made a conscious decision to start testing gear outside our comfort zone. Comfort, meaning "frugal zone" :) We realized to have a balanced opinion in this community we needed to dabble in more than just budget gear and campers. Our first item outside what we thought we needed as campers was the little Go20 12 volt refrigerator. After hearing quite a few folks from the community used these, we felt compelled to check one out. And wow, are we glad we did! Honestly May would say it is the best addition to our camp setup yet and I think I agree with her as well. This has opened up our eyes a bit to expand what we are willing to try. At this point we have only used budget trailers, so we have been trying to get our hands on some of the higher end models out there. We almost got our hands on a 16' 2016 Airstream at an amazing price. That is like jumping straight to the Rolls-Royce. We thought after trying something like that we would have a much better understanding of budget vs high dollar. But, unfortunately we didn't end up getting her. I say all this just to say I still think some things out there in the small camper trailer industry are just ridiculous in terms of the price they are asking. But, I am also much more open to the possibility that many of these companies are making trailers worth every penny that they charge.
Playing with Sticks, you have good instincts and a winning combination. Really, I would have never even considered the Meaner Bean (cool name;-) or Valiant before your channel. Good job!
Hi Drew, couldn’t agree more with you about the community of tiny campers. We have been traveling the country the past 5 years in our Runaway and have met so many awesome people. I don’t see us making any changes in the near future
Oh wow, we didn't realize you had been traveling for five years in your Runaway. That is amazing! Your camper is so cozy I could see why it works perfectly for you three. We have never had the time to perfect any of our campers, especially the interior. Hoping one day to have a cozy camper like yours and of course a cozy outdoor living room like yours too!
Many of the new quality more hand built campers are only sold where they are made, though some have established shipping options. If you don’t want to travel a long distance to pickup a camper, you can choose a builder closer to your location, which may also help narrow the field.
That is a great point. Even here in Alaska, Jordan out at Valiant has been shipping trailers all over Canada and Alaska this summer. Even though it is far the total cost of the trailer including shipping still ends up being far lower than most other manufacturers. We are excited for him because he just found his own guy for hauling trailers to Canada and the Lower 48. This will allow him to bypass the normal shipping routes and get trailers down there much cheaper.
Playing with Sticks, That is really cool! That is a businessman. Design is important, but the success of a company depends in the rest of the logistics, which are HUGE compared to the design. Timely. I was going to ask you how they were doing, because I have not been able to get to their website. Good to hear they are still in business.
I’ve just been looking at those tear drops since I’ve got a new LincolnMKZ Hybrid which gets 440 miles on a tank of gas. Unfortunately the only thing is I can only tow 1K pounds and after binge watching your videos through the night, I’ve decided to either buy a used one here in So-Cal or have it ordered today. I thought that a Mercedes sprinter was for me, but with the economic situation, this is definitely what I want. I love the outdoor life, and I’m also a cryptocurrency trader/UA-cam vlogger that I can work practically anywhere in the USA. I so appreciate your videos Drew, and look forward to making my purchase along with all the gadgets you have suggested. Hope that I can provide some great content for the tear drop community. Happy Travels! Paula ❤️
Your lifestyle sounds great! Definitely looking forward to your content. If it was me I would start looking at composite teardrops. Keywords would be fiberglass, composite, monocoque camper. These are the lightest weight and virtually water proof. A nice budget option right now is the Road Toad. I am not sure if you can add on the AC and insulation you need though.
Woot, woot! Reminds us that we still haven't purchased ours. That is so cool to hear that you got a Playing with Sticks version. At first we didn't plan to make one, but thought there would be a few in the community that connected to it. We were surprised how many were ordered. We feel super blessed knowing so many folks connect to this little community! I'm thinking of going with a grey hoodie as well. Who know though, May always notes that I change my mind last second.
Love your videos! I've been thinking about getting a teardrop next year and you have so many great ideas, helps to make a list of what I may need to get as well as the trailer.
@@PlayingwithSticks It will most likely be the 4x8 or 5x8 SilverBullet from www.theteardroptrailer.com I believe the pricing on their site is Canadian dollars, so they're very affordable, I haven't found anything thats comparable in that price range. I am also in Canada.
@@cheesetoast99 Great prices on those trailers by the way. The website had a nice little button for converting to US dollars as well. Love the aluminum skins.
Glad you like it Mike! We were so surprised how different it looked when we shot on the wide angle lens. We are excited about this lens because we think it will show you the destinations better. Basically allowing you to see what our eyes see in real life. Typically we get one peak in the distance, now from time to time (if I remember to put the wide angle lens on) it will be fun to see multiple peaks, glaciers, etc.
You said something in another video about the smell from cooking and the bathroom that you don’t have with these smaller campers that changed my whole outlook on smaller campers. I had a friend that had a class A and every time I went in her trailer, over a 10yr period, it smelled like poo. Now I want a tear drop, square drop or a overland trailer with the tent on top. The awning and annexes for small trailers give you a tent type enclosed space with some blow up furniture that makes up for the privacy space in some of the bigger RV’s that have no choice but to be sardined at a paid campground.
Hey guys, I clicked on the video for the trailer inspiration, but had to chime in as a photographer. Look into a camera like the Nikon Z50. It takes interchangeable lenses and has full-time face-tracking autofocus. The Canon M50 is another very popular choice for vlogging.
Really appreciate the advice. We were so excited for the Canon R6 and R5, but the overheating was a deal breaker. Thanks for suggesting the other cameras. We are due for some good autofocus.
Also, sorry to hear about the burnout. But also excited to see that you are back on UA-cam. We will definitely be checking out your channel. We are awful at taking thumbnails especially landscape photography. Excited to dive into some of your tips and tricks.
All the reasons we purchased our t@b 400. Now, we do have water and a toilet but it is small and easy to pull. In fact we are out camping in GA and enjoying the approach of Fall. Safe travels
Don't get us wrong we would take the water and toilet if someone gave it to us. Sometimes we purposely choose a dry trailer (even if cost isn't an issue) but we also like our comforts. That is why we own one dry trailer and one "not so dry?" We are a bit spoiled in that we want our teardrop and want our 13' camper as well. We are blessed in that we are able to have room to store both at once.
Hi! This video popped up in my feed and I really enjoyed hearing why we need a teardrop trailer. I’ve already made up my mind I’m going to get one, just got to figure out how to pay for it! That scenery was gorgeous and look how little your boy is?! So adorable ❤
Great video...I love your thorough explanations and reasonings....I'm looking into buying a teardrop soon...this is really helping me! It will be my first camper!
Now that is cool to hear Ande! We still have to order a hoodie or two as well. Going to go outside the box and purchase my first hoodie that is not black! Glad you enjoyed the wide angles. Excited to use that lens inside the campers.
That is awesome to hear! Funny timing on this comment because I just told my wife yesterday after watching your Meaner Bean shakedown run that we have some binging to do of your content!
@@PlayingwithSticks nice thank you for the support. You guys have grown really fast it seems any tips would certainly be appreciated find us on our webpage if you want to talk directly. graylineoverland.com
@@GrayLineOverland Of course! One of our favorite things is helping other small camper channels figure out how to navigate UA-cam. We will send you an email and get the ball rolling.
Glad you like them. We thought it would be fun to do something for the community. Also gave us an excuse to get some shirts ourselves. My Alaska Wildlife Conservation Hoodie I wear almost every episode was getting a bit ragged.
My parents had a teardrop trailer growing up. They slept in it and left my brother and me in the tent with the bears. They came into our camp and trashed it and ate our food while we were out at a amphitheater watching something I don't remember what.
Sounds like my family growing up! 😂 thanks for sharing. We had a bear going to our tent after a Thermarest. I think that’s what attracted him but in the end he ended up going after everything.
Great video. Always a pleasure to see your enthusiasm. We jut got back also, and the great thing is the community with other tear droppers. You never get that with an RV.
Does that mean we will be getting some fun teardrop videos from you soon? And couldn't agree more about the community. We are all nuts about these little campers aren't we. So fun!
@@PlayingwithSticks Definitely have some new videos coming soon. We just got back from North Carolina up in the mountains. On the way back, we spotted a lady at a gas station pulling a little 4x8 with wheels that looked like they came off a matchbox car. Everybody waves like they just ran into old friends.
@@wollwerthimagery6267 The WAVE, yes. We give that same wave to all the teardrop owners here in Alaska as well. We have never really been a part of a small club, minus sports growing up. So it feels really special meeting all these people on the road.
Sound fun to have a unique trailer over there. I bet you will definitely capture some attention. Good luck on the build. Let us know how it goes Pierre.
Sold our 28' trailer last year. Don't get me wrong, my wife and I loved it. But add up payment, storage, registration, insurance, maintenance, and depreciation. Just outside storage where we are here in SoCal is ~$4K a year and still going up. My annual ~$10K not counting the truck or 8mpg towing. Then divide by the number of days a year you really use it. You'll probably be shocked. A teardrop in your garage that you may have built yourself makes a lot of sense, like the car camping we did for years but way elevated.
After going back and forth for about a year, I'm starting to look hard at teardrops. Partially thanks to you! HOA issues mean I might be towing a T@g or other beauty with my honda Ridgeline. Good news is, I'll still be able to use most of my existing camping gear. Just gotta clean garage and make room. Thanks, Drew!
That was a big selling point for us. It is such a seamless transition between backpacking and car camping. No new items needed at least for the first season. Then from there we started adding a few glamping items as we learned our new camping style. One of these days we will put up a walk through video of the 2021 T@G boondock. We filmed it when we were in San Diego.
LOVE the Bean Trailers. Big zip up hoodie fans as well. Unfortunately they didn't have any at Bonfire. However, the shirts were much more popular than we had imagined. So looking at potentially finding another company to run these shirts full time and hoping we can find a company that does zip ups. Unfortunately we are pretty swamped so we probably won't get that setup for another couple months.
That is really neat to hear. We like hearing that. Our intention is to get the info out on small campers and teardrops. UA-cam seems to be a great vessel for that!
We have got to stop finding out what trailers people are getting, because we are just getting jealous all the time! 😆 The Escapod's are staight up amazing! We are big suckers for the traditional teardrop trailers, but also love the ability to go offroad. Escapod creates this marriage probably as well in the industry as you can. Thanks for sharing David. If you end up doing a blog or posting photos let us know.
I'm having a small trailer built..6x8..guess that isn't quite a teardrop but small impact, easy to maneuver...maintenance will be minimal..traditional teardrops, unless you build them yourself, tend to be a bit pricey..I wanted a less expensive option..
6x8 would be pretty comparable to most teardrops. Typically our teardrops are 4X8, 5X8, 5X10, and 6X8. I think that is a great choice going with something more affordable. Really the only difference is looks. At that size they all function pretty similar.
The easy setup, ready to go kitchen is a huge bonus. That’s one thing I shoot for, easy up and easy down. Some trips all we put outside the aframe are chairs 👍🏻 Not sure if a teardrop would be our destination camper, we usually get at least one day of all day rain in our area, but I could definitely see road tripping in one!
Good point on the rain. We love teardrop camping in the rain. But it isn't a whole lot of fun when the rain starts before you get there. Setting up the "outdoor living room" in the rain is definitely a drawback to this lifestyle.
Playing with Sticks yeah, we pretty much count on it raining at least once a trip. Last one our site flooded out to the door of our camper. It was a challenge to find a dry spot for the outdoor shelter. Part of the fun though 😁
Great video. We have a 6X10 Escapade squaredrop. We are in our sixties. We love the outdoor living aspect of camping and we were able to special order a trifold but extra thick mattress that was installed by Escapade. keeping it simple with a touch of comfort is the perfect mix for us.
The 6X10 sounds like a great size. We hear very similar comments to yours from the 6X10 Runaway Trailer owners as well. We 100% agree about the comfort part. Getting that right mattress is the difference between 2 night camping trips and week+ camping trips. Thanks for sharing Sandra! Thanks for reminding us about Escapade as well. Sometimes we forget to share that brand with folks in the community.
Thanks guys! That means a lot. If you ever end up taking any of your Bean trailers up to Alaska (where a trailer like that belongs 😂) we would love to make a video about it. Let us know if you are ever in our neck of the woods.
I ordered my Timberleaf kestrel teardrop this January and I’m due to take delivery next February so I’m super excited. But, I got my teardrop mostly bc I travel with my small pup and it’s not always easy to find places that accept pets so with a teardrop I can use my current suv that my pup and o can utilize whenever we need especially when traveling abroad like Mexico, Canada and Alaska.
Great video. My husband and tent camp right now and a really like the idea of a small trailer. Can you put a rack on top of the trailer for kayaks or bikes? Thanks again
Glad you enjoyed the video Lisa. Big tent campers here as well! I would say, with almost 99% certainty that almost all teardrop manufacturers have roofs strong enough to support kayaks and bikes. Now, when it comes to rooftop tents this number drops pretty significantly. Always nice to have the option for a rooftop tent if you have kids or others who come along. To us it is the kayaks and bikes that really make teardrop camping what it is...AMAZING!
I getting ready to sell my Classic Diesel pusher and downsize to an Offroad teardrop, much cheaper to insure, easier maintenance, and just get back to the basics of camping again, I will be 60 in a few months and I'm partly disabled ,got into 4 wheeling late in life,but I have found so many great places to camp and I can't get my 40' unit into them,so I'm going to try and Full-time in an offroad teardrop! 🤣🤣
We like your spirit John! Lately we have been getting into the backroads quite a bit more. And we say the same thing. If we were to go full time at this point we would either do an offroad teardrop or a truck with camper. Both of these routes allow you the comforts of home, but to get where others cannot.
I spent most of my youth in truck campers with my parents, they have there advantages, but also a lot of Draw backs Top heavy,and they are a Big Sail in the wind,and if you are looking to get off the beaten path ,most truck campers sit too high for a lot of Forest roads up in the mountains low hanging tree branches and whatnot, and I won't have the creature comforts that I have in my current rig,But,I will be able to get to a lot more off grid camping locations with a lower profile Teardrop, it all depends on what type of camping you and your family want to do! As it is I will probably have to upgrade my engine to a 4.0 inline 6 in my 2000 Jeep TJ in order to pull 1,I could get a lighter one but I refuse to lose the rear galley🤣👍🇺🇸
@@CJLane-62 Good thought. Now the price is quite a bit higher, but there is always the option of a one piece fiberglass teardrop like Bean trailer makes. There are also quite a few used fiberglass teardrops out there from business that are no longer in operation. You can get these teardrops between $5,000 and $10,000. Quite the weight savings, but still get the queen size bed and the nice galley kitchen. Not only do you save in weight, but now you have a teardrop that is pretty maintenance free on the exterior and waterproof.
@@PlayingwithSticks And that's another thing,Why do all them campers have Queen size beds in them,I currently have 1 in my rig, and I tell ya,rolling over in the winter time is a really fast wake up when you roll onto that really Cold side,and I have decided that being single, that I don't want or need a queen size mattress in my next rig,for me and my little dog a single size will be fine,and that will allow me to possibly put in a miniature dresser for my clothes!😁😁🇺🇸🇺🇸
@@CJLane-62 Exactly! If you watch folks in the Runaway Camper community many of them purposely put in beds that are small so they can have a porta potty by the bedside for night time duties, a place to hold their water, cpap machine, etc. For us, where the bed fills up the entire floor, you have no space for those types of items.
I was hoping to see something about the @beantrailer pictured as the main photo, but nothing! Thanks for putting this video together. A lot of these reasons are on our list.
Sorry about that Miguel. Wasn’t trying to mislead you, just wanted to highlight a different style of teardrop trailer. This week we finally are taking out our first One piece molded fiberglass teardrop trailer. We are really excited to make that video. In that video our main intention is to share why fiberglass teardrop trailers are the best teardrop trailers in many ways. We will be highlighting the Bean trailer as well because it even goes above and beyond the trailer we are taking out. Hopefully we will get some nice b roll videos of the Bean trailer because the Owner got us in touch with their social media coordinator to get us some videos. We are pretty backed up on videos though so this probably won’t come out until about December or January would be my guess.
My number one reason? Did not want to spend the big bucks on a large RV that would sit depreciating all winter. My teardrop sits waiting, no weatherization required so we use it year round. Up the ski hill, to the lake, road trip...my neighbour on the other hand won't take his trailer out in the off season because it is full of pink stuff and therfor no good to use till mid spring.
Great point on the weatherization. I could see how folks would want to get it done before freeze up, but then feel conflicted because they would itch to go out again. Nice knowing in the teardrop if a good aurora "northern lights" forecast comes in we just crank up the electric blanket and take off.
HELLOOOOOOO, my friends!!! Another great vid, guys! Glad to see you and yours are doing well . . . :) Thanks for affirming our decision to invest in one of these. Can't wait!!!
HOWWDDDYYYYYY! Got to ask...when is yours going to be done! We have been interested because RVs and trailers are selling so well right now. Can't be good for turnaround time for all of us wanting our next trailer.
@@PlayingwithSticks it's a fair question. Point of fact, I just got done watching a video by the RV Odd Couple entitled "7 reasons why now is not a good time to buy an RV". LOL. It seems that this whole pandemic has screwed everything up regarding shipping, maintenance, and servicing the various parts. We were originally slated to buy ours shortly after the first of the year, (because personal property tax), so we'll just have to wait and see what the landscape looks like in regards at that time. Unfortunately, if things don't improve, we may be waiting another six months or so after that ... :(
@@bmay511 We have been talking with Little Guy Trailers as we love basically every trailer at their site in San Diego. They said all the manufacturers are on point to flood the market the first of the year. We heard this from them about a month or two ago. Hopefully everyone is still on course.
I sold my condo and moved into an apartment in senior complex, then made a deposit on a T@b 320S Boondock. That was in August and I was told at that time it would be ready late October/early November. I already purchased all the things to make it my little home on wheels (i.e., interior decorating) as well as leveling blocks, tire chocks, surge protector, water filter, and that list goes on and on LOL. All I can say is "I'm spending my kids' inheritance!" 👩🦳
Thanks for sharing ! This is awesome information. I was about to move into a campervan but with it and once camped.. i have no option to move around to other places (bars, restaurants, Etc). Or just to buy ice ! TearDrops is a perfect solution. Thank you
At first we will admit only half these things were on our list. We actually didn’t realize how many benefits there were with teardrops and we’re guessing we’re going to hear a lot more from others here in the comment section. You’re going to have to send us your list someday Mike. We will have to compare our lists. Our list is ridiculously large right now in terms of great small camper trailers out there
@@larrytucker222 Completely makes sense. And that hard sided pop-up was an older Apache or an A-frame style camper? Would love to get our hands on an Apache some day. Please forgive me if I asked you this before. I am starting to get small camper owners a bit mixed up in my head.
@@larrytucker222 Thanks for sharing Larry. We hope to get into one of those someday. Amazing trailers. Especially for up here in Alaska they fit great!
Yes! We love those lightweight teardrops as well. Just today I moved ours by hand and it was so convenient. But, right after that I moved a fiberglass teardrop by hand today and got jealous 😂
Great video! Can't really call mine a teardrop although I can call it a clamshell. And I love it! You hit a lot of great topics in this video. Good job!
I would say though, that your Blue Ridge has much more of a teardrop design than most so called offroad teardrops out there. Glad you enjoyed this one. Man, really wish we had a trailer like yours. Someday, yes someday...
I am really impressed that you remember my trailer. What you said is true it went from sleeping on the ground to a small trailer to a large trailer back to a small trailer with a lot of doodads and whatnots. Of course there's always backpacking which keeps me grounded.
Hey, great video! I'm really interested in a teardrop-style, 1000 lbs. max, but one thing I really need is some sort of dinette table where I can sit and work. Yeah, I'd be outside most of the time, but when it's inclement or just really cold, or nighttime, I want that table to work (I'm a writer/composer.) Normally they're so small, it's just the bed. Can you suggest the best possibilities?
I would say most are very good. Some that are more based on a wood exterior would probably be more susceptible. Meaning, the ones with wood veneer on the outside. Many of today's teardrops are fiberglass composite and aluminum, which both are tough against hail. I think the strongest I have seen comes from Bean which you see in the thumbnail. They use a thick gel coat on the outer layer to protect against things like that.
i would want good R value protection against the elements....... ive done alot of tent camping with the boy scout program and im done with tent camping...... im older now... i want something nice to sleep in instead of a pop up trailer and some thing i can charge my laptop and mobile phone and add a solar set up..... non mounted to the trailer..... i want to sleep in one with a sleeping bag.. my furs and a good memory foam matress for winter camping..... and most def... i dont wanna fool with black/grey water set ups.......
You sound just like us. If you haven’t seen her other teardrop videos you may want to check them out. We have a basic 4 x 8 teardrop with no kitchen, no water. Basically a nice memory foam bed on wheels and yes just like you we love just rolling up in our sleeping bags and using our solar portable generators to power an electric blanket or a small heater to take the edge off.
Me again! There is a broken link to your hoodies now. Am ready to order after over-thinking what size to get LOL. Decided on M since it's a pullover (although I'm claustrophobic!). I figure I can throw an overcoat on top if need to layer. I did read the Q&A about zip-up hoodies, which I prefer. If and when they are available, I will probably order a size L and use as a top layer. I'll check link later today. Say hi to your beautiful bride and give a hug to your precious little campers for me! 👩🦳 GO HAWKS! 💙💚🏈💚💙
Hey Jodi! What we have been finding with the hoodies is that when you go to the website it looks broken because it is grayed out. Instead of hovering over the hoodie, hover over and click. The hoodie is found right below the price of the shirts and then just on the right side of the shirt icon. Hope that helps. Another zip-up hoodie fan. Awesome because that is what we love as well. And a fellow Hawks fan. You will fit in well here in Alaska! May says hi! Haven't had the chance to give the boys the hug yet from you, but I will!
@@sixpapavictor Good question. Because these trailers are so small, they are very easy and affordable to insulate. Most manufactures have great r-values when it comes to teardrop insulation. Our teardrop has much better insulation compared to other trailers we have owned. I think part of that is due to the wooden framing. Teardrops don't have the thin framing like many of the travel trailers out there. As for the height. In terms of sleeping many can fit folks up to 6'7". As for standing most are built around 4 foot of standing height. However there are taller teardrops out there closer to 5 foot to 5'4" And then there are some fun teardrop shaped campers that technically are called "standies" and they are built to allow you to stand up.
@@mikemead2315 It kinda evened out, no one comes because of wild fire smoke but it is getting cooler. Is 100 F cooler? I say compared to 117 F this summer, YES.
SLAM BOY, Yikes! Forgot about the heat still. Couple of snow flakes here - freak blip - will be 45-55. Lived in Phoenix for years in the past, but never had the number of 100+ days as this year.
Playing with Sticks, Yeah. I like the bigger one as the typical little click-on logo that makes the teardrop readily recognizable. I really liked the logo with the words though, but the words and the camper were not readily obvious when minimized. The words are cool and important, but visually the teardrop shape is key. I think both really. Your real logo is with the words. When one is needed as a quick small visual, emphasize the teardrop. Hey, and you can always change too!
Great concept. The premade teardrops are becoming overpriced. I like the home built idea, but for some that’s not possible. I opted for a 5x10 enclosed utility trailer. Insulated it and wired it up for 12vdc /solar and 120vac. Found a free entertainment center and made it my kitchen. Used my existing cots and camping gear. In business for less than $2500.
Love the angle you took. We also purchased a utility trailer this fall. It has been fun making a few modifications here and there. I really like the idea of taking furniture and repurposing it like you did with the entertainment center. Thanks for sharing.
I've been starting to think about teardrops to make going back and forth between Massachusetts and Wisconsin less of a "must fly" experience. (It's either fly or stop for the night somewhere around the halfway point.)
I like how you are thinking Katherine. If you are just doing one night stays another great option would be a fiberglass trailer like a Scamp or even smaller but same features a Meerkat trailer. This would give you the benefit of cooking and eating inside as well, but still keep the weight down. But if you are just using this to sleep nothing will beat the convenience and simplicity of a teardrop. Pull over, hop in, wake up, take off.
@@PlayingwithSticks Exactly! And if you can pull over and sleep anywhere along the way, you can do it in more hops (not needing a second driver) and not needing to look for lodgings along the way. It'll probably be a bit before I actually do this, given the expense (I don't even have a car right now), but getting a knowledge base now means that when I'm ready, I'll be ready. :)
WOW and THANK YOU! Stumbled across this and some of your other videos :) Great information, and really? You towed with a Matrix? I Sold my Class C from lack of use and places I could go in CA, and also my older mini van, so now I have a Subaru Forester.... and after seeing this and your others, wondering if I can tow one of these.... already missing my Van the most, and in WA / PNW I thought is was the best for views and places, BUT your shots with or without wide angle are AMAZING! Also thanks for sharing your family! Enjoy them as they grow up way too fast, I'm a GrandPa of an 8 year old.... Many things you talk about apply to all RV'ers, Vanners, and Campers.... Thanks you again and ALL the best to you, family, and your community! CHeers! :)
You will be amazed what that little Subaru can pull. Unfortunately, even though the Forester looks from the design like one of their stronger tow vehicles, it is actually on the lower size compared to the other Subarus. But, at 1,500lbs they are great for towing a teardop! Having a fan would be a blast. We can definitely see how that would be perfect for the Pacific Northwest. 10 years ago there weren't many up here. Now when we go camping, it is about 50/50 vans to travel trailers. Thanks for the really positive comments. This really made our day. And congrats on being a Grandpa! What a blessing!
As someone that's new to this world, it would be cool to see what channels you follow as a possible video idea. Would help save me time that's for sure 🙂
That is an easy one, and no video required. All you have to do is go to our channel and click on the channels tab. There you will find who we follow. in "Our Featured Channels." Most of our favorite knowledge comes from Cosmo Weems, Charles Moman, Cheap RV Living, Camp and Camera, and From She to Me. The other channels are just fun to watch! Hope this helps. Edit: I should add HoboTech and Will Prowse for all things solar.
Which ones do we use? Or what were we going to buy and then backed out? I'll answer both. We use a Panasonic GH5 typically paired with the 12-35mm kit lens. The one we were going to buy was the Canon R6 which would pair nicely with my wife's canon glass she uses. Love our Panasonic, just wish it was full frame and had more of the canon color science.
Thank you, much appreciated! For those who are seeing this post you have to check out Colorado Mallcrawlers. Great cinematography, pacing, and topics. And what we love is some of the vehicles they use to get off the beaten trail are stock, which is nice to know you can get out there without sinking a ton of extra parts and money into your tow rig.
Agree, most Teardrops have options for roof racks, however, in our case having a t@b 400, our roof space is occupied with solar panels. I know some teardrops have options for bike racks on the front, attached to the trailer fork. Also seen some who mount bikes on their trailers and kayaks on their tow vehicle. Plenty of ideas out there and as mentioned in the video, tons of forums that are very helpful. Best of luck. Safe travels
@@chaosncheckt9356 Good point on the solar being covered up. We didn't even think about that. We are in the market for our first trailer bike rack as well as the boys are now growing to be that age. Will let you all know what we end up going with.
The various “teardrop” classifications beyond the original 11-12 foot 500lb tiny teardrop is interesting. It ranges from anything tiny and any shape (eg 11 foot rectangular RunAway) to huge and teardrop shaped (eg 18 foot Tab-400 and 21 foot 3,000+lb LittleGuy-Max).
Very true! In my opinion all of them fit into today's classifications. However, the one that I feel is a bit of a stretch is an R-POD. Which is funny, because it has a very classic beautiful teardrop shape. But, once you get that big and mass manufactured I just feel like it falls into the standard travel trailer definition. And this is me being biased, because I have seen a few models of R-PODS that are pretty small. Probably right there with the Little Guy Max in terms of weight and size. Maybe it is the hybrid nature of the trailer that also in my view pushes it a bit more away from a teardrop by definition.
Playing with Sticks, I see what you are saying. Homemade quality bias even for manufacturers. Original teardrops were mostly hand made sometimes on purchased common plans with a few manufacturers, and even they had a homemade bias. I like the definition.
Great to hear. That is actually how we stumbled on your channel. The more we get into these Bean trailers the more interested we are. Your video helped take our interest to another level. Now we are in trouble!
@@PlayingwithSticks I absolutely love ours it is comfy and way more room inside than most teardrops. You should totally go to the factory and check them out before you buy they are super awesome.
It's been a long time since I've been camping. And I'm an old fogie now so sleaping in a teardrop instead of a tent has an allure. When starting out, are there places that will rent teardrops? Sidenote...I live in an apartment so rental could be a better option
We highly suggest this as well. Unfortunately there fees dramatically increased this year due to insurance. Which means we can't rent them as often. But still great for the occasional renter to figure out what they want/need before investing in their first trailer. Thanks for sharing Paula!
Yes. Great question. Like Paula mentioned Outdoorsy is a great place to start. And then many of the teardrop manufacturers around the country not only sell them, but rent them as well. If you are on the western side of the US there are a lot of rentals out there.
@@bdeitur You got us beat! We have zero up here. Wait, that is not true. Just this year we got 2 new teardrops on there, but they are so top dollar off road trailers that renting them almost requires taking out a small mortgage :)
Sorry about that Curron. We typically do not have the mid-roll ads on the first 48 hours for the subscribers and then turn them on after that. We have this theory and it seems to be correct in that when we turn on ads more people are able to see the video. Basically the ads seem to increase our reach. Which makes sense beings the ads help support the platform as well.
I’m a 56 year old life long camper… months at time in the wilderness camper. I’ve owned 3 trailers now , all used that I only use for living in while I decide where I’m going next. This winter I’ve got it in my head to have one of these hiker trailers or teardrops. I cannot however come to any reason why I would pay so much for any one that I’ve looked at. It’s like going to Walmart and paying triple what it’s worth. I’m so curious to know how a young couple with little people, likely college loans a house loan, can piss away 40 k, to weekend camp. Your average human cannot even dream of buying these. I showed these to an Amish guy, and he said he would happily build one , awnings, cooler, stoves, solar for 20 and still make a profit. And there I know it would last forever. Only pure laziness keeps me from building it myself. If you have the money to waste on what these cost. You could literally start a business out of your garage and sell them for the price of one.
Thanks Craig! I'm assuming you all have some pretty good T@G rallies in Ohio. Our brother in law with his 3 kids and wife drove all the way from Arizona to Alaska in their little T@G. And then they even stayed up here for a month in it. They said it was rough at times, being so packed in, but they said overall they enjoyed it.
So I have a question, teardrops are pretty pricey, let's say I want one so I spend 15 to 20k for a basic one, or I could spend 6-10k to get a used full camp trailer. Would be kinda cool to see a pros and cons vid of that scenerio.
Very pricy indeed for some of these models on the road. However, We have seen at least 4 great used teardrops sell here in Alaska the past year all for under $4,000. Most were in the $2,500 range. Another good video idea would be budget teardrops (well really squaredrops) vs traditional teardrops. The price point on the squaredrops is amazing. Many are starting at the price of the used ones I just mentioned. Then there are a few teardrop companies out there that have pretty affordable teardrops as well. Hmm, you got me thinking now. How do I craft a video that covers costs, design, etc. And then tie it all together in a nice bow in terms of future costs, investment returns, the list could go on and on. Thanks for sparking some ideas for us.
@@PlayingwithSticks yeah I'm in the greater Seattle area and there is only one on Craigslist under 5k within 100 miles. Is Craigslist the best option to find them?
@@Luktus8 Yes, for what we have seen Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace have been the best, at least for the West Coast which is what we monitor most often to get a feel for the market. Facebook Marketplace seems to be gaining more traction each month.
@@Luktus8 I also found my 4x8 on craigslist a few years back. I went 500 miles & picked it up. I camped in it on our way back........make it a fun road trip. Ours was $4300, (homemade like playing with sticks , but aluminum skin & with old school fenders, 15" rims with chrome hub caps) Looks like a 1940's style Narrow down your must haves & budget. I love mine & take it everywhere.
Hmmm… it’s been so long since I made this video I can’t even remember what was in the background. I feel like it was either the Knik or Portage Creek. I can’t remember if I filmed on the Su during this season. I have such slow Internet. I cannot watch this video back.
Just got my Teardrop Life hoody in maroon and love it! The medium is perfect size for just chillin' and I can wear my raincoat over it if need be. The fleece lining feels like jammies! Plz let us know when you have zip-ups. 👩🦳
Thank you for posting this. We really do need to work on moving the designs over to Teespring. Well, I probably should see if teespring has zip-ups first. So great to hear you are enjoying your Hoody. I was thinking of getting a maroon version as well, just to change things up a bit as I almost always wear black.
@@PlayingwithSticks picked up my new T@B 320S Saturday! Tows like a dream but I am taking it back to dealership to have a backup camera installed, especially since I'll be solo most of the time. Going to a campground on the Washington coast for 4 nights over Thanksgiving, maiden voyage! I saw your recommendations in another reply about vlogs addressing colder camping. 👍
A lot of folks use blenders, water heaters, and coffee machines. In the past we never had an inverter strong enough to run these. We do now, but still have never used an appliance in the field. We have done a lot of tests with them at home and they work great on our teardrop setup.
I would love to get a teardrop trailer, and we are just my husband, son and I as well. How do you all 3 sleep in there? More teardrops I see out there can only comfortably sleep 2..
Truly a teardrop is designed for 2. Our family is a bit outside the norm in that all four of us sleep on a queen bed. We like packing them in tight! There are a few companies out there that make teardrop trailers with bunks. You also can get a standard sized teardrop and throw on a rooftop tent, which is our favorite option. But, make sure the roof is designed for the weight and size of a tent, not all are. Okay long copy and paste comment coming...get ready. So many others, including us, have this same issue finding a teardrop for families. Off the top of my head I can think of four companies that are known for their bunks. Colorado Teardrops as the owners take out their kids, the Camp-Inn Raindrop 560 Ultra (this is the one most Alaskans own), Aero Teardrops out of Oregon (not to be confused with all the other Aeros out there) has a version where you can swap out the cabinets for bunks, and then Hiker Trailer makes a 5X10 with bunks. The Raindrop is a really well designed trailer, pricey, but definitely unique. If it were us, which hopefully it will be soon because we need a new teardrop as well as we are bursting at the seams with a 4X8 and a family of four....we would get a teardrop that has a bit more headroom (to allow stacked bunks), a bit wider (5 or 6 feet wide), and built to hold a rooftop tent. The most affordable campers that would meet these needs would be a "squardrop" like a Runaway, not very pretty or iconic, but gets the job done. But, if you are willing to spend a little more there are plenty of classic teardrops out there that support a tent and are that size. If you get a camper that is strong enough to hold a rooftop tent as your kids get older they can migrate to the roof. This way they can feel independent and you won't have to upgrade your trailer when they can no longer comfortably fit in the bunks. Many folks build their own bunks. Here is a link for what I remember to be a Hiker Trailer that was modified by the owner. It has been awhile since I read this, but I think the owner wanted a teardrop where he could pass items through the galley and still have bunks (great feature to have a pass through). I think he shares some details about his build in the thread. www.reddit.com/r/TeardropTrailers/comments/io7q3s/family_teardrop_with_bunk/ Hopefully this helps a bit.
@@PlayingwithSticks I love these detailed replies. I'll add that Bean Trailer also has a interior bunk option. It is basically a cot made of pole and fabric that spans the width of their teardrop against the aft cabinets. The folks sleeping on the full size bed lay with their feet underneath it. The design is very simple and removable so the convertable seating and pop up table still function normally. This type of design could be a good DIY addtion to most teardrops. This Bean video shows their cot option: ua-cam.com/video/fEiee3ssVE8/v-deo.html
@@dchurch911 Thank you for sharing this. I really like the canvas bunk idea because it is easily removed if you do need to access cabinets or a pass through galley. We just talked with someone at Bean recently wondering if they had seen an increase in folks wanting bunks. we are seeing this increase on our channel. They had mentioned that more people lately are asking for two bunks, which they said makes it a bit tougher because this would block all their cabinets. Fun seeing teardrop builders starting to push towards more family amenities. Beings these really are just for sleeping for most of us. We are completely fine packing them in like sardines. We say the more the merrier, well minus the extra moisture issues that come with it. And we must admit there are nights where May and I say we can't wait for the boys to be up in a rooftop tent :)
Been looking at tear drops for awhile..trying to decide if I want the one with the kitchen inside or out.. during the summer the mosquitoes are thick..how do you guys cope with cooking outside and trying to avoid those nasty mosquitoes?
There is days it is awful out here! However it seems to be worse when playing, eating, and hanging out. When cooking we don't get a ton of bugs. But in the occasion we do we end up cooking in our side entry. Horrible idea with bears and smells. Inside is great to have. But we would suggest if you went that route still plan on having an outside setup as most small camper owners come to find they still cook outside more than inside. This is mainly due to smells, cleanup, and space. It just feels a bit cramped cooking and cleaning up inside. But feels amazing on a rainy day where you don't have time to setup the outdoor living space for cooking and eating.
I ordered my first camper ever two months ago. Your videos really convinced me a small camper was the right thing for me but the waiting list for these is long. I bought a 5x10, it should finally be done next week. I can't wait to start camping with it!
Oh my goodness you must be so excited! We are both very impatient people so knowing we only had a week left to get the trailer would drive us crazy 😜 camping in the fall as your first trip can be a bit tougher if you were in a colder climate. If you have time I would check out hanging with Herky, Charles Moman, and Cosmo Weems’ channel. All three of these folks do a great job in terms of preparing for the elements. I think hanging with Herky has the best outdoor living space, Charles and his wife have the best interior in terms of comforts, and then cosmos great because he likes to push the extremes and do some winter camping and integrate backpacking with tear dropping in terms of gear to keep you warm. Congratulations Adam we’re super excited to hear about your first adventure!
@@PlayingwithSticks I am extremely excited to do some fall camping before the winter weather hits! I am still waiting patiently for that call to go pick it up, I am hoping it's before the end of this week. I've seen some of Cosmos videos but I'll have to check out the other two. I have yet to find a video of this company's camper online so I will probably make a video of my first adventure with the new camper.
So what you're saying is you're getting a custom-built teardrop? Worth the wait, if you know what features are perfect for you.
I want no features just space in mine. The Road Toad Tote is what I want if my wife could sleep in it. The only other option would make a bed in a mini van and I sleep in the tear drop. 73@@harrymills2770
Absolutely agree with 18 bed on wheels, 14 move by hand, 13 baby step up, 12 4-cylinder TV, 11 nature, 8 bug-out, 6 galley, 5 upgrade, 4 safety, 2 low maintenance, and 1 low cost, and my hubby and our HOA are all about 17 ‘garagability.’ I didn’t think about - but agree with - 7 greener, and 3 cuteness factor. But I’d add they are ideal for solo campers (for many of the reasons above). Great list! I’m looking forward to hearing more about your solar generator.
The HOA one is big. I think a lot of people don't think about that when purchasing a trailer. And then you never know if you have to move someday and will end up somewhere with HOAs. SOLO CAMPERS very true. And I think if you add a bit of technology like a tv/projector or a bit of wifi a solo traveler could go months on end and feel just like they are living at home. Excited to share our solar generator thoughts. Plus, it is one of the most beautiful sites we have ever filmed in so excited to show you that as well.
So what do you think? Is a teardrop for you? Let us know why you went with your teardrop, why you didn’t or what’s holding you back?
Additional to the other post. what can you do 10, 20, 30+ $$$$. We can take a really nice trips with a teardrop. The cost is a less. Mine is lighting enough to. pull with my Trike that’s one of my reasons. The venture starts from A to B. Destination of choice of camping and along the way. Can dry camp wherever and still have comfort. Thanks! happy camping to all !!
@@djtravelers4467 Would love to see photos of that trike pulling the teardrop!
@@Bateluer Yes, you share very similar thoughts to us on this one. Over time we have become much more open to squaredrops such as the Runaway trailers as they offer quite a lot in terms of value, are fairly mass produced, and are loved by many. We are suckers for a nice ma and pa operation that builds beautiful wooden teardrops. But at the end of the day both styles (squaredrop and traditional) get you to the same destination. I say all this just to say if the cost or build time is enough to turn some people away from purchasing a teardrop, they may want to look into the squaredrops as an option.
@@PlayingwithSticks I admire the simplicity of teardrops being an old ( and I mean OLD) tent guy, but my Casita 17 Liberty allows me to have more room (esp standing up) and a bathroom/refrig/inside bed. Am I spoiled? Maybe, but I can still get into very small campsites and go down some fairly gnarly roads that motorhomes and fifth wheels can't navigate. It's always a balancing act for all of us, when my loading up and breaking camp is always less than 15-20 minutes, even in the rain, I am relatively content. Your family is enviable and your joy with each other shows. Your videos are great, too. Safe travel...
@@richardhouvener6423 We definitely see your side of the argument. That may be why we always have one teardrop and one 13' trailer in our possession. We truly love both styles of trailers. Now our current 13' being vintage definitely doesn't get us to near as many fun places as you can go with your fiberglass trailer. Ours is a bit fragile.
Writing from the bottom of the world...... New Zealand. Thank you so much for your awesome videos, they’ve convinced me, a solo mature camper that this is the right option for me. My new teardrop is being built now... I’m so excited! Blessings to you and you family and thank you for sharing 😀
Now this is fun...New Zealand! Crazy that we all get to interact on here. Is your build more of a homebuild from someone in the community? Or is it from a larger scale manufacturer down there in New Zealand? If it is larger scale would love to have a link to their website. Would be fun to see what type of teardrops they are building down there. Any idea on your build date? I bet you are getting really anxious to get out there. Can't wait to hear about your first trip. We don't get a lot of info from New Zealand, so would be neat to hear.
Playing with Sticks My build is from a New Zealand manufacturer called KPod. www.kpod.co.nz/ I’ll send you an update on my first trip. Thought you might also like to see this book that has recently been published in New Zealand showcasing teardrops :-)
donandmarilynjessen.co.nz/product/my-mini-could-tow-that/
It's not just for the "mature camper." I'd've killed to have one of these for my travels, when I was younger. It's still very appealing to me as an older guy.
I'm in New Zealand too. I might check out the manufacturer and see about a teardrop.
I’ve been a teardrop camper since 2009, love them!
That is great! Definitely have us beat in terms of years on the road. We have said before we have a lot in common as we both love our teardrops and 13' trailers!
Any recommendations on which trailer to go with? Thanks in advance
I actually did consider buying a teardrop trailer back in 2011. At that time I had a Scion xA that I had purchased new and was looking at the Little Guy teardrops that were sold near me here in Wisconsin. The long and short of it was that the Scion was not recommended to tow anything and when I retired in 2013 I sold my car because I was able to get along fine without one using my recumbent bike and a cargo trailer. So I went for 5 years without a car until my daughter ended up in a hospital and recovery in another city so I needed a vehicle to be able to see her which is when I bought a 2004 Honda Odyssey and even that put a dent in my meager savings, but I have that set up to allow me to stay in it or live in it as a plan B.
Sorry I thought I responded to this comment Steve. Love the plan B idea. Especially today, it really isn't a bad idea for folks to be thinking about a plan b.
I built a square drop this spring. I can say it was fun to build among frustration lol. I took pictures along the journey as well.I have had so many people look and many stop and ask about it. Thanks for the inspiration!! Keep up the great work!!
Do you have your pictures posted anywhere? Would love to see them. And yes, I could imagine there would be some frustrations. Quite the labor of love those builds can be.
My wife and I grew up tent camping and backpacking and then we met, had 4 kids and continued tent camping for over 30 years with the kids (and still do). For our recent retirement gift to ourselves, we purchased a Timberleaf Teardrop trailer (built in Colorado) and just love it. In all those years I never minded and even enjoyed the work of setting up tents, sleeping pads and bags, canopies, etc, but now that we have the tear drop, camping is so easy! I can imagine it is harder for an RVer/UAVer (Urban Assault Vehicle user) to downgrade to a teardrop after they have their TVs and A/Cs and non camping urban toys with them, but to go from a tent to a teardrop it is fantastic! I still feel like I am camping, and now that we go to multiple sites in a row touring around, because we are retired, I don't have to worry about rain and wet tents any more. We still cook outdoors and enjoy the outdoors! We are totally self contained. Best wishes camping!
We love our teardrop! It comes with a wet bath and inside kitchen. It does require more maintenance, but it is worth it for us. Those mountain views are so BEAUTIFUL! Thank you for sharing!
Joyce what kind of teardrop do you own? I am guessing maybe a T@B or Mini Max? The wet bath and kitchen sounds great. We go back and forth with the maintenance. I think that is why we own two trailers. One is less maintenance, easier to take out and store and the other is a bit more glamping for us. Great to have the best of both worlds. We are kind of spoiled! Glad you enjoyed the mountain views Joyce.
@@PlayingwithSticks We have a 2019 T@B 400 Bondock Lite. In the summer of 2019, we traveled over 7,000 miles (from coast to coast) in our little T@B. We are impressed with the quality built of the unit. We camped several years in a tent, then we started our graduation of different units: popup, 19 ft TT, 24 ft TT, 29 ft TT, 21 ft AFrame, tent, and finally our T@B. Just like you said in your video, starting small, going larger, and ending at smaller. The last adventure with the tent was fun, and you really feel like you are camping, but those trips to the bath house at night and trying to keep your food cold via ice in a cooler became more tiresome than fun. The ground has become harder over the years, and the mosquitoes are more hungry, too....lol. I am glad that I had the fun experience of tent camping in earlier years, but the small 18 ft T@B is so much better for my husband and myself as we travel our wonderful county to explore the awesome National Parks.
@@joycemoses2411 This is an amazing testimony. I think we are going to have to pin this one in the comments later. Thanks for sharing Joyce. Hoping we can get to some of those beautiful National Parks one of these days as well.
@@PlayingwithSticks Thank you!
I've actually been talking to my parents about getting into tear drop campers because of bug out situations. I think it would be great for them because both of my parents can't really sleep on the ground anymore, and they'd be able to haul more things needed to survive if necessary.
I think you’re onto something. These trailers would make an excellent bug out shelter. And when you’re not using it to bug out there pretty fun to take to the campgrounds. We’ve worked pretty hard to ensure our bed in our teardrop feels just as good as our home bed.
Just found your channel & doing a bit of binge watching tonight - I'm late to the party with comments - My wife & I are in our mid 50's and our wonderful kids are working and off to college, We are life long backpackers and tent campers. Owned a tent trailer and bunk house trailer as our family was growing. We've been tent campers for over 15 years now and I noticed the last few years I was doing solo trips more and more. This winter my wife casually mentioned that something with more protection from the elements, had a bathroom & shower, and could guarantee her warmth & safety in winter would be nice. We ended up with a trailer that has a RV queen bed, outdoor shower, tiny cassette toilet bathroom, heater & A/C, fresh water tank, & outdoor kitchen galley. It's a bit more than a tear drop, far less than a full travel trailer, is seriously off-road capable, & has substantially increased our camping trips as a couple. We are both very happy to be out camping together very frequently again as we did as a young couple. I really appreciate and agree with what you've presented in this video. we are very fortunate to live in a time where we have so many options available get out and enjoying the nature. I suppose our trailer would be looked at as a bit much to the tear drop community & it's definitely looked at as too tiny by the full size RV community. However, we are very happy in our odd trailer that provides us the perfect amount of comfort & outdoor experience that allows us to enjoy the outdoors together. Afterall - that's what the goal of all campers we think.
Love hearing this. I find there’s different trailers for different seasons of our lives. Like you, I think many of us end up with a range of trailers over a lifetime. There’s a stat out there that says the average trailer owner will own five trailers in your lifetime. It’s kind of crazy when you think about it. But I think I’m on trailer number three right now. So I’m almost there. Really glad to hear you found something that works great for your family.
Wow! I'm still a tent camper but will definitely save for a teardrop
My reason!! As we travel through the mountains the Widths & Heights & length. What road you travel. You still can travel those roads. Can pull with most any vehicle. And like you said trailer has no plumbing or water issues to worry about. Because is always the last thing you realize of camper trailer. Can do mods to your teardrop to meet your needs as needed for each individual person(s). I still do a little tent camping as traveling. The whole idea of going camping is to be in nature & sounds. A teardrop also helps with your carbon footprint. Not to be in a big rig that I see all the time.. what’s the point of that! Thanks to all!! Happy Camping!!
Love your reasons here. Good point on the roads. Its never fun knowing you are limited only by your trailer. We are starting to feel that way a bit lately as we use the Jeep more and more. The Jeep and teardrop because it is lifted pretty high and has independent suspension can get many more places than our Matrix could go. BUT, now we are getting to those fun places and see others going even further where we can't go and we see now why people love their offroad trailers. Funny, we never thought we needed one when driving the Matrix. But once you start seeing the possibilities your eyes open to a whole new world of camping opportunities.
I live in a condo that doesn’t allow trailers, so SUV camp. I’m opposed to paying for storage. So I’ve adapted to my Jeep Cherokee just fine.
YES! Love it. When I first met May she thought I was a creeper because I had a bed, drawers, etc. in the back of my jeep. Now she totally gets it.
Do you own any of the new products built especially for SUV camping. Like the mattresses or the attached tents? Seem like neat concepts, but we don't know anyone with them.
I lived 2 to 3 days a week in my cherokee for 5 years. Finally got a explorer. More height so I can sleep length wise without claustrophobia. In cherokee I was sleeping sideways killing my neck n hip. Really I need a armada well prefer a Tahoe but they are to expensive
@@joelincolnlincoln6315 When we moved over from the Jeep to the Matrix we were surprised how much room we gained. The Matrix is like 6'2" or 6'3" of head to foot room when laid completely flat. And, compared to most vehicles we have slept in there was no bump under some part of our body to make that happen. Nice to have a vehicle that folds 100% flat.
Playing with Sticks , No, I repurpose my own things as they satisfy my needs. I do have a mototote for my ebike and Yakima rails for a roof box. There’s a tent in the box to hold my campsite while I’m away so the site doesn’t get poached.
Thank you for the content of your channel. We did a lot of pondering and decided to buy a teardrop for many of the reasons listed. Coincidently, we decided on the Bean teardrop shown in this video thumbnail but in their "Meaner Bean" model. We have tent camped for 40+ years. Now retired we are camping more often and year round and getting tired of rolling up and deploying a wet tent. Sometimes we resort to motels:(
Most of our trips involve primitive roads and routes that push the limits of our Land Rover. That left us few options for RV camping. We ruled out vans, sprinters and truck campers... too big and limited off road, plus we love driving our Land Rover. The roof top tent option seemed a huge waist of space on our much needed roof rack and it's just a tent. We looked at popup tent trailers but they are less mosquito proof than our pack tent. Even the hardtops have wet fabric to worry about rotting and airing out and true off road models were limited.
So our reason for buying a teardrop was nothing else would work. The Meaner Bean will essentially follow us anywhere. The downside of towing outweigh the benefits of having:18 gallons of water, a hot shower, an integrated awning area, the instant covered kitchen complete with sink, stove and refrigerator/freezer... and no need to air out a wet tent and damp sleeping bags. This teardrop also has a second roof rack and lockable storage so we can carry more toys on our trips.
Keep up the good work!
Thank you for your thoughts and decision making process details. I am currently in the “campers and priorities” lists stage with my choice still changing daily 😬. 🤣. Still fun.
Enjoy your great Meaner Bean! Nice!
Bravo! We couldn't have said this any better. You basically took 5 of our videos and summed them up in two paragraphs. For the past 4 months we have been trying to make a video with our friends NestEgg Teadrop. In the process we have been studying fiberglass trailers and have been REALLY impressed with what we have found from BEAN in terms of taking fiberglass teardrops and pushing it to the limits. Their R&D, Engineering, and mindset is second to none. Honestly at first we didn't take them too seriously because we thought they were another overpriced teardrop manufacture out there. Not that all teardrop manufacturers are overpriced, but there are a few that have been popping up around the country. Since going out to Valiant Trailers in Alaska and getting to know off-road teardrops more, we now realize those Bean trailers are worth every penny and more. Honestly now we don't even see them as high priced after knowing what goes in to the build process. You got yourself a trailer built to outlast you, but instead of a utilitarian tank design it has life and character. Thanks again for this great response. This is what we were hoping to hear more about from folks who watched the video.
Playing with Sticks, Good point about price and value. I came to the same conclusion: Campers that I thought were really expensive I now see as a great value when everything is considered.
Still, nothing wrong with starting inexpensive and learning what characteristics are really valued, or just seeing an inexpensive camper for what it is used for: a bed at a local campground with minimal investment 😃
@@mikemead2315 You always seem to say things better than us. You nailed it here. Last spring we made a conscious decision to start testing gear outside our comfort zone. Comfort, meaning "frugal zone" :) We realized to have a balanced opinion in this community we needed to dabble in more than just budget gear and campers. Our first item outside what we thought we needed as campers was the little Go20 12 volt refrigerator. After hearing quite a few folks from the community used these, we felt compelled to check one out. And wow, are we glad we did! Honestly May would say it is the best addition to our camp setup yet and I think I agree with her as well. This has opened up our eyes a bit to expand what we are willing to try. At this point we have only used budget trailers, so we have been trying to get our hands on some of the higher end models out there. We almost got our hands on a 16' 2016 Airstream at an amazing price. That is like jumping straight to the Rolls-Royce. We thought after trying something like that we would have a much better understanding of budget vs high dollar. But, unfortunately we didn't end up getting her. I say all this just to say I still think some things out there in the small camper trailer industry are just ridiculous in terms of the price they are asking. But, I am also much more open to the possibility that many of these companies are making trailers worth every penny that they charge.
Playing with Sticks, you have good instincts and a winning combination. Really, I would have never even considered the Meaner Bean (cool name;-) or Valiant before your channel. Good job!
Hi Drew, couldn’t agree more with you about the community of tiny campers. We have been traveling the country the past 5 years in our Runaway and have met so many awesome people. I don’t see us making any changes in the near future
Oh wow, we didn't realize you had been traveling for five years in your Runaway. That is amazing! Your camper is so cozy I could see why it works perfectly for you three. We have never had the time to perfect any of our campers, especially the interior. Hoping one day to have a cozy camper like yours and of course a cozy outdoor living room like yours too!
Many of the new quality more hand built campers are only sold where they are made, though some have established shipping options. If you don’t want to travel a long distance to pickup a camper, you can choose a builder closer to your location, which may also help narrow the field.
That is a great point. Even here in Alaska, Jordan out at Valiant has been shipping trailers all over Canada and Alaska this summer. Even though it is far the total cost of the trailer including shipping still ends up being far lower than most other manufacturers. We are excited for him because he just found his own guy for hauling trailers to Canada and the Lower 48. This will allow him to bypass the normal shipping routes and get trailers down there much cheaper.
Playing with Sticks, That is really cool! That is a businessman. Design is important, but the success of a company depends in the rest of the logistics, which are HUGE compared to the design.
Timely. I was going to ask you how they were doing, because I have not been able to get to their website. Good to hear they are still in business.
I’ve just been looking at those tear drops since I’ve got a new LincolnMKZ Hybrid which gets 440 miles on a tank of gas. Unfortunately the only thing is I can only tow 1K pounds and after binge watching your videos through the night, I’ve decided to either buy a used one here in So-Cal or have it ordered today.
I thought that a Mercedes sprinter was for me, but with the economic situation, this is definitely what I want. I love the outdoor life, and I’m also a cryptocurrency trader/UA-cam vlogger that I can work practically anywhere in the USA.
I so appreciate your videos Drew, and look forward to making my purchase along with all the gadgets you have suggested. Hope that I can provide some great content for the tear drop community. Happy Travels! Paula ❤️
Your lifestyle sounds great! Definitely looking forward to your content. If it was me I would start looking at composite teardrops. Keywords would be fiberglass, composite, monocoque camper. These are the lightest weight and virtually water proof. A nice budget option right now is the Road Toad. I am not sure if you can add on the AC and insulation you need though.
Woohoo! Got both my Hoodies: “Playing With Sticks” in grey, and “Big Is All Around Us” in navy. Thanks!
Woot, woot! Reminds us that we still haven't purchased ours. That is so cool to hear that you got a Playing with Sticks version. At first we didn't plan to make one, but thought there would be a few in the community that connected to it. We were surprised how many were ordered. We feel super blessed knowing so many folks connect to this little community! I'm thinking of going with a grey hoodie as well. Who know though, May always notes that I change my mind last second.
Playing with Sticks, 🤣 It is never too soon to procrastinate!
I think both hoodies will illicit conversations.
You got a winner!
Love your videos! I've been thinking about getting a teardrop next year and you have so many great ideas, helps to make a list of what I may need to get as well as the trailer.
Glad the ideas are helpful. Let us know what teardrop you end up going with Aaron. Love hearing what people ultimately choose.
@@PlayingwithSticks It will most likely be the 4x8 or 5x8 SilverBullet from www.theteardroptrailer.com I believe the pricing on their site is Canadian dollars, so they're very affordable, I haven't found anything thats comparable in that price range. I am also in Canada.
@@cheesetoast99 Great prices on those trailers by the way. The website had a nice little button for converting to US dollars as well. Love the aluminum skins.
Wow! That backdrop! Wonderful! Just Wonderful!
Glad you like it Mike! We were so surprised how different it looked when we shot on the wide angle lens. We are excited about this lens because we think it will show you the destinations better. Basically allowing you to see what our eyes see in real life. Typically we get one peak in the distance, now from time to time (if I remember to put the wide angle lens on) it will be fun to see multiple peaks, glaciers, etc.
You said something in another video about the smell from cooking and the bathroom that you don’t have with these smaller campers that changed my whole outlook on smaller campers. I had a friend that had a class A and every time I went in her trailer, over a 10yr period, it smelled like poo. Now I want a tear drop, square drop or a overland trailer with the tent on top. The awning and annexes for small trailers give you a tent type enclosed space with some blow up furniture that makes up for the privacy space in some of the bigger RV’s that have no choice but to be sardined at a paid campground.
Hey guys, I clicked on the video for the trailer inspiration, but had to chime in as a photographer. Look into a camera like the Nikon Z50. It takes interchangeable lenses and has full-time face-tracking autofocus. The Canon M50 is another very popular choice for vlogging.
Really appreciate the advice. We were so excited for the Canon R6 and R5, but the overheating was a deal breaker. Thanks for suggesting the other cameras. We are due for some good autofocus.
Also, sorry to hear about the burnout. But also excited to see that you are back on UA-cam. We will definitely be checking out your channel. We are awful at taking thumbnails especially landscape photography. Excited to dive into some of your tips and tricks.
All the reasons we purchased our t@b 400. Now, we do have water and a toilet but it is small and easy to pull. In fact we are out camping in GA and enjoying the approach of Fall. Safe travels
Don't get us wrong we would take the water and toilet if someone gave it to us. Sometimes we purposely choose a dry trailer (even if cost isn't an issue) but we also like our comforts. That is why we own one dry trailer and one "not so dry?" We are a bit spoiled in that we want our teardrop and want our 13' camper as well. We are blessed in that we are able to have room to store both at once.
Hi! This video popped up in my feed and I really enjoyed hearing why we need a teardrop trailer. I’ve already made up my mind I’m going to get one, just got to figure out how to pay for it! That scenery was gorgeous and look how little your boy is?! So adorable ❤
Great video...I love your thorough explanations and reasonings....I'm looking into buying a teardrop soon...this is really helping me! It will be my first camper!
Glad this was helpful. Are you leaning towards any particular brand of teardrop?
I was opening the package my Playing With Sticks hoodie came in while watching this. 😁 I love the new wide angle shots. Beautiful!
Now that is cool to hear Ande! We still have to order a hoodie or two as well. Going to go outside the box and purchase my first hoodie that is not black! Glad you enjoyed the wide angles. Excited to use that lens inside the campers.
@@PlayingwithSticks I picked up the grey, it can be your new neutral.
@@andemess3095 That is funny, that was actually what I was leaning toward. May said I need to be riskier with my color choice ;)
Me and my wife just watched a lot of your videos and love your stuff thanks.
That is awesome to hear! Funny timing on this comment because I just told my wife yesterday after watching your Meaner Bean shakedown run that we have some binging to do of your content!
@@PlayingwithSticks nice thank you for the support. You guys have grown really fast it seems any tips would certainly be appreciated find us on our webpage if you want to talk directly. graylineoverland.com
@@GrayLineOverland Of course! One of our favorite things is helping other small camper channels figure out how to navigate UA-cam. We will send you an email and get the ball rolling.
@@PlayingwithSticks thanks a lot
The new clothing designs look amazing!
Glad you like them. We thought it would be fun to do something for the community. Also gave us an excuse to get some shirts ourselves. My Alaska Wildlife Conservation Hoodie I wear almost every episode was getting a bit ragged.
My parents had a teardrop trailer growing up. They slept in it and left my brother and me in the tent with the bears. They came into our camp and trashed it and ate our food while we were out at a amphitheater watching something I don't remember what.
Sounds like my family growing up! 😂 thanks for sharing. We had a bear going to our tent after a Thermarest. I think that’s what attracted him but in the end he ended up going after everything.
Great video. Always a pleasure to see your enthusiasm. We jut got back also, and the great thing is the community with other tear droppers. You never get that with an RV.
Does that mean we will be getting some fun teardrop videos from you soon? And couldn't agree more about the community. We are all nuts about these little campers aren't we. So fun!
@@PlayingwithSticks Definitely have some new videos coming soon. We just got back from North Carolina up in the mountains. On the way back, we spotted a lady at a gas station pulling a little 4x8 with wheels that looked like they came off a matchbox car. Everybody waves like they just ran into old friends.
@@wollwerthimagery6267 The WAVE, yes. We give that same wave to all the teardrop owners here in Alaska as well. We have never really been a part of a small club, minus sports growing up. So it feels really special meeting all these people on the road.
Recently learned about teardrop teailers. Where i live they are not as popular as caravans or tent trailers. Planning too build mine
Sound fun to have a unique trailer over there. I bet you will definitely capture some attention. Good luck on the build. Let us know how it goes Pierre.
Sold our 28' trailer last year. Don't get me wrong, my wife and I loved it. But add up payment, storage, registration, insurance, maintenance, and depreciation. Just outside storage where we are here in SoCal is ~$4K a year and still going up. My annual ~$10K not counting the truck or 8mpg towing. Then divide by the number of days a year you really use it. You'll probably be shocked. A teardrop in your garage that you may have built yourself makes a lot of sense, like the car camping we did for years but way elevated.
After going back and forth for about a year, I'm starting to look hard at teardrops. Partially thanks to you! HOA issues mean I might be towing a T@g or other beauty with my honda Ridgeline. Good news is, I'll still be able to use most of my existing camping gear. Just gotta clean garage and make room. Thanks, Drew!
That was a big selling point for us. It is such a seamless transition between backpacking and car camping. No new items needed at least for the first season. Then from there we started adding a few glamping items as we learned our new camping style. One of these days we will put up a walk through video of the 2021 T@G boondock. We filmed it when we were in San Diego.
Playing with sticks... That would make a great video, since you could speak to the t@g's features from your experiences.
Just put in an order for a bean trailer. Can’t wait to get started! Do you guys sell zip up hoodies too?
LOVE the Bean Trailers. Big zip up hoodie fans as well. Unfortunately they didn't have any at Bonfire. However, the shirts were much more popular than we had imagined. So looking at potentially finding another company to run these shirts full time and hoping we can find a company that does zip ups. Unfortunately we are pretty swamped so we probably won't get that setup for another couple months.
Playing with Sticks I’ll be on the lookout for the hoodies! Are you on any other social platforms?
Impressive that whenever I do a google search on some teardrop attribute, one of the results is a Playing With Sticks video😃
That is really neat to hear. We like hearing that. Our intention is to get the info out on small campers and teardrops. UA-cam seems to be a great vessel for that!
Great video! Love all the tips.
Wait, did we give any tips? Glad you enjoyed it Maykou
I've ordered an Escapod -- picking it up next month!
We have got to stop finding out what trailers people are getting, because we are just getting jealous all the time! 😆 The Escapod's are staight up amazing! We are big suckers for the traditional teardrop trailers, but also love the ability to go offroad. Escapod creates this marriage probably as well in the industry as you can. Thanks for sharing David. If you end up doing a blog or posting photos let us know.
Just looked at their website and they too are backed up a year!! Demand is incredibly high right now.
@@Bluesfan4_life Crazy isn't it! Awesome for the industry, tough for us buyers out here. But glad to hear more and more folks are getting out there!
I'm having a small trailer built..6x8..guess that isn't quite a teardrop but small impact, easy to maneuver...maintenance will be minimal..traditional teardrops, unless you build them yourself, tend to be a bit pricey..I wanted a less expensive option..
6x8 would be pretty comparable to most teardrops. Typically our teardrops are 4X8, 5X8, 5X10, and 6X8. I think that is a great choice going with something more affordable. Really the only difference is looks. At that size they all function pretty similar.
The easy setup, ready to go kitchen is a huge bonus. That’s one thing I shoot for, easy up and easy down. Some trips all we put outside the aframe are chairs 👍🏻
Not sure if a teardrop would be our destination camper, we usually get at least one day of all day rain in our area, but I could definitely see road tripping in one!
Good point on the rain. We love teardrop camping in the rain. But it isn't a whole lot of fun when the rain starts before you get there. Setting up the "outdoor living room" in the rain is definitely a drawback to this lifestyle.
Playing with Sticks yeah, we pretty much count on it raining at least once a trip. Last one our site flooded out to the door of our camper. It was a challenge to find a dry spot for the outdoor shelter. Part of the fun though 😁
Great video. We have a 6X10 Escapade squaredrop. We are in our sixties. We love the outdoor living aspect of camping and we were able to special order a trifold but extra thick mattress that was installed by Escapade. keeping it simple with a touch of comfort is the perfect mix for us.
The 6X10 sounds like a great size. We hear very similar comments to yours from the 6X10 Runaway Trailer owners as well. We 100% agree about the comfort part. Getting that right mattress is the difference between 2 night camping trips and week+ camping trips. Thanks for sharing Sandra! Thanks for reminding us about Escapade as well. Sometimes we forget to share that brand with folks in the community.
Great review guys! :)
Thanks guys! That means a lot. If you ever end up taking any of your Bean trailers up to Alaska (where a trailer like that belongs 😂) we would love to make a video about it. Let us know if you are ever in our neck of the woods.
Loved that you showed that red Vistabule teardrop trailer. I have one and love it!😍
Wow Lisa! Great teardrop. I honestly put that shot in because I think it is absolutely one of the most beautiful teardrops on the market.
I ordered my Timberleaf kestrel teardrop this January and I’m due to take delivery next February so I’m super excited. But, I got my teardrop mostly bc I travel with my small pup and it’s not always easy to find places that accept pets so with a teardrop I can use my current suv that my pup and o can utilize whenever we need especially when traveling abroad like Mexico, Canada and Alaska.
Gorgeous wide angle shots. Very informative. Thank you
Great video. My husband and tent camp right now and a really like the idea of a small trailer. Can you put a rack on top of the trailer for kayaks or bikes? Thanks again
Glad you enjoyed the video Lisa. Big tent campers here as well! I would say, with almost 99% certainty that almost all teardrop manufacturers have roofs strong enough to support kayaks and bikes. Now, when it comes to rooftop tents this number drops pretty significantly. Always nice to have the option for a rooftop tent if you have kids or others who come along. To us it is the kayaks and bikes that really make teardrop camping what it is...AMAZING!
Building my own right now, it's going a long ways!
Congrats on the build. Sounds like a great little/BIG project.
I getting ready to sell my Classic Diesel pusher and downsize to an Offroad teardrop, much cheaper to insure, easier maintenance, and just get back to the basics of camping again, I will be 60 in a few months and I'm partly disabled ,got into 4 wheeling late in life,but I have found so many great places to camp and I can't get my 40' unit into them,so I'm going to try and Full-time in an offroad teardrop! 🤣🤣
We like your spirit John! Lately we have been getting into the backroads quite a bit more. And we say the same thing. If we were to go full time at this point we would either do an offroad teardrop or a truck with camper. Both of these routes allow you the comforts of home, but to get where others cannot.
I spent most of my youth in truck campers with my parents, they have there advantages, but also a lot of Draw backs Top heavy,and they are a Big Sail in the wind,and if you are looking to get off the beaten path ,most truck campers sit too high for a lot of Forest roads up in the mountains low hanging tree branches and whatnot, and I won't have the creature comforts that I have in my current rig,But,I will be able to get to a lot more off grid camping locations with a lower profile Teardrop, it all depends on what type of camping you and your family want to do!
As it is I will probably have to upgrade my engine to a 4.0 inline 6 in my 2000 Jeep TJ in order to pull 1,I could get a lighter one but I refuse to lose the rear galley🤣👍🇺🇸
@@CJLane-62 Good thought. Now the price is quite a bit higher, but there is always the option of a one piece fiberglass teardrop like Bean trailer makes. There are also quite a few used fiberglass teardrops out there from business that are no longer in operation. You can get these teardrops between $5,000 and $10,000. Quite the weight savings, but still get the queen size bed and the nice galley kitchen. Not only do you save in weight, but now you have a teardrop that is pretty maintenance free on the exterior and waterproof.
@@PlayingwithSticks And that's another thing,Why do all them campers have Queen size beds in them,I currently have 1 in my rig, and I tell ya,rolling over in the winter time is a really fast wake up when you roll onto that really Cold side,and I have decided that being single, that I don't want or need a queen size mattress in my next rig,for me and my little dog a single size will be fine,and that will allow me to possibly put in a miniature dresser for my clothes!😁😁🇺🇸🇺🇸
@@CJLane-62 Exactly! If you watch folks in the Runaway Camper community many of them purposely put in beds that are small so they can have a porta potty by the bedside for night time duties, a place to hold their water, cpap machine, etc. For us, where the bed fills up the entire floor, you have no space for those types of items.
I was hoping to see something about the @beantrailer pictured as the main photo, but nothing! Thanks for putting this video together. A lot of these reasons are on our list.
Sorry about that Miguel. Wasn’t trying to mislead you, just wanted to highlight a different style of teardrop trailer. This week we finally are taking out our first One piece molded fiberglass teardrop trailer. We are really excited to make that video. In that video our main intention is to share why fiberglass teardrop trailers are the best teardrop trailers in many ways. We will be highlighting the Bean trailer as well because it even goes above and beyond the trailer we are taking out. Hopefully we will get some nice b roll videos of the Bean trailer because the Owner got us in touch with their social media coordinator to get us some videos. We are pretty backed up on videos though so this probably won’t come out until about December or January would be my guess.
Look at the bean you tube site. Beans are amazing.
My number one reason? Did not want to spend the big bucks on a large RV that would sit depreciating all winter. My teardrop sits waiting, no weatherization required so we use it year round. Up the ski hill, to the lake, road trip...my neighbour on the other hand won't take his trailer out in the off season because it is full of pink stuff and therfor no good to use till mid spring.
Great point on the weatherization. I could see how folks would want to get it done before freeze up, but then feel conflicted because they would itch to go out again. Nice knowing in the teardrop if a good aurora "northern lights" forecast comes in we just crank up the electric blanket and take off.
HELLOOOOOOO, my friends!!! Another great vid, guys! Glad to see you and yours are doing well . . . :) Thanks for affirming our decision to invest in one of these. Can't wait!!!
HOWWDDDYYYYYY! Got to ask...when is yours going to be done! We have been interested because RVs and trailers are selling so well right now. Can't be good for turnaround time for all of us wanting our next trailer.
@@PlayingwithSticks it's a fair question. Point of fact, I just got done watching a video by the RV Odd Couple entitled "7 reasons why now is not a good time to buy an RV". LOL. It seems that this whole pandemic has screwed everything up regarding shipping, maintenance, and servicing the various parts. We were originally slated to buy ours shortly after the first of the year, (because personal property tax), so we'll just have to wait and see what the landscape looks like in regards at that time. Unfortunately, if things don't improve, we may be waiting another six months or so after that ... :(
@@bmay511 We have been talking with Little Guy Trailers as we love basically every trailer at their site in San Diego. They said all the manufacturers are on point to flood the market the first of the year. We heard this from them about a month or two ago. Hopefully everyone is still on course.
@@PlayingwithSticks that is excellent news! Thanks for the heads up ... ;)
I sold my condo and moved into an apartment in senior complex, then made a deposit on a T@b 320S Boondock. That was in August and I was told at that time it would be ready late October/early November.
I already purchased all the things to make it my little home on wheels (i.e., interior decorating) as well as leveling blocks, tire chocks, surge protector, water filter, and that list goes on and on LOL. All I can say is "I'm spending my kids' inheritance!" 👩🦳
I don’t even go camping but i love these videos
Thanks for sharing !
This is awesome information.
I was about to move into a campervan but with it and once camped.. i have no option to move around to other places (bars, restaurants, Etc). Or just to buy ice !
TearDrops is a perfect solution.
Thank you
We just bought a Runaway Camper RangeRunner. 👍
NiCCCCEEE!
Great points! On my list 🤣
(Unfortunately for making a decision, all of them seem to be in my list!)
At first we will admit only half these things were on our list. We actually didn’t realize how many benefits there were with teardrops and we’re guessing we’re going to hear a lot more from others here in the comment section. You’re going to have to send us your list someday Mike. We will have to compare our lists. Our list is ridiculously large right now in terms of great small camper trailers out there
We had a Runaway Range Runner for several months. Well built and good value.
Yes, very nice trailers. Was yours a 4X8 or 6X8 Larry?
@@PlayingwithSticks 6x8. We ultimately decided to move to a hard side popup based on headroom.
@@larrytucker222 Completely makes sense. And that hard sided pop-up was an older Apache or an A-frame style camper? Would love to get our hands on an Apache some day. Please forgive me if I asked you this before. I am starting to get small camper owners a bit mixed up in my head.
Rockwood A122 A Frame pop-up.
@@larrytucker222 Thanks for sharing Larry. We hope to get into one of those someday. Amazing trailers. Especially for up here in Alaska they fit great!
I love my northern teardrop. 🇨🇦
Yes! We love those lightweight teardrops as well. Just today I moved ours by hand and it was so convenient. But, right after that I moved a fiberglass teardrop by hand today and got jealous 😂
You hit all the bullet points. Another great video .
Thank you! Love hearing that.
Got my hoodie in the mail yesterday and going to rock it camping this weekend 😃✌🏽
Would love to post a picture of you wearing it in our community tab! If you are willing, send that photo our way.
Great video! Can't really call mine a teardrop although I can call it a clamshell. And I love it! You hit a lot of great topics in this video. Good job!
I would say though, that your Blue Ridge has much more of a teardrop design than most so called offroad teardrops out there. Glad you enjoyed this one. Man, really wish we had a trailer like yours. Someday, yes someday...
I am really impressed that you remember my trailer. What you said is true it went from sleeping on the ground to a small trailer to a large trailer back to a small trailer with a lot of doodads and whatnots. Of course there's always backpacking which keeps me grounded.
@@sierramantrvlnus Kind of hard to forget a trailer like yours. As you can probably tell from the channel, I have ridiculous obsession with trailers.
Hey, great video! I'm really interested in a teardrop-style, 1000 lbs. max, but one thing I really need is some sort of dinette table where I can sit and work. Yeah, I'd be outside most of the time, but when it's inclement or just really cold, or nighttime, I want that table to work (I'm a writer/composer.) Normally they're so small, it's just the bed. Can you suggest the best possibilities?
How well protected are these tear drops from hail storms?, good protection?
I would say most are very good. Some that are more based on a wood exterior would probably be more susceptible. Meaning, the ones with wood veneer on the outside. Many of today's teardrops are fiberglass composite and aluminum, which both are tough against hail. I think the strongest I have seen comes from Bean which you see in the thumbnail. They use a thick gel coat on the outer layer to protect against things like that.
i would want good R value protection against the elements....... ive done alot of tent camping with the boy scout program and im done with tent camping...... im older now... i want something nice to sleep in instead of a pop up trailer and some thing i can charge my laptop and mobile phone and add a solar set up..... non mounted to the trailer..... i want to sleep in one with a sleeping bag.. my furs and a good memory foam matress for winter camping..... and most def... i dont wanna fool with black/grey water set ups.......
You sound just like us. If you haven’t seen her other teardrop videos you may want to check them out. We have a basic 4 x 8 teardrop with no kitchen, no water. Basically a nice memory foam bed on wheels and yes just like you we love just rolling up in our sleeping bags and using our solar portable generators to power an electric blanket or a small heater to take the edge off.
@@PlayingwithSticks ive never used any of those solar generators....... i have access to a gas generator..
Nice scenery!! thanks
Glad you enjoyed it. That is one of our favorite parts making these videos. Love getting to show people this beautiful world we all live in.
Me again! There is a broken link to your hoodies now. Am ready to order after over-thinking what size to get LOL.
Decided on M since it's a pullover (although I'm claustrophobic!). I figure I can throw an overcoat on top if need to layer. I did read the Q&A about zip-up hoodies, which I prefer. If and when they are available, I will probably order a size L and use as a top layer.
I'll check link later today. Say hi to your beautiful bride and give a hug to your precious little campers for me! 👩🦳
GO HAWKS! 💙💚🏈💚💙
Hey Jodi! What we have been finding with the hoodies is that when you go to the website it looks broken because it is grayed out. Instead of hovering over the hoodie, hover over and click. The hoodie is found right below the price of the shirts and then just on the right side of the shirt icon. Hope that helps. Another zip-up hoodie fan. Awesome because that is what we love as well. And a fellow Hawks fan. You will fit in well here in Alaska! May says hi! Haven't had the chance to give the boys the hug yet from you, but I will!
Dear,
what are the dimensions inside of your trailler (length, height, width)?
Great video!
Thoroughly enjoyed it!
I preparing to do my first build, a squaredrop based on s pop up camper frame. 🤞🏻
Great info, thanks for sharing it.
Glad you enjoyed it Scott!
this videomis deffently gonna help me
Nice
video
Love hearing that. Thanks for the positive feedback.
Thanks!
Soon owner of a Prolite mini teardrop! Excited to join the Community!!
Congratulations and welcome aboard! We often say those pro-lite trailers are the biggest bang for your buck in terms of low budget/high amenities.
I would love to get one of these to tow behind my v6 murano...
That sounds like a perfect pairing Paul!
@@PlayingwithSticks how well insulated are these teardrops and can a guy like me at 5foot 7inches tall fit inside one of these travel trailers?
@@sixpapavictor Good question. Because these trailers are so small, they are very easy and affordable to insulate. Most manufactures have great r-values when it comes to teardrop insulation. Our teardrop has much better insulation compared to other trailers we have owned. I think part of that is due to the wooden framing. Teardrops don't have the thin framing like many of the travel trailers out there. As for the height. In terms of sleeping many can fit folks up to 6'7". As for standing most are built around 4 foot of standing height. However there are taller teardrops out there closer to 5 foot to 5'4" And then there are some fun teardrop shaped campers that technically are called "standies" and they are built to allow you to stand up.
I am in Mojave Desert. If I hit a trail that is unfamiliar, send up the drone and scout.
Really! That is cool! Good use of a drone!
@@mikemead2315 Also lets me see where other campers are.
SLAM BOY, I have never been to the Mojave. Is it more crowded than normal?
@@mikemead2315 It kinda evened out, no one comes because of wild fire smoke but it is getting cooler. Is 100 F cooler? I say compared to 117 F this summer, YES.
SLAM BOY, Yikes! Forgot about the heat still. Couple of snow flakes here - freak blip - will be 45-55. Lived in Phoenix for years in the past, but never had the number of 100+ days as this year.
New Logo! Nice!
Thanks Mike. Just trying something new. I think I like it.
Just removed the Playing with Sticks words I am liking this better. Also allows the image to be full size. What do you think?
Playing with Sticks, Yeah. I like the bigger one as the typical little click-on logo that makes the teardrop readily recognizable.
I really liked the logo with the words though, but the words and the camper were not readily obvious when minimized. The words are cool and important, but visually the teardrop shape is key.
I think both really. Your real logo is with the words. When one is needed as a quick small visual, emphasize the teardrop.
Hey, and you can always change too!
Great concept. The premade teardrops are becoming overpriced. I like the home built idea, but for some that’s not possible. I opted for a 5x10 enclosed utility trailer. Insulated it and wired it up for 12vdc /solar and 120vac. Found a free entertainment center and made it my kitchen. Used my existing cots and camping gear. In business for less than $2500.
Love the angle you took. We also purchased a utility trailer this fall. It has been fun making a few modifications here and there. I really like the idea of taking furniture and repurposing it like you did with the entertainment center. Thanks for sharing.
I've been starting to think about teardrops to make going back and forth between Massachusetts and Wisconsin less of a "must fly" experience. (It's either fly or stop for the night somewhere around the halfway point.)
I like how you are thinking Katherine. If you are just doing one night stays another great option would be a fiberglass trailer like a Scamp or even smaller but same features a Meerkat trailer. This would give you the benefit of cooking and eating inside as well, but still keep the weight down. But if you are just using this to sleep nothing will beat the convenience and simplicity of a teardrop. Pull over, hop in, wake up, take off.
@@PlayingwithSticks Exactly! And if you can pull over and sleep anywhere along the way, you can do it in more hops (not needing a second driver) and not needing to look for lodgings along the way.
It'll probably be a bit before I actually do this, given the expense (I don't even have a car right now), but getting a knowledge base now means that when I'm ready, I'll be ready. :)
WOW and THANK YOU! Stumbled across this and some of your other videos :) Great information, and really? You towed with a Matrix? I Sold my Class C from lack of use and places I could go in CA, and also my older mini van, so now I have a Subaru Forester.... and after seeing this and your others, wondering if I can tow one of these.... already missing my Van the most, and in WA / PNW I thought is was the best for views and places, BUT your shots with or without wide angle are AMAZING! Also thanks for sharing your family! Enjoy them as they grow up way too fast, I'm a GrandPa of an 8 year old.... Many things you talk about apply to all RV'ers, Vanners, and Campers.... Thanks you again and ALL the best to you, family, and your community! CHeers! :)
You will be amazed what that little Subaru can pull. Unfortunately, even though the Forester looks from the design like one of their stronger tow vehicles, it is actually on the lower size compared to the other Subarus. But, at 1,500lbs they are great for towing a teardop! Having a fan would be a blast. We can definitely see how that would be perfect for the Pacific Northwest. 10 years ago there weren't many up here. Now when we go camping, it is about 50/50 vans to travel trailers. Thanks for the really positive comments. This really made our day. And congrats on being a Grandpa! What a blessing!
As someone that's new to this world, it would be cool to see what channels you follow as a possible video idea. Would help save me time that's for sure 🙂
That is an easy one, and no video required. All you have to do is go to our channel and click on the channels tab. There you will find who we follow. in "Our Featured Channels." Most of our favorite knowledge comes from Cosmo Weems, Charles Moman, Cheap RV Living, Camp and Camera, and From She to Me. The other channels are just fun to watch! Hope this helps. Edit: I should add HoboTech and Will Prowse for all things solar.
@@PlayingwithSticks man, I didn't even think about looking there lol thanks.
Camera and lens ?
Which ones do we use? Or what were we going to buy and then backed out? I'll answer both. We use a Panasonic GH5 typically paired with the 12-35mm kit lens. The one we were going to buy was the Canon R6 which would pair nicely with my wife's canon glass she uses. Love our Panasonic, just wish it was full frame and had more of the canon color science.
Do you have recommendations for plans to access for a Steele frame and walled teardrop fit for Australian registration?
Love that Jeep Liberty! Great stuff as always!
Thank you, much appreciated! For those who are seeing this post you have to check out Colorado Mallcrawlers. Great cinematography, pacing, and topics. And what we love is some of the vehicles they use to get off the beaten trail are stock, which is nice to know you can get out there without sinking a ton of extra parts and money into your tow rig.
Agree, most Teardrops have options for roof racks, however, in our case having a t@b 400, our roof space is occupied with solar panels. I know some teardrops have options for bike racks on the front, attached to the trailer fork. Also seen some who mount bikes on their trailers and kayaks on their tow vehicle. Plenty of ideas out there and as mentioned in the video, tons of forums that are very helpful. Best of luck. Safe travels
@@chaosncheckt9356 Good point on the solar being covered up. We didn't even think about that. We are in the market for our first trailer bike rack as well as the boys are now growing to be that age. Will let you all know what we end up going with.
The various “teardrop” classifications beyond the original 11-12 foot 500lb tiny teardrop is interesting. It ranges from anything tiny and any shape (eg 11 foot rectangular RunAway) to huge and teardrop shaped (eg 18 foot Tab-400 and 21 foot 3,000+lb LittleGuy-Max).
Very true! In my opinion all of them fit into today's classifications. However, the one that I feel is a bit of a stretch is an R-POD. Which is funny, because it has a very classic beautiful teardrop shape. But, once you get that big and mass manufactured I just feel like it falls into the standard travel trailer definition. And this is me being biased, because I have seen a few models of R-PODS that are pretty small. Probably right there with the Little Guy Max in terms of weight and size. Maybe it is the hybrid nature of the trailer that also in my view pushes it a bit more away from a teardrop by definition.
Playing with Sticks, I see what you are saying. Homemade quality bias even for manufacturers. Original teardrops were mostly hand made sometimes on purchased common plans with a few manufacturers, and even they had a homemade bias. I like the definition.
Great video we love our bean.
Great to hear. That is actually how we stumbled on your channel. The more we get into these Bean trailers the more interested we are. Your video helped take our interest to another level. Now we are in trouble!
@@PlayingwithSticks I absolutely love ours it is comfy and way more room inside than most teardrops. You should totally go to the factory and check them out before you buy they are super awesome.
It's been a long time since I've been camping. And I'm an old fogie now so sleaping in a teardrop instead of a tent has an allure. When starting out, are there places that will rent teardrops?
Sidenote...I live in an apartment so rental could be a better option
If you’re in the U.S., check out Outdoorsy.com for rentals. I’ve never rented through them, but am planning to at some point.
We highly suggest this as well. Unfortunately there fees dramatically increased this year due to insurance. Which means we can't rent them as often. But still great for the occasional renter to figure out what they want/need before investing in their first trailer. Thanks for sharing Paula!
Yes. Great question. Like Paula mentioned Outdoorsy is a great place to start. And then many of the teardrop manufacturers around the country not only sell them, but rent them as well. If you are on the western side of the US there are a lot of rentals out there.
Wow, only one teardrop in the state of Massachusetts. But it's a start. Thanks everyone.
@@bdeitur You got us beat! We have zero up here. Wait, that is not true. Just this year we got 2 new teardrops on there, but they are so top dollar off road trailers that renting them almost requires taking out a small mortgage :)
I enjoyed the information you shared. But why so many sales ads?
Sorry about that Curron. We typically do not have the mid-roll ads on the first 48 hours for the subscribers and then turn them on after that. We have this theory and it seems to be correct in that when we turn on ads more people are able to see the video. Basically the ads seem to increase our reach. Which makes sense beings the ads help support the platform as well.
I’m a 56 year old life long camper… months at time in the wilderness camper. I’ve owned 3 trailers now , all used that I only use for living in while I decide where I’m going next. This winter I’ve got it in my head to have one of these hiker trailers or teardrops. I cannot however come to any reason why I would pay so much for any one that I’ve looked at. It’s like going to Walmart and paying triple what it’s worth. I’m so curious to know how a young couple with little people, likely college loans a house loan, can piss away 40 k, to weekend camp. Your average human cannot even dream of buying these. I showed these to an Amish guy, and he said he would happily build one , awnings, cooler, stoves, solar for 20 and still make a profit. And there I know it would last forever. Only pure laziness keeps me from building it myself. If you have the money to waste on what these cost. You could literally start a business out of your garage and sell them for the price of one.
Dude! I just realized that we have the same Jeep! ha ha. Great minds. Good video!
That's great! Or both minds are slightly frugal. Haha.
@@PlayingwithSticks I'm going with it's great to be frugal!
@@OverlandTrailer Truly is!
Love the shirts and channel. Just bought a few items for Andrea and I.
Glad you are enjoying all this! Also fun to hear you love the shirts! May and I are just about to put in a couple more shirt orders for ourselves.
Very good video, Thank you
You are most welcome! Thanks for the positive feedback.
Any thoughts on publishing the plans for your DIY teardrop? Might give many of us some ideas where to start.
Where is a link to purchase those neat shirts?
We got it right here for you Robert. www.bonfire.com/store/playing-with-sticks/
Just ordered my Hoodie! Thank you! Ohio T@G campers.
Thanks Craig! I'm assuming you all have some pretty good T@G rallies in Ohio. Our brother in law with his 3 kids and wife drove all the way from Arizona to Alaska in their little T@G. And then they even stayed up here for a month in it. They said it was rough at times, being so packed in, but they said overall they enjoyed it.
What is the point of the teardrop shape?
So I have a question, teardrops are pretty pricey, let's say I want one so I spend 15 to 20k for a basic one, or I could spend 6-10k to get a used full camp trailer. Would be kinda cool to see a pros and cons vid of that scenerio.
Very pricy indeed for some of these models on the road. However, We have seen at least 4 great used teardrops sell here in Alaska the past year all for under $4,000. Most were in the $2,500 range. Another good video idea would be budget teardrops (well really squaredrops) vs traditional teardrops. The price point on the squaredrops is amazing. Many are starting at the price of the used ones I just mentioned. Then there are a few teardrop companies out there that have pretty affordable teardrops as well. Hmm, you got me thinking now. How do I craft a video that covers costs, design, etc. And then tie it all together in a nice bow in terms of future costs, investment returns, the list could go on and on. Thanks for sparking some ideas for us.
@@PlayingwithSticks yeah I'm in the greater Seattle area and there is only one on Craigslist under 5k within 100 miles. Is Craigslist the best option to find them?
@@Luktus8 Yes, for what we have seen Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace have been the best, at least for the West Coast which is what we monitor most often to get a feel for the market. Facebook Marketplace seems to be gaining more traction each month.
Scrub FB marketplace I've seen quite a lot of them
@@Luktus8 I also found my 4x8 on craigslist a few years back. I went 500 miles & picked it up. I camped in it on our way back........make it a fun road trip. Ours was $4300, (homemade like playing with sticks , but aluminum skin & with old school fenders, 15" rims with chrome hub caps) Looks like a 1940's style
Narrow down your must haves & budget. I love mine & take it everywhere.
Is that the Big Su River with Denali in the back?
Hmmm… it’s been so long since I made this video I can’t even remember what was in the background. I feel like it was either the Knik or Portage Creek. I can’t remember if I filmed on the Su during this season. I have such slow Internet. I cannot watch this video back.
My hubby and I own a like new 2021 Teardrop that we need to sell due to failing health. We are 82 and the price is fair.
You can post the info here if you would like.
Can tear drops be pulled by a regular car with a four cylinder?
Quite a few teardrops out there can be pulled by regular cars. If you Google it you will even find ones towed by bicycles and motorcycles.
Just got my Teardrop Life hoody in maroon and love it! The medium is perfect size for just chillin' and I can wear my raincoat over it if need be. The fleece lining feels like jammies! Plz let us know when you have zip-ups. 👩🦳
Thank you for posting this. We really do need to work on moving the designs over to Teespring. Well, I probably should see if teespring has zip-ups first. So great to hear you are enjoying your Hoody. I was thinking of getting a maroon version as well, just to change things up a bit as I almost always wear black.
@@PlayingwithSticks picked up my new T@B 320S Saturday! Tows like a dream but I am taking it back to dealership to have a backup camera installed, especially since I'll be solo most of the time. Going to a campground on the Washington coast for 4 nights over Thanksgiving, maiden voyage! I saw your recommendations in another reply about vlogs addressing colder camping. 👍
I'd like a teardrop, for a few reasons. Probably used. Around 1000 pounds. Where do I look? I'm in Illinois but I'll go just about anywhere. Thanks.
Curious.....I like to use some appliances in my teardrop. Like a stand up mixer and toaster oven. Do you use any appliances?
A lot of folks use blenders, water heaters, and coffee machines. In the past we never had an inverter strong enough to run these. We do now, but still have never used an appliance in the field. We have done a lot of tests with them at home and they work great on our teardrop setup.
I would love to get a teardrop trailer, and we are just my husband, son and I as well. How do you all 3 sleep in there? More teardrops I see out there can only comfortably sleep 2..
Truly a teardrop is designed for 2. Our family is a bit outside the norm in that all four of us sleep on a queen bed. We like packing them in tight! There are a few companies out there that make teardrop trailers with bunks. You also can get a standard sized teardrop and throw on a rooftop tent, which is our favorite option. But, make sure the roof is designed for the weight and size of a tent, not all are. Okay long copy and paste comment coming...get ready. So many others, including us, have this same issue finding a teardrop for families. Off the top of my head I can think of four companies that are known for their bunks. Colorado Teardrops as the owners take out their kids, the Camp-Inn Raindrop 560 Ultra (this is the one most Alaskans own), Aero Teardrops out of Oregon (not to be confused with all the other Aeros out there) has a version where you can swap out the cabinets for bunks, and then Hiker Trailer makes a 5X10 with bunks. The Raindrop is a really well designed trailer, pricey, but definitely unique. If it were us, which hopefully it will be soon because we need a new teardrop as well as we are bursting at the seams with a 4X8 and a family of four....we would get a teardrop that has a bit more headroom (to allow stacked bunks), a bit wider (5 or 6 feet wide), and built to hold a rooftop tent. The most affordable campers that would meet these needs would be a "squardrop" like a Runaway, not very pretty or iconic, but gets the job done. But, if you are willing to spend a little more there are plenty of classic teardrops out there that support a tent and are that size. If you get a camper that is strong enough to hold a rooftop tent as your kids get older they can migrate to the roof. This way they can feel independent and you won't have to upgrade your trailer when they can no longer comfortably fit in the bunks. Many folks build their own bunks. Here is a link for what I remember to be a Hiker Trailer that was modified by the owner. It has been awhile since I read this, but I think the owner wanted a teardrop where he could pass items through the galley and still have bunks (great feature to have a pass through). I think he shares some details about his build in the thread. www.reddit.com/r/TeardropTrailers/comments/io7q3s/family_teardrop_with_bunk/ Hopefully this helps a bit.
@@PlayingwithSticks I love these detailed replies. I'll add that Bean Trailer also has a interior bunk option. It is basically a cot made of pole and fabric that spans the width of their teardrop against the aft cabinets. The folks sleeping on the full size bed lay with their feet underneath it. The design is very simple and removable so the convertable seating and pop up table still function normally. This type of design could be a good DIY addtion to most teardrops. This Bean video shows their cot option: ua-cam.com/video/fEiee3ssVE8/v-deo.html
@@dchurch911 Thank you for sharing this. I really like the canvas bunk idea because it is easily removed if you do need to access cabinets or a pass through galley. We just talked with someone at Bean recently wondering if they had seen an increase in folks wanting bunks. we are seeing this increase on our channel. They had mentioned that more people lately are asking for two bunks, which they said makes it a bit tougher because this would block all their cabinets. Fun seeing teardrop builders starting to push towards more family amenities. Beings these really are just for sleeping for most of us. We are completely fine packing them in like sardines. We say the more the merrier, well minus the extra moisture issues that come with it. And we must admit there are nights where May and I say we can't wait for the boys to be up in a rooftop tent :)
Been looking at tear drops for awhile..trying to decide if I want the one with the kitchen inside or out.. during the summer the mosquitoes are thick..how do you guys cope with cooking outside and trying to avoid those nasty mosquitoes?
There is days it is awful out here! However it seems to be worse when playing, eating, and hanging out. When cooking we don't get a ton of bugs. But in the occasion we do we end up cooking in our side entry. Horrible idea with bears and smells. Inside is great to have. But we would suggest if you went that route still plan on having an outside setup as most small camper owners come to find they still cook outside more than inside. This is mainly due to smells, cleanup, and space. It just feels a bit cramped cooking and cleaning up inside. But feels amazing on a rainy day where you don't have time to setup the outdoor living space for cooking and eating.