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We who embrace tiny living understand that life isn’t about how much space you own, but how much space you explore. If you dream of living on the road but can’t afford an RV or an Airstream (not to mention the gas they hog), a teardrop trailer may just be the best option for you.
What Are Teardrop Trailers?
Typically 4-6 feet wide and 8-10 feet long, teardrops are compact travel trailers. The side door or doors open to a sleeping area with overhead storage, while the back hatch usually opens to a small kitchen. Some teardrop trailers have a folding table and cushions so the sleeping area doubles as a dining area or workspace. If you do own a vehicle with a high towing capacity, you can build or buy a trailer that is big and tall enough to include a bathroom. You can build pop-ups, slide-outs, or simply set up a tent room outside your door for extra space.
These campers were very popular in the 1930s-1960s, and have made a comeback in recent years when vintage plans from magazines like Popular Mechanics began surfacing online. Since they usually weigh in at less than 1000 pounds, you won’t need a big ol’ truck to tow one–even a Smart car will do!
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Building Your Own Teardrop Trailer
While you could buy a trailer from American Teardrop for as little as $4,400 or T@B for $18,000+, many people opt to build their own, usually for about $2,000-3,000. Not only does building your teardrop save you a hefty chunk of change, but it also gives you the ability to choose from countless interior and exterior designs. Aluminum or wood? Flat or dome windows? Bunk bed for the kids? When you build your own teardrop trailer, these decisions are entirely up to you.
Nothing beats the pride of creating something with your own hands. Of course, when you’re living tiny, every inch of space matters, and needs to be accounted for carefully.
Teardrop Plans
Andrew Gibbens has over 20 teardrop plans available for free on his website, with an additional photo gallery of trailers built by travelers who used his plans. Ryan of Teardrop Builder also has free plans available online, as well as a journal documenting the entire build of his Wyoming Woody.
Supplies
The majority of DIY builders start with a trailer from Harbor Freight or Northern Tool. You can find a list of necessary tools for this project on Harbor Freight’s blog. From there, supplies depend on the plans you use and the features you want to include. Fortunately, there are many people who have shared their stories online, including exactly what materials they used and exactly how they built their teardrop. Helpful resources include Do It Yourself RV, Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers, and even Reddit. Of course, we hope you’ll consider Compact Appliance when checking a few of these items off your list.
Compact Appliances for Your Teardrop Trailer
1. Cooler or Mini Fridge
When you include the AC adapter option, the Koolatron 33 Quart 12V Cooler can be plugged into a standard outlet while you’re at camp. While you’re on the road, you can keep it in your passenger seat and plug it into your cigarette lighter. This unit is also available as a 29 Quart or 36 Quart.
There’s also the 65 Quart Engel High Performance Ice Box, which is large enough for camping and traveling with a partner, plus you won’t have to worry about finding power hookups.
If you’d prefer a mini fridge, we recommend the environmentally friendly Avanti 1.7 Cubic Ft. AC/DC Superconductor Refrigerator. This mini fridge will fit nicely in your teardrop’s kitchen, and its door swing is reversible so you can keep it on either side of your galley. Since there’s no compressor, you can count on quiet operation.
2. Cooktop and/or Microwave
When planning your build, you’ll need to consider what kind of foods you like to cook most, and decide whether you’ll need a cooktop, a microwave, or both.
If you’re going with a cooktop, you won’t need more than two burners, so the Verona 12″ Gas Cooktop is a great space-saving choice. It’s available in white, bisque, black, and stainless steel, so you can pick which best matches your teardrop trailer’s interior design.
The Avanti .8 Cubic Ft. Microwave Oven is a very popular, affordable countertop microwave for express cooking. However, if your teardrop has an abundance of kitchen cabinets and storage, the Summit Built-in Microwave for Enclosed Installation may prove a better fit for your galley.
3. Air Conditioner or Circulator
While you can always make adjustments down the road, it is much easier to decide up front whether you’ll be using an air conditioner or circulator so you can plan for one or the other while building your teardrop trailer.
The Frigidaire 5,000 BTU Window Air Conditioner is perfect for spaces under 150 square feet. For a teardrop, you won’t need any more than 5,000 BTUs. The nice thing about an air conditioner is that you’ll be glad you have one when you’re camping and it’s 90 degrees. The downside is that is requires more energy to run than a circulator.
So, if you’re looking for something a bit smaller that may better suit your budget, consider the Vornado Under Cabinet Air Circulator. This circulator will install nicely under the storage cabinets in your teardrop trailer, is equipped to pivot 360 degrees, and can fold up when it’s not in use.
Teardrop Trailer Blogs
If you are thinking about joining the teardrop trailer lifestyle, there are many resources out there for you to reference and help you get started. Below is a list of some great teardrop trailer blogs.
Tiny Yellow Teardrop
The Teardrop Diaries
The Blonde Coyote
Gypsy Teardrop
BlueRoad
Teardrop Trailer Groups and Gatherings
The teardrop trailer community goes beyond what you see on the internet. Here is a list of some groups and gatherings for trailer enthusiasts.
Tin Can Tourists
Tear Jerkers
Colorado Teardrop and Tiny Trailer Campers
Tall Pines Vintage Trailer Rendezvous
Rollin’ Oldies Vintage Trailers
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