As the economy continues to slip, that dream of buying an RV in the immediate future may be slipping away for many young couples and small families.
If moving up from the tent camping experience is something you think is out of reach for you, take heart. There is a way to get into a weathertight RV without breaking the bank.
No matter how small an RV you might be considering, a ready to go factory-assembled unit will likely cost you a good piece of cash. But don’t despair. There is another alternative that is perfect option for those with just a little mechanical ability.
It’s called the teardrop trailer!
The teardrop trailer is small, completely enclosed, and very lightweight.
With a weight of less than 1,000 lbs, almost any vehicle is capable of towing a teardrop trailer with ease.
Teardrop trailers can be purchased complete and ready to go. All you need to do is pack up your gear and hit the road.
Or, if you’re looking for a DIY project — one that won’t cost nearly as much as a ready-to-go unit would — then maybe building your own teardrop trailer from a kit would be a good option.
Build Your Own Teardrop Trailer
A number of companies produce complete kits that require only basic skills to assemble a teardrop trailer that you’d be proud to own. Here are a few:
- So-Cal Teardrops
- Teardrop & Vintage Trailer Parts
- Little Guy Teardrop Camper Trailers
- Teardrop Manufacturers
If you’re interested in taking on the whole project from scratch, you can also purchase a complete set of plans that provides full-sized patterns for all the panels and parts for constructing your very own teardrop trailer. Here are a few of those:
All the wood can be purchased at your local lumber yard. If you’re lacking a local supplier for the mechanical parts of the project, you can order everything you need from this list of companies that will ship teardrop trailer parts direct to you.
How To Customize Your Teardrop Trailer
There are a wide variety of styles and shapes for the recreational vehicle category known as teardrop trailers.
Designed with functionality in mind, you can pick the one that best suits your needs. Or, modify one that is close but not quite what you’re looking for. Building it “your way” is one benefit of doing it all yourself.
With a good source of teardrop trailer parts and supplies, you can be creative in your design and trick out your teardrop trailer to what ever level you choose.
For some, the idea of building the shell of a teardrop trailer on their own might seem intimidating. Thankfully, there are companies who can supply you with the basics. From there, you can go as complex as you like in finishing it out: solar panel, electric lights, gas stove, TV. Pick and choose all the goodies you like in one very small package.
When you’re done, it will probably fit inside your garage along with your cars. Just turn it sideways. Since it’s lightweight, you can move it easily by hand!
More About Teardrop Trailers
Teardrop Trailer History- The World Of Teardrop Campers
- FAQ For Building Teardrop Trailers
- Teardrop Gatherings & Events
- How To Build Your Own Teardrop Trailer
- Teardrop Travel Tips
I’ve been involved in RVing for over 50 years — including camping, building, repairing, and even selling RVs and motorhomes. I’ve owned, used, and repaired almost every class and style of RV ever made. I do all of my own repair work. My other interests include cooking, living with an aging dog, and dealing with diabetic issues. If you can combine a grease monkey with a computer geek, throw in a touch of information nut and organization freak, combined with a little bit of storyteller… you’ve got a good idea of who I am. To date, I’ve shared my RV knowledge in over 300 articles here at The Fun Times Guide! Many of them have over 25K shares.
