Teardrop RV Trailers & Other Super Lightweight Models Are Budget Friendly

Smaller cars and tighter budgets are creating a market for RVs that break the mold from what has been the norm for many years.

Super lightweight RVs that don’t destroy the high mile per gallon rating of many small cars are coming into vogue.

Though many are more like tents than enclosed RVs, teardrop trailers — like from the 40s & 50s — are making a huge comeback too.

Check out this classic RV video featuring a lightweight travel trailer and a 1974 Volkswagen Beetle.

You can even build a teardrop RV trailer from a kit, or purchase it ready to go. (Here are some tips for building a Teardrop Trailer from plans.)

For a young couple with a small budget, this is a great way to begin a lifetime of RV memories.

You can see a lot more of the country for your dollar when you’re still getting close to 30 mpg pulling such a small and lightweight trailer… even in the winter.

Of course, the downsides to lightweight RV trailers are:

They can twist and bend the frame
They tend to bounce all over the road

Typically, lightweight towables are under 26 feet in length and weigh less than 4,000 pounds — light enough to be towed by most six-cylinder vehicles. RV manufacturers remove 600 to 1,200 pounds of construction materials from conventional travel trailer and fifth wheel trailer designs to produce a lightweight version, while retaining all the modern conveniences of the traditional vehicles—fully equipped kitchens and baths, queen-sized beds, central heat and air conditioning. Source