My husband and I are retiring soon and shopping for our first mobile home.We want something that can be pulled by our Jeep Wrangler (less than 3500 lbs.), is small enough to park in our small side yard where there are overhead wires, and that won't break the bank! We first looked at travel trailers, but being new to RV'ing, hate to spend nearly $20,000 for our first one, plus they are too large for our yard. We next looked at hard-sided A-frame pop-ups, but don't think we would be happy with the privacy-curtained wet baths with cassette toilets. So now we are looking at teardrops with an door-enclosed shower and flush toilet or shower/toilet combo, indoor kitchen, AC, and bed or fold-down bed. It only needs to sleep two, and we would love to keep the price under $12,000. Oh- and my husband is 6' and really doesn't want to stoop inside it. Do you know of something meeting those requirements? We would consider a used one in very good shape. Thanks so much for any help you can provide!

This just my opinion and one others may disagree with but I think of extra small trailers like the teardrops not as trailers for newbies but for those who've already been there, done that and clearly understand not only the advantages in owning such a small trailer but also the very real disadvantages. For newbies like yourselves I suspect that although you may initially be attracted to these lightweight trailers you'd quickly find this size of trailer awfully restrictive and have you wishing for a more conventional style of travel trailer, something 19' or longer. The problem there of course is your tow vehicle which really isn't suitable for towing anything this size, so bottom line I don't really have an answer for you other than to say be awfully careful if you do decide to proceed with this teardrop idea.

The really small trailers like the TEAR DROP is only for sleeping inside. Most everything else is outside maybe with a TENT covering most of the area. I like that kind of camping but it may not be your liking. My neighbors have the A-FRAME and for two people it is great. Very easy to setup etc...I would really try to fit something in with hard sides in the 22-24 foot range. The older JEEPS were not designed to tow anything at all. Perhaps the newer ones are better at it... Back in the day our best camping years was pulling a small utility trailer behind our OFF-ROAD JEEPS and setting up the biggest baddest three room TENT next to wooded creek bed you could think of haha. The JEEP would take us all over the AZ and NM High Country and we most often went with groups of other JEEP guys and gals...GOOGLE IMAGEMy off-road POPUP camper here weighs in around 4200 lbs loaded down and I pull it with my 2010 F150 truck. The truck doesn't know the POPUP is behind it and it gets great 19-22 MPG gallon on the open roads... Can drive from Northern Neck VA where we live to the Smoky Mtns at Gatlingburg TN on one tank of gas... Can't beat that with a stick...This is the way we look when camping off the power grid campsites...We enjoy this stuff bigtime but being in a full timer situation I might like to have some more walking around space inside the trailer and maybe some hard sides... Roy Ken

SoundGuy wrote:This just my opinion and one others may disagree with but I think of extra small trailers like the teardrops not as trailers for newbies but for those who've already been there, done that and clearly understand not only the advantages in owning such a small trailer but also the very real disadvantages. For newbies like yourselves I suspect that although you may initially be attracted to these lightweight trailers you'd quickly find this size of trailer awfully restrictive and have you wishing for a more conventional style of travel trailer, something 19' or longer. The problem there of course is your tow vehicle which really isn't suitable for towing anything this size, so bottom line I don't really have an answer for you other than to say be awfully careful if you do decide to proceed with this teardrop idea.Good advice here...I agree.I suggest you look at pop-up (tent trailer).We camped in one for years and it served us well...and would tow nicely behind your Jeep Wrangler.

Thanks for the quick responses. Actually, I put a weight limit of 3200 because that's all my husband's Wrangler will tow, but my 2004 Liberty has a factory tow package and a limit of 4500. We do like the A frame hard sides but are turned off by emptying the cassette toilet.We are much more "travellers" than "campers," and besides the storage problem of a large trailer, we envision long trips where we stay at a campground if the facilities are nice, and retire to a Red Roof Inn when they are not or if it's raining.

We have been following a blog by a woman with two dogs who has been living full time in a 17' Casita trailer for the past three years. RV Sue & Her Canine Crew You may be able to find a used one that would fit your budget.

What teardrop to buy?? Or is that what we want?

wbwood
Explorer
Jun 25, 2016
I don't think the OP was really talking about teardrop trailers. Sound s like more like the RPod's that are somewhat teardrop shaped.
JimNH
Explorer
Jun 23, 2016
did you find one? we have the KZ 16RBT and love it. The 14 is really neat, and would be fine for two - but they are hard to find. the 16' is light enough to tow wiht our V6 Tacoma. We paid about $10K for a "last years" model.'

JIM in NH
bikendan
Explorer
Aug 30, 2015
now that's a REAL teardrop, unlike a R-pod or T@b trailer.
fpoole
Explorer
Aug 30, 2015
Late comer here, but I had a Camp Inn Tear Drop for 6 yrs of wonderful Weekend and longer trips, max at 28-days. Love them, but....

as many have noted already, it's basically a bedroom and outside kitchen. Both are excellent two work with and nice in decent weather, but....

When it rains, PNW camper here, the canopies work well if dressed accordingly. If the Wind starts to blow, drop N furl the canopy and you're good to go... but

When it rains AND blows for any length of time, 1+ days the only place of cover is in the bedroom and while they do have TV DVD, reading lights etc. you can get cabin fever quickly.

They do have shower/privacy door tents which work and outside suppliers of various shower tents that can be used, but it's sort of a PITA to put up and down.

I loved them, easy to tow, move around by hand, small and compact, pretty much go anywhere but more for a few days. There are, of course "Full Timers" but that's a life you don't just jump into... It's outside camping with Benefits of Dry/warm bed and great easy kitchen...

I'd go with a Casita like one from the sound of it.

But those Tear Drops are really kewl...

and nice when set up....

With Canopy, which is easy and used 90% of the time.

It's all a matter of what you want to do and what you're willing to put up with...

fun..
Jeepymom
Explorer
Aug 25, 2015
THanks! We're thinking of close-by places to go for our shake-down trip.
ryanw821
Explorer
Aug 25, 2015
Jeepymom wrote:
Thanks! It's a little bit daunting; I know we have a lot to learn, but I'm told camping folks are friendly and they'll let us know if they see us doing something wrong!

Take is slow at first, I would recommend your first camping trip be close to home, our first trip out was a campground only 5 miles away, worked out well, no matter how much you plan, you will always forget something on your first trip.

Yeah, most folks are friendly, think about it, the worst day of camping is better than best day of working, whats not to be happy and friendly about ;)

Most experienced campers are more than willing to answer questions too, we have all made many mistakes, and learned the hard way a few times ;)
Jeepymom
Explorer
Aug 25, 2015
Thanks! It's a little bit daunting; I know we have a lot to learn, but I'm told camping folks are friendly and they'll let us know if they see us doing something wrong!
SuperiorBound
Explorer
Aug 25, 2015
Enjoy the new camper
NYCgrrl
Explorer
Aug 24, 2015
wrong thread
Jeepymom
Explorer
Aug 24, 2015
I have seen several of the Spree Escapes like this one. Don't know just how they differ from the Craftsmen Classic. Ours was one of a dozen that was overbought last year and sold for $11,500, then some for $10,500, and this last one for $9,500.

http://www.rvtrader.com/dealers/Tradewinds-RV-Inc.-739948/listing/2014-K-Z-Spree-Escape-E14RB-114745842

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What teardrop to buy?? Or is that what we want?

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