Need Advice: new female member, changing camping habits

[Rochelle]

I am a recent widow (as of Sept. 2013) and need some input for changing my camping/traveling style. I drive my 2005 Scion xB and my husband's 2007 Honda CR-V, which have maximum towing capacities of 1500 pounds.

I currently have a Time Out motorcycle-size camping tent trailer that has a small box/footprint but opens up into a massive off-the-ground tent. I cannot setup and takedown very easily by myself. I'm 62 and 4' 11". It is very easy to tow and maneuver by hand at under 400 pounds. Since I'm now "sleeping alone", I need to replace the Time Out with something easier to handle. Here are my thoughts; please chime in and give me your opinions and advice!

1 - Time Out Slipstream one-person pod-style trailer, since I will only need space to sleep (I enjoy being outdoors, but at my age, prefer to be up off the ground). Trailer storage underneath the bed. Very light-weight (a couple hundred pounds); easy to tow and store in my limited space in a corner of my garage or covered at the side of my house. A little pricey at $2900 new; limited demand so no used units available.

2 - Another type of motorcycle/tiny car camping trailer such as the Mini Mate. A little pricey but seems to be easier to set up and take down than my Time Out. The nearly-instant setup (like Lees-ure Lite) are very pricey also.

3 - Newly manufactured or used teardrop-style trailer. I like the idea of an included galley area, and the small space would just feel cozy to me. Like the idea of hard-sided, lockable door and an internal power source. Weigh about 800-1000 pounds. Also a little pricey; some over $10,000 but used start at about $4000. May fit into my garage or at the side of my house.

4 - A mini-travel trailer, such as Runaway Camping Trailers offers, starting at $2395 for base model, up to about $3100 with options, new. Weighs less than 700 pounds. Exterior dimensions are 11'4" L including tongue (just under 8' interior space); about 5 1/2' W (just under 4' interior space); just under 6' H (46" interior). They are a rather new company but already have a great reputation. I'm leaning toward this option, but they are in Florida and I'm in California, and shipping is estimated to be $1000+ with a waitlist !!!

So a bottom-line question to all of you: would I be better off towing a low-profile teardrop that weighs up to 1000 pounds, or a nearly 6' high trailer that weighs less than 700 pounds? Or go with the others that are both low-profile and weigh almost nothing?

I am on a limited widow's budget and the sale of the Time Out will go toward a replacement unit.

I appreciate the help I've read on so many of these Forum discussions. Thank you!

[NYCgrrl]

Enjoy whatever way you go and welcome!:)

[Rochelle]

rexlion wrote:
Stick with a low profile trailer, and you should be fine with anything up to 1000 lbs or so. It should not be necessary to limit yourself to the super-light models, although there is nothing wrong with getting one of those if that is what you like.

As for the different choices you mention, the best thing to do is to try and get inside of a few of these. Lie down, sit up, think about where you would put the things you need to have in your trailer and how the ventilation would be, that sort of thing. There is no substitute for seeing them for yourself, touching them, and being in them. You're used to the tent trailer now and if you enjoy the outdoorsy feeling that sleeping in tent canvas provides, then you probably will appreciate it more than a teardrop or similar; a teardrop may feel too much like being indoors.

I have to hand it to you... you've found some great options with low prices. Personally, I'm too spoiled by creature comforts. I no longer want to do without a bathroom with shower, stand-up room, a fridge, and so on. Nor do I want to deal with wet canvas or wind-flapping canvas or hearing every little noise while I try to sleep. But not everyone is like me, which is why they still build tent trailers! If you are happy with a minimalist type of trailer, that is exactly what you should have and you don't need the extra weight or the extra cost of the mainstream, cookie-cutter trailers built by the big companies.

Thank you for your comments, rexlion. I do enjoy tent camping, but bugs give me the shimmyshakes... I also have a Kamp Rite tent cot that I can use when I feel like roughing it the easy way. So I decided the teardrop or mini travel trailer would be good for when I decide to travel across the county to visit relatives, or just for extended camping (for me that means a week at a time, since I still work). I've looked inside a couple of teardrops over the years, but never had the opportunity to actually lie down inside of one. Yes, I think low profile will be better for visibility and gas mileage.

[Rochelle]

Tothill wrote:
Have you given any though to a Class B? I know it would be more money, but a second hand one can be reasonable.

Big Benefit, no set up, no towing, still have a vehicle you can use in town.

Tothill: I had considered Class B before I decided to concentrate on teardrop or small travel trailer. I like the look of the Transit Connect vans that are now all over the place, and I understand some people buy them as an RV conversion; for small me it wojld be plenty of room. My brother used to have a Rialta that I really liked. A few years ago I was going to tell him to keep me in mind if he ever decided to sell it, because my tall husband liked it too. But I was too late; he had already sold it (he lives in a different state). Bottom line, I think a Class B or C is just beyond what I can afford, because it would be a car payment on a luxury vehicle that I wouldn't drive every day. But you were thinking like I was originally.

[Rochelle]

dverstra wrote:
Here is a teardrop that is manufactured in our hometown. It might fit the bill.
http://www.eggcamper.com/teardrop.htm

dverstra: looks good and the interior appears to be interestingly different than a standard, common teardrop. However, base weight, without any cargo, is too much (1400#) and it costs too much for my budget (about $10,000). Thank you for the link; I had never heard of them in my investigating.

[2012Coleman]

Rochelle wrote:

fla-gypsy wrote:
I think a small Casita hardside would meet your needs better

I looked into the Casita and Scamp. Unfortunately they are too heavy for my vehicle to tow. That's why I'm considering the Runaway Camping Trailer because it's roomy like the Casita, but half the weight and price.

Have you considered selling both of your current vechiles and getting something that is able to pull these two TTs?

[Tothill]

Have you given any though to a Class B? I know it would be more money, but a second hand one can be reasonable.

Big Benefit, no set up, no towing, still have a vehicle you can use in town.

[D_E_Bishop]

Rochelle I'm in favor of the Tear Drop the3y can be very light as well. We met two couples from KY driving Model A's and pulling trailers similar to tear drops. We were at the Arctic Circle. There is a guy in Redding that runs a web site on Tears as well as building them and a builder in Pasadena. Both guys are very helpful and may be able to help you.

I am looking for a fixer that my DGKs and I can fix up before they get their license's. They will get our old towed for a TV. Old towed is a 1995 Suzi Sidekick.

[dverstra]

Here is a teardrop that is manufactured in our hometown. It might fit the bill.
http://www.eggcamper.com/teardrop.htm

[Rochelle]

Karanavore wrote:
Rochelle: Last year, I was camped near a young lady in her 20's who was pulling a tear-drop with her Mini-Cooper. I was amazed! It had the outside galley and it looked like the interior folded into a full size bed. She had her mountain bike and her dog with her and she had no problems towing. When I went to the Pomona TV show, there were some T@b trailers on display. They were really cool!
I am a not-so-young lady who camps by myself frequently. I do understand your concern about easy set-up. I think a teardrop would be great for you.

I see you are in the Inland Empire in southern Calif. I'm in the Antelope Valley. I'm 62. If you ever want to meet and possibly become camping friends, I'm open to that. What do you travel with?

[Rochelle]

fla-gypsy wrote:
I think a small Casita hardside would meet your needs better

I looked into the Casita and Scamp. Unfortunately they are too heavy for my vehicle to tow. That's why I'm considering the Runaway Camping Trailer because it's roomy like the Casita, but half the weight and price.

[Rochelle]

Carb Cleaner wrote:
I put two bicycles on a 1.25" receiver hitch rack at the back of our 2006 Scion xB (last year of the first generation xB), and I can tell a difference going up hill (the carbon-fiber spoiler over the rear door does nothing, ha ha). I can't imagine pulling a 900 pound trailer. I had an '04 CRV and it seemed much more capable. I haven't tried to tow with either. The brakes on a xB are disposable. If you tow with it, expect to replace your brake rotors often. I really like our xB. I'll keep it until I run it into the ground, but I'm glad I don't need to tow with it.
The white Scion pictured in a previous post, with an Aliner trailer, is the second generation xB and it has a bigger engine. It's pretty much a different car than an '05 xB.
Given the options, I'm leaning towards tear drop. The Mypod I looked at offered little more than a bed and a TV. Not very practicle for camping, but I can see the appeal to people who travel and only eat at restaurants. The Aliners I've encountered seem rather expensive, and they gotta be heavier than a tear drop, impacting fuel mileage, too. It's nice to have an indoor kitchen, but I'd probably stick closer to my available vehicles' limitations.
Let us know how you do. Good luck.

Hi Carb Cleaner: I likely won't bother towing anything with my xB (though i saw pictures of our generation pulling little trailers). I'm leaning toward teardrop or the Runaway trailer. I'm actively investigating teardrops to see if I can locate a decent, relatively inexpensive used one somewhere in my state or surrounding (within reasonable driving distance of 1-2 days).

[rexlion]

Stick with a low profile trailer, and you should be fine with anything up to 1000 lbs or so. It should not be necessary to limit yourself to the super-light models, although there is nothing wrong with getting one of those if that is what you like.

As for the different choices you mention, the best thing to do is to try and get inside of a few of these. Lie down, sit up, think about where you would put the things you need to have in your trailer and how the ventilation would be, that sort of thing. There is no substitute for seeing them for yourself, touching them, and being in them. You're used to the tent trailer now and if you enjoy the outdoorsy feeling that sleeping in tent canvas provides, then you probably will appreciate it more than a teardrop or similar; a teardrop may feel too much like being indoors.

I have to hand it to you... you've found some great options with low prices. Personally, I'm too spoiled by creature comforts. I no longer want to do without a bathroom with shower, stand-up room, a fridge, and so on. Nor do I want to deal with wet canvas or wind-flapping canvas or hearing every little noise while I try to sleep. But not everyone is like me, which is why they still build tent trailers! If you are happy with a minimalist type of trailer, that is exactly what you should have and you don't need the extra weight or the extra cost of the mainstream, cookie-cutter trailers built by the big companies.

[Karanavore]

Rochelle: Last year, I was camped near a young lady in her 20's who was pulling a tear-drop with her Mini-Cooper. I was amazed! It had the outside galley and it looked like the interior folded into a full size bed. She had her mountain bike and her dog with her and she had no problems towing. When I went to the Pomona TV show, there were some T@b trailers on display. They were really cool!
I am a not-so-young lady who camps by myself frequently. I do understand your concern about easy set-up. I think a teardrop would be great for you.

[fla-gypsy]

I think a small Casita hardside would meet your needs better