Teardrop Trailers

07-08-2012, 02:38 PM

Hi-

We went to the 4th of July parade in Show Low AZ. They had 8 teardrop campers in the parade. These little campers are very interesting, they have a group of people just like us TM people.

http://www.canyoncountryteardrops.com/ They are not cheap, but they sure have a history as you can see on the link.

They like what they do just like us. Some people love tents, this is what makes the world go around. Has any one had one of these or know some one that has one?

Dave

hillbillyhotel · 07-08-2012, 02:43 PM

I caught a tv show about them a few ys back, they are very neat, seen one of them at a race last yr, was being towed with a small chevy s-10,

07-08-2012, 04:45 PM

The TV show - was it California Gold with Huell Howser? I remember that well - it seriously fired me up to go camping. Especially when I went to Yellowstone, I realized very quickly it's not how you camp, it's just that you camp. People had every imaginable configuration out there. Some of those teardrops are neat! But for 3+ peeps or with animules or not wanting to crouch so much, the TM is still a good way to get off the ground compared to tents!

T and C · 07-08-2012, 04:55 PM

When I was growing up back in the early 1950's, my parents had a couple of friends who had a teardrop. Several families frequently went camping together, and the teardrop's kitchen area was sort of the center around which everyone socialized.

A little later we lived near a gas station that had several of these for rent. They never locked them so the neighborhood kids horsed around in them at times.

I think these things originated back in the depression era. They published plans for them in Popular Mechanics and other mags, and you could make them on running gear from the junk yard. I remember that my folk's friend's teardrop had wire wheels off some early Ford.

Nowadays there is a revival of interest. Probably the same economics that are moving TM towards lighter models. Some of them are pretty snazzy.
I once saw a large one on TV that had a screen door in the kitchen area. You could actually step inside.

Tom

**Bill** · 07-10-2012, 07:53 PM

In mid-May, we spent a night in a KOA in Toledo. Went to sleep with lots of open space around us. When we woke up, this rig was across the road. After a while, the back opened up, and a guy and a girl and two full size dogs crawled out. I still have no idea how they all fit in there, unless they folded like pretzels. The back of the trailer, of course, is the kitchen - so where did they put their feet?

That El Camino is a hoot, too. The guy said he is in the process of restoring both. What a project!

Bill

LoveToCamp · 07-10-2012, 08:35 PM

Scottie - Thanks for the topic! I have seen them, and, although I am only 5'-8" when I stand up straight, I can't see the wife and I camping in one. I don't see much ventilation, either. Maybe they go to bed and sweat a lot!

I'll stick to my TM, thanks! Can't wait to see one of these in-person, and see what type of folk like to use them. Should be interesting!

rvcycleguy · 07-11-2012, 06:46 AM

We were in a Big Bend National Park area RV resort this past spring break and next to us was a retired couple from Canada that was touring the US in a beautifully restored teardrop camper. The gentleman had modified a window AC unit that was piped into the side door. He had a flat screen tv mounted in the rear hatch kitchen area. They erected a pop up shade canopy, rug, table and chairs. Many of our fellow campers were visiting with this couple to hear their travel stories. They pulled the unit with a Subaru and had been on the road for months. Plenty of room for them, not for wife and I but something to consider as we all seem to want to pare down to bare essentials.

07-11-2012, 10:18 AM

I like the TV!!

T and C · 07-11-2012, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill

In mid-May, we spent a night in a KOA in Toledo. Went to sleep with lots of open space around us. When we woke up, this rig was across the road. After a while, the back opened up, and a guy and a girl and two full size dogs crawled out. I still have no idea how they all fit in there, unless they folded like pretzels. The back of the trailer, of course, is the kitchen - so where did they put their feet?

That El Camino is a hoot, too. The guy said he is in the process of restoring both. What a project!

Bill

Bill,

I think if you measure one of these things you will find that the body of the trailer is usually at least 10 feet long. That gives you room for a 6' bed and 3-4 feet left over for the kitchen area.

Tom

**Bill** · 07-11-2012, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T and C

Bill,

I think if you measure one of these things you will find that the body of the trailer is usually at least 10 feet long. That gives you room for a 6' bed and 3-4 feet left over for the kitchen area.

Tom

Tom -

Yeah, I was gonna sneak around with a tape measure, but I was afraid the dogs would bark and the guy would be packing heat! It would be kind of a Dirty Harry moment - the back of the teardrop slowly rises, and a gun barrel pokes out, followed by a growled "Do you feel lucky, punk?" Since I didn't, I stepped away, and confined my intrusion to a long-lens camera.

Maybe next time ...

Bill