Thinking of going ultralight for RV traveling? Looking for a simpler camping style? Then a teardrop travel trailer might be worth considering.
A teardrop camper is a compact travel trailer consisting of a sleeping cabin and a kitchen area. They received their name because in side profile they resemble a stylized teardrop, bulbous at the front and tapering at the back in a streamlined shape.
The design had its early roots in the 30s and 40s, but appears to be emerging phoenix-like from the past. Some makers faithfully adhere to the original designs and materials (with improved construction to meet faster highway speeds) while other manufacturers combine modern space-aged materials and techniques with new designs and plans.
Whether retro-built or retro-styled, these trailers have numerous advantages to overcome their limited space and restricted amenities. (See Teardrop Travel Trailers Pros and Cons).
Advantages of Teardrop Campers
- Light weight
- Easy to tow
- Easy to stow (will fit in a standard 8' high garage)
- Low operating cost
- Low purchase cost
- Basic comfort for sleeping accommodation
- Basic chuckwagon-style kitchen
Deciding on a Teardrop Camper
To evaluate the pros and cons of various styles of teardrop trailers, check the models or plans on manufacturers' web sites. All of these were current at the time of writing, but the list does not include custom producers who do only a few dozen units a year as they tend to go out of production without notice.
Popular Brands of Teardrop Travel Trailers
In Canada:
- Alto by Safari Condo of St-Frédéric, Quebec
- TadpoleTrailers of Brighton, Ontario
- Wee-Kender Teardrop Trailer by Endeavor Manufacturing of Parksville, British Columbia
- More on Canadian Teardrop Trailer Manufacturers
In the United States:
- Big Woody Campers of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
- Camp-Inn Teardrop Trailers by Petenwell Industries in Necedah, Wisconsin
- Cozy Cruiser Manufacturing of Oakridge, Oregon (website:
- Freedom Teardrop Trailers by High Desert Designs in Hines, Oregon
- Gasoline Alley Teardrop Trailers by Linder Technical Services in Indianapolis
- Happi-Trails Teardrop Trailers by Innovative Camping Trailer Co. in El Paso, Texas
- Hunter Outdoor Products, a division of Wiltrek Corporation in Athol, Idaho
- Little Guy Teardrop Camper/Trailers in Canton Ohio
- R.W. Johnson Teardrop Trailers in Auburn, California
- So-Cal Teardrops in Ontario, California
- T@B Teardrop Campers(possibly a division of Thor Industries)
- Yoder Toter in Pleasant Valley Missouri
Once a camper has decided to go the teardrop route, there are basically three avenues to follow
- Purchase a ready-made unit from one of the manufacturers above. A search for the name of the company in italics should lead directly to their web site.
- Have a unit made by a custom outfitter (The reader is encouraged to do a web search for "custom teardrop trailers" for custom manufacturers.)
- Purchase "do it yourself" teardrop trailer plans online
Thomas Alan Gray - Tom has been writing for over 30 years; curiosity leads him to dig into a wide variety of topics.
Join the Conversation