If you’re in the business of shopping for a teardrop trailer, who could blame you? Easy-to-tow, lovely to look at, and more affordable than many of their larger peers, teardrops have a certain it factor that appeals to newbies and long-time RVers alike. But teardrops also live in a weird world of fuzzy definitions. Think of questions like this: Is a squaredrop technically a teardrop? But the bigger question remains: Which ones should you be looking at? Well, one of the best places to start is with the most popular teardrop trailers.
So, putting teardrops under a big, inclusive (looking at you, squaredrops) here’s a collection of seven of the most popular teardrop trailers t — and the features that make these models so attractive.
Bean Trailer Bean Stock 2.0
If you’ve been shopping for a teardrop, you have likely come across Bean Trailer. The company makes models, like the Bean Stock 2.0, starting at $19,999, but they have variations that can be outfitted with elaborate solar and storage systems. So, as you might expect, the price can reach into the mid $40,000s.
Starting at the front of the trailer, all Bean teardrops (there are four different models) come with a large platform in the center of which is a battery box and a receiver hitch to which you can mount a bike rack or other storage provision. The large, flat surface can be used to stand on if you need to get to the roof. (Or more likely, to store things on like boxes or totes and such.) There is a raised rail and openings around which you can hook straps or bungees or whatever.
Inside you’ll find the usual futon-like bed cushions but under them are compartments in the floor for additional storage. But my favorite feature in the Bean offerings is the fact that the cabinet you access in the kitchen area can also be accessed from the sleeping quarters of the trailer in a passthrough design.
The kitchens in these go from very simple to rather complete. You can get basically a space for your gadgets or a fully outfitted kitchen. Some people who are shopping for this style of trailer are coming from tent camping and already have lots of camping gear so it makes sense that you have multiple choices.
Length: 14 feet, 1/4 inch • Dry Weight: 1,175 pounds • MSRP: $19,999
Escapod TOPO2 Voyager
The Escapod TOPO2 Voyager is a teardrop that is popular because of how it’s designed. But it might be even more attractive based on how it’s built. The company is unique in that it builds its own axle-less suspension. This enables these little teardrops to be able to traverse some ground that might surprise you. But a great suspension also allows them to tow better on smooth roads. Additionally, the body of the TOPO2 Voyager is built differently — using a fiberglassing process that was inspired by the aircraft industry. Essentially, the company put in the components that make the shell and then use a vacuum-infusing process so that the whole shell is a very rigid and complete unit.
Escapod builds a number of variations on the base theme, but all universally have a queen-sized bed in the main sleeping space. This is made to feel more open thanks to a window over the bed, which can be opened. (A nice touch.)
Out back, as you would expect, is the kitchen area. The Escapod TOPO2 Voyager has a nifty plastic table that serves as a cover for the shelves when the trailer’s in motion. However, it can also hang off the wheel well once you’re ready to camp. Like the rest of the cabinetry, this is a composite material.
Escapod offers models with more elaborate kitchens as well as simpler offerings. For example, the Nomad, a different model than the TOPO2 Voyager, offers a pressurized water system and propane cooktop. There is also a MTB is specifically outfitted for those who enjoy bicycling with a tool kit and provisions to bring your bikes along.
Length: 13 feet, 6 inches • Dry Weight: 1,920 pounds • MSRP: $43,990
nuCamp T@B 400
nuCamp has been building their teardrop-style trailers for 20 years now and has achieved quite a level of success. The company makes a variety of models that can be called teardrops from the very traditional T@G teardrops to the more elaborate T@B series.
The traditional T@G models are exactly what you’d expect in a teardrop. Front bedroom. Rear outdoor kitchen. The company makes two variants on the T@G theme, a standard and an XL. The larger XL model offers an additional foot of interior space in the bed area.
One of the things that’s very uncommon but is available in these models is heat and air conditioning. nuCamp has placed an air conditioner in the wall between the outside kitchen and bedroom space of this teardrop so you can camp comfortably in more kinds of weather.
The company also makes larger trailers that are also teardrop-shaped including the T@B400, which I had a chance to review. While this still has the traditional teardrop shape, it’s actually a proper travel trailer with an indoor kitchen, bedroom and even a bathroom. All of the nuCamp models are available with more advanced solar and battery systems
Length: 18 feet, 3 inches • Dry Weight: 2,915 pounds • MSRP: $52,899 (estimated)
Forest River Flagstaff E-Pro E12SA
Forest River’s Flagstaff division is unusual — they offer everything from pop-up simple tent trailers to rather lavish fifth wheels and premium travel trailers. One common item is that all their offerings are built in their Millersburg, Indiana facilities, which has a predominantly Amish workforce. The company also tends to favor higher-quality components even in their more affordable offerings.
Such is the case with the Flagstaff E-Pro E12SA. This is a teardrop-style trailer — even if it is not teardrop shaped —with an open back that has the kitchen. That kitchen includes a larger 12-volt refrigerator and also a convection air fryer microwave. There’s also a pressurized water system that has a water heater. Another standard feature is a flat-top griddle. (I have this same griddle in my own trailer and have used it a lot.)
Taking advantage of the larger profile of this trailer, the living area features a raised bed that can be a couch by day and the bed by night. This also is outfitted with air conditioning — not typical.
Length: 12 feet, 3 inches • Dry Weight: 1.878 pounds • MSRP: $21,995
Ember RV E-Series 12RK
In talking to the folks at Ember RV, the thinking of the 12RK is to create a squaredrop trailer but with most of the kitchen components as options. Why? Ember Cofounder Christopher Barth told me that many of the people buying this sort of trailer are upgrading from a tent and already have much of the kitchen items they’re comfortable with.
As such, there are kitchen, solar, awning, and other items available; but the base price of this new smallest Ember RV offering is very, very attractive at $17,491. However, you can get a pressurized water system with a water heater and a flat-top griddle.
Length: 15 feet, 9 inches • Dry Weight: 1,830 pounds • MSRP: $17,491
Polydrops P19 Shorty
One of the most unusual trailers in this collection is the Polydrops P19 Shorty. The company was founded by architecture student Kyunghyun Lew and his wife, Jieun. After visiting from Korea and traveling in a teardrop, they sought to use their skills as architecture students to build something different and better insulated. Such is the Polydrops trailer.
Among the unusual things about this model, aside from the insulation, is the fact that the kitchen is an option and is mounted to an optional receiver hitch on the back of the trailer. While this certainly simplifies things in some ways, it’s a different way of thinking about a teardrop. Another unusual consideration is that the company has incorporated aerodynamics as part of the design consideration.
Length: 11 feet, 8 inches • Dry Weight: 640 pounds • MSRP: $12,500
Safari Condo Alto R1713
While the Safari Condo Alto R1713 mimics the shape of a teardrop trailer, it is truly its own animal. The entire roof can be raised with a hinge at the front of the trailer, so you actually can stand and walk around inside. The space between the roof and the walls (which accommodates the raising) is a row of windows that creates a very open feel inside.
Inside, you’ll find twin beds that can combine to form a king-size bed, a full kitchen, and even a bathroom with a shower. With the top down. you get the aerodynamic profile of a larger teardrop trailer. But, with the top up, you have a spacious and airy trailer.
Length: 17 feet, 3 inches • Dry Weight: 1,931 pounds • MSRP: $44,879 (estimated)
Note on Our Most Popular Teardrop Trailers
Notice that almost none of the trailers we’ve listed here have provisions for showers or toilets. This can mean that they’re not permitted at some facilities that require a fully self-contained RV including Harvest Hosts locations, for example.
If you are wanting a toilet, we have a Camco portable toilet that we use when we’re overlanding and using our pickup as a camper. In order not to horrify our fellow campers, we use that in a SylvanSport Privy Bivy tent. This tent can also be used for showers so if you choose a teardrop that has an outside shower, as some of these do, that’s how you can make that work.
However, as always, we highly recommend following the practices of Leave No Trace if you’re camping off the grid. Many of these also offer the ability to mount roof-top tents on them so they can accommodate more than just two people.
[marketplace_inventory_widget header]
Leave a Reply