Beauty in Tow: Lightweight Camper Roundup

[MagicMtnDan]

Beauty in Tow: Lightweight Camper Roundup
These six small, lightweight, tow-behind trailers offer utility with winsomeness
By: Chris Nelson December 9, 2016

No truck? With one of these lightweight campers, no problem. Weighing in at under 3,000 lbs, these can be pulled by almot any car with a trailer hitch.

Happier Camper HC1

Molded entirely from fiberglass, the HC1 has a tremendously reconfigurable, patent-pending modular interior that snaps together like Legos. Empty everything out to load and haul motorcycles. Or pile in a bunch of cushions and cuddle with four other people on a “mega bed.” Using Happier Camper’s Adaptiv molded plastic components, you can create all manner of interior combinations to your heart’s delight.

happiercamper.com | Price: $16,950 | Weight: 1,100 lb | Sleeps: 5

Airstream Basecamp

The riveted aluminum body screams Airstream, but the all-new Basecamp is unlike anything we’ve recently seen from the 87-year-old company. The small trailer is pre-wired for solar panels, it has a versatile, adaptable floor plan that includes a kitchen and bathroom, there’s a pass-through for an outdoor shower, and the wrap-around windows offer awesome views of the great outdoors.

airstream.com | Price: $34,900 | Weight: 2,585 lb | Sleeps: 2

Oregon Trailer TerraDrop

Both literally and figuratively, the rugged, off-road TerraDrop sits over the other offerings from Oregon Trailer, which employs a three-person team to hand-build each camper that comes out of the company’s workshop. The TerraDrop is about the same size as the company’s flagship FronTear, but it gets durable Timbren axle-less suspension and an overbuilt chassis that won’t fall apart on unkempt trails.

oregontrailer.net | Price: $12,500 | Weight: 1,200 lb | Sleeps: 2

Hutte Hut

The unbelievably gorgeous Hütte Hut started as an industrial design case study exploring lightweight, aerodynamic mobile structures. An aluminum space frame sits under the modernist teardrop shell made from Okoume plywood. The interior employs copious amounts of birch, and the removable roof canopy is available in natural or waxed canvas as well as a small selection of other fabrics.

hüttehut.com | Price: $63,900 | Weight: 900 lb | Sleeps: 3

High Camp Trailer

These well-crafted, scratch-built trailers from Portland, Oregon, showcase amazing attention to detail. The High Camp uses an all-aluminum body on a steel frame, and its interior is lined with beautifully finished birch. Standard features include a cooler, a gas-powered cooktop, and a remote-controlled, 20-speed roof ventilation system that automatically turns off and lowers if it starts to rain.

highcamptrailers.com | Price: $15,895 | Weight: 1,250 lb | Sleeps: 2

Timberleaf Trailer

Pick from 10 eye-popping colors, and three coats of marine-grade paint will be sprayed onto the aluminum body of the simple, clean, and classic Timberleaf. Inside its teardrop shell, which has inch-thick insulating foam squeezed between two layers of birch, there’s a queen bed surrounded by cubbies and a big skylight so you can look up at the stars.

timberleaftrailers.com | Price: $16,850 | Weight: 1,240 lb | Sleeps: 2

Link:
http://www.automobilemag.com/news/lightweight-camper-roundup-beauty-in-tow/#happier-camper-hc1

 

[Fireman78]

Awesome. Small teardrops are amazing. There is quite a fluctuation in price on the teardrops once start adding everything. Those base prices are pretty misleading really.


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[Semi-Hex]

While they are more than barely functioning at the the base price, I will have to say with the ability to add a tonne of upgrades, your prices will skyrocket.
I mean, if you are a highway traveler who stops at KOA campgrounds go for it. If you prefer San Raphael Swell, make you rig suited for the adventure.

 

[Phxdsrtrat]

I would say with Airstream reintroducing the Basecamp and the introduction of that modular Happier Camper trailer that people think less is more when it comes to hitting the road these days. Of course, neither of those trailers would work well as an expedition trailer. The only one in that list that would make a good expedition trailer would be the Terradrop. This post caught my attention because that's what I ordered back in April and am anxiously awaiting to be delivered in the late December / early January timeframe.

If I had the time/tools/skills to build a trailer I would have gone that route. However for me it made more sense to purchase.

-Curtiss

 

[oliverlove]

It would be awesome if this list was added too. I know there are so many little companies that make teardrops but without a marketing budget its lard to find them.

 

[Fireman78]

If I had the time/tools/skills to build a trailer I would have gone that route. However for me it made more sense to purchase.

-Curtiss

I totally agree! I can't tell you how many times friends or people I meet will say "Oh that (certain piece of equipment/trailer, whatever) is way too expensive , you could of built that for (1/4) whatever price. Drives me nuts! No , I could not have built anything. I can break stuff. I can repair stuff, but I can't fabricate anything!


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[Chili]

Surprised they didn't include a Casita..

 

[Clutch]

If I had the time/tools/skills to build a trailer I would have gone that route. However for me it made more sense to purchase.

-Curtiss

I totally agree! I can't tell you how many times friends or people I meet will say "Oh that (certain piece of equipment/trailer, whatever) is way too expensive , you could of built that for (1/4) whatever price. Drives me nuts! No , I could not have built anything. I can break stuff. I can repair stuff, but I can't fabricate anything!

You don't need fab skills to achieve the same. Can buy a simple enclosed trailer and just use folding furniture for a fraction of the cost. Even if you pay someone to toss in some windows and lift it a bit, still much cheaper.

Those trailers are neat and and all, look too nice to use. Are you really going to toss in a muddy dirt bike in the Happier Camper? Other than a couple of those tear drops, would be afraid to tow the others even down a gravel road.

Would drag this down some dirt roads though, and won't cry when it gets a tree branch or rock gets dragged down the side of it.

 

[Semi-Hex]

I totally agree! I can't tell you how many times friends or people I meet will say "Oh that (certain piece of equipment/trailer, whatever) is way too expensive , you could of built that for (1/4) whatever price. Drives me nuts! No , I could not have built anything. I can break stuff. I can repair stuff, but I can't fabricate anything!

I would so much more enjoy modifying stuff once I have it rather than build it from scratch any day! Build a frame, find parts to some archaic axle, shape metal with special benders? nope... add, upgrade or fix something? You bet.

 

[Martinjmpr]

The sub-3500lb single-axle trailers are becoming hot items in the RV world. It started with the R-Pod a few years back and now there are at least 3 other companies making near-copies of the R-pod.
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Now, understand, the R-pod and similar are not an "off road" trailers. You won't take it on any rough trail. But they are perfectly capable of being towed on a forest service road to a campsite. All of these trailers are in the 16 - 18' range, have single axles, and generally weigh between 2300 and 3500lb dry (depending on options - things like slide-outs will add weight in a hurry.) Most are designed to be fully self contained to include hookups for solar panels, have black and gray water tanks as well as decent sized fresh water tanks.
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Price wise, they generally seem to fall into the $16 - $25k range, although one thing I've found with RVs is that there always seem to be "sales" and deals to be found if you shop around, especially if you shop off-season.
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http://www.forestriverinc.com/product-details.aspx?LineID=173&ShowParent=1
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Recent copiers of the R-Pod include the Winnebago Winnie Drop:
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https://winnebagoind.com/products/travel-trailer/2016/winnie-drop/overview
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Also the Jayco Hummingbird:
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https://www.jayco.com/products/travel-trailers/2017-hummingbird/
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And the newest one, the StarCraft Comet Mini:
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http://starcraftrv.com/products/travel-trailers/comet-mini
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Of course, we've been rocking a T@B Clamshell for two years now. No, we don't take it "off road" (though we have taken it on some moderately rough Forest Service dirt roads) but it makes a great "base camp" for our travel activities. Here we are in Valley of the Gods last month:
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[MOguy]

Here is my camper. Not as unique as the others and not suitable for off road but it is only 2400 lbs. Closed up the camper is 16 feet plus a couple more feet for the hitch. The tents open out another 4 feet on each end.

Light and easy to tow and lots of space.

 

[jscusmcvet]

Of course, we've been rocking a T@B Clamshell for two years now. No, we don't take it "off road" (though we have taken it on some moderately rough Forest Service dirt roads) but it makes a great "base camp" for our travel activities. Here we are in Valley of the Gods last month:
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View attachment 379956

We also have a T@B. Super easy to tow with my wife's v6 Tacoma or my LJ. Huge bed inside. We constantly look at other options, but this one checks every box for us except the "rugged" image. Folks chuckle at the funny wrap that is on it, but my buddies look inside (where at 5'6" I can stand up) and all get why we chose it. We bought ours used it is a 2004, with a very stout German built frame. Ann and I joke (well, she is joking...) that when the thing eventually collapses, I will use the frame and do a build of our own with what we learn to change in our use.

 

[Martinjmpr]

We also have a T@B. Super easy to tow with my wife's v6 Tacoma or my LJ. Huge bed inside. We constantly look at other options, but this one checks every box for us except the "rugged" image. Folks chuckle at the funny wrap that is on it, but my buddies look inside (where at 5'6" I can stand up) and all get why we chose it. We bought ours used it is a 2004, with a very stout German built frame. Ann and I joke (well, she is joking...) that when the thing eventually collapses, I will use the frame and do a build of our own with what we learn to change in our use.
View attachment 380182

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Ah, nice to see another T@Bber here! They actually now make an "outback" model that has a higher suspension. Ours being a Clamshell (CS) it's much to low to the ground for any kind of off roading but as you can see from the picture I posted, that didn't stop us from camping "off the grid" in Valley of the Gods in November.
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The R-Pod and similar trailers also offer "baja" packages that offer a higher suspension, although as big and heavy as those trailers are, you would not take them on any serious 4wd road! Still, I think it's a good sign that this segment of the market has been expanding. It actually makes sense - not everybody had a big diesel pickup to pull a 5th wheel but there are lots of folks out there with V6 SUVs, pickups and crossovers who still might like to pull a small trailer.

 

[jscusmcvet]

I agree with you 100%. We have found that for us the T@B is a great compromise of comfort, space and easy towability. I would love to get one of the new Outback models, but finding this one used and local, we grabbed it for a small fraction of a new one. I like the clamshell better, but Ann likes the kitchen in side. We cook outside all the time... but for example... at Expo east it was wet and the guys were loud... but there was Ann inside, brewing tea, getting ready for the class she taught. My buddies all were peeking in and amazed at how comfy it was.

Happy with it for now. We use it just like you, as a base camp, dirt road capable and comfy home for our travels.

 

[doctorit]

The sub-3500lb single-axle trailers are becoming hot items in the RV world. It started with the R-Pod a few years back and now there are at least 3 other companies making near-copies of the R-pod.
...

Great reply to a very good thread!