Supermanbaja
New member
What are the top 10 or 20 must have options/features in a teardrop/squaredrop style trailer offroad or on road styles? Like insulation, suspension, hitch, solar, interior, colors ect.
Top 10 must haves in a teardrop style trailer
- Thread starter Supermanbaja
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old_CWO
Well-known member
I have lusted after traditionally styled teardrop trailers for years and have yet to stumble across one that hits the look, condition and price I want. At least whenever I am in a position to purchase. That being said, I have looked at a lot of them used and see one thing consistently. The galley hatch lids are very hard to keep sealed properly. Most used units I look at either have evidence of leaking or some measure of water damage. I would say that ranks right up there as a 100% requirement for a true teardrop; some kind of bulletproof sealing method for the galley hatch and hinge. Yeah, I know squaredrops don't have that problem, but Huey Lewis was wrong. It is not hip to be square.
Another must have? Two doors. Without question. It's cheaper than a divorce...
I think most everything else really depends on you and your situation as the end user.
Another must have? Two doors. Without question. It's cheaper than a divorce...
I think most everything else really depends on you and your situation as the end user.
Louisd75
Adventurer
The dry galley is very important. I think that Steve Fredrick's technique is the most robust and effective way of sealing up the galley. It's the technique I used to build my trailer and it's also the technique used by Teardrops NW. Essentially, it gives you a double seal around the edges of the hatch:
www.teardropsnw.com
Insulation isn't as common as you'd think. In fact, I don't know that many of the popular manufacturers insulate their trailers. I insulated mine more as a weight savings (rigid foam being lighter than plywood), but it added quite a bit more work and I can't prove that I gained much other than 50 or so lbs of weight loss.
Timbren's axleless suspension is gaining in popularity, but I've heard a few stories about strange tire wear and a couple of frame failures where the suspension mounts. To be fair, I've also heard of failures with leaf spring stuff. The difference being that there are a lot more places that carry leaf springs vs the Timbren setup.
I'm a big fan of light colored interiors, lots of windows and open storage spaces. There are lots of manufacturers building with cabinets and drawers, but I feel that invariably I'll be trying to fit something into a pre-made space and it just won't fit. I purposely built my trailer with a lot of open spaces that will allow me to build to suite my needs as I figure out just what my needs are.
In my opinion, the best hitch to build onto the trailer is a 2" receiver that allows the end user to put on whatever it is that they want.
Outside color doesn't really matter to me so long as it's well done. I'm happy with the mill scale finish of aluminum, but I know that there are lots of different colors out there on the road. I'm not a huge fan of graphics unless they're subtle. @flipmachine, for example, builds a beautiful trailer but I'm not personally a fan of his graphics. I feel that they're too busy (sorry Flip!). I think his current trailer would look awesome in the current Toyota Tacoma's Cement or Sandstone color. There are a couple of Subaru colors out there right now that would look great as well (Cool Gray Khaki, for example).
I'm a big fan of simplicity. I have an electrical system and a propane system and that's about it. No plumbing, as I don't want to have to deal with pumps, hoses or tanks (grey or freshwater). No solar as the trailer charges from the tow vehicle when driving and I don't feel like chasing the sun with the panels to get the most out of them when camping. Plus I tend to camp in the trees if possible to help keep things cool.
Also, I'm a big fan of curves but I also see the appeal of angular lines. I built my trailer curvy because that's what I wanted. I would have had more space in the box if I had gone with angles. In reality, I would have gotten the most bang for the buck by just buying an enclosed cargo trailer and converting it to a camper. I like having a trailer that I don't mind looking at.
Photo Gallery — TeardropsNW
www.teardropsnw.com
Insulation isn't as common as you'd think. In fact, I don't know that many of the popular manufacturers insulate their trailers. I insulated mine more as a weight savings (rigid foam being lighter than plywood), but it added quite a bit more work and I can't prove that I gained much other than 50 or so lbs of weight loss.
Timbren's axleless suspension is gaining in popularity, but I've heard a few stories about strange tire wear and a couple of frame failures where the suspension mounts. To be fair, I've also heard of failures with leaf spring stuff. The difference being that there are a lot more places that carry leaf springs vs the Timbren setup.
I'm a big fan of light colored interiors, lots of windows and open storage spaces. There are lots of manufacturers building with cabinets and drawers, but I feel that invariably I'll be trying to fit something into a pre-made space and it just won't fit. I purposely built my trailer with a lot of open spaces that will allow me to build to suite my needs as I figure out just what my needs are.
In my opinion, the best hitch to build onto the trailer is a 2" receiver that allows the end user to put on whatever it is that they want.
Outside color doesn't really matter to me so long as it's well done. I'm happy with the mill scale finish of aluminum, but I know that there are lots of different colors out there on the road. I'm not a huge fan of graphics unless they're subtle. @flipmachine, for example, builds a beautiful trailer but I'm not personally a fan of his graphics. I feel that they're too busy (sorry Flip!). I think his current trailer would look awesome in the current Toyota Tacoma's Cement or Sandstone color. There are a couple of Subaru colors out there right now that would look great as well (Cool Gray Khaki, for example).
I'm a big fan of simplicity. I have an electrical system and a propane system and that's about it. No plumbing, as I don't want to have to deal with pumps, hoses or tanks (grey or freshwater). No solar as the trailer charges from the tow vehicle when driving and I don't feel like chasing the sun with the panels to get the most out of them when camping. Plus I tend to camp in the trees if possible to help keep things cool.
Also, I'm a big fan of curves but I also see the appeal of angular lines. I built my trailer curvy because that's what I wanted. I would have had more space in the box if I had gone with angles. In reality, I would have gotten the most bang for the buck by just buying an enclosed cargo trailer and converting it to a camper. I like having a trailer that I don't mind looking at.
flipmachine
Adventurer
ha! no problem, thats the beauty of our little hobby, we can build them exactly how we like....
I don' yet speak from much experience with a teardrop, but will know more soon....(check out my conversion/build thread) however, I agree with the comments above and can add a couple things from one night in our teardrop before it went under the knife and many, many years of tent camping out of a M-416:
-Simple is usually better
-Two doors...not only to prevent divorce, but for ventilation!
-Regarding color...lighter, reflective colors are good to keep heat down in the summer
-Good ventilation...multi-speed quiet fan
-The 2" receiver on the tongue is a good suggestion...I am partial to the pintle hitch. Some guys complain about the noise, but with proper loading and tongue weight, I very rarely hear much out of it.
Great post question!
-Simple is usually better
-Two doors...not only to prevent divorce, but for ventilation!
-Regarding color...lighter, reflective colors are good to keep heat down in the summer
-Good ventilation...multi-speed quiet fan
-The 2" receiver on the tongue is a good suggestion...I am partial to the pintle hitch. Some guys complain about the noise, but with proper loading and tongue weight, I very rarely hear much out of it.
Great post question!
Supermanbaja
New member
Supermanbaja
New member
I cant remember the name but they are in the Spokane industrial park and I just stopped in and asked if they had anything like this and they said yes and gave me a couple of samples to play with.
