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Recommend me the perfect teardrop or mini camper

Discussion in 'Towing' started by phdog, Mar 22, 2018.

  1. Mar 22, 2018 at 11:13 AM
    #1
    phdog

    phdog [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I've been all over the web for the past few weeks and I can't find my perfect camping trailer. The closet I can come is the VRV Flyer, but it still lacks a few things I want. Maybe what I want doesn't exist, but the Little Guy T@B is close but also expensive. An R-pod or similar would also work but they are bit bigger than I want. Ideally, I'd be able to park it in my garage.

    Anyway, if you have a small trailer that includes most of the following please post a few pics and let me know what you think of it.
    • Sleeps 2 (3 in a pinch)
    • Ability to adjust bed into a sofa/dinette with a table for games and beers when the weather is bad.
    • On board propane for small heater and connection for stove or built-in stove.
    • Propane/electric fridge/cooler would be nice
    • On board water (10 gal or so)
    • No taller than my Tacoma (or less than 7 feet at least) and max length of 15 feet.
    • Less than $20K and preferably much less. The VRV is around $10K.
    If I can't find something meeting those specs I'll likely "up size" to something like an R-pod so any thoughts on those and similar welcome too.
     
    Biscuits and Brent2014 like this.
  2. Mar 22, 2018 at 11:17 AM
    #2
    Skrain

    Skrain Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so.

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    Scamp?
     
  3. Mar 22, 2018 at 11:22 AM
    #3
    phdog

    phdog [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Thanks. Haven't seen that one before. Looks like the Happier Camper but cheaper. Probably too tall for my garage door though.

    Do you have one? Thoughts?
     
  4. Mar 22, 2018 at 11:24 AM
    #4
    Sociopenguin

    Sociopenguin 2 Fang Engineering

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    I really wanted to get an A Frame....but nobody around my neck of the woods ever has any....
     
  5. Mar 22, 2018 at 11:38 AM
    #5
    phdog

    phdog [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I'm on the fence with a-frames. Most are too long to fit in my garage so not gaining anything there over an r-pod or similar. Most don't have a bathroom. If I'm buying a bigger trailer I want a bathroom. They aren't any cheaper either. Only benefit is the low profile for towing. I've looked as some of the Rockwood a-frams and like I said, on the fence.
     
    Casper66 likes this.
  6. Mar 22, 2018 at 11:40 AM
    #6
    Louisd75

    Louisd75 Well-Known Member

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    Sleeping 3 adults or an adults and kids?

    Camp-Inn makes a model called a Raindrop. Queen size bed and two bunk beds. The top bunk drops down to become a couch. New would be close your price limit but it checks off a lot of your requirements. The table for games would have to be made for you, but wouldn' be impossible. You didn't mention if you want kitchen access from inside or outside.

    http://tinycamper.com/raindrop560ultra.htm
     
  7. Mar 22, 2018 at 11:42 AM
    #7
    tacos2015

    tacos2015 Well-Known Member

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    Saw one of thee at my local RV dealer the other day, they had a kayak and mountain bike on a rack system on the top. Looks pretty sweet but i'm not sure of the dimensions on fitting in a garage...EDIT- my dealer had the Cricket model. EDIT AGAIN- damn those little things are expensive!!

    https://taxaoutdoors.com/

    upload_2018-3-22_13-41-49.jpg
     
    Last edited: Mar 22, 2018
  8. Mar 22, 2018 at 11:51 AM
    #8
    Skrain

    Skrain Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so.

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    I don't but I have a neighbor with one. It seems to be a quality little rig. Hers is the smallest one, and she hauls it with a Subaru Outback.
     
  9. Mar 22, 2018 at 11:57 AM
    #9
    Gunshot-6A

    Gunshot-6A Prime Beef

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    I feel like @Casper66 may have some input on this.
     
    Casper66 likes this.
  10. Mar 22, 2018 at 12:01 PM
    #10
    Casper66

    Casper66 grumpy ass

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    The cricket? Great camper a little too rt ch for my blood. I can’t fit my tiger moth through my garage door it’s too tall. This could be because of the angle of my driveway or I have short doors. Leaving work will check back later
     
  11. Mar 22, 2018 at 12:07 PM
    #11
    Gunshot-6A

    Gunshot-6A Prime Beef

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    I was thinking about your tigermoth that I am totally jealous of... :jellydance:
     
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  12. Mar 22, 2018 at 3:59 PM
    #12
    Casper66

    Casper66 grumpy ass

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    You should check out the new ones they are now framed with steel. It increased the weight by 500 pounds but still only 1400lbs dry weight. We just got a freezer fridge for ours now I'm in the planning process to build a containment box to house the fridge on one side and a dual battery set up on the other. I'm trying really hard to make this completely off grid capable but alot of this stuff is fairly exspensive (at least to me) and i need to have all this fairly well thought out. The Tiger moth itself is an absolute blast. Just think of it as a hard sided tent. We love it!
     
  13. Mar 22, 2018 at 4:02 PM
    #13
    Gunshot-6A

    Gunshot-6A Prime Beef

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    I have no place for a trailer, but I looked at a similar setup the other day for grins.

    I like my setup pretty well though. Works well for me!
    20171215_194601.jpg
     
    Casper66[QUOTED] likes this.
  14. Mar 22, 2018 at 4:11 PM
    #14
    Casper66

    Casper66 grumpy ass

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    That looks pretty well thought out and with the bikes completely removed from the bed interior it gives you good space for gear
     
  15. Mar 22, 2018 at 4:12 PM
    #15
    Gunshot-6A

    Gunshot-6A Prime Beef

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    Yep. It was a pretty fierce game of minimalism and tetris before the bike rack if you had more than one.
     
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  16. Mar 22, 2018 at 4:24 PM
    #16
    Casper66

    Casper66 grumpy ass

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    What I have that Gunshot was reffering to is the Tiger Moth by Taxa. Toal length is 12.5' I believe. The bed does slide back to create a bench in the rear half of the camper for rainy days plus the rear half of the "passenger side" raises as a hatch like a porch roof. It's ruggedly built and light weight and completely capable of following the truck on some good fire roads and trails. There is no bathroom and the kitchen is a pull out drawer on the rear. We've had a blast with it so far. Click on the camper build in my sig if you'd like and you can see some good pictures to show you what it's like. When you put the interior insleeping configuration the whole interior is a queen size bed. If you have any more questions feel free to ask i'm happy to help if I can






    Here's a few pics there's a whole lot more in the camper thread
     
    Last edited: Mar 22, 2018
  17. Mar 22, 2018 at 4:40 PM
    #17
    gmann1972

    gmann1972 Well-Known Member

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    Consider a hi-lo camper
     
  18. Mar 22, 2018 at 6:49 PM
    #18
    phdog

    phdog [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Oaky, that thing is cool. I looked at the cricket but too pricey. This is also more than I can afford (actually what is the cost? I see a wide range online) but I might keep an eye out for a used one. It mostly covers my wants. To be honest though, I don't see a lot of functional differences between this and the VRV flyer. Might be a bit bigger inside, but similar sleep/sofa/kitchen approach and no plumbed water or propane. Not that I need those things. Just wants. It's a matter of tradeoffs.

    If that back is too tall to fit through a 7' garage door, what would happen if you tilted in down, pushed it through and then set it down? My ceiling is tall enough. Just the door opening is too short.
     
    Last edited: Mar 22, 2018
    Casper66[QUOTED] likes this.
  19. Mar 22, 2018 at 6:53 PM
    #19
    phdog

    phdog [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I have a tent. Several actually though not RTT but not interested in those at all. I'm wanting a small but functional trailer with features tents don't have like sofas, dinettes, fans, power, sinks, stoves, plumbing, etc. I can accomplish all those things with my normal camp gear but I wanting to get away from setup/takedown/storage/etc. Just hitch and go and stop and camp.
     
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  20. Mar 23, 2018 at 3:05 AM
    #20
    Casper66

    Casper66 grumpy ass

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    If you can tilt it and get through the door you should be fine. They are pretty light, all things considered. I believe the new ones are around $15k depending on what extras you get. We got lucky and found a brand new left over 2016 and got it for $10k.
    We looked at quite a few and this one suited our needs the best. They are really well built and wirh the 15” tires and 12” of ground clearance should work well on fire roads and some lighter trails.
     

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