Should I build a teardrop with RTT...

or convert a box cargo trailer over to a camper????

I love building stuff, and think a teardrop would be awesome, especially with a rtt, but a cargo trailer would be a little better long term. Maybe.

We have a little one (kid), normally camp in state parks, don't "overland", but I really want the option of getting away from the state parks. In that regard, the cargo would be the better option, but i am really drawn to the teardrops.

Somebody talk me off this ledge...

 

If the cargo trailer would be better long term I say go for it. Enjoy the build

 

I like teardrop trailers, they are way cool. But they are basically for sleeping 2 people. There’s little storage , they are too low to stand up in.
I’d suggest a cargo trailer tall enough to stand up in. You can customize how ever you want. You can set up cots or bunks, you can make a small enclosed privacy space for a porta potty. You can even make a small area for a camp stove and cooking. I think it would be more versatile than a teardrop.

 

That's where the rtt comes in. Lady folk can sleep in the trailer, I can sleep up top. I've thought this through. Nature has it's own potty, and the bed of the truck is for storage.

In all seriousness, the cargo route is MORE versatile, but taking one offroad is pretty limited. I would really like that possibility.

 

Plot Twist: Tear drop roof top tent.

 

Didn’t know what rtt stood for. Now I get it -roof top tent. Not trying to influence you either way just giving my perspective. Teardrops are low to the ground, I don’t think they would do any better than a cargo trailer off road. Even very light off road you will need heavier duty leafs and maybe raise it a littlle. May need more rugged tires to which ever one you go for.

 

try this on for size

 

Very nice! Looks like an armored teardrop. Go for it.

 

Another thing to consider, campers are literally built of shit... I swear they are built upside down in a vacuum and flipped over at the last second to keep them from falling down. The roofs leak easily and there are a ton of 5-10 year old rotted campers for scrap. Try to snag one and get a furnace, hot water heater, fridge, stove, and anything else... Scrap out the rest and possibly steal the axle or anything else of value. Then consider an enclosed trailer or build your teardrop. I will tell you that tandem axle is much nicer for towing and weight distribution. I'd imagine you want to build to save money and personalize it, but I have yet to bring any project in under budget. CampLite is the trailer I have and they built all terrain pop-ups for jeep. They also built some pretty cool 11,13,and 16' trailers. Lifting a camper is pretty easy. Camplites built prior to 2016 were all welded aluminum frames and chassis. Very nice quality. Be sure to figure in something for the time spent building and not camping. Get that little one out in the woods!

Here is an older promo from 2013 with a video. The newer models 2016 and up are not the same... Thor bought them out and started to cheapen out on the materials and roof.
http://ultralitetrailer.com/camplite-ultra-lightweight-travel-trailers/

 

Taxa Tigermoth. There is a roof rack and can put a RTT on. I will put mine on the truck going forward.