I forgot CAULK! I really don't like caulking trailers. I accidentally left that point out in the edit. Anything else I missed? Always good to hear other opinions on the subject.

the number one thing i hate about teardrop trailers is, I still don't own one

These cons are very minor issues for me, especially considering the climate of my region. Price is really the biggest issue. Always feels like a tall ask for a small unit.

I worked for a helicopter company that ran tours with the Iditarod dogs, they are bred to just go go go. I think it would be abuse to not let them run their routes they absolutely love it

Hit the mark with this one. KUDOs. As we've mentioned, we pull a nucamp and at first there was some concern. Backing up, pulling into crowded gas stations, winter conditions, you name it. True words of wisdom, slow down. We went with the nucamp because we liked to stand when we change our clothes. Late night toilet calls, showers and bathrooms. Things you may not appreciate at first but you will.

Man, really loving the format you've grown into, with the info interspersed with the local scene. Keep up the great work!

I just love your way of talking, gesturing. Very relaxed, friendly style.

OMG, my second straight night watching your channel. I live in NYC, in the concrete jungle and I can't escape. I dream about owning a car and getting out to camp. I never even heard the words, "teardrop trailer" until yesterday but, thanks to you, I'm learning so much, especially about how to vacation in minimalist style. I loved your video about the Bean Stock Trailer. Less is more and, also, less to go wrong and less of a headache. If I win the lottery, I want to go camping with you and your family in Alaska. Drew, you're awesome!

Thanks for the informative videos, always waiting for the next one! As a teardrop owner I carry a pop up shower/bathroom/change room not a big deal really. As you and your family do I have a couple of 10x10 canopies, one for keeping out mosquitoes. And Mother Nature is my kitchen and living room,simplicity at its finest.

Funny you mention the Meerkat because your videos have made me fall in love with mine all over again. I was ready to sell it because the size with my family of 4 was just frustrating me...now I’m reframing to think of it like a teardrop that we can stand up in to change, and with a little more storage, and now I’m putting in the work to get it all organized and geared up for a summer of camping and can’t wait! Thanks for all of your amazing content!

We are getting our off road teardrop in October (unfortunately a long lead time). Your videos on teardrops are helpful in preparation for it. Thank you for such informative and inspirational videos!

We rented a 13’ Scamp last month, and then a large teardrop this past weekend. This video is spot on with so many things. We thought size would be an issue, but it’s not. There may be a permanent teardrop in our future

THANK YOU for always getting to the point. I love you and May...and East and baby too. ❤ The Iditarod history and info was very interesting.

Arkansan here. Lived in North Pole for 4 yrs. Thanks for taking me down memory lane. 😊

Your content and delivery is simply incredible. Thank you.

My husband and I asked this exact same question today (“should we buy a tear drop or get a rooftop tent?”) as we were heading home from a week long AZ/UT trip with a rental teardrop. Thank you for this timely and thought provoking video! You have the best teardrop videos that are practical and full of info! Love them!

Love your channel. I am just about to start my experience with teardrop camping. I have been a tent camper for 40 years now, so hopefully you will save me from making some of the novice mistakes. thx

Great information! Love the views, beautiful!

You and your wife made me happy to see that my Toyota Matrix could pull a small trailer if I wanted or needed to. Also you really provide people with an in depth view of how these trailers compare to each other and what it is like to own and use them.

You are 100% right about how backing up a smaller trailer (Casita 17, for me) is harder than a larger trailer. Like you I found that slowing down and making TINY adjustments was the way to go. It's not a race, folks. No one in the campground will be impressed at how fast you back in if you have to do it 27 times. It's much easier on your longevity if you take your time. BTW, I figured out why the name of your channel always gave me a kind of laugh, When I was a kid, we camped in a very large, heavy canvas tent with an exterior pole framework that had to be assembled. Somehow after every trip one or more poles got lost or misplaced so the next time we went out, we (the kids), had to go out in the woods to find "sticks" (branches that could be shaped) to use as poles. Hence "playing with sticks"! It almost got to be a ritual for the family. Funny now, not so much then.

Thanks for the video and the scenery! I prefer to talk about what I love about my lil trailer and laugh about the challenges rather than go the HATE route. At 72 I gave up tent camping for more security from critters, weather and discomfort. Solar pwr gives me some home comforts when boondocking out in nature. Backing became easier after extending the tongue 5 ft and adding a diamond plate front deck. That cargo space doubled with a 2x4 'back porch' and a 4x5 Roof rack (with a 6x8 awning) Motorcycles in my lil toy hauler/camper adds to the adventure....

Another great video, superb Alaska footage too, makes me miss home thanks 🙂

Thank you, Drew. Well done, as always.

Man, your videos are great! Congratulations from Mexico. I have been tent camper since young boy and now I am sharing this great lifestyle with my wife and girls. We are moving to trailer camping and your videos are great inspiration for us. Keep the great work!

More and more, experience campers like yourself, are talking about the realities of camping and vehicles of instead of only 'blue sky' and wishful thinking.. A very good thing, indeed.. While I am out there, whenever, wherever that may be, I am reminded of the fact that it is all work before any pleasure/satisfaction.... and then it's work again to take it all apart.. LOL! I dig those 'booties'.!!!

You're videos are consistently great content! My biggest pet peeve was changing space as well. Our camper is taller but not comfortable to stand in. The ARB awning and screen room changed the game for us.

Your videos are awesome. My wife and I love camping and being outdoors but as we have gotten older the last thing we want to to is sleep on the ground or in the wetness. We live in Florida so the cold is not an issue. But we want to Travel and sightsee. Your videos are helping us plan ahead. We are shopping for a camper now and may go With a Runaway camper. The

When I see snow...I say no to tents. But I do like the speed and ease of a rooftop tent (in the summer lol) I like truck campers but I hate that I have to buy an expensive F250 because most trucks have a 1500lb payload like a tundra....and that gets maxed out fast. Of course I could use a pop-up but my wife prefers a regular camper. Great video!

Hey man this is a great channel and I’ve subbed. Hard work, well done

You have the best channel about teardops on KZfaq.

Another great video! I've been tossing up whether or not to buy one for so long! I fully understand racing to the coffee shop 😁 nothing better than a good coffee and something to eat when it's cold!

new to the channel and recent subscriber. Me and the wife are getting a bit older and the tent camping we have done for the past 20 years has lost some of its appeal. Between the inflatable deflating at 2am with a rock between your shoulder blades and the easy heat loss during the winter months we are on the lookout for a good off road teardrop. Thank you for the videos, they are awesome and very well done!

KUDOS and thanks MUCH for another great honest share! Love seeing you and pix of growing family too! My they are getting BIG!:) All the BESt to you and family from WA / PNWEst, Cheers and take care! :)

Thanks that was a really good informative video

Well, we're used to camping in tent and backpacking, so our experience might be very positive even with the 3 kids. I'm putting the fiberglass on my DIY squaredrop this week, I'll let you know how it goes. 😉

I lived in Girdwood in the '80s. Beautiful place, cool people and lots to do outside.

Excellent video !! You do a great job with your videos......

Great video as always Drew and some good points for anyone thinking about a teardrop to consider. Thanks

A great way to do a "top 10" - keep changing it up with some great locations and history.

Super helpful. Didn’t talk me out my interest in one so thats a good sign!!

I’m new to teardrop campers and so appreciate your video sharing and experience (thank you). What do you keep in the bullet storage on top your car? It would be great to see how everything is packed!

Wow look at that flowing river!

I think the best way a person can look at it is.. A teardrop can be a modular base that you can grow on as needed. it can act as a quick bedroom point that you can drive out to the lake for barbecues and such... Or it can be the "center point" with side access, back access, and even wrap around tents... Its all based on what you need and want. you can even set up "attached bthrooms" with outside showers, toilets, etc in a side mount tent that you can access from the inside or out (if your trailer has twin doors). You are worried or have problems with condensation? ceiling fan. Problems with excessive condensation in the winter? Shift from a propane heater to a diesel heater. Your teardrop is your bedroom, and an outdoor kitchen/barbecue for many things thats all you are going to need. People also seem to talk about "oh you can't always just pull over and set up on the side of the road." but the truth is, in the vast majority of situation, you can't do that with a full sized trailer either. sure you can "urban boondock" in some cases, but the truth is, if you're to tired to drive, just pulling into a rest area and taking a nap, in the back of your teardrop is often easier then trying to get the hacks down, and slides out on your Truck bed rv or such.

Hate to say it but Drew you have a calming voice on all your videos.

Great video! I don’t like that I have to go outside first thing in the morning if I want coffee. Sometimes you just want to take it slow in the camper and sip your coffee, you know?

Like always, great video. totally agree on the galley and the bathroom points. While my kids were growing up we had a beautiful boat with a galley and a head. We never used the galley and always cooked outside and never used the head because, lets be honest, those systems are gross! Fighting wind and rain are the only challenges in my experience with Bean. You can totally mitigate that with a good annex and some coverage around the galley.

Loving your channel. I've been building a TD trailer off and on for a few years. Your vids have rekindled my enthusiasm and desire to make it happen. Thanks for providing excellent content that is relevant and well produced.

I have a teradrop standy 5 x8. (the standy part inside is like 5'8 highest point) i just love it. Is simple and you still feel like camping. Has a little kitchen, and a tiny space even with the bed open for a portable toilet. Everywhere i go ppl want to see it. Its the best. I agree with tou when you say its a step up from car camping or tent. Yayy teardrops... 👍❤️💕...

Just found this. Like the fact that you're in Alaska and discussing winter camping. I'm in Wyoming: been to Alaska on a cruise and I'm in awe. 10Q ;)

I love these things and after 20 years camping in a swag and sleeping on the ground this would be like a 5 star hotel but you can't carry it with you when you are hiking. I have been thinking about building one for many years now i just think they are the coolest things ever don't really care if there are better options lol.

"Mask on or shove off" ?... Wow, great customer service.

Love your videos

Number one issue! Is definitely changing of clothes. I have outdoor gear for high winds and rain, and going number 2 without a shelter isn't much fun either. But I am surely the king of I don't care just get it done it's only water. Haha! Great video!

Yes, yes, yes on dressing in a teardrop. I forgot my privacy tent this week and had to wriggle out of wet clothing lying down. Ugh. I’d add how quickly a teardrop gets messed up. Because I’m sleeping in the middle of my ‘everything else’ space, I usually end up sharing the bed with my plastic shoe box, phone charger cord, extra pillows, blankets, and coats, possibly a heater or a dog and all her stuff. It always feels disorganized.

Nice video. Question: how do these little trailers get power? Thank you.

A lot of valid points. Some I don't think necessarily apply to many people though. For example the whole changing clothes issue: your trailer is really tiny, particularly in height. Mine is about 6 feet tall, so you have a lot of room in there to do acrobatics. I generally don't do acrobatics because I'm European - so I just change outside and if someone happens to see me: look away if you're embarrassed or say hello - I'm ok with either. Condensation definitely is an issue in cold climates. I've only had it on occasion on december trips, but northern CA is not very cold in winter so we're talking 50s, not 20s. It's something you can overcome when you throw money at it: a propex or webasto ducted heater and double pane windows will take care of it if you're willing/able to spend the 4 digits on it. The top 4: Size. Mine is a Nucamp T@G Boondock (with a bunch of changes and upgrades), but the inside size is very comfortable for 2 and even still good for 3 adults. It's essentially a king bed and galley on wheels. #3 Comforts: I think in my case the biggest comfort is the heater and the electric fridge: both make for a pleasant off-grid experience. A teardrop is essentially a bed in a tent on wheels. Much more comfortable than a tent - you have as good a mattress as you want. For us that was the idea: we got too old to crawl into tents and sleep on a skinny pad on the ground - this is a real bed. #2 cooking outside. There's plus and minus things to it. I prefer outside unless I have a big A class with a full kitchen and mostly a range hood vented outside. In anything smaller than 30+ feet it stinks up the place so cooking outside it a plus .... unless you're camped in 35 mph winds in the desert when the sand goes everywhere. That's the days/nights to a) eat a energy bar while b) break camp and head for Las Vegas. #1 lack of bathroom. That may be an issue depending on where you go. Personally I have no problem to bring a chemical cassette crapper or even the solidifying crap into a bag over a bucket bags from Walmart and other places. In a location where pack in, pack out includes human waste any of these are a must. Otherwise a nicely dug foot deep hole behind a cactus will spurt new growth (dig deep and take the toilet paper with you - TP has no business outdoors, bring a plastic bag for that.). In summary: a teardrop is the type of amenity that is a huge step up from tent camping but still forces you to be out in nature. Why go "camping" when all you do is sit inside your 40 footer A class listening to the hum of the dishwasher while watching satellite TV? In that case, save yourself $200k and stay home.

This past winter we added a Foxwing with 2 sides and a larger changing room to our 5x9 teardrop. Since my camping season is late April through October condensation isn't a real problem. Our changing room has a Nemo pump shower setup and we keep a small portable potty in it.

Still love my Alto 1713. Teardrop plus full standup and bathroom. No problem with food smells, we still cook outside as often as possibles.

Please tell me about your side tent. This one doesn’t seem to appear in your side tent video from a few years ago. I LOVE my classic style 2008 my Cozy Cruiser! But I need a side tent

We just sold our full size RV for one of the reasons you alluded to - temptation to stay inside, cook inside, etc.. Now debating options that offer a warm dry place to sleep for a family of 4 and space for all the gear.

My husband and I are really not campers but these teardrops make sense to me ……I would rather enjoy the outdoors than be confined inside, I only ask for a comfortable place to sleep out of the elements, I love outdoor cooking, food tastes better, that’s what camping is all about…….Thankyou for this video

I’m 6’7 can’t wait to see how this turns out

Great video, thanks. I miss my 17 foot travel trailer, it was big enough to stand up in, had a full bathroom and kitchen, queen sized bed and table, but was also small enough that it was easy to tow. I hate my 30 foot trailer, getting gas, traffic around cities, etc... just so stressful, not worth the stress. I keep looking at teardrops, but spending $10-20k on something this small, just keeps me going WHAT, HOW does it cost that much...

The price. Yep that's it. That's why my hubby built his own. He loves it!

I hear the same questions about my teardrop and I tell everyone all are fallacies not truths. I have a flexible awning on mine with zip out walls so I don't need the separate tent. I also built mine with a raised floor so I have more storage than I need under the bed with outside access doors.I had condensation problems at first but once you learn venting this goes away. I have owned many campers from pop ups (which I learned to hate) to 23ft campers (which always had something broke) but I will never go back now that I have my teardrop. I tell everyone if you don't want to be outdoors while camping stay home.

Your such a natural in front of the camera , easy to listen to. We are seriously talking on getting our first teardrop. We are liking to keep it under $10k We like what you show driving around , seems very simple and bare necessities which is what we have decided on. We don’t need a cooking gallery, with sink, water etc. but I would like it to be more overland going then just streets. Any suggestions on where we could start or are we barking up the wrong tree 😆 thanks, have really enjoyed your channel

Thanks, I like the teardrops best, accept for the attention they draw... For traveling, but the larger teardrops are great for next to the house, for an art studio or just a private place. But were I to have to live in a park, or travel to and from parks to parks, I'd pick a 17fter. Maybe a truck with a Bigfoot camper, plus a 17 foot or less camper travel trailer.

Fair question ~ you said it doesn't bother you to go potty outside, but does it bother May? Maybe I'm just a wussy old woman, but I wouldn't want to be doing business out in the weather, and when we were younger, I recall camping trips being postponed for that monthly thing, because it was a serious hassle to deal with in the woods. And if you don't bury it properly, you'll have animals.....generally unpleasant ones like bears and wolves. (Well, in Idaho, anyway.)

Had a pop up I liked it but it was getting to hard for me to pop it up. Miss it good video. Hope all of you are doing good.

I love Alyeska. Have been there a few time. Stayed at Bud and Carol's bed and breakfast. Not sure if it's still around since Bud passed.

Great video. Hope your family is doing well since I don’t think I’ve seen them in the latest videos. How do you choose which of your trailers you’re going to use? Does it depend on the place, or the road, or if the kids are coming? You seem like a pretty pragmatic person so I’m sure you have a good reason to have more than one.

Drew, love the video and the content, in the last scene, you are in your garage and noticed it looks like you have some kind of fabric on your cabinets instead of doors, can you give me the details, I like the idea

Loved the style of video and that you included the history lesson of the dog sled race. Do you still have your Scamp? I haven’t seen it in a while but you talked about it in this video.

Teardrop campers are awesome if you're a dwarf. Most of them have 6'0" long interiors which isn't enough to lie down and stretch out. I can't sleep with my head and feet against the end walls. A Prius with the passenger side seats folded down has more sleeping space.

Ha! Yeah! Changing cloths in a low cramped space gets old after awhile! One of my first purchases was a pop-up shower tent with its instant up and 7 foot ceiling.

Ha, ha, my husband heard me listening to this video and said "SEE? I told you we don't want a teardrop trailer!" Actually, he would prefer we do not tow anything. My 1999 Ford Ranger extend cab is off road packaged and it is set up such that it can tow something. But frankly, the 3.0L V6 is slow enough on its own. The more I see your videos on tiny trailers, the more I feel maybe an upgrade on our truck bed topper (bought it with one already, and its not a good one) is the way to go. We just finished camping up in the Sawtooth Recreation Area, Idaho (Alturas lake, to be specific), and fortunately I opted to bring our Spring bar tent (for 4) instead of sleeping in the back, because turns out there is a fantastic campground that is "tent only". Since you cannot park your vehicle right up to your site, sleeping in something other than a tent would have barred us from this great spot. It is not high fly fishing time in mid-June, but most of the boondocking along the river (and some creeks) means you are neck and neck with fishermen who have whopping RVs and other trailers of that nature. We had a quiet, private site, and even with one night of 30mph plus wind gusts, our tent and triangle tarp held up well and was protected by some small pines. As for the indoor sink, toilet, etc....heck, if I needed all of that, I would stay home! Yes, sometimes its a real pain to prep, cook, and clean in the great outdoors, but eh, we survive. And I can say that, because 99.999% of the planning, prepping, cooking, and cleaning is done by me. Hubby remembers his camera and fishing gear and that's all he can do, ha. Love your videos and I quote them often when I'm telling my husband about what I'm going to do differently on our "next" trip. Take care!

Hi, I have a teardrop camper. I think it is ideal for me here in Australia, especially I am wheelchair bound with a amputee right leg above. The knee is awesome for me to actually just go up to the side of the teardrop open the door pivot around and I’ll get an instant bed having a extra. Room for showering and porta. Potty is a great idea. Most of the places I go are all great, and I’m now only one there, so it doesn’t matter if I get dressed in the middle of nowhere. They certainly are some things that you might hate, but I think my like out why everything that I dislike about the teardrop camper.

Looked at a Pee Wee teardrop last week. Several sizes / many options (including toilet room). Probably the best teardrop for the price. Out of TN. I am a prior Runaway owner.

Thank you. I was looking at tear drops & leaning towards Timberleaf. After my ideal built? The price was very reasonable. Going with Timberleaf.

Your trailer looks like it needs some love , I agree with what you are saying up until the tolet .

The only problem I have is getting cold, but I use a 12 volt throw. I open the top vent for safety, and condensation on the windows happens anyway. If I have to get out in the night, brrrr. By time I get my shoes on, all the cold air is in. And once after I'm settled, I have to take the dog out for a bit. But we survive it. That's my only dislike about a teardrop. I doubt I would use it in snow on the average, so in winter, I stay on the west side of the Cascades. Being 30 miles from the coast, I wait for a semi-good weather report, jump in and go. I'm sure my dog thinks I'm crazy.

When my kids were little we had a 28ft Winnebago with a full kithchen. I almost never cooked inside preferring to use the camp stove outdoors.

What side tent did you purchase?

Hiker trailer-it’s a square drop and awesome!

We just bought a 2017 Riverside Retro Jr (509) for $6800 Canadian dollars. It's mint, looks brand new. No water damage, no gravel rash or blemishes.

We had a Little Guy we pulled behind two different Subaru Foresters. It was really too heavy for either. We made the mistake of putting bikes on a trailer hitch mount, and they broke it. We bought several attachments for being able to stand while changing, and I designed and built two myself, but we were never happy with them. We eventually switched to pulling it with a Ranger -- much more successful -- but we gave up on it after about three camping seasons. The experience of sleeping in it was very nice, though.

We feel the bigger kids and gear thing so hard. We're gonna get one of the big suckers from Bend teardrops -- still teensy compared to most campers.

Amazing video! thanks! i folow your chanel! from Brasil!

Teardrop caravans offer affordability without compromising quality. They provide an excellent way to explore without breaking the bank.

You get most of the pros of tent camping plus the comforts of a trailer. I agree with you, and thats why we are going teardrop. Biggest thing is that night time sleep to fully enjoy the day. Weve been tent camping for years and we know we dont care about cooking outside or going to the bathroom. In fact I prefer going to the bathroom "al fresco" even when campgrounds have bathrooms. Roof top tents are just tents on a roof top. You dont get the benefits of having solid walls, or the same wind protection. People dont realize these things because imo they have not camped much. Weve been through all, wind storms in the mojave, snow in the eastern sierras, and a massive rainstorm in big sur. Our REI tent survived it all, but we barely got any sleep. And cleaning everything after rain/snow. What a pain. Sure an RV, or big trailer is the ultimate comfort. But, is it camping at that point? A teardrop with a RTT sounds nice though. You have the option of sleeping up there when the weather is nice, or it offers space for the kids!

If you use a side tent for it does the ac or the heater enough to keep the temperature of the tent good as well or no

The "mask on or shove off" sign XD

I would love one! My husband doesn't camp. Theres a whole list of reasons he gives. I enjoy the outdoors, and like getting off the ground. The cost is what keeps me without one.

I love your commentary! I own a teardrop too, and I have a single difficulty. Cooking in my galley in weather and especially wind! I’ve been experimenting with tents to block wind. It’s an adventure in itself.

Lol, I have been building the same teardrop for about 7 years on and off. I recently got the itch to finish it. The whole changing clothes and having to pee when it rains area concern, but they are a concern with tenting too so I guess its not a big deal to me. My main concern is the dog. She gets freaked out when were all sleeping in the bed and one of us moves our feet. That and being a dog she'll have dirty feet, meaning when she jumps up into the teardrop the bed will get messy. Oh well. Maybe a boot brush for doggy feet ? Good vid

Where we can buy this teardrop trailer (same type)

I guess it won’t be for me then 😢🙁 because I don’t want to setup or takedown a big tent for changing in

Camping shouldn't be glamorous. It's adventure, sweat, inconvenience etc. But, the small teardrop I've never understood. If you need a tent over the back to cook and eat dry, one over the door to change clothes, and one in the corner of the site to, well you know, answer nature, why not just tent it? I love seeing them. But, they're just not for me. I love vintage trailers. My 76 shasta 1950 is perfect for the 7 in my family. Boondock ready and forces outdoor living but, provides shelter and space when the weather is bad. Love your videos.

I have a SylvanSport Go...that I call upperclass tent camping. It took me a couple of years to be able to back it easily. Up until this year I pulled it with a Mini Cooper Clubman. Short car. Short tongue. Short trailer = Jack knife. You have inspired me to go farther off grid. My Subaru is helping too. I can go down roads with it that I couldn’t in my Mini. All that being said... I’m trying to justify a teardrop. Want want want.

How is it towing with the Matrix vs the jeep? Is it a manual transmission or automatic?