Great post-summer vacation camping trip to a normally packed campground. Stunning views of Shaver Lake. Great weather. Good food and drink. All made for a great weekend.

I admit that even though I knew it would be difficult to build a teardrop, I went into it with some naivity and romanticism. I can see that now in hindsight.

The build took 3x longer and 3 times more money than I thought. I thought I could do it cheaper and lighter than the videos I saw online. I couldnt.

It dominated my thoughts, often keeping me up at night puzzling about a tricky problem. There were times it was so frustrating when I wasted money or completely made a mess of things - for example I painted my aluminum and it looked like crap but I tried to fix it by buying more and more expensive clear coat paint that also looked bad.

I spent more time on it than Ill ever spend camping in it. Once you have put in so much time it is hard to start cutting corners or expenses -- sunk cost and all.

I have kids. I was always 'out in the garage'. 18 months it has taken. That is a lot of evenings that my wife helped them with homework or hung out with them and asked them about their day and I didnt.

I was always using $200 here or there that we didnt really have that month. I did take some months off because we had other expenses.

I think the first time you do something youre bound to make mistakes. That means every aspect of the trailer has mistakes or was a complete battle. Wood, electrical, frame, skinning, aluminum. One disaster after another. I think I could build a better one now Ive learned all this but I would never. Life is so short to spend it in the garage cursing alone. Keeping the neighbors annoyed with the grinding and sawing and pounding and the impact drill.

Is it all bad? No. There were times I enjoyed the journey but after this long it became a hobby, not a project and I didnt want it to be my whole identity so I pushed hard to finish and it was a slog. Family kept asking how it was going and it was painful to admit that it still wasnt done a year later. Im mildly proud of it but embarassed that in the end I could have probably bought one and fixed it up for the same cost and a lot less time.

Does any of this register?

Hello

I am putting together a trip plan for next summer into fall. About 110 days and would like to know if there are any great sites or books about things to see on different US and state highways? I don't want a ton of interstate time as my goal is to see more of America but outside of a few known site I'm doing tons of googling wondering if there is a better way.

Thanks

Share your experiences. Thanks in advance.

We are in the market for a teardrop (or similar - small light camper) and hoping to tow with a ‘24 pathfinder rock creek (6k towing capacity). Any feedback on this car or have another SUV type car to recommend? Thanks

What valve am I missing? I've closed the hot and cold valves, the yellow tab one and the Alde drain, and water still pours out from the pipe under the rear driver side as soon as I hook up city water. 2017 T@B 320S.

Good afternoon,

We have a small teardrop and rather than building our own power system, we just want to use a power station. We currently have a Goal Zero Yeti 1500 6th generation and like it except for two features:

• Blackout mode - works mostly, but the display will still occasionally light up and we cannot tell why. Stinks when you are trying to sleep and then the display wakes for 10-15 seconds every few minutes or some random amount of time.
• Remote control via app - either bluetooth or wifi, it is very spotty and will disconnect and need to be repaired almost every day

Other than those two items, it has been a good power station but we want the above to work better for our camping.

What recommendations would you make (other than build your own power setup)? Anker, EcoFlow, Bluetti? Fully dark at night and quiet?

Little background. We were borrowing a larger camping trailer for a few years in exchange for storing it in our barn. We don't actually spend much time inside the trailer, Its just a covered/secure place to sleep at night. My family tent camps as well but would love to find something between the tent and a travel trailer that I don't need a full size truck to pull. I have a large shop with wood and metal working tools. I have experience in wood work, metal fab, welding, finish work as well as being a 3D CAD and product designer by trade. I have a CNC router and laser cutter in my shop as well. Would love to see if there are any base plans for a 6x10 square drop that can sleep me, my spouse and two young kids. I like the design of the summit pinnacle with two bunks for the kids and the queen mattress. I'm fine with building a custom frame from the ground up. I'm even open to designing the whole thing from scratch with my design and CAD experience. Really just looking for some good plans that I can reference or at least some good resources to start me on the right foot.

Hey everyone! We’re moving from Dunedin to Christchurch in two weeks and need to transport a few pieces of furniture and appliances.
We thought hiring a tow trailer would be the most budget-friendly option, but the one-way hire prices we’ve found so far are quite expensive (all over $800).
Has anyone done a similar move or know of any more affordable options for a one-way trailer hire? Any tips or recommendations would be greatly appreciated! 😊

Is this thing worth $5500? I’m considering downsizing from a 36 ft 5th wheel that I’ve only used 3 times in 2 yrs down to this. I’ve never owned a teardrop, other than the obvious what’s the pros and cons? We are considering it because we feel like with the ease of using something like this we might actually use the dang thing. The 5th is so much of a hassle.

Where do yall hand stuff up to dry?
Should I mount hooks on the side or back?
do something with a close line?
What are y’all’s must haves or best newbie tips/tricks?

Well its been a few years of design revision and life getting in the way but the tandem toaster build is finally under way. Ill be posting more updates this winter as I try and get it up and running by next summer.

I am in the process of buying a 2023 Boreas XT camper second hand. It looks to be in great condition however with the acquisition posted on their website it gives me pause. Nobody at Boreas is answers phone calls or emails. Is it a bad idea to buy a camper that is potentially no longer supported by the manufacturer? A lifetime warranty on the frame is only helpful if the company still exists. It’s pretty much the only thing that’s giving me pause at this point. Thank you for your insight!

My wife and I are 5'7 and 5'6 respectively and we would really like to be able to stand while in the foamie. I have been looking into how foamies are put together and figure that instead of using single sheets of 2" foam and butting them together, we could instead use multiple 1" sheets and cut them in a way so that half of each sheet covers another. Much more area for the glue to adhere to before adding fiberglass of poor man's fiberglass.

Thoughts?

New (to me) Droplet XL teardrop! I'm looking forward to my first outing!

Hi Everyone, I’m considering trying to build myself a teardrop or square-drop trailer. I’ve watched several YouTube videos on the subject and despite my very limited experience with tools and building things, it looks like something that I could manage with research, planning, and attention to detail.

One thing I noticed in the videos that I’ve watched is that the videos seem to focus on monetary budget. While that is a concern for me, my main concern is the weight. very few of the videos say anything about the weight of the finished product. my main budget deals with weight because the towing vehicle is a Honda CRV Hybrid with a max towing weight of 1000 lbs.

From what I can tell, it seems as though building a foamie is probably my best option. Is it even possible to build a wood framed trailer and have the ultimate wet weight come in at 1000 lbs or less? Would you agree with my conclusion that a foamie is my best option?

Any advice on the process, must haves / must avoids, sources of information, or really anything you might deem worthy of knowing about the process would be greatly appreciated.

Anyone towed with a this vehicle before? Looking into some trailers at the moment.

I was gifted this beauty, we call it Blue, 4 weeks ago. It's 10 years old, doesn't leak, and was built by my uncle. Our maiden voyage with Blue will be next weekend. Looking forward to our outing!

For sale in Connecticut, asking $8000.

This one-of-a-kind teardrop camper was built by a Cornell engineering professor as his pandemic project, and the craftsmanship shows! The quality far exceeds any mass-produced camper you'll find at this price point.

This camper is perfect for the solo adventurer or couple who wants the simplicity and freedom of tent camping with the comfort of sleeping off the ground in a real bed. This lightweight camper can go anywhere your tow vehicle can!

Towing & Maneuverability:

• 1,160 lb dry weight capable of being towed by most small SUVs (previously towed by a 4 cylinder Honda CRV)
• ~200 lb tongue weight makes it easy to move around by hand if needed
• Torsion axle for a smoother ride and off-road capability
• Easily fits in most garages!

Sleeping & Comfort:

• Custom 8" gel foam mattress sized perfectly for the cabin - feels like sleeping at home!
• Mattress always used with waterproof mattress protector (custom-sized protector and sheets included if desired)
• Hypervent under mattress to prevent moisture buildup
• Maxxair roof fan for ventilation and cooling
• Reading lights, cupholders, USB outlets, and storage cubbies on each side of the cabin
• Door pre-fitted with a channel to attach a Pahaque screen room, significantly increasing your living space (screen room sold separately)

Power & Electronics:

• New Renogy 12V battery installed August 2025
• Battery shut-off switch
• Four USB outlets in the cabin
• One 12V outlet in the galley storage area for your electric cooler
• Interior and exterior lights throughout
• Easily accomodates a solar setup - happy to show you how!

Storage:

• Custom cabinetry provides ample storage throughout
• Galley countertop for all your cooking needs
• Large storage area under galley counter
• Tongue box for tools and gear

Maintenance & Condition:

• Water tight throughout - no leaks, withstands storms without issue
• Bearings last greased June 2026
• Always stored in a garage

This camper was a labor of love by someone who knew how to build it right. I am very sad to let it go, but I am hoping it will go on to have many more adventures with a new family!