What I learned from living out of my teardrop trailer for three weeks

We recently returned from a teardrop trailer trip to Glacier National Park. On the way back, my husband flew home to Nevada and I took a road trip down to Colorado Springs through Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and across the Silver State.

After nearly 20 days of full-time traveling in a 5x8 teardrop trailer (my longest trip yet) I learned a few things about life on the road. Here are the top five.

1. I could be a full time nomad

When I returned home from my trip, I went into a slight depression. I couldn't figure out why at first, but then realized that I really loved being on the road. I loved stopping in a different location every night and waking up to a different landscape every morning. Traveling full-time is tough on your system, but it's a lot of fun and is something I wouldn't mind doing as a lifestyle.

2. You need a lot less than you think

When on the road, I only used about 60 percent of the clothing I brought with me and never used any of the "emergency" items that we bring along. When I returned home, I did a mass purge of items in my house and thought more about we really need while traveling and camping.

3. Get some downtime

Even though I was traveling by myself much of the time, I still needed some downtime. I camped in a few KOA and private campgrounds on the way to and from Colorado, and with my yellow teardrop I was the center of attention. It's sometimes difficult to get away people when you are traveling in a teardrop, so plan to camp in more secluded locations and take breaks away from urban and more popular areas.

4. Take the back roads

Through most of the trip, I stuck to secondary roads. The only time I was on a main freeway was on Interstate 70 near Denver and Interstate 80 through part of Wyoming. Both times I didn't like the traffic and went out of my way to find alternate routes. Along those routes I found some amazing places that I plan on going back to.

5. Rest stops are one of your best friends

In the western states, rest stops are few and far between, so take advantage of them as much as you can. The rest stops in Idaho were some of the best with beautiful bathrooms, maps, road guides and water fountains. We used the stops to take a nap, fill up our water, eat snacks and use the bathroom.

In addition to these five things, I realized how much I appreciate having a teardrop trailer and a comfortable and quiet place to sleep. While the teardrop did well in good weather, it was a challenge during some heavy rainstorms in Montana and Colorado, but I still wouldn't trade it for anything.

Teardrop USA

Austin and Nicole recently sold everything they owned in their expensive, Southern California apartment. Bought a teardrop trailer to hook to their Mini Cooper R53 and hit the road with their two Pomeranian Chihuahuas, Yoshi and Bowser. After a few months of living full time out of their teardrop, they are thrilled with their new lives and are not looking back.

They each work from the road, Austin owns a web and design company and Nicole works for a vacation software company, and they run a website and a Tumblr blog about their adventures—Teardrop USA. They cover how they minimized their belongings, their teardrop kitchen remodel and how to connect on the road. The couple were kind to give us a little more information about their trailer and their travels.

Who built your teardrop trailer and how did you find it?

Our Teardrop was built by Nashwood Teardrops out of Orange County, California which has since gone out of business. It's about 15 years old, and we found it on Craigslist. 

Can you tell us a little about towing a teardrop with a Mini Cooper? Did you need a specific tow package?

Apparently it's pretty common to tow with a Mini. Ours is an S and can handle 1,400 lbs stock, but we upgraded the clutch and brakes before leaving. Our Teardrop was only about 700 lbs dry. The only issue we ran into was our Mini has a center exhaust which is where the hitch generally sits, and we had to order a more custom solution from MiniDoMore. It's a hidden receiver that replaces a piece of the rebar under the rear bumper, and when not in use can be completely hidden away. Once Austin installed it, it's been pretty great! 

What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of a teardrop trailer?

Advantages are definitely that it's small and inconspicuous as far as size. When we urban boondock, most places are fine with it since we fit in a single parking space. The disadvantages are that the looks of our setup are a little flashy and attention grabbing. One day we were really hungry and wanted to stop at a restaurant to eat, but we got stopped three times in the parking lot trying to get to food. Each conversation lasted about 15 minutes and by the time we got inside we were about to pass out! Other than that, the basics. Not having a bathroom is somewhat annoying at times but we never ran into a huge issue. 

What other trailers appeal to you?

When we upgrade it'll be to a Sprinter Van setup. We've been eyeing a few of them and are in love!

What are some of your favorite meals to cook on the road?

Ever since we bought our cast iron pan, it's been heaven. I'd say the standard hot dogs and beans are our favorite with some chips. You really can't beat that. Even though we've been doing it for so long full time, it still feels like an adventure, like camping. So camp food is definitely enjoyed. Outside of that, fruit is great. We don't have a fridge or cooler so we've been learning a lot of creative ways to incorporate our food groups and healthy energy sources that keep us away from fast food.

 

Where are you dying to visit?

Everywhere. I know that sounds cliché but we can't get enough of adventuring. Our top 3 destinations are hard to narrow down but I'd have to say the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Disney World. The coolest part about traveling has been reaching a new place, and asking locals what's the best thing to do. That's how you find the best places to see.

Photos by Teardrop USA

Featured Teardrop: Gary's Full-Time Teardrop Trailer

Last weekend I was at the bank and noticed a small wooden teardrop sitting in the parking lot. Before the poor owner could open his car door and pull out of the space, I ran up to him and began to ask him about his small, wooden trailer. It turns out that the owner, Gary, lives full time out of his home-built Hickory Nut Camper.

"I have not lived in an actual house in 22 years," Gary told me. "I really just wanted to simplify and this custom teardrop trailer only took about five weeks to build. It's perfect for me."

His trailer is made of hickory and alder wood and includes a single door and a small window. Gary has a twin mattress inside so there is room for his clothes, but the trailer can fit a full-size mattress. He mentioned how impressed he was with the beautiful wooden spars along the ceiling. Gary's galley is very simple and includes a ton of storage under the kitchen workspace. He tucks a small bucket in the back to use as a temporary toilet when he's on the road.

Gary has been living this summer down in the Mammoth Lakes area and spends his winters working at Furnace Creek in Death Valley National Park.

Hickory Nut Campers are built by Glenn in Sparks, Nevada. The trailers have both 110 and 12 volt power, are only 680 lbs. and have a 1,720 lb. capacity. Prices for the Hickory Nut start at $3,300 and the wood for each trailer can be customized.

  

 

 

 

 

Featured Teardrop: The Blonde Coyote's Rattler

I originally wrote about the Blonde Coyote (aka Mary Caperton Morton) and her teardrop, Rattler, on the Tiny House Blog, but I wanted to catch up with her and her teardrop travels around the country. Mary is a freelance writer and professional housesitter who lives full-time out of her 5 by 10 foot teardrop trailer and travels around the country shooting excellent photos to add to her blog.

Mary purchased Rattler for $4,000 from an “octogenarian craftsman” in Nebraska who builds one teardrop trailer a year. The 550 lb. trailer has a full-sized bed with a memory foam mattress and storage space underneath, a fold-up table, two feet of floor space, drawers, cabinets and counter space. Outside, in the back, is a slide out kitchen/galley area with plenty of storage space for pots, pans and food and a propane burner for cooking. The trailer is insulated and has a large skylight above the bed.

She became obsessed with teardrop trailers after seeing her first one at Guadalupe National Park. The owners gave her a tour and she bought her own trailer a month later. On a photo tour post of her blog she writes:

"Before I bought the Teardrop I lived out of my car between housesitting jobs for seven years. Everything I owned, including my two dogs, fit neatly in my 2-door Volkswagon and then the Subaru (aka “The Raven”). So while the Teardrop looks tiny, it was a major space upgrade for me! Still, I’m ruthless about getting rid of anything and everything extra and I save tons of money by not buying things I don’t need. When you live in less than 50 square feet, it’s kind of amazing to walk through a big box store and realize that whole sections of consumer culture no longer apply to your life."

I don’t have a lot of stuff in the Teardrop, but everything I do have is meaningful to me." Every postcard on the wall reminds me of something, some one or some place. My main impetus for getting the Teardrop was to have a space of my own, without having to settle down. Every morning I open my eyes to this rolling work of art and fall a little more in love with life on the road."

 

Photos by Mary Caperton Morton

Living in a Teardrop Full Time

My teardrop friend Guy Mazzeo lives full time out of his homemade teardrop trailer with his Cavalier King Charles Spaniel/Mini Poodle mix dog. Her name is Butch. For years, Guy traveled around the country working with veterans and helping them to receive their VA benefits. During that time he lived out of his car, but after suffering from congestive heart failure and brain tumors, he realized he needed a little more comfort.

Guy had always been aware of and interested in teardrop trailers, so he decided to design and build his own. Over the course of a year-and-a-half, he built a 12 foot long and 6.5 foot wide wooden teardrop trailer with a kitchen in the back. The interior includes a bed for him and Butch which is raised up on drawers made from milk cartons, a 4x2 table that holds his laptop, a toilet and a closet.

"I might be the only teardropper around who travels around with one or two suits," Guy laughed.

His teardrop also has solar power which runs his 12 volt Dometic refrigerator, some lights and his catalytic heater. The teardrop is very well insulated, and he mentioned that he never even needed air conditioning while traveling in Florida. He uses a Coleman on-demand water heater for hot water and some of his showers.

Guy travels with the weather. In the summer, he camps out at Applegate Lake on the border of Oregon and California and in the winter he heads down to Southern California and Arizona. During his travels, he's learned a few things he had always wanted to do; fishing was one.

"When I was a kid growing up in Brooklyn, I fished," he said. "As an adult, I really wanted to learn it again and now I can. In fact, I just went perch fishing in the surf here in Malibu."

Guy feels his way of life is ideal. With his grown children in jobs or grad school, he has the freedom to roam around the country and see new things and meet new people.

"It's better than sitting on my butt somewhere," he said. He also mentioned that he decided to build a teardrop rather than purchase a conventional RV because a teardrop is the greatest icebreaker in the world.

"When you are in a campground with a teardrop, you can't be anonymous," Guy said. "Right now I'm in a fancy RV park in Malibu with an ocean view and a good half of the park's residents have come over to see me. Many of them have mentioned to me that they once had a teardrop, but over the years have upgraded to something like a Prevost."

Most peoples' reactions to him living full time in a teardrop are positive — especially from fellow campers or young people who are envious of his lifestyle. Other full-time RVers also totally understand the lifestyle.

"However, there are the people who are retired, but are afraid of giving up everything they have," Guy added. "They ask me what I do about doctors and medical issues. Who cares about that stuff? I have primary care physicians in different states and I get veteran's care. My doctors think it's fine to live like I do, but my cardiologist thinks I'm nuts."

Guy does admit that his lifestyle is not for everyone and that some couples may find it to be a challenge. He did mention that he also worries sometimes about safety. During one trip he was limping and did want to be looked upon as prey by any criminals, so he dyed his white hair blond so he would look younger. He admits that there is a loneliness factor, but credits his frequent trips to teardrop gatherings as the best way to keep in touch with his friends.

"If I'm feeling lonely, I just go out for dinner," he said.

Guy is looking forward to spending the holidays down in Malibu, and then heading down to the Arizona desert for a few months to enjoy some mild weather. The sunsets are not too bad either.

"It's a good life," he said.

Photos courtesy of Guy Mazzeo