Interview with Simply GO Campers

For a recent Do It Yourself RV post I interviewed several teardrop trailer rental companies. Dave of Simply GO Campers in San Juan Capistrano was kind to answer a few more questions about his company and love of camping for the Tiny Yellow Teardrop.

Photo by Rachel Antoun

How did you become interested in teardrop trailers?

I became interested in teardrops a few years ago after seeing one at a campground. I immediately thought they were awesome and have been talking about getting one ever since.

Why did you decide to go into the teardrop rental business?

My wife and I decided to go into the teardrop rental business because we love the outdoors and love the idea of having a business that encourages people to spend more time in nature. Teardrops were an easy choice because of the ease of traveling with them. Someone who has never towed or camped can easily rent one of our units and be camping with very little effort. Teardrops aren’t intimidating to tow or use, and they have a unique appeal to them because they are different than your typical camping set up.

Why did you decide to choose Little Guy teardrops?

When I started researching teardrops Little Guy was one of the top brands. I wanted teardrops that were professionally constructed and had a history of manufacturing. The more I’ve researched, the more I’ve found that to be true with the Little Guy brand.

What camping gear do you offer for your customers and what types of gear do you think go best with teardrop trailers?

One of our goals at Simply GO Campers is to encourage people who are new to camping to get out there and give it a try. With that in mind, we know that new campers aren’t necessarily going to have all the gear that you might want for a camping trip. The gear we have available includes the basics: sheets, sleeping bags, chairs, and a full camp kitchen box (camp stove, pots, dishes, silverware, dish washing supplies, etc.). We are also open to providing additional gear as needed to make our customers as comfortable as possible.

A few products we personally love to use are our dutch oven and cast iron skillet. My wife is amazing in the kitchen and just because we are camping doesn’t mean we won’t be eating well. She loves finding new recipes to use while camping versus just eating the basic hot dogs and beans.

Photo by Rachel Antoun

What are the things that people should keep in mind when renting a teardrop trailer?

People should keep in mind that they will now be towing a trailer so they need to make sure they know how to do that and the laws of the road. The actual towing part is not difficult, it's more of the actual being aware it's back there. One must keep from making too tight of turns and speeding. Here in California, people towing must go 55 mph and are limited to the left two lanes only.

The other thing to keep in mind is to make sure your campground will allow a trailer in your site. Most campgrounds are ok with this but if you are in a  specific "tent only" site that can cause some problems. So always check with your campground that you are able to bring your trailer.

Other than those two minor things be ready to have a blast!

Photos courtesy of Simply GO Campers

Interview with Trailer Rental Company: Links Teardrops

Charles Link runs Southern California’s original teardrop trailer rental service. They currently rent a Little Guy Classic 5-Wide teardrop trailer and a 5x8 Hiker Off Road teardrop trailer. Charles was kind to give us a little insight into the teardrop rental business and his trailers.


How did you get into renting out teardrop trailers?

I first purchased a 1960 Canned Ham style trailer to restore and offer as a rental but then after the restoration was completed I decided that it was too nice and delicate to rent out. I then thought that a small trailer that was also good looking would be a great thing to offer to fellow campers to get people up and off the ground while camping. This is where the teardrop came into the picture.

Who rents your trailers?
Most of our renters are people who are looking to either build or buy a teardrop and there are the occasional couples who just want a single getaway in something small and easy to tow.
What is the response to the teardrop from newbie renters?
They all seem to love how easy they are to tow and how comfortable they can be. I'd say about 99.5 % of new renters love the trailers and have a great time.
What other amenities do you offer with your rentals?
Currently we only offer the campers themselves, but we are working on some additional ideas to add to both models that we have.

What should people keep in mind when looking to rent a teardrop trailer?
They are easy to tow, simple to maneuver and it's much cheaper to rent than to buy.
What should companies or individuals do to prepare to rent out their own trailer?
You must have a very open schedule, or work close to home. Be ready to handle repairs, maintenance, cleaning, storage, and lots of questions.  Do you camp in a teardrop and where do you like to go?
Yes, we do and one of the reasons for having them available is to use them ourselves. Ever since our first teardrop purchase we haven't slept in a tent. It feels like you’re in a small cabin all to yourself. We go anywhere from Joshua Tree, Idyllwild, Big Sur, Pismo Beach, San Diego, Ojai and many other beautiful places here in Southern California.

Links Teardrops can be reserved on their Facebook page. They have a two-night minimum on all their trailer rentals. The 2016 Hiker 5x8 lifted off road trailer rents for $95 a night with a two night minimum. The 5-Wide Classic Little Guy rents for $75 a night with a two night minimum.

Towing a Teardrop Trailer with a Prius

The appeal of the Prius is irrefutable. The hybrid car from Toyota can get over 50 miles to the gallon and does it with style and roominess. However, Toyota does not rate any of its Prius vehicles capable of towing any weight. That doesn't stop some intrepid Prius owners from giving it a shot.

Pat and his wife Judy tow their 500 lb. homemade wood teardrop trailer with their Prius.

"I think it is workable so long as the trailer is small (4x8) and light (400 to 600 lbs.)," Pat said. "You can't drive very fast—60 to 65 mph on the freeways, but we got 36 mpg on a 2,700 mile trip from Redding, CA to Tucson, AZ, and 38 mpg on a trip to the coast over hilly Highway 36. This is down from 47 mpg without the teardrop."

 Pat and Judy's teardrop was built to go with the Prius and Pat used a technique called "stitch and glue" which is used to build strong, but lightweight, plywood boats.

"It is 48" x 96" x 42" high above the Harbor Freight trailer," Pat said. "The amenities are basic—just storage for all the stuff we used to take car camping. I added roll-out shelves for the ice chest and pantry box under the kitchen counter."

The couple do have to care a little more for their tow vehicle when using it for camping.

"Our Prius has 100,000 miles on it," Pat said. "I changed the transmission fluid, and will do so again in a couple years if I continue to pull a trailer on long trips now and then. The manual recommends against towing anything with the Prius, but there are pre-drilled and threaded holes in the frame to attach an aftermarket hitch to. You have to add trailer wiring off of a tail light in the trunk."

Pat warned that there could be warranty issues if a Prius owner has transmission problems after towing anything with their vehicle since the manual recommends against towing.

"Our Prius has over 100,000 miles on it and is no longer under warranty as far as I know," Pat said. "We haven't had any problems."

The couple save a lot of money on gas, lodging and food while traveling in their Prius/teardrop combo and Pat now has the itch to build another trailer.

"This one will be for solo travel—smaller, lighter, and simpler," he said. "I hope it comes in around 350 lbs."


A thread on the PriusChat forum discusses the options for towing a teardrop trailer with the fuel saving vehicle. One argument is that if a larger motorcycle can tow a teardrop—so can a Prius.


Photos by PriusChat, Outdoor Adventure USA and Christina Nellemann

Featured Teardrop: O-rama! Teardrop Trailers

While I was at the International Redwood Gathering in northern California, I noticed a custom made teardrop owned by a woman named Tracy. She was a tall person and I noticed that her trailer fit her height perfectly—especially the beautiful galley and hatch. The name of the custom trailer also caught my eye—O-rama! What the heck?

It turns out that the O-rama! Teardrop Trailer company is owned by Mike LaCroix of Washington, who has worked in RV design and construction in the past. The name of his company is defined as "an act, event, situation, or place that is remarkable, extraordinary, or extreme."

"I have always been a goof and tacked “Orama” to peoples names, for as long as I can remember," Mike said.  "But I love the obscure definition of it. With teardrops being a “retro” kind of thing, Orama fits in perfectly with its meaning and the fact that back in the 50’s-60’s, a lot of businesses used it in their name. Essentially, it means more than enough of a good thing."

Mike was kind to give me some more information on his custom designs and beautiful details.

How and why did you get into building teardrop trailers?  

I have always been a mechanical guy. This especially translated into RV’s, a vehicle (or cabin on wheels) you take to wonderful outdoor places. I love the fact that an RV is a rolling mechanical piece of wonderland! I love all the aspects that go into an RV build: electrical, plumbing, woodworking, heating, cooling etc. For this reason I thought it would be fun to randomly build or restore my own.

The biggest problem I had with this idea was a lack of space and a tall covered structure in which to do it, especially with the weather here in Washington. With my idea stymied, and while doing research, I came across a teardrop trailer. I have heard of them, but don’t ever remember seeing one in all of my many camping adventures. Instantly I fell in love with them and liked the idea that I could just build one from the ground up in my garage. I wasn’t even going to build it for myself. I just wanted to build one for the fun then sell it. Well, building my first teardrop was the best project I have ever worked on, and I have done a lot of fun projects. When it was time to sell it I couldn’t believe the response! It sold the first day.

After that, out of curiosity, I built another one. It also sold within days. At that point I thought why not keep building them? It was a perfect scenario. I love building teardrops and people loved buying them! A match made in heaven! So here I am today.

 What do you think makes your teardrops unique?

I believe what makes my teardrops unique is my wood work and cabinetry. I would never say I am an expert cabinet maker, but my mixture of light colored wood (pine and maple), hidden hinges, nickel hardware, and recessed doors really looks nice together. The light colored woods also make the interior feel more spacious. Everyone who sees my trailers for the first time loves them and comments on my woodworking. I like to think of my cabinetry as a big notch above the ordinary.

 Can you tell us a little about the custom building process? 

I like to keep it simple. I have decided against building custom ground up “however you want it” teardrops for many reasons. So the custom building process is very simple for customers. First you start with the entry level trailer that includes all of the nice woodwork. From there, a customer can choose a galley package with stove and sink (or they can have just one or the other), electrical package that includes a very complete 12 volt and 120v system, radio, DVD/TV, etc. Other exterior aluminum colors are also available. What makes customizing my trailers so easy is the fact that I include so many things in the entry level trailer that there isn’t all that nickel and dime stuff to add. Building a fully loaded trailer, customized with every option takes me about 4-6 weeks to build.

How did you get into teardrop camping and what do you like the most and least about teardrop camping? 

Early in my fledgling business, I obviously needed one for advertisement purposes and as a “model” trailer. But mostly, It was the best excuse in the world to build my own to camp in! After downsizing from a travel trailer, I loved the fact that I could pull my teardrop with any car I wanted. The small size of a teardrop just makes it fun to tow and easy to maneuver.  Then, on top of that, throw in the fact that even in such a small package, you have all the modern conveniences you need, including a kitchen and a place to sleep! Amazing! The least favorite thing about teardrop camping is that I don’t get to do it enough! I love every aspect of camping in my teardrop! Seriously!

 What are some of your favorite teardrop or camping products or gear? 

My two favorite pieces of equipment for teardrop camping are my portable 80 watt solar system and my ARB fridge/freezer. The solar is wonderful for keeping the battery charged when you are somewhere without hookups. You don’t even need direct sun all day for it to really do a good job keeping the battery topped off.

The ARB fridge/freezer may not be for everyone because of its high cost, but there is so much about it that makes it worth it. It uses a real compressor just like your fridge at home. Therefore it can keep things as cold as you want them, or even frozen. The current it uses to do this is so little that I can leave it plugged in for an entire trip as long as I have some solar charging capabilities. It will also run off both 12v DC and 120v AC. In addition, it has an adjustable voltage setting so that it will stop running before it drains your battery completely.  I also love the fact that I can plug it in while it's in the tow vehicle for the travel time to and from the campground. I just love it. No more ice for me!

Where are your favorite places to go camping? 

My favorite campground hands down is Kalaloch in the Olympic National Park. It sits on a small bluff right at the ocean. The beach is beautiful to hike on, especially during low tide.  This part of Washington’s coast is beautiful and preserved because it is within a national park. A close second is anywhere in Washington and Oregon along the Columbia River Gorge. I love the diversity the gorge offers.


Photos courtesy of Mike LaCroix/O-rama! Teardrop Trailers

Hipcamp

While the website, Hipcamp, is currently only available for the state of California, they plan on expanding to 20 new states by next summer—just in time for teardrop camping. Hipcamp is a new website and team focusing on not only campgrounds and campsites, but the amenities that surround them. The site covers everything from campgrounds near the best wineries and stargazing to the best rock climbing and surfing.

I spoke to Eric Bach and Alyssa Ravasio, the owners of the site and avid campers. Alyssa's frustration with finding campsites online was the catalyst for the creation of Hipcamp. Eric is a world traveler, backpacker and a member of the purple-clad trio, the "Modern Gypsies", who won ABC's "Expedition Impossible". They both wanted a better search system online. They are also big fans of teardrop trailers and plan on having their own Hipcamp wrapped and branded teardrop soon.

Tell us a little about how HipCamp came about. What do you want users to get from it?

Hipcamp was born out of the frustration to discover and book campsites. The process seemed extremely fragmented. We'd have to go one place for official government information, another for photos, another for reviews, and then another place to book. We thought it could be done better and thus enable more people to get outside.

The goal is to give users a single source in which they can do everything they need to in order to make a camping trip happen. We want the users to have a simple, engaging, and fun experience while doing so. 

What has been the response to the site?

We've had a great response to the site! People are excited to move to new states and so are we. Our goal is to get to 20 more states in the U.S. by next summer. We'll also be adding in features such as user reviews, user uploaded photos, and new opportunities for our community (or tribe as we like to call it) to engage.

Which campgrounds seem to get the most traffic? What amenities are people interested in?

Some of the campgrounds that get the most traffic are Bullfrog Pond (in Austin Creek), Wildcat Campground (in Point Reyes), Bothe-Napa Valley Campground (in Bothe-Napa), Steep Ravine Cabins & Campground (in Mt. Tam), Pfeiffer Big Sur Campground (in Pfeiffer Big Sur), and of course Upper Pines Campground (in Yosemite). 

I think people are really interested in our activities, amenities, and features filters. That's one of the coolest things about Hipcamp, is that you can use the filters to get the exact type of campground you want. It's very personal.

Can you think of any California campgrounds for people who lean toward teardrops and tiny trailers?

Hmm...well some of my favorites are Huckleberry Campground at Big Basin Redwoods, Andrew Molera Campground, Steep Ravine Cabins, and Borrego Palm Canyon Campground.

Have either of you had any experience with teardrop trailers?

I've had experience with trailers in general, but not teardrops yet. However, it is our dream to own a Hipcamp teardrop trailer. It would be so cool to have one that is Hipcamp branded, but still feels natural and vintage.

We'll all keep an eye out for you on the road, Hipcamp!

New Teardropper: AnetaCuse

AnetaCuse has been a reader and helpful commenter of the Tiny Yellow Teardrop blog for a while now and is in the process of purchasing her first teardrop trailer, a Camp-Inn 550 Special. Aneta is documenting the building of the trailer on her Polish-language blog, but she also answered a few of questions about becoming a new teardrop owner.

Can you tell me a little about yourself and when and how you became interested in teardrop trailers?

My husband Robert and I were always the outdoorsy types, but it wasn't until we took up kayaking that we started to camp. We live in Central New York where there are plenty of bodies of water and the nearby Adirondack Mountains, so in order to kayak further and further from home, we started to tent camp.

First there was car camping, then kayak touring (living out of your boat for a few days is quite awesome), then backpacking. However, we never really got to love tent camping, it was always a means to something else: being in beautiful remote places and the physical challenge of our endeavors. Tent camping presented a large overhead effort for us for two reasons. First, setting up, breaking down and then having to dry all the gear at home is always so much work, that it sometimes deters us from going.

Second, we have a dog and a parrot, which prevents us from being spontaneous - we can't just leave whenever we want, we have to arrange for animal care every time, which is costly and time consuming. We do take our dog camping, but you obviously can't leave him in a tent unattended for any duration of time, so kayaking is out of the question when we camp with the dog unless we take turns or go hiking instead. Here comes the trailer part.

A few of years ago we saw a teardrop on a highway passing by and were immediately in love. We had never heard of teardrops or seen one before then, and we thought it was awesome. We googled it and decided this is what we wanted some day. Last year we went camping and found that one of our friends got herself a Little Guy teardrop. That reignited our "some day" dream and off we went shopping.

What kind of trailer are you getting? What factored into your decision?

We’re getting a Camp-Inn 550 Special teardrop. Primary reasons for our selection:

1) More flexibility and freedom: We hope a trailer will solve our animal issue. Since the trailer is insulated and has a fan, we could leave our animals in it for a few hours while we kayak. It is also bear proof. That should enable us to camp more often.

2) Easier: Less overhead / setup time.

3) More comfort, better sleep (hopefully).

4) Towing with a sedan: The reason we picked a teardrop over an RV or a pop-up was the weight. We both are extremely stuck on driving as fuel efficient vehicles as we possibly can to still fit our livestyle, and we didn’t want to buy something that would warrant having to buy a truck. I drive a VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI (4 cylinder diesel), and it can only tow up to 1000 lbs. So our trailer had to be under that weight.

5) Winter storage: We can tuck away a teardrop at the end of our driveway, which we couldn’t do with an RV.

6) Retro look with aluminum finish: We just loved this type of design.

Will you name it? Decorate it?  

We will most likely name it, but it doesn’t mean we’d paint the name on it. We always name our cars just to refer to them in a conversation, so I feel the trailer deserves the same. I’m not much for decorating, so we probably won’t be decorating it, although I wouldn’t mind some kind of vanity plate.
 

Where do you want to take it? What are some of your favorite camping areas? 

We love camping in the Adirondacks, we already have two trips scheduled there for June and July, one near Old Forge and the other near Speculator. We’re hoping to get out more for longer trips, drive out to Maine while camping along the way in New York, Vermont, New Hampshire etc. Then there is Canada, especially Quebec and Saguenay Fjord National Park near the estuary of the St. Lawrence River where we kayaked with whales a few years back. Finally, we’d love to go to the west coast, but we’d need a lot of time off for that, so I don’t see that happening any time soon.

  
What other teardrop trailers do you like or admire?

 We like a lot of different teardrop trailers, that’s one of the reasons I love visiting your blog – to look at photos and see different layouts and solutions. I love how creative people get with them, whether they build their own, restore an oldie, or customize a factory model.

Photos by Camp-Inn and AnetaCuse

The Small Trailer Enthusiast

One of my favorite blogs about small trailers and the trailer industry is The Small Trailer Enthusiast. The owner of the blog, Pat, camps in a 15 foot 2010 Serro Scotty HiLander, but his blog regularly features teardrops, T@Bs and other small trailers. He also blogs about RV shows, technical updates to trailers and new small trailers by manufacturers and individuals. Pat was so nice to answer a few of my questions about his blog and why he loves small trailers.

How did you become interested in small trailers?

I guess my interest really started when my wife and I were in-between trailers. We bought a T@B teardrop that we soon realized after buying it that it was just a tad too small on the inside for us. We wanted to stay small, so my fascination with small trailers started when we decided to find something that was a little more functional for us while still staying small. While searching for its replacement, I researched just about everything on the market and soon realized I wanted one of everything I found! That research created a database of knowledge in my head that never really stopped growing even after we bought our replacement.

  
How did you decide on your own Serro Scotty trailer?

Our T@B had that "it" factor. It was red with white trim, sleek design, and was definitely not a conventional looking camper. We knew we wanted our replacement to be something that was an eye catcher. We didn't want just another white shoebox on wheels, but a little more roomy on the inside. I researched Scamps, Casitas, and R-Pods, but we kept coming back to the one we ended up with buying: the Serro Scotty HiLander. It was modeled after the orginals from back in the 1960's, but with modern technology and amenities. It was about the same length as the T@B, but it featured two dinettes, toilet/shower combo, and more headroom for me. Plus, it had the "it" factor, which is something we were looking for as well.

Do you have any experience with teardrop trailers?

Not long after we were married in 2002, we said one day we'd like to get a teardrop trailer. They were just cool, and we loved the coziness of them. It was one of those "someday" dreams we all have. Fast forward to 2009. We're fans of the fabled highway Route 66, and while on a cruise on Route 66 in Missouri, one of the participants in this motor tour had a Pleasant Valley teardrop trailer that was wrapped with a Route 66 scene, and they just happened to have it for sale. We kept talking about it while driving that day and discussed the pros and cons of a teardrop. However, that all changed when we stopped at a small town festival. A nearby Camping World store had a few RVs on display at the festival and one of those was a T@B. We were instantly hooked. It had the shape of a teardrop, but was one you could stand up in. We talked more on the way back to Indiana and decided that if we were going to buy something, it would be a T@B, since it gave us the best of both worlds. The following Saturday, we were in Elkhart, Indiana picking up a brand new 2010 T@B from Tiara RV, and the rest is history.

 What are your five favorite small or tiny trailers?

That's a tough question! These are the trailers in no particular order:

Serro Scotty HiLander: Obviously I'm a little biased here! Right now the HiLander isn't being produced, but when I talked to the president of Serro Scotty earlier this summer, he was hoping to have found a manufacturer to restart producation, which ceased early in 2012. It's just a solid unit with an aluminum cage, thicker floors, and has that "wow" factor!

T@B: Although we only had ours for 7 months, if space and money wasn't a factor, I'd have one. Since Little Guy Worldwide took over the T@B brand after Dutchmen ceased production of them in 2009, the quality has been much better and Little Guy has done a fantastic job of working with the vast Dutchmen T@B owners.

Camp Lite: I said it in 2011 after my first trip to the RVIA trade show in Louisville: I saw just about every small trailer anyone had to offer at that show, and none of them were better than Camp Lite in terms of quality. You'll pay a little more, but you're getting a solid unit.

Gulfstream Vista Cruiser: When this first came out a few years ago, it was called the Visa. I can't really put my finger on why I like this, but it just has a really clean look to it. The 19' model with the RBS floor plan would be high on my list if we were looking for a trailer right now.

Scamp: Fiberglass campers have been a curious fascination for me. Scamps are one of the most well known fiberglass campers, and you could argue they've become one of the most well known small campers over the past 30 years.

  
Where do you like to camp? What are your favorite campgrounds or parks?

We generally camp in state parks since they tend to be cheaper and you generally have little more space between you and your neighbors. One of our favorites is Starve Hollow State Recreation Area in south-central Indiana. Several of the campsites are right on the shore. I used to vacation in Minnesota growing up and it reminds me a lot of it, with the water and pine trees. However, one of the most relaxing places I enjoy the most is an RV park. It's a place called Little Farm on the River in Rising Sun, Indiana. They have a section that's along the banks of the Ohio River, and there's nothing I enjoy more than sitting in my chair all weekend watching the barges slowly roll up and down the river.
 

Do you have any favorite camping gear or camping tips?

One of the most important pieces of equipment I would never do without is the BAL light trailer leveler. It eliminates the need for leveling blocks and is a breeze to use. I had to get the word out to the rest of the small trailer world about it, so I ended up putting together a post about it.

Photos by The Small Trailer Enthusiast

On Teardrop Trailer Radio (again)

 If you are interested, I'm on the phone now with Brooke on Teardrop Trailer Radio. The full episode will be available on TalkShoe.

The final show can be found here.