If you have fallen in love with teardrop trailers, but you don't want to commit yet to purchasing or building one, you can always rent one of the tiny campers. My first suggestion would be to make friends with a teardrop owner and offer to pay them to take their trailer out on a short camping trip. This will not only give you some experience with towing and sleeping in a teardrop, but you will make another friend who can give you some valuable advice.
There are several companies around the U.S. where you can rent a teardrop trailer for your next wilderness excursion. I'm surprised there are not more companies or individuals around who are willing to rent out their trailers. However, there have been some discussions on the
teardrop forums that these types of trailers are very personal to their owners (especially if they were lovingly built from scratch) and owners are reluctant to part with their babies. So if you can't find someone in your local area who is willing to share, check out these rental teardrops:
Explore More Northwest (Spokane, Washington)
Run by a couple in eastern Washington, Explore More Northwest offers four teardrop trailers for rent. They have two Little Guy teardrops and two T@B campers (Dutchman and clamshell versions). The teardrops rent for $89 per night and the T@Bs for $109 per night. Explore More Northwest also rents accessories like camp chairs and coolers.
Basecamp Adventure Rentals (Seattle, Washington)
Basecamp rents out three TC Teardrop trailers, two 5x9 trailers and one 5x8 trailer. The galley includes essential kitchen items: pots, pans, dishware and utensils, spices, a camp stove and propane. Peak season (May 1 thru Oct 31) is $180 for the first two nights, $75/night additional nights and off season (Nov 1 thru Apr 30) is $150 for the first two nights, $65/night additional nights.
Simply GO Campers (Southern California)
Simply GO Campers in San Juan Capistrano in South Orange County, California has two Little Guy Trailers. "Gary the Teardrop" is a classic 5-Wide Platform and "Ted the Teardrop" is a 6-Wide Platform. "Gary" rents for $140 for 2 nights (2 night minimum) and $60 each additional night. "Ted" rents for $170 for 2 nights (2 night minimum) and $75 per each additional night. Rentals for 7+ nights receive a 10 percent discount.
Missouri Teardrop Trailers (Missouri)
Missouri Teardrop Trailers in Centerview, Missouri have two 5x10 Silver Shadow teardrops that they rent for $350 per week. There is a two night minimum ($75 per night) and they come with bedding, but no pillowcases.
Vacations in a Can (Northern California)
Vacations in a Can have become semi-famous since their teardrop trailer was featured on the cover of
Sunset Magazine. This Penngrove, California company rents out three teardrops: the Chili Pepper, the Can ‘em Danno and the L’il Bear.
Each trailer sleeps two adults and includes everything from blankets, sheets and towels to a stove, pots and pans and a coffee maker.
Links Teardrop Rentals (Orange County, California)
This company in Southern California rents out two Little Guy Deluxe Five Wide trailers. They are each $75 per night with a two-night minimum. Links also offers generator rentals as well.
Colorado Vintage Camping (Aspen, Colorado)
This company in Aspen, Colorado rents out a beautiful Woody teardrop for $149 for a two-night minimum May through September with an additional $99 for each night
; for October through April for $99 for a two-night minimum with an additional $89 for each night. They have a 20 percent discount for six or more consecutive nights and the prices include delivery and set up concierge service.
Colorado Teardrops (Boulder, Colorado)
Colorado Teardrops rents a series of 8x5 Basecamp teardrop trailer weigh around 850 lb each. All galley items and a first aid kit are included for $100 per day.
Little Guy Trailers (San Diego, California)
This dealer of Little Guy trailers in San Diego will rent out a Little Guy teardrop for $380 per week with extra days for $50 a day. There is a $1,000 deposit to rent one of their rigs.
PB Teardrop (San Diego, California)
Charles of PB Teardrops has a 2011 teardrop trailer for rent. It costs $225 for 3 nights and $50
each additional night with a $500 deposit and a $25 cleaning fee. Advance reservations requested but not required. Call Charles at (858) 272-2520 for availability.
Old School Teardrop (Goodyear, Arizona)
This rental company rents Little Guy teardrop trailers for $380 a week and $180 for the weekend. They provide bedding and towels but no stove or propane. There is a 500 security deposit required. Read about
Wilderness Dave's experience with renting from Old School Teardrop.
Miller Trailer Sales (Perkasie, Pennsylvania)
Miller Trailer Sales offer several types of trailer rentals. They have a 5x10 Little Guy Silver Shadow for $75 a day or $450 a week, a Little Guy 6-Wide Platform for $65 a day or $390 a week and a Little Guy T@G for $75 a day or $450 a week. Miller requires a one day deposit and a minimum three day rental on holiday weekends. You can order your trailer and make a deposit over the phone.
Happy Camper Teardrop Rentals (Sacramento, California)
Happy Camper Teardrop Rentals in Sacramento offer several types of teardrops. The Mini Mansion is a 5x8 trailer for $65 a night and $130 on the weekend, the 5x8 Cozy Cabin is $75 a night and $150 on the weekend and the 5x9 Lazy Lodge is $75 a night and $150 on the weekend. Happy Camper provides an ice chest, camp stove and fuel, pots, pans, dishes and utensils, coffee pot, paper towels and trash bags and a wash basin with soap.
Sierra Teardrops (Auburn, California)
Sierra Teardrops in Auburn, CA near Sacramento currently have a brand new Sofitel T@B Clamshell for rent for $125 per night with additional nights only $100. The trailer contains a shower/toilet, air conditioning, heater, clamshell kitchen with hot/cold water sink, stove, and fridge/freezer. The company also plans to rent out an off-road teardrop trailer as well.
Hitch and Go Adventures (Houston, Texas)
Hitch and Go Adventures in Houston, Texas have three fiberglass teardrops for rent for only $50 per day (10 percent tax rate not included). They include chairs, shade canopies, folding tables, dishes and utensils, but no linens or blankets.
Thomas RV Rentals (Charlotte, North Carolina)
Along with their larger RV rentals, Thomas RV Rentals in North Carolina rents out a 4-foot wide Little Guy teardrop (April-October) for $65 a night or $390 a week. It includes a DVD/CD player, a 10x10 foot screened porch, heating and AC and a Coleman stove can be rented for an additional $5 a night.
TC Teardrops (Wausau, Wisconsin)
TC Teardrops in Wisconsin have a partnership with a local campground where you can test out one of their trailers before buying your own. The cost is $39 a night when used at the
Indian Trails campground and $49 a night when used off site. It's only $299 for 7 days when the trailer is used off site.
Caravan's Teardrop Trailer Rentals (Portland, Oregon)
Deb and Kol of Caravan - The Tiny House Hotel rent out a
Little Guy T@G Max trailer and
T@G Max XL for rent named
Rosie, Miles and Sunny. They include comforters and pillows, Fair-Trade coffee in the fully stocked galley and extras like a table and chairs. Rosie rents for $80/night (two-night minimum) and is pet friendly. Miles rents for $90/night (two-night minimum) and is pet friendly and Sunny rents for $90/night (two-night minimum).
Top photo courtesy of Sunset Magazine and Vacations in a Can
