What is the worst storm you've been in?

Because of their small size and exterior kitchen, teardrop trailers do best in fair weather. We have been camping in some inclement weather over the years, but nothing like what the KombiLife crew went through in Mexico in a VW bus. If you have not been following the VW adventures of Ben, Alaska and Co'Pito, check them out.



We have been in two bad storms in the teardrop trailer. One was a wind and lightning storm in Death Valley that kicked up dust and illuminated the mountain peaks with bright flashes. It lasted way into the morning when we woke up to birds singing.

We also camped for three days in the pouring rain during a teardrop trailer rally in Northern California. Known as the Dam Gathering, it was coined "The Damp Gathering" by the teardroppers who survived it.

Many storms can come without a moment's notice, so setting up in a protected area or quickly stashing away items that can be destroyed is helpful. The best way to make it through a storm in a teardrop trailer is to have plenty of entertainment. We have a good selection of movies downloaded onto our tablets, games and books.

What if the weather sucks?

It's true that a teardrop trailer is a fair weather camping trailer. Your living room and kitchen are outside, so you are subject to whatever the weather decides to throw at you. We've been camping in the teardrop for several days in the pouring rain, during thunder and wind storms and when temperatures have plummeted into the teens at night. It's a lot more comfortable than in a tent, but it's not exactly the most fun camping either.

Camping in the Rain from Christina Nellemann on Vimeo.


When the weather turns on us, we've spent our time closed up inside the teardrop playing cards, reading or watching movies on an iPad or laptop. It's not the worst way to spend your time, but you go camping to be in the outdoors. If we are really desperate for some fresh air, we just bundle up and take a walk or hike. Damned be the weather!

However, cooking is another story. It's not fun to cook outside in inclement weather and during a major wind storm in Death Valley a few years ago, we decided to just eat dinner at the local pizza place, even though it cost us nearly double. One of our remedies for bad weather is to pack a camping shelter with wind walls that we erect over the cooking and eating area. This keeps the rain off of us, but still allows us to be outside. We try to keep a good eye on the weather for wherever we're going and we prefer to camp in dryer conditions like the mountains or desert.



When you have a teardrop trailer, you just have to be ready to roll with the punches. Your trailer is simple enough already: hitching up, towing and packing has already been simplified. So, if the weather decides not to cooperate…just go out for a burger.