You might want to hurry up. You have less than three weeks to get ready.
Doomsday Prepper Bug Out Teardrop
The ultimate doomsday bug out trailer just happens to be a teardrop trailer. This recent post from one of my favorite blogs, the Small Trailer Enthusiast, features a Little Guy trailer that is tricked out for the end of the world. The Bug Out Survival Shelter (B.O.S.S) has a sink and stove, gun rack, kayak rack, hidden interior storage and is completely off-grid. The trailer will only be available on the website (of National Geographic Channel's "Doomsday Preppers") Tim Ralston.
You might want to hurry up. You have less than three weeks to get ready.
You might want to hurry up. You have less than three weeks to get ready.
Why don't you just get a regular RV?
I have a friend who owns a 40-foot fifth wheel. This thing is pure luxury: it has a propane fireplace, a washer and dryer, a king sized bed, a pull-out and two comfy lounge chairs where you can watch the flat screen TV. It barely leaves their driveway.
They realized very quickly after purchasing the trailer that it's a real pain to hook up, to drive and to take down many country roads. The fuel cost is astronomical and they've only been able to take it a couple hundred miles from their home. They also have to be very selective when choosing a campground since many national parks don't have spaces for an RV that large. I was talking to her one day about how I was thinking of upgrading to a larger trailer when my husband and I get older and she said, "Don't do it!"
Why do most campers choose a larger RV? Many times it's because the smaller campers are very difficult to find. I searched for three years for the Sunflower and had to have it shipped to me from Florida. Also, after talking to other campers, I think a lot of them feel they will be missing out on creature comforts if they choose a smaller trailer. While it can get cramped in my little teardrop on bad weather days, on good and fair days our creature comforts extend out to the trees, the night sky and the roaring campfire.
We don't need a flat screen TV when we have the stars.
Photo by Christina Nellemann
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| Taken at Mammoth Lakes ranger station in California. I can never resist a shot like this. |
They realized very quickly after purchasing the trailer that it's a real pain to hook up, to drive and to take down many country roads. The fuel cost is astronomical and they've only been able to take it a couple hundred miles from their home. They also have to be very selective when choosing a campground since many national parks don't have spaces for an RV that large. I was talking to her one day about how I was thinking of upgrading to a larger trailer when my husband and I get older and she said, "Don't do it!"
Why do most campers choose a larger RV? Many times it's because the smaller campers are very difficult to find. I searched for three years for the Sunflower and had to have it shipped to me from Florida. Also, after talking to other campers, I think a lot of them feel they will be missing out on creature comforts if they choose a smaller trailer. While it can get cramped in my little teardrop on bad weather days, on good and fair days our creature comforts extend out to the trees, the night sky and the roaring campfire.
We don't need a flat screen TV when we have the stars.
Photo by Christina Nellemann
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
"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
Featured Teardrop: Zyl Vardos Teardrop
On this blog, I am going to regularly feature teardrop designers, builders and manufacturers.
I first saw the Zyl Teardrop on the Tiny House Blog and really loved the style and craftsmanship of this hand built camper. The Zyl Teardrop was designed and built by vardo maker, Abel Zyl, and he will make you a custom teardrop for around $6,400 over the course of a month. The Zyl teardrop is only 625 lbs. and is built with wood with an epoxy and varnish exterior and stainless steel hardware. It is 6x9 feet and has a queen size bed inside as well as LED lighting. The galley has a kitchen with a sink and a carryable greywater tank.
Keep an eye on his website for additional photos
Photos by Abel Zyl and originally posted on the Tiny House Blog
The Pros and Cons of a Teardrop Trailer
When fellow campers approach me and my teardrop camper, many of them will ask why I chose to get a teardrop rather than a "regular RV." One of the main reasons I chose a teardrop was for its ability to be towed behind nearly any kind of car. I didn't want to have to get a large truck or SUV just to go camping. Also, I was drawn to the cuteness factor of the teardrop.
So I got to thinking about the other pros and cons of owning a teardrop. After talking with a few other teardroppers, these seem to be the pros and cons that pop up the most:
Pros
When you drive into a campground, everyone looks at you (this can also be a con)
I get a lot of smiles when I pass people on the road
Since teardrops are so small, you get to spend most of your time outside
Your bed is always made
You can cook and eat outside
You can hook them up with very little effort or strength
Teardrop gatherings and other teardroppers
Cons
During rain or wind storms, cooking is no fun
It's difficult to get dressed in the bed area
You always get approached by someone when you've just woken up
Lack of space for clothes
Hauling bags of ice into the ice chest
Most teardrop camping has to be done in warmer weather or climates
Photo by TJfromAZ
So I got to thinking about the other pros and cons of owning a teardrop. After talking with a few other teardroppers, these seem to be the pros and cons that pop up the most:
Pros
When you drive into a campground, everyone looks at you (this can also be a con)
I get a lot of smiles when I pass people on the road
Since teardrops are so small, you get to spend most of your time outside
Your bed is always made
You can cook and eat outside
You can hook them up with very little effort or strength
Teardrop gatherings and other teardroppers
Cons
During rain or wind storms, cooking is no fun
It's difficult to get dressed in the bed area
You always get approached by someone when you've just woken up
Lack of space for clothes
Hauling bags of ice into the ice chest
Most teardrop camping has to be done in warmer weather or climates
Photo by TJfromAZ
Winterizing the teardrop battery
Unfortunately, I live in an area where we really can't go camping all year long. So in the winter months I cover up the teardrop, take the battery out and put it on a trickle charger. If you leave the battery in a teardrop trailer all winter long without using it, the power will drain and it won't hold a charge...putting you about $250 into the hole for a new battery.
So I take out the battery and hook it up to an inexpensive trickle charger I bought at an RV store. The charger is called the Battery Tender and runs off a regular power strip. When connecting your battery to the charger, be sure to connect the positive and negative connections first and then plug the charger in. It will take a few days for the battery to charge up (depending on the size and how much of a charge it needs) and then you can unplug it. Plug it in a few more times over the course of the winter to maintain your battery's charge.
Photos by Christina Nellemann
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| The Sunflower's galley and battery cabinet (which it shares with my pots and pans) |
 |
| The battery on the charger |
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| A bad photo of the Battery Tender |
So I take out the battery and hook it up to an inexpensive trickle charger I bought at an RV store. The charger is called the Battery Tender and runs off a regular power strip. When connecting your battery to the charger, be sure to connect the positive and negative connections first and then plug the charger in. It will take a few days for the battery to charge up (depending on the size and how much of a charge it needs) and then you can unplug it. Plug it in a few more times over the course of the winter to maintain your battery's charge.
Photos by Christina Nellemann
What do you carry in your teardrop?
Teardrops are great, little trailers where you can carry everything that you need in a small space. However, it's best not to carry too much or you will find yourself constantly reorganizing or re-arranging your tiny trailer. Teardrops are also great because you are always packed up. We don't spend too much time packing or unpacking the teardrop trailer when we go on a camping trip. It takes us about 15-30 minutes to grab everything we need before we hit the road.
When we are out camping, people will ask me what I carry around in my teardrop. Here's a comprehensive list of what I usually keep in my teardrop all the time:
In the bed space:
fleece sheets
2 fleece blankets
1 12 volt electric car blanket
2 pillows each
1 sunflower pillow (I like to sit on this pillow on hard picnic table seats)
1 small 12 volt heater
sunscreen
bug spray
games (dice and UNO)
hairbrush
small notebook (for writing down lists and details about each camping trip)
several paperback books
water bottle
toiletry box with shampoo, soap, conditioner, lotion, toothpaste and toothbrushes, medical kit, aspirin and Advil
In the storage area under the bed:
clothesline and clothespins
12 volt sunflower string lights
extra medical supplies
campground plug
campground plug adapter
shovel and axe
bungee cords
camping hammock
extension cord
emergency tow light kit
Clothes (my husband and I keep a small supply of clothes in the teardrop):
2 fleece sweaters
down vest
two t-shirts
two tank tops
shorts
long johns and pajama bottoms
long john top
long sleeved top
4 pairs of underwear
4 pairs of socks
warm hat and gloves
In the galley (kitchen):
Coleman stove with grill
cast iron skillet
regular skillet
coleman grill pan
pots of various sizes
2 plastic dish washing containers
dry food box
propane tank, connector stick and 2 connector hoses
2.5 gallon water container
4 kitchen towels
2 rags
2 oven mitts
2 wine glasses
4 coffee cups
1 camping French Press
2 spatulas
1 paper towel roll
salt, pepper, sugar, Italian spices and BBQ spices
4 cereal bowls
2 mixing bowls
4 metal camping plates
2 appetizer/serving plates
5-6 forks, spoons, knives
lighter and matches
dish soap and dish scrubbies
sunflower trivet
2 cutting boards
On the front grill:
Ice chest with food, and most importantly, beer
What we carry in the car:
2 camping chairs
folding camp table
Dutch Oven, lid lifter and galvianized pan to hold the coals
extra water
foldable shower screen
folding REI shelter (in case of rain)
Photo by Christina Nellemann
When we are out camping, people will ask me what I carry around in my teardrop. Here's a comprehensive list of what I usually keep in my teardrop all the time:
In the bed space:
fleece sheets
2 fleece blankets
1 12 volt electric car blanket
2 pillows each
1 sunflower pillow (I like to sit on this pillow on hard picnic table seats)
1 small 12 volt heater
sunscreen
bug spray
games (dice and UNO)
hairbrush
small notebook (for writing down lists and details about each camping trip)
several paperback books
water bottle
toiletry box with shampoo, soap, conditioner, lotion, toothpaste and toothbrushes, medical kit, aspirin and Advil
In the storage area under the bed:
clothesline and clothespins
12 volt sunflower string lights
extra medical supplies
campground plug
campground plug adapter
shovel and axe
bungee cords
camping hammock
extension cord
emergency tow light kit
Clothes (my husband and I keep a small supply of clothes in the teardrop):
2 fleece sweaters
down vest
two t-shirts
two tank tops
shorts
long johns and pajama bottoms
long john top
long sleeved top
4 pairs of underwear
4 pairs of socks
warm hat and gloves
In the galley (kitchen):
Coleman stove with grill
cast iron skillet
regular skillet
coleman grill pan
pots of various sizes
2 plastic dish washing containers
dry food box
propane tank, connector stick and 2 connector hoses
2.5 gallon water container
4 kitchen towels
2 rags
2 oven mitts
2 wine glasses
4 coffee cups
1 camping French Press
2 spatulas
1 paper towel roll
salt, pepper, sugar, Italian spices and BBQ spices
4 cereal bowls
2 mixing bowls
4 metal camping plates
2 appetizer/serving plates
5-6 forks, spoons, knives
lighter and matches
dish soap and dish scrubbies
sunflower trivet
2 cutting boards
On the front grill:
Ice chest with food, and most importantly, beer
What we carry in the car:
2 camping chairs
folding camp table
Dutch Oven, lid lifter and galvianized pan to hold the coals
extra water
foldable shower screen
folding REI shelter (in case of rain)
Photo by Christina Nellemann
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