We are heading down to Yosemite for a long teardrop camping weekend. This photo just goes to show that both this beautiful park and teardrops go together pretty well.
Photo by peakbagging
Friday Teardrop Photo
We are heading down to Yosemite for a long teardrop camping weekend. This photo just goes to show that both this beautiful park and teardrops go together pretty well.
Photo by peakbagging
Teardrop Trailer Facebook Groups
Show your love for teardrop trailers by joining or liking one of the many Facebook teardrop trailer groups. Here are just a few:
Teardrop Trailer Lovers
Kay's Teardrop Friends
Teardroppin' Group
Cumbrian Teardrop Caravan Group
Teardrop Travel Trailers
Photo: This pink heart-shaped teardrop trailer belonged to Zsu Zsu, the Crybaby Drama Queen. Her former lover dragged her to Burning Man. In an attempt to make her happy, he built her a custom trailer complete with tanks of French air. She refuses to come out but demands your attention and gifts. At this 2008 art installation, Zsu Zsu blames you for her discomfort and inconvenience. She also hates heat, dust, loud music, art and "heepies".
How to Teardrop Camp in the Rain
This weekend I went to a teardrop gathering right near my home, albeit just for an afternoon. The reason was that during the event, a large unseasonably cold storm hit our area which made for some wet and cold camping. So, what if you find yourself camping in a teardrop trailer in less-than-dry conditions? Several of my fellow (tough as nails) teardroppers cover up. Here are a few ways that you can protect yourself and your teardrop during inclement weather.
My trailer was not protected by any shelter this time, but having the galley roof raised over the cooking table does provide a little protection from rain, but not wind.
An awning is helpful is keeping rain out of the bed area and giving you a dry place to put on warmer clothes or shoes.
This teardrop/standy is completely covered by a shelter. This might be necessary if your trailer leaks in any way.
It sometimes helps to rely on your neighbors for protection. Grouping trailers together, and forming a wall, can help protect from wind and rain.
This teardrop has a large shade shelter up as well as a few added walls made from tarps. Having an outdoor rug also helps to keep the wet and mud from creeping into your trailer.
This trailer also has walls with some added windows for keeping and eye out for the sunshine.
This teardrop/standy is completely covered by a shelter. This might be necessary if your trailer leaks in any way.
It sometimes helps to rely on your neighbors for protection. Grouping trailers together, and forming a wall, can help protect from wind and rain.
Friday Teardrop Photo
This is on Highway 447 just outside of Black Rock City at Burning Man. When we leave the event (usually around 3:00 or 4:00 a.m. Sunday morning after the Burn) we drive straight home through the dark desert. Not this time. We were so tired, we decided to pull over on the side of the road with a few other dusty Burners to sleep for a few hours until daylight.
We leave the city early every year to avoid what is called Exodus — the mass migration of nearly 60,000 people leaving the event. It can take up to six hours to get out of the city. It takes us about half an hour.
You CAN crash on the side of the road in a teardrop trailer — just keep the bed area free and clean of other items.
Why Go to a Teardrop Trailer Gathering?
I purchased my first teardrop trailer, a Little Guy Rascal, about a year before going to any teardrop rally or gathering. During my first gathering (the Dam Gathering in Northern California) I met the nicest people you will find anywhere and came to the conclusion that teardroppers are nice because they sleep and eat very well at their various gatherings.
So, if you have a teardrop trailer, or are thinking of buying or building a teardrop trailer, should you go to a gathering? Here are the five reasons why I think it's one of the best things you can go for your teardropping life:
1. Teardrop gatherings are one of the best places to get ideas for your own trailer. It's great to be able to peruse the Web and pull up ideas, but seeing everything in action is the best way to decide what you might want to build or buy. Gatherings are also a great place to see what types of camping gear people bring in their teardrops.
2. FOOD! Nearly every teardrop gathering has one or two potlucks and many of those potlucks are Dutch oven potlucks. I gain at least three pounds at every gathering.
3. You feel like a star. Teardrop gatherings attract a lot of other non-teardroppers. Fellow campground dwellers walk around, peruse the trailers and gush over the cuteness. Soak it up.
4. You find out about new places to go camping. My husband and I were thrilled to learn that Unionville, Nevada is one of the prettiest places in the state. We found this out because of the Twain n' Tears Gathering, organized by TNTTT member nevadatear.
5. The people. Even though you go to gatherings to look at teardrops, you can't help but pick up a couple of friends along the way.
Photo of the IRG by Roy Crisman/Flickr
So, if you have a teardrop trailer, or are thinking of buying or building a teardrop trailer, should you go to a gathering? Here are the five reasons why I think it's one of the best things you can go for your teardropping life:
1. Teardrop gatherings are one of the best places to get ideas for your own trailer. It's great to be able to peruse the Web and pull up ideas, but seeing everything in action is the best way to decide what you might want to build or buy. Gatherings are also a great place to see what types of camping gear people bring in their teardrops.
2. FOOD! Nearly every teardrop gathering has one or two potlucks and many of those potlucks are Dutch oven potlucks. I gain at least three pounds at every gathering.
3. You feel like a star. Teardrop gatherings attract a lot of other non-teardroppers. Fellow campground dwellers walk around, peruse the trailers and gush over the cuteness. Soak it up.
4. You find out about new places to go camping. My husband and I were thrilled to learn that Unionville, Nevada is one of the prettiest places in the state. We found this out because of the Twain n' Tears Gathering, organized by TNTTT member nevadatear.
5. The people. Even though you go to gatherings to look at teardrops, you can't help but pick up a couple of friends along the way.
Photo of the IRG by Roy Crisman/Flickr
Featured Teardrop: Hobbit Hole Trailer
For any The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit fans out there, this beautifully crafted teardrop trailer will have you wishing you could enjoy Elevenses out of the back of its galley. Samm1t documented his build on imgur as he worked on it in the evenings and the weekends over the course of two months.
The teardrop is built on a 4x8 foot Harbor Freight trailer kit and has a 2x2 inch wood frame. The bottom is sealed with roof tar and the walls are built with 1/2 inch plywood. The interior walls for the sleeping cabin and the galley are 1x2 and 2x2 inch framing. The plywood walls are stuccoed with vinyl putty and the floors are hardwood to look like an authentic Hobbit house. The roof is three layers: plywood, fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) and a last layer of fake grass to give the illusion of being under a hill.
The trailer is wired and has a shore power inlet for 120v which is connected to a surge protector and a charger/converter. The battery is an Optima D31. The trailer has lights and a Fantastic Fan. The interior has small wooden shelves and the quintessential round doors of a classic Hobbit house. Unfortunately, the center door handle idea (as seen in the movies) was not a feasible solution for this teardrop trailer.
The trailer is dedicated to the owner's great grandfather, an electrical engineer who loved to build things.
The teardrop is built on a 4x8 foot Harbor Freight trailer kit and has a 2x2 inch wood frame. The bottom is sealed with roof tar and the walls are built with 1/2 inch plywood. The interior walls for the sleeping cabin and the galley are 1x2 and 2x2 inch framing. The plywood walls are stuccoed with vinyl putty and the floors are hardwood to look like an authentic Hobbit house. The roof is three layers: plywood, fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) and a last layer of fake grass to give the illusion of being under a hill.
The trailer is wired and has a shore power inlet for 120v which is connected to a surge protector and a charger/converter. The battery is an Optima D31. The trailer has lights and a Fantastic Fan. The interior has small wooden shelves and the quintessential round doors of a classic Hobbit house. Unfortunately, the center door handle idea (as seen in the movies) was not a feasible solution for this teardrop trailer.
The trailer is dedicated to the owner's great grandfather, an electrical engineer who loved to build things.
Photos by Samm1t
Friday Teardrop Photo
The Sunflower being surrounded.
Sometimes it is nice to be able to hook up to power at one of these types of RV parks. This park also had a pool, nice hot showers and a laundry room. We utilized all three.
The sunflower has a 110 hookup on her side and we keep a 25 foot cord and a campground adapter in the storage area under the bed.
Taken at the Twin Falls KOA RV park in Idaho.
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