There are many parallels between the old Wild West's horse-drawn wagons
and the booming popularity of teardrop campers and mini trailers right now. 200 years ago,
they were born out of necessity, needing to both sleep in and store all your worldly possessions.
Nowadays, these smaller-sized campers are
the choice for people wanting to sate their wanderlust across the country.
Here are the 10 most innovative mini campers and trailers made in the good old US of A.
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What's cooler than owning a 1960's Cadillac? Towing a trailer that looks exactly like a 1960's
Cadillac – oh, and it's a fraction of the price. Relic trailers produce this vintage and totally
retro-chic number for those who like to caravan in style – while turning heads.
Just because the outside looks funky and dated doesn't mean that the interior is lacking.
These vans are fully customizable, so you can have the kitchen, sleeping,
and dining area any way you want it.
The shell is made from one piece of seamless fiberglass to keep you dry
and limiting the ways water can find its way in.
For those handy with tools, the Relic Trailer can even be delivered with a completely clean slate.
Ready for you to add all the glamping creature
comforts and upgraded bits you want to your heart's content.
Looking to compete in the "best bang for buck" category is the Gen 3 5X8, a camper trailer that
is built from durable quality materials while not breaking the bank. The body is based on a fully
welded stainless steel tubular frame – you can roll it on its roof, and it would still be fine.
There's a list of options as long as your arm, and customers can make this fully customizable unit.
However, they want to suit their needs. Roof racks, extra luggage compartments,
dual batteries, additional charging ports – if you need it, they can install it.
It can sleep 2 people comfortably despite being so small and compact and is designed
to be taken through the rough wilderness trails behind your 4x4. There is even a
carbon monoxide detector to keep the cabin's sleeping occupants safe during the night.
This camper is incredibly tiny, taking up no more room behind your tow vehicle than
a standard box trailer. Don't let the slim profile fool you, though,
as the 2021 OP Lite is proof that good things come in small packages.
Once you get to your destination, you're in for a treat. Thanks to revolutionary air
inflation technology, the tent contained inside will expand and erect itself,
turning into a fully functioning off-grid home in just 90 seconds.
The tent itself features air beam technology and has been tested to
withstand extreme wind conditions. In fact, the sleeping area is so high that you can
walk around standing up inside without your head ever touching the ceiling.
Heavy-duty construction comes by way of a beefy off-road-ready suspension
system complete with chunky mud tires and snow chains should you need them.
The Woolly Bear is a no-nonsense gear hauler for
those who want to travel light and go wherever the trail leads.
The bottom section expands into a full-size outdoor kitchen, complete with a pull-out
drawer for the fridge/freezer. Handy-sized storage compartments offer safe transport of
things like propane gas bottles, with a loading bar on the side for multiple mountain bikes.
Up top are dual universal mounting brackets. One is for a fold-out canopy style cover to
keep you dry when the weather is miserable or out of the sun when the weather is glorious.
The other can lock together to form a platform that suits most 2 or 3 person rooftop tents.
There are options to add a mosquito netted dining room,
as well as an outdoor toilet area complete with a privacy door. Other risers can lift
the tent up as high as you want it if you happen to be trekking through bear country.
The Big Woody Ultimate teardrop camper maintains the aerodynamic
sheet aluminum finish on top. This helps to keep the fuel bill down
while retaining a more bygone era timber aesthetic look on the sides.
A double bed-sized mattress will give a couple a good night's rest
and is large enough to accommodate a small child nestled between.
Your feet slide under the kitchen compartment, which folds out from
the back and stores everything you need to take campsite food from boring to epic and gourmet.
It runs off both 12V and 230V, able to be hooked up to both a powered
site pole or to the battery system in your tow vehicle.
There is a "build-it-yourself" option to do anything from lining the interior with
cedar planks giving it a log cabin feel to adding a TV/DVD system for snuggling
up and watching your favorite shows on a cold winter's night.
Making the big claim of "America's most affordable mini-camper"
is the Runaway Venturist – and it makes a pretty good argument.
A proprietary independent suspension system and massive 33-inch all-terrain tires give it 20
inches of ground clearance and enough flexibility to deal with some unnaturally high torsion angles.
All while being towed through rough country. It has entrance and exit doors on either side,
with roof racks up top for kayak storage or a large luggage basket.
As well as dual brackets to support bilateral broad coverage bat-wing style awnings.
It sleeps 2 people inside, with an option of adding on an AC unit to cope with swelteringly
hot summer conditions. The rear kitchen area is practical and will house everything it needs to
while freeing up more space for the sleeping area without increasing the trailer size too much.
The Bean Stock Minimalist is a tremendous little teardrop camper that features a
larger queen-sized mattress and does all the basic things very, very well.
You can tell it's a bean by the standout round steel fenders.
Weight is kept down by using plastic laminate instead of steel in places like the kitchen area.
There is no built-in water tank either. The next tier is the Classic Bean, which expands
on the original by offering floor storage, more heavy-duty steel accessories, and a large water
storage area. You can tell by its less functional, more aesthetically pleasing fiberglass fenders.
Then we have the Mean Bean. Slightly taller, slightly wider,
with more ground clearance and more robust tow neck, suspension, and tires.
The fenders are black powder-coated steel, and unlike the other models,
they're able to be stood on to erect the rooftop tent or load cargo onto the roof racks.
For all your off-road needs, there is the top-tier model – the Meaner Bean.
Its independent rear suspension offers 17 inches of ground clearance with rock
sliders on the side to prevent any damage to the trailer while towing through rocky trails.
If you want to be one with nature and enjoy the view of the outdoors,
then the Vistablue Teardrop is the mini camper for you. It has vast front and
rear windscreen-sized windows, with a duo of additional pop-out windows on either side.
The sleeping area, which doubles as the dining room, is nearly fully transparent. Meaning
you can look up at the starry night sky before getting some rest or enjoy a cup of coffee while
watching the sunrise. It has panoramic optics without getting a visit from any biting bugs.
It comes in a range of customizable colors. The addition of canvas coverings on the side
of the rear kitchen area is a nice touch to keep out the wind and rain.
If something looks like it's built tough, then it probably is.
The Trail-Maker Bushwhacker doesn't muck around, and what it lacks in pleasing aesthetics it
makes up for with function and sheer durability. Despite weighing just 1000lbs, this camper/trailer
hybrid is still 10 feet long, 6 feet wide, and 5 feet tall. It's made from a steel frame
and welded aluminum body – no timber here. It's designed to get bumped and bashed around
getting to those remote spots in the wilderness. A side awning provides cover for the slide-out
cooking area. There is a considerable storage space sitting atop the tow neck.
A queen-size bed offers greater comfort than others at the price range, with options for
independent suspension, off-road tires, and solar panels there for those who want them.
TAG offers a wide range of trailers to suit any need, at any budget. The base model still offers
creature comforts like air conditioning, kitchen area, and external shower despite its low price.
The next size up appropriately named the TAG XL is a full foot wider,
enabling the addition of a ceramic heater for the interior space,
YETI cooler, and microwave. All powered by an onboard solar panel and battery storage.
A sizeable front stargazer window offers an uninterrupted view of the stars
while listening to your favorite tunes on the Bluetooth media center and sound
system. Dual-pane acrylic windows mean better sound attenuation and a better night's rest.
The TAB S incorporates a gallery-style kitchen inside, as well as a wet bathroom complete with
a toilet, sink, and shower for all the glampers out there. For those with more antiquated tastes,
the up-and-coming Barefoot model offers mid-century curves with a
more traditional caravan style set up inside – able to seat up to 10 adults!