≡ Menu

Travel Trailer You Can Tow with a 4-cylinder: Tex’s Teardrop Camper


This post contains affiliate links.

Teardrop campers are becoming more and more popular today because they’re relatively inexpensive and make camping much more convenient.

Thanks to one of our readers, Sandy, who emailed me a photo of their little travel trailer that they got from Tex’s Teardrops.

With a queen size bed and the ability to tow with your 4-cylinder vehicle if you wanted it really is economical and comfortable.

The galley in the back is your kitchen on the go. All you have to do is throw all of your equipment inside, tow, and go.

This one is only 5 feet wide so you’ll still be able to see with your side view mirrors while towing it.

Inside there’s overhead cabinets to keep your belongings out of sight and just like in any other travel trailer you’ve got locks on your doors to keep your stuff safe.

Would you consider a teardrop camper for weekend camping or even long-term travel?

Please don’t miss other exciting tiny homesjoin our FREE Tiny House Newsletter!

Tex's Teardrop Camper

Photo Credit Sandy

Another great thing about teardrops is that they’re not only easy to tow but they’re also easy to store since they fit in just about any garage. If not it’s pretty easy to cover and protect it because of it’s compact size.

If you enjoyed this you’ll LOVE our Free Daily Tiny House Newsletter with even more!

You can also join our Small House Newsletter!

Also, try our Tiny Houses For Sale Newsletter! Thank you!

More Like This: Tiny Houses | Tiny Vintage Car towing a Matching Teardrop Trailer | THOW

Do you have any stories you can share about your experience or dream of owning a teardrop camper? If so, please share in the comments below along with any tips, suggestions, and resources related to teardrops. Thank you so much!

This post contains affiliate links.

The following two tabs change content below.

Alex

Alex is a contributor and editor for TinyHouseTalk.com and the always free Tiny House Newsletter. He has a passion for exploring and sharing tiny homes (from yurts and RVs to tiny cabins and cottages) and inspiring simple living stories. We invite you to send in your story and tiny home photos too so we can re-share and inspire others towards a simple life too. Thank you!
{ 11 comments… add one }
  • October 4, 2012, 9:01 pm

    These teardrop trailers look wonderful but they aren’t practical for independent living. Without a toilet or shower they can only be used for camping in places where such facilities are available. They are one step above using a tent.

    As a home project they look cute and easy to make, since there isn’t any plumbing and not much electrical work to be done.

    If I wanted a trailer to spend some time in, I’d go with a taller one with full amenities. I know of several brands that aren’t much longer yet have everything needed to be off the grid, even if it were just for a little while. They can be towed by mid-size cars.

    If one were starting from scratch and just wanted a small portable place to sleep, get a van. It will have more interior space than a teardrop trailer. Even a minivan will be bigger inside, and the length will be much shorter than a car plus trailer. That means it could be parked anywhere.

    • October 5, 2012, 9:31 am

      Great point Michael! A minivan is a great idea too. I’ve seen some cargo vans converted into pretty decent little campers.

      You can also look into those really small fiberglass campers that are lightweight but still give you the ability to stand up and maybe even a shower/toilet.

  • sesameB
    October 5, 2012, 10:44 am

    I love this. Its a reminder of my old 1960’s ‘dear drop’ shape, yellow in color trailer, which I towed across country.

    Have a blessed day.

  • Sandy Honea
    October 6, 2012, 9:12 am

    Hmm, I beg to differ Michael. Our teardrop is WORLDS away from a step away from a tent. We have an air conditioner, several lights, shelving to hold the small flat screen for those too cold nights or rainy days, a heater if needed. It can run off battery life if boondocking and we have a sink and faucet with water hookup. Granted there is not a potty inside and who would want that in close quarters. The beauty is you can set up facilities as close or far away as you decide. The galley is efficient and has everything we want or need close by. Set up? Literally 5 minutes, park it, unhitch, chock wheels, level it and go play….hmmm, while you are still unfolding a tent. Very light to pull also. Don’t underestimate the well appointed teardrop, that would be a mistake.

    • Leisa Firth
      June 10, 2014, 12:31 pm

      What size/make is your teardrop? We are trying to learn everything about them. So intrigued!! Your comments are my wishes as well. What do you pull your trailer with?
      thanks for your time 🙂

  • jerryd
    October 6, 2012, 1:38 pm

    While ok for very short time frames that is about it. Like most teardrops it’s not aero at all because of the steep rear curve that causes large amounts of drag.

    The solution is more space!!! Instead of sweeping down just do a gentle curve to the end then cut it off cleanly. The rear sides should curve inward a little too. Also the front sides should curve inward at it’s front to cut drag more.

    Just these mods will cut highway speed drag, thus power needed by 50%!!!

    In fact if done right it can clean up the towing vehicle’s aero drag enough that if built lightly, it could save enough power so the trailer doesn’t need more than the towing vehicle does without the trailer ;^P One would need aero wheel pants or put them inside the trailer sides.

    So if one’s goal is towing with small engines it’s the shape that counts with reasonable weight, not just size. In fact somewhat larger ones can be lower drag, engine strain.

  • Bob
    January 2, 2013, 5:40 pm

    I have a tiny one (one person, 40 inches wide, 7 feet long) that I built. I get better fuel mileage pulling it with my Honda Civic 4 cylinder (42 mpg) than I do without. Great sleeping in the rain (unlike in a tent) and breaking camp in the rain is a breeze. If you kept it connected to the car, just lock the door and away you go. Too tired to drive further? A Flying J Travel Center. Walmart, etc. has a space for you. And, most travel centers have shower facilities available. I also have the 13′ fiberglass “egg shaped” travel trailer, but it is too heavy for the Civic and requires my pickup truck at about 20 mpg.

  • Ellen
    December 28, 2015, 1:12 pm

    You can get a gym membership for planet fitness for $20 a month and take all the showers you need.

  • Sherrie
    August 29, 2017, 11:36 pm

    My idea is to build my teardrop as just a sleeper and no galley. My galley will be in the back of my hatch back SUV and for a bathroom with shower and compost toilet I will hang a large tarp or piece of canvas over the open back hatch! And secure the sides with magnets to my SUV! That will leave me space in the camper for a small closet/dresser combo.

    • Norman Babbitt
      February 22, 2021, 11:50 pm

      I like that idea (sleeper vice camper). I am building a tear drop sleeper for my wife and I to travel cross country. Why not a camper? We have a 21 foot Palomini for camping but we have to pull it with the truck. The teardrop is for pulling with a Corolla.

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.