"Escape the Ordinary" Rugged Minimalist Teardrop Camper
This teardrop trailer is all about the small details. Oregon Trailer set out to build a rugged yet minimalistic teardrop camper to get you off the beaten path. Oregon Trailer has been refining this teardrop trailer for over 10 years, and you can tell that Jon and Sawyer, the founders, are passionate about camping and exploring the great outdoors. Their knowledge and experience are evident in every inch of this teardrop trailer, which is designed to withstand rough terrain and unpredictable weather conditions.
The teardrop camper is made with high-quality materials, including a sturdy tubular steel chassis, making it essentially bombproof on the trail. The trailer has a rugged design that can handle tough off-road conditions. With a streamlined teardrop shape, it's easy to tow, and it won't slow you down on your next adventure.
The interior of the teardrop trailer is minimalistic, but it has everything you need for a comfortable camping experience. The trailer has a queen-size mattress, plenty of storage space, and a full galley kitchen with a sink and stove. The camper also has a water tank, solar panel, and battery, making it self-sufficient and perfect for camping in remote locations.
One of the best features of this teardrop trailer is the attention to detail. Jon and Sawyer have thought of everything, from the sturdy handles and hinges to the waterproof LED lights and the easy-to-clean surfaces. Every aspect of the teardrop trailer has been carefully considered to make your camping experience comfortable and hassle-free.
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Aero Walkthrough
Hello Drew, Sawyer from Oregon Trail'R here. Thanks again for coming out to visit us and make this gorgeous video, it's so fun to see our trailers in such glorious videography! I appreciate that you took the time to show the details that we think helps to set us apart from the others… I did want to address the coating comment, as there is a bit of misunderstanding there. There are essentially three quality levels of “truck bed-liner” coatings. First you have the cheap aerosol cans that really aren’t any good for anything. Second you have your 2 part kits that come with a spray gun you hook to your home air compressor. The Raptor liner you mentioned, and many others, are this style coating. It can be purchased in kids from big box stores and amazon, and they are great for adding to vehicles in high wear areas to prevent scuffs/scratches/etc. I would never use this stuff on wood as a protective coating, it’s more like a thick paint, and it will certainly crack over time. The third level, is the true PolyUrea coatings like LineX, which is what the military applies to fuel tanks of their vehicles to protect from IED’s, etc. This is what we spray on our trailers. It’s the same material as LineX, with binders to bond it permanently to a correctly prepared wood surface. This material comes in 55 gallon barrels, and gets sprayed through a $30k machine at very high pressure to build a coating of about 1/8”. This material has the same tensile strength as steel, but with rubber-like flexibility. In fact, it can stretch much farther than the wood’s ability to expand/contract, so even if the wood did move a significant amount, the Alpha coating stretches with it. But, the fear of wood expanding/contracting is GREATLY overplayed in this market, especially if the body was constructed correctly. I was trained by a marine cabinetmaker/shipwright, and everything I learned in my decades of woodworking, has been about how to control expansion/contraction, how to make things weatherproof, and how to make things repairable in the event of a problem. I apply all of those to our trailer designs, and this is why we have a very good reputation for our quality/durability. We use Marine grade baltic birch, bonded together with a torsion box ceiling structure (for best strength/weight ratio), seamless floor, and proven cabinetry joinery throughout, we fill every screw hole and hairline crack with filler, as you would a wooden boat, but instead of using a fiberglass topcoat for strength, we use PolyUrea, which holds up FAR better to the elements, abrasions, and impacts… Our first Alpha coated trailer was built in 2015, spent it’s first 2 years outside going back and forth between Alaska and San Diego, then it’s next 2 years traveling the country with an off-road marketing company to different trail meetups and events, and then was sold to a gentleman who stays in contact with us and says that the coating has faded in color slightly, but remains perfect beyond that. This style truck bedliner was first introduced in the early 80’s, and have been used in countless commercial applications, we are just the first to bring this technology to the camper market. I’m not claiming the “Alpha Coating” to be the best way, or the only way to do it correctly, but it works extremely well for us and have had zero complaints. If anyone has any further questions about our coatings, we are happy to explain it in further detail if you want to hit us up, all contact info is on our website- www.oregontrailer.net Thanks again Drew, your videos are always awesome, and we are thrilled to be included on your channel!
Love hearing this. From the community over the years I have been made aware of your build quality in terms of materials used and how your trailer is joined together. So I knew the bones were strong. But, the flexibility you mention regarding your Alpha Coating I obviously was not aware of. And it sounds great! So my new question for you is this. What about hidden issues? Beings this coating is incredibly flexible and strong what happens in the event of an unnoticed leak or shifting materials? With this trailer the weakest link for water intrusion still exists. And that is any component on the outside of the trailer that is wired inside (lights, 12 volt adapters, etc.) I agree that expanding/contracting is overplayed in the terms of weather and moisture. I may have used the wrong term in the video. I was more referring to movement within the trailer caused by either high and low frequency vibrations (over time having loose fastening components, separation of walls or roof, etc.) and then unnoticed water intrusion (the expansion and contraction within the cabin walls, roof, and subfloor from freeze thaw cycles, if water did make it's way into the cabin. I don't know how to say this in a way that doesn't sound rude. And I am not trying to be disrespectful or rude. Again, it is those critical eyes I just can't turn off at at times. And I use these moments as learning opportunities for me and the community. I have been to some of the best trailer manufactures in the country and even their trailers come back in at about the 5 year mark for minor repairs associated with these issues. These repairs can be done quickly and affordably, but if not caught in time can lead to much bigger structural damage. So that leads me to only two outcomes. Either you guys have done it, and are the first traditional teardrop manufacturers to beat road vibrations, elements, and the effects of time. Which would be awesome if that is the case! I sound sarcastic here, but I am not trying to be. Maybe you really do have a manufacturing process that nobody in the industry has discovered. Or you have a trailer that will be hard to identify creeping issues such as water intrusion, loosening hardware, shifting surface, etc. If the liner is as strong and flexible as you describe, that brings on a new set of worries. Will water intrusion go unnoticed until it is too late? Will deteriorating or shifting elements of the build go unnoticed because it is being held together by a flexible yet strong outer covering. And if damage does occur underneath the coating, does the owner not discover it until it is too late? Not to mention the need to remove the coating and then reapply the coating if maintenance was done. This reminds me of manufacturers who put skid plates covering the entire subfloor. It sounds great in theory to protect from rocks and branches on the trail. But, manufacturers who have been doing this for a long time all know that this is a NO-NO. And water is the enemy of that design and has caused havoc on a number of trailers on the road who used this method. Crazy enough people are still using this method today. Again, like I mentioned in the video, this doesn't take away from your build. I do believe this makes the trailer stronger than 90%, maybe 100% of the traditional builds on the road. But, I still can't say with good conscience this is a fool proof method for sealing a trailer. But, I would love to be proved wrong. I remember in Alaska the weatherization agencies went all throughout Rural Alaska sealing up homes. It was great, people saved money on heating costs, everyone was excited. A decade or two later and all of those homes had to be re-weatherized with the newest technology. They overlooked one thing. Houses need to breathe. And over time this became obvious and new weatherization tactics were implemented. Today in rural Alaska. Houses are designed to breathe. If I am missing something here throughout this post regarding my knowledge please feel free to share. Like I said I am always open to learn. And I have been proven wrong from time to time on here. As you can tell from the video comments the community loves your trailer! And I believe they should. You guys are really dialing in a trailer that in many ways is second to none.
As usual outstanding explanation and delivery. True professionals 👍
@@PlayingwithSticks, Drew, I understand your hesitation, as water intrusion is THE MOST significant destroyer of camp trailers. This is exactly why we are doing it this way with marine plywood bonded with commercial polyurea coating (Alpha Coat). Consider it this way, a traditionally built teardrop is built with domestic cabinetry grade plywood, then skinned with aluminum sheet. Then an edge molding is applied over the seams with sealants (caulk or putty tape) to keep water out. For this edge moulding to be effective, it has to be screwed in roughly every 3 inches of length (generally 40-60 feet of this moulding per trailer depending on model). Each of those screws (over 200 in most cases) is a future path for water intrusion when the caulking or putty tape dries up and fails (a handful of years like you mentioned in your reply above). But it’s not an easy repair like you think (if done correctly). Once water has reached the endgrain of non-marine plywood, you’ve got a wet sponge and dry rot/ de-lamination will begin… The real repair is to literally cut out all of the spongy wood and patch in new material with supported joinery, making sure everything is glued and fastened in a way to keep future leaks out of the new seams you just made with your patch. But as you can imagine, most RV repairs are simply to “cover up” the problem and call it good, because the life span of most camp trailers is expected to be short, especially in modern times. Called it planned obsolescence, laziness, or simple greed, but this is the reality of today’s RV industry. The main reason we use this polyurea “Alpha” coating, is exactly to stop the water intrusion that you and I both know kills all camp trailers eventually. The side benefit is that it’s incredibly abrasion and impact resistant, and has the tensile strength of steel, given the same thickness, which makes this material nearly impossible to stretch to the point of breaking. Without trying to be rude myself, I think you might have a misunderstanding of how this material attaches to our trailer. It isn’t like paint that sits on top and can peel off. It literally is bonded to the wood, such that if you tried to separate the coating from the wood, you’d have to split the wood instead (like a correctly glued wood joint will break at the wood, not at the joint). This means water cannot exist between the two layers to create those “creeping issues” you are concerned about (those concerns are VERY real in a traditionally built teardrop, where water can overcome bad/old sealant and get between the aluminum and plywood). And since the polyurea is able to stay permanently flexible in almost any temperature that humans can survive in, the tiny amount of seasonal expansion/contraction in the marine plywood has zero effect on the bonding of the polyurea to the plywood. Since there is no opportunity for water to creep into a seam or joint because of the properties of the coating, and the inside wood has been coated with 4 coats of UV applied CC4 high solids clear finish, there is not a lot of opportunity for moisture to get to the wood. All wood will expand/contract seasonally, but the entire point of cross-banded marine plywood is to keep expansion/contraction at bay EVEN when exposed to water. This is exactly why we chose this type of plywood, even though it is wildly expensive and difficult to obtain. On the topic of “quick and affordable repairs” I honestly think the alpha coating is by far the better choice for a trailer’s exterior. If damage occurs to it, like say someone backs the trailer into something (very common mistake by new trailer owners) and manages to get through the coating (this scenario has happened), the trailer can be brought to a Linex shop or similar commercial polyurea sprayer, and they can fill/patch/feather the coating very easily (we’ve done this multiple times). The material bonds to itself perfectly when prepared correctly. For the same repair on an aluminum trailer (I’ve done this repair a few times), we would remove the edge moulding on both sides (VERY large job, since we use poly sealants that adhere very well), then we’d remove the damaged sheet of aluminum, repair/replace any damage to the wood substrate (aluminum is very bad at impact resistance), fill the 200+ screw holes that you just revealed from the removal of the edge moulding, since you’ll need to put the new screws into fresh wood for a good bite. Cut a new sheet of aluminum to fit, take it to powder-coating to match the rest of the trailer (we always powder-coat aluminum for better scratch resistance), re-install the skin with glue/staples, then install up to 60 feet of new edge moulding with all new screws, being careful not line it up to hit the old holes, which would spin out before the screw reached proper holding strength. In the early days of OT, before we had build queues and waiting lists, we offered trailer repair for a spell to keep the bills payed and doors open. I’ve repaired all kinds of water intrusion problems in all kind of trailers, and this more than anything has taught me what NOT to do, and forced redesigns of many parts of our early campersto continually improve them. This was invaluable to us in understanding what the weak points and strong points are of different trailer construction techniques. Most campers are built like houses, with butt joints, water based sealants, and crappy domestic plywood, we found that this combination leads to inevitable dry rot problems quickly, which are very difficult to repair correctly. Most trailers are built like homes, they start with a foundation (chassis), bolt a floor to it, fasten walls to the floor, slide in the cabinetry/partitions down the middle, and screw/nail everything together, and cover with aluminum or filon and trim for weather resistance. This is very fast and easy, and can easily look plenty nice enough. BUT, these are the trailers that rattle and vibrate apart over time. They are a bunch of components fastened together like a large lego set. Our camper bodies are built like cabinets, not houses, with every piece bonding to the next in captured joinery, using flexible adhesives (which allow for micro vibrations, unlike brittle glues like yellow wood glue or epoxy) and boat building methods for bending/shaping/fastening. The body of every trailer is built completely separately from the chassis, and married towards the end of the build. This makes the whole trailer two separate components that are individually strong enough to easily self-support, but can be removed from each other for MUCH easier repair if necessary. We’ve redesigned our chassis at least 4-5 times over the years for improvements, and this also allows us to put an old body on a new chassis (we’ve done this for a few clients that wanted the new chassis for all of its improvements over the older designs). I understand all of your concerns, I’ve lived many of them over my 16 years (total, not just OT) of building and repairing teardrops, but I think we’ve done a very good job at addressing all of the issues we’ve seen and worried about over those years. Our Alpha prototype is still in excellent condition after 8 years of heavy use and abuse, with no issues whatsoever relating to the coating (there was a door leak at one point, and a tongue box needed replacing after the trailer was jack-knifed on a trail, a new battery, brake adjustments, wheel bearing and suspension maintenance, etc, BUT the coating is doing it’s job perfectly still… Thanks again Drew, for your time and commitment to being honest about your concerns, and I hope I was able to soothe some of your concerns and explain why we do things the way we do, and that all these decisions were heavily considered, researched, and tested before we sold even one of these trailers to a client. We are more than happy to do an updated interview or zoom call or whatever works for you where we go into all this stuff more, we’ve really only just touched on the topic to be honest. There is a lot more we can chat about when it comes to our Alpha Coating and its benefits (also challenges, mainly in cost, and difficulty to apply and work with during the construction process). I’d even like to send you an offcut from a fan cutout or something that you can play with to see just how amazing this material is! If you want, I’d be happy to send you a piece to play with just for fun, just hit us up with an address and I’ll ship something to you! Hope you have a great week! - Sawyer
@@OregonTrailR Wow, I absolutely love this comment Sawyer. And I was hopeful that you would prove my last statement wrong. Which you did! At some point in time I would love to highlight you guys again on the channel regarding the build process. I have always been a sucker for traditional builds. But, it wasn't until the last 1-2 years that I really started believing they could be built to last generations. And even that, like I mentioned before, tends to come with roughly a 5 year maintenance schedule to be able to one day hand it off to your children. What you are saying here though...this is something I have never heard within the industry. I would love for people to know and understand how a traditional style teardrop trailer can run alongside the aluminum and composite trailers of today. Thanks again for taking the time to explain this so well. Like you said, it is just the tip of the iceberg for you guys. But, the tip of the iceberg alone for OregonTrailR appears to be larger than most of the entire tradtional icebergs in the industry. Keep up the great work guys! You can tell from the comments and number of views on this video that you are definitely doing something right!
@@PlayingwithSticksThanks Drew, it would be super cool to do a vid on the build process when you have the free time to do so. How we build our trailers is really our passion. We are a crew of outdoor enthusiast artist/builders, not businessmen, and all we ever wanted to do was make a living making the best possible camper in a fun working environment, and it's working out splendidly! Our concerns have always been, and will continue to be about good design/execution, and quality control as we grow, not about market share or profit margins, and the results have blessed us with a comfortable market share, and enough profit to keep things rolling correctly and grow slowly. I'm not kidding about sending you a fan cutout sample of our Alpha coat, bonded to the outside roof panel. You'll be able to get a really good idea for what this material is capable of... No pressure, just happy to indulge any curiosities you have about the material. One thing I forgot to mention was the reason why I think we are the first and only manufacturer doing this at the scale we are doing it. It is VERY expensive, and VERY difficult to apply. This coating is by far the most expensive component on our trailers, and we had to work very hard to find the right partner (to spray the polyurea, because it truly is an art that cannot be faked by novices) that can meet our standards and get it right every time. We worked with 4 different polyurea shops before we landed on the perfect partner who shares our enthusiasm for making incredibly durable products that should last a lifetime. Even if other trailer manufacturers can find and reach the same level of execution on a polyurea spray job, they likely would want to see a much higher immediate ROI to even consider it. For us, the ROI is in the long-game. Not having to do nearly as much if any maintenance or repair on the back end, is a HUGE timesaver, and having been in business for 12 years and having had to do very little repair work, has been amazing for being able to advance the new construction side of the business, and already the Alpha coating has cut our repair work down to basically just repairing seals on doors/windows if/when they develop a leak, which is also very uncommon now that we've identified and come up with solutions for many of the issues that plague the pre-made doors and windows in our industry... Boy, I can get wordy about teardrops stuff, sorry Drew! I know you are a busy guy! Take care, thanks again for having an open ear and a responsible ownership of a very important channel for our industry. Thanks again, and keep in touch!
I never thought I'd live long enough to hear a tiny trailer at 9k was affordable.
Agreed. I have been looking to get a tear drop trailer and in many cases I can buy a low mileage used car for cheaper. I don’t get it :(
Based on the design and functionality, it’s not cheap. I have seen people on KZhead make a tiny house for 9k.
Build it yourself, probably the cheapest way to do it. Tons of diy videos out there
Have you guys seen other trailers? They run for like 20k+. Affordable in general, maybe...but relatively, definitely.
Give me 50000 rupess ill make better than this
I got a Do-Drop Alpha from Jon & Christian about a year ago (MAY 2022) and have literally taken it across the country immediately upon pick-up (Oregon to Michigan). I have since taken the trailer on the road and camping and I have nothing but great memories and experiences. I have yet not to get someone who sees me out and about with it not stop me and want a tour and the details about my little DDA. The trailer stays cool in the summer sun and warm while it is snowing outside. The main reasons I decided on an Oregon Trailer is because it will go anywhere my 2 door Jeep Rubicon will go & the water proof coating that encompasses the outside. My trailer is just as strong and reliable today as the first day I picked it up from Jon. I store my trailer in my backyard so it goes thru all four seasons and not once have I had an issue. Absolutely got my money's worth from this trailer and have and will continue to recommend Oregon Trailer to people. I always tell people to do their research and see for themselves how much quality and features they will get when they compare Oregon Trailer to anyone else in the market but I also guarantee them that they circle back around to Oregon Trailer.
Beautiful teardrop. Dude sounds like Ron Swanson!
I was out dispersed camping in the Beaver Dam Wash NCA and a heard of cows and bulls visited my camp area. The bull was brusing up against my trailer. I was freaked out he was going to do damage. I was able to shoo him away but had to get out of the trailer and bulls are intimidating especially when they have balls 😉Then i see this panic siren on the Oregon Trailer. What a cool idea. I called these guys and Jon sent me an email with a detailed list of parts . What a guy to take time to do this. They should start selling kits. Very impressive
I’m a dark sky advocate and hearing this talk about color temp and avoiding obnoxious and overpowering lighting is wonderful. I travel with a small telescope, and even in remote campsites, it’s so annoying when people go out to experience nature but their campsite is illuminated like a Walmart parking lot.
Amen, fellow advocate! Also, wonderful eclipse photo you have there.
I see it all the time in the big boys, those 5th wheel behemouse and the motor coaches. The entire underneath is lit up. What the heck!!! These seem to belong to people who go to a large (big rig friendly) campground and sit outside under their mostly useless awning for their entire trip. .
I will never be fortunate enough or have the need to use one of these. Yet here I am watching this video in pure fascination.
Do these things come with an outdoor boyfriend 😂 I got the dog, the truck, & the thirst for adventure on deck! 🤗
Best presentation I've ever seen for any outdoor product. It's obvious you're enthusiastic about this. I'm sold.
We've owned our Terradrop Alpha since 2018 and it's been absolutely incredible. Flawless build quality, amazing attention to detail and the best build team in the business. Yes, the lead tomes can be a little long, but the wait is worth it to have the finest traditionally built teardrop on the market. Our TDA has seen some enthusiastic use over a wide range of off road terrain as it's being dragged behind my 80 series or my wife's diesel Gladiator and it never skips a beat.
It's always such a pleasure to see craftsmen that know their product so well. That level of experience, dedication to excellence and forthrightness manifest themselves in a compelling fluidity during the presentation. Kudos from Medellin Colombia.
I really respect your electrical layout and especially well-thought-out lighting design. Good job on this video!
quality teardrop, quality video. thanks for sharing, God bless
Glad you enjoyed it! As usual thanks for the blessings. God is good! Blessings to you as well.
It’s a nice little setup they have ( something for every level of teardrops). Welcome home Drew!
That is what I like. Small to big. Budget to high dollar. Thanks for the warm welcome David. Feels great to be back!
Have always been intrigued with the Do Drop Alpha. That has to be one of my favorite rugged / minimalist teardrops out there.
I really appreciate your channel and what you’ve done to help us decide what might work for us. This is a wonderful trailer. I think I may decide that a cheaper one from a RV dealer locally even though small and a bit maligned will get me back on the road and camping. All of our choices are compromised by our money and age. I believe that I will give up on a standup trailer with a bathroom and go with a small one which will give me a kitchen in back and a decent bed. This will beat a tent; I suspect. No kids but a reluctant partner who isn’t thrilled with towing or even camping. We will see. Looks like a Braxton Creek tiny teardrop could win. I already had a perfect and wonderful NuCamp 320 S which I traded in… damn. Live and learn. Moving along.
Another great video. Nice little setup.
That table that attaches is super neat!
Agreed! My wife May said the same thing when she first watched this.
Another one i missed!! Well its lovely to binge ur videos Mr.sticks! This one looks adorable!! 👦🏽🧒🏽👶🏽👼🏽👶🏽👍🏽🤍
As someone who designed ergonomic stuff I gotta say this chap is an artist.
You're dec.light warm is GOOD 😊
I totally agree with the heating blanket. The body heat from two people along the blanket will keep you warm in cold temperatures.
Ive owned my terra drop alpha for over 2 years now and love it. Fantastic company, great to work with. Phenomenal product. 10/10
my mum ex had one of these they used to go out in the desert and have fun with other guys in camps
@@marzbar393 she seems like a nice lady. I might know her?
@@mm.stgermain just google angela white. she look almost 95 percent like angela white
The lighting is exceptional!
Wow - this video was a surprise. Excellent design and thoughtful engineering 👍🏻
Hello From Springfield !
Seems like a conscientious approach to design. I’d like to see an integrated ice box feature in the galley open on top. Agree on some need for back support. Those pullout tables are nice but on a bed surface you’ll be challenged to use them for very long. There is an implication of a battery, but I didn’t hear anything about that system. Good approach, and I look forward to future improvements.
wow damn, great job! I think I may have to start budgeting to get one of these! Looks awesome
Yep, i definitely want one!!
When I bought my Off Grid Expedition 2.0 the Oregon AlphaDrop was one of the final 2 choices along with the Expedition 2.0.... I opted for the all metal construction of the Expedition but always considered this my favorite. Great job on the video as always Drew! btw...I sold the Expedition Drew...not sure if you've seen the news but we're full timers now...moved out of the apt and into the new camper....
Wow, you can tell a lot of thought and experience went into every choice. Very cool trailer!
Great work man ❤
Really neat caravan. He sold it well too.
It seems to me it rains a lot when I go camping. Maybe I need an indoor kitchen. Thank You Thou for showing us your product.
I like this a lot ! Really nice ! Want one.
Great looking trailer. I was looking at their DoDrop a few years ago but lead times then were way out, so I went a different direction. Comment about liner material: the Tiny Camper Company trailer I ended up buying has a rhino liner exterior, and after about four years and ten thousand miles (mostly paved roads) I see no cracks or signs of deterioration.I spiff it up once a year with some Armor-all like products, and it looks like new. Great video.
would LOVE one of these!!!
Great review of this well designed teardrop! Back into watching camping videos! Many blessings to you and the family. Ps. We’re missing Cosmo Weems
These are very nice!
Love the panic button/switch!! Good little trailer. Pricey...but that seems to be the norm now. At this size I am more a fan of the square shape as you can get a lot more space out of it compared to the teardrop shape.
Us too! That panic button is such a simple, but great idea. Good point on the square shape. He has the same version of this trailer in the square shape as well. His brother Sawyer's is the teardrop, his is the squaredrop.
Thanks a lot for using the metric system also 🙏👍
I think this has got to be one of the best if not the best thought out Teardrop design I have seen and like you said the attention to detail is amazing and the Lighting is fantastic ! I know where you’re coming from with the 3/4 Galley but I think I would make that sacrifice and use the 10x10 enclosure for the extra living space. This one is a winner for me ! Thanks as always Drew . If I’m not mistaken, you guys should be back in the good old US of A and I hope you are enjoying life and your current adventures Stateside. ✌️
For the first five years we owned a teardrop we wouldn’t have even required a full galley. We were much in line with your thought process. Our favorite part was setting up the outdoor living room, and making our little forts. But now that I spend so much time on the road towing the trailer and not knowing where I’m going to sleep from night to night, the need for a full galley has really increased. And now that campgrounds are so hard to find post pandemic, I think a full galley hatch would benefit a lot of people for the quick setup late at night after going from campsite to campsite to find a place to stay. And we agree with you. This is a really nice trailer. At some point in time I’ll show off their Terra Alpha and Do Drop as well. Really special trailers. Yes, we just got back to the States three days ago. We’ve got our American flag flying high 🇺🇸 It feels good to be back!
Amazing details.
Right!!! They have dialed in their trailers.
This has really nice features, I like the new style cabinets and the panic alarm.
I'm with you on the cabinets and the alarm. Love em.
I really like the lighting and attention to small things that will make a big difference in the day to day camping!
Yes, I would like to incorporate a number of these ideas into our new trailer. A little late now. We did install the ground lights though. Thank you so much for this Brad! We just bought our first home espresso machine. This will start chipping away at the cost. Haha. So appreciated. Each morning we will have a cup on Brad at a fraction of the price. May is loving it!
@@PlayingwithSticks You are very welcome! I am curious if your new espresso machine is camp friendly? If so, what did you go with?
@@jgrant4520 Definitely not camp friendly. It is a bit of a beast on our countertop. I know Mark from Bean takes on out from time to time on his adventures. I will have to ask him what he uses. I still use my Aero Press the most. But I have been experimenting more lately with my nanopresso. I think that is what it is called. I see they are coming out with electric versions now as well.
@@PlayingwithSticks Speaking of Bean, I was curious how the Bean Annex compared to your last video on the awning/tent reviews?
nice design
Wonderful review. I wish overall height with and without roof racks or awnings had been included. I live in an HOA and prefer to keep the small trailer in the garage. Thanks for bringing all the great comparisons.
That’s a great looking trailer, with lots of quality features. I really like it. I doubt if I could get my wife to camp with me in this, but If I could get away in it by myself, with just the trailer, the truck, and the dirt bike, it would be ideal. I totally agree that the roof rack adds unnecessary aerodynamic drag. Using lightweight backpacking gear, like bedding, cookware, camp chairs, etc. would help to reduce overall weight. Happy Trails
Agreed! I think teardrops make incredible solo trailers. I laugh writing that though as our family of 4 used the 4x8 teardrop for years. We essentially turned ours into a clown car. Haha.
I'm in the same boat, I don't want a huge tow vehicle to drive around 90% of the year doing nothing. I like my little Jeep Renegade and don't really want to move to anything much bigger, A wrangler is about as big as I will go. That puts my tow limit between 2k-5k depending on what I buy next. So I'm trying to convince my wife that a small teardrop like this, with a tent on the roof for our son would be great. We currently camp out of a tent and basically only sleep in it so I don't see why we need anything bigger. She wants me to have something more inline with a 4 person ultralight. I don't want to drive the vehicles that can tow those, nor do I want a trailer with the shoddy build quality you see on those. If I'm going to drop 15-30k on a trailer, I want it to outlast the car pulling it.
@@AHungryHunky We are in the same boat as well. Have you seen the trailer we are building? Basically the aim is to have our cake and eat it too. Small, light, built to last a lifetime, but lives larger at camp.
@@PlayingwithSticks Your channel is where I learned a lot about teardrops and helped me decide that's all I really need, and even helped with some packing/organizational ideas and how to make a small trailer feel bigger with the additions of awnings and things. I will admit I haven't seen your trailer you are building though. Life has gotten quite busy for me this last year since my son was born, I'll have to check it out if the little guy gives me time lol.
@@AHungryHunky I have a feeling you will like it. It was created to eliminate one of my trailers. I often found I needed both a teardrop and a 13' trailer. They both have different strengths and intended uses.
Truly intelligent design.
Awesome teardrops!i think I like theres better than bean trailers, there designs are amazing,and interiors look so homey,thanks for sharing this 😁
Wow, that is saying a lot. Love it! It really is a cozy/smart camper.
Want this camper! ❤
Beautiful design. I love the kitchen in the back but always wondered about weight distribution.
I dig these! Also this guy sounds exactly like Nic Cage every once in a while lol. Good stuff
Considered OT when we were in the market a few years back. Loved the classic TD look and it seemed high quality. We needed an internal bunk to accommodate our small family so we scratched this one off the list. Interesting how John alluded to OT’s superiority to “other manufacturers” a few times in the video. I appreciate you highlighting the dislikes - 3/4 galley and adding big things to the rooftop. 3/4 galley door means no protection from the elements. We’re not gonna get a RTT because they’re expensive and I wouldn’t be able to get the rig into the garage. OT pretty much requires a RTT if you wanna accommodate more than a couple of people. I’m kicking my boys out of the TD to pitch their own ground tents when they get too big. Anyhoo. Glad I went with one of the “other manufacturers” in the area because “other manufacturers” met all of my needs. Thanks for sharing as always!
I also like to point out that kicking the kids into a side entry tent or another tent location at camp really gives them a sense of autonomy. The look on their face is priceless when they hear they get to set up their own tent. The distant giggles from them at camp just melt your heart. I think a side entry can be just as effective as a RTT at a fraction of the price and without all the downsides.
I love this trailer
ALWAYS A GREAT REVIEW
Thank you. And always a great positive comment from you. I appreciate it.
Another great video. I have like the Oregon trailers for many years now. It's a very simple design, they're early models we're pretty bare-bones. This one looks great. I suppose the batteries have been stashed under the counter in the kitchen. Can't imagine what it's like to have to work on the electrical. 5 years is about right, I am a little under that and I am starting to replace my batteries and electrical charge system. I don't know enough about the rhino style bed liner cover stuff. But logic would dictate anything that's joined together is eventually going to create seam cracks. And I might have to adopt the idea of the hatch sidelights. And I see you just returned to the states. Welcome home!
I must have been living under a rock. I have seen them from time to time, but didn't really realize what I was missing. I had always been attracted to their little Do-Drop trailer. But, these larger ones from them are really special as well. I never did take a peek at that electrical system. Jon and his brother tend to run pretty minimal setups. But on Sawyers trailer they added an inverter to charge their electric dirt bikes they take out with them. Sounds quite fun! Like you, I instantly thought how do I integrate those lights into our design. We have added the ground lighting, but I think it is too late now for the hatch lights. And I agree with him, it really does feel dark around the trailer when your night vision goes from those galley lights. It feels so good to be on US soil! Thank you for the warm welcome Sean! Great seeing you on here.
Wow I like it its very nice
What we have here is a "hard pup-tent" They are beautiful rigs indeed.
Yo OT, I'm very Impressed 👍👍 LUVIT ❤️
Glad to hear that. Agreed. Oregon Trail'r was definitely a sleeper for me. I always liked them on paper. But now seeing them in person I have even more respect for the build.
I like the loud alarm, the lights to the side of the rear hatch, 2kw inverter and the general design aesthetic . I don't like all the wood when so many composite solutions exist that provide better endurance and insulative values. Some of the coolest teardrops on this channel don't use any wood at all and I wish more manufacturers would adopt this approach. I agree with your raptor coating assessment and panel movement cracking. With a composite approach the panels would be one piece and wouldn't require the additional coating. The better trailers still add some coating in the front for rock ships so it does have it's place. Overall it's a decent little trailer that will get you off the beaten path in style. Great review as always Drew!!
There have been a few times with mama bear and her cubs in the morning where that alarm would have been useful. Would I have used it? Probably not. Haha. There is just something about watching them wander quietly and quickly through camp. But, the moose on the other hand. I would definitely flip the switch. I'm really interested to see where teardrop manufacturing will go in the next few years. Many of the companies that build traditional teardrops have been talking about going composite, but I haven't seen many make the jump. And yes, great point on the one piece designs. It helps to cover a seam, but even better to eliminate one. Even Jon mentioned this about his tongue box. Thanks for the thoughtful response to this video. These are the conversations I really enjoy having.
Good vid Drew these look nice might have to offer that panic button
Thank you. I’ve been surprised how many comments we’ve got about the panic button. It seems to be a crowd pleaser. I love the ingenuity.
What a NICE design! I think a little customized modification would fit with my interest to buy one. (well if they offering) such as like open a wide-size sunroof for customers, in order for the upper tent to connect with the chamber of the trailer. That would become a 4-5 people family for overnight.
This company is making a nice product. Very cool.
Except there greed to over charge !!!!!
Well, the side lights in the galley hatch and alarm horn is definitely a first for me. Loving the innovation, overland geared trailer, with really nice design concepts. I will admit the bedliner is not my first choice. Good intentions, but personally don’t like the textured look and the idea of it covering up potential issues down the road. Great review Drew, as always spot on.
Thanks Matt for chiming in. Always good to hear from someone who is living the dream with their teardrop trailer.
Thanks for the review. I have been considering the Oregon trailer for several years now. I agree, sprayed liner could be an issue over time. The construction methods Oregon Trailer uses results in a very strong cabin, almost a monocoque design. They have several KZhead videos demonstrating the build process. They also use a high quality plywood. The construction techniques and material is going to minimize movement and help that liner last a long time. I think a lot of issues with Bed-liner over wood is due to poor quality substrate and construction methods that allow excessive flexing. The Terra Drop Alpha has been available for several years now. It would of been nice to hear from John how well they are holding up based on customer feedback. I would assume the Fron-tear style cabin is even stronger than the terra drop. Roof top tents are terrible for fuel economy, whether mounted to the trailer or the tow vehicle. Like driving a giant brick down the interstate.
You have some really good points here. The more you move towards a monocoque'esque design the less chances of liner failure. Eliminate the movement and you eliminate a plethora of small camper issues. With the right hardware and materials you can really firm these trailers up. My thoughts on longevity of these builds have changed greatly over time though. The more manufacturers I talk with, the more I have come to realize even the best traditionally built trailers still tend to need some adjustments at about the 5 year mark. Now, mind you these are minor. And with builds like Oregon Trail'r and other quality traditional builds, with a little minor maintenance every fiver years and keeping an eye out for water intrusion, these trailers truly can be handed off to your children. Like you, I am really interested to hear from the community. Two years from now I will make sure to put out an all call for Alpha owners. It will be fun to see what we find.
Thanks Farmer Jim, you've definitely been paying attention, and understand the value of curves and different construction methods!!! Good on ya! We built our first Alpha trailer in 2015, and put it through hell for basically 3.5 years straight. It was outside every day, in temps ranging from -20 in Alaska, to 115 in Death Valley, and as the trailer sits today, the black color has faded to a "light black" or "very dark grey" but has zero cracks, delaminations, holes, leaks, dents, etc. We have been thrilled with the performance of this material and believe in its ability to be durable and stable well into the future. You are absolutely correct about fuel economy as it pertains to RTT's. They are awful for that, but they are awesome for keeping my kids safe and happy at night and deploying and stowing very quickly when we are in a hurry. My brother and I both have them on our respective teardrops, but the vast majority of our clients do not include RTT's in their orders...
I love the Oregon Trailr's! I think they have the sexiest designs. Might be that they have been making them for a long time. I designed my own based on the Teardrop Alpha. Lots of full metal campers out there but at the end of the day the wood construction with a bed liner exterior is what makes these campers remain affordable. Some of these all metal.... cost 10's of thousands more and they're tiny too!
Great design to base yours off of. Unfortunately with the current wood prices the gap isn't near as big as it used to be between wood, metal, and composite.
Why have I never heard of these guys? Very nice unit and awesome walk around. That alarm is so cool. I am going to add one of those to my trailer. Any idea where I can get one?
Hey drew, how long till companies start REALLY ruggizing Teardrops to include optional storm tiedowns, where you can attach hurricane straps to reinforced parts of the Teardrop and stake them down with deep ground auger stakes to limit rocking during extreme wind events many places get? Then add on option "armored" screens/storm shutters. Heavy metal grates that slot in and lock down over the windows, especially skylight windows.. to take impacts from heavy hail... With changes in weather patterns, more serious storms, more people going out into serious storms... or trying to escape from them... toughened Teardrops might be a thing to come.
Good to see you again, Drew! 😊
Same to you! Any spring camping plans? Or too early yet?
@@PlayingwithSticks Not yet. I've been busy with house maintenance. Also making modifications to the Runaway Camper 😊
@@PlayingwithSticks I'm planning to get out later this month though. The weather has been phenomenal here in Central Florida.
That’s us on the maintenance as well. What kind of modifications are you working on?
I forgot that you’re down south. We are in the Midwest here. The weather is just starting to turn nicer.
I think I'm in love...
Recently took a trip with a friend and his dad, his dad made a teardrop trailer in the seventies and I was in love. Been thinking about making my own and this video gave a ton of inspiration with well thought out touches and ideas
Very impressed by the details, loved the lights inside and out and practical use they've thought about. Rehinforcement on the structure and the conception of the trailer. The galley is super but when I saw it first time a thing came to my mind: when cooking or cutting fruits is very common that liquids pour over the counterspace, so I wondered if that hidden space under the counter space has something to prevent liquids or nasty stuff entering there? The fact that is small makes you think about keep it simple, and thats exactly the key to make it work, otherwise it will turn into its main constraint: adding a lot of stuff to complement the experience and running out of space. Drew, I think it'll be great if you ask to these manufacturers what do they think they are the main differenciator among all the rest, so we can understand or have a better idea on what their perspective is and potentially link it to our. Thank you for showing another great trailer amigo!
You don’t see it in the videos, but that’s exactly how I coach them through these interviews. It is all about what sets them apart from the market. I’m trying to help them differentiate themselves from the other trailers. Typically, if you just let a manufacturer talk, they will just tell you how big the tires are, what the suspension is, etc. I will try to be more mindful of this in the future and even push help them push the differentiating narrative more. Always good to hear your feedback on these trailers mi amigo.
@@PlayingwithSticks You’re actually right, other wise will be exactly the same narrative. I actually noticed that from an overland convention, some interesting points were highlighted but the rest was pretty much the same. So, you’re doing it right!
Awesome
I saw these guys at the expo west in 2019. I really liked the do-drop Alpha. The trailers seemed to be put together well. Nice walk around Drew. Maybe I missed it, but are they using Tembren suspension?
Teardrop camper handles off-road adventures like a champ. It tackles challenging terrain with ease, allowing you to explore remote destinations. While it's perfect for adventurous souls, keep in mind that it might lack some of the luxuries of larger wotpods campers
Drew, another great video, you changed my mind on campers from full size to square/ teardrop campers. I enjoy your video’s and have been watching since maybe before Covid…. Not sure but during at least. I checked and you haven’t done a video on Hiker Trailers out of Indiana. I feel it meets a price point most can afford at say $25000 maybe max and under $7000 maybe base. Most around $15000-18000 I would guess. I have been looking for about a year and thinking hard about pulling the trigger. Just not sure at this time in market.
Love your timing on this. 05/18/23. That will be the release of the Hiker video. Glad you enjoyed the video. If you are into Hikers don't forget to checkout Runaway Campers as well.
NICE!
Awesome!
Glad you like it! They have really dialed in this trailer.
Thanks nice bang for buck$$ have to re shuffle deck of camper trailer options
I live in south Louisiana. AC IS A MUST. But damn those are nice.
Neat stuff
Agreed!
Enjoyed this video. Suggestion, why not add lights around the mirror and 1 in the fan up above. Would help, i think.
a fold down propane stove like that nice, through i've kinda taken a liking to the Japanese single burner butane stoves. being able to sit inside a little tear drop, warm and safe, pull out the butane stove start it up, put on some water for coffee, relax, and watch netflix on your phone has its advantages.
Agreed. That is why I am a fan of a stationary stove like his and then a backpacking or asian style stove for moving around the campsite or into the cabin.
@@PlayingwithSticks You know me, its one of the things i always consider, how will the trailer/rv/etc feel... if you find yourself stuck in inside for hours, or days due to seriously bad weather. What happens if you are caught snowed in on a trail and can't get out for 2-3 days how will you feel spending that much time in the trailer... and can it handle it. even 2-3 days in heavy rain... what happens if you're caught in the tail end of a hurricane for example. Hurricanes will blow out but still come over the great lakes and we can see 2-3 days of really heavy rain... with only a days notice that thats happening... roads get washed out, area's get flooded... so you might get stuck in for an extra 2 days... most of that being inside the trailer... So will it feel clostraphobic, will you be able to cook inside, will you be able to sit up inside and relax.
I used to not consider these things. I used to think a teardrop is a Teardrop. But I got in a lot of situations last year in Oregon where I was stuck inside the trailer. And man, having a nice little podium table and good ample headroom I could’ve stayed in there all day. I made it my mobile, workstation quite a number of days on the Road. I never could’ve done that in my teardrop.
@@PlayingwithSticks See. I've been saying that one for a long time now. hmm, a carbon fiber and aluminium frame bike camper... thats a vertical popup... 7' long, 3' wide, base 3' high with a 2' popup... allowing for 2 people to sit inside at a table and eat then convertible to a bed. Battery powerpack solar panels, connection allowing you to charge an ebike... stability jacks on the 4 corners... option for an external mount diesel heater. Using the little 1 burner butane cooktop. *looks innocent* eish...
I would get rid of the rear galley. I wouldnt need it. It will also give more room inside. When camping, I cook over a firepit or bring a small cook top stove. So it would be nice to have that option.
Very nice trailer. I'm fully in the camp (no pun intended) of smaller and lighter rather than large clunky units. Remember, more of us live in cities, with limited storage space for vehicles of any kind and needing the option of using more fuel-efficient cars rather than trucks or even SUVs for hauling. What security options are available to prevent this type of trailer from getting stolen from, say, a carport if a person doesn't have an enclosed garage? I'm thinking at the very least, a welded eye attachment that could you could wrap a thick chain (or multiple chains) through. Multiple options, including geofencing, would be great.
This is beautiful! Very well planned & designed. It definitely sways me into considering one :)
Love the lighting features. Indirect lighting is perfect. Not a fan of the ryno lining though.
I want one...
These trailer makers are just nuts. The hell I’m gonna pay that much for a cereal box
This is a really good looking trailer…I’m shorter and I already know I’d bruise my shins climbing in and out … but wouldn’t change a thing. 😂 I love the kitchen design as well … is it a strut system to hold the hatch open? I’ve seen a spring system to hold the hatch open on other units which is interesting thereby eliminating gas failure…I love the look and everything else except the exterior material…beautiful well thought out engineering design otherwise.
They also mention an AC option. I wonder if it’s in the form of a zero breeze or maybe the domestic rtx 1000? There is nothing on the website about it.
Have you thought of mobile office space for day trips for those that can remotely work on line but want to get out of the house on many working days!
What trailer would they recommend for towing by a Ford Ecosport SE. I have the four cylinder engine.
Would be nice to make a "teardrop" 2 wheels chariot for horses or donkeys, with also some electrical propulsion to help them when need it, possible like an egg-shaped, with total close option but also the windscreen to rise for a more open experiences (for one person very comfy plus cargo space)
Very good, I like most things about their trailers. I keep thinking I'll stop in and look, as I'm only 30 miles away or less, but they want a person to make an appointment, and I don't want to bother them. I would make some changes, but nothing drastic. I do not care for the fat doors, and I know they use regular size on some. I like to sit up and read, which may not be possible to lean on their little sliding doors. No place for a cooler or fridger--I have a cooler on the front of my trailer. I love the noise maker. I don't think I'd bother with an awning again, not sure. And I don't use popup canopies like he mentioned. I suppose they are alright, but a waste of time for me and the dog and are space taker-uppers and difficult for one person. My Xterra does not have room for big things. I am used to the 3/4 galley lid, and I like their storage underneath. Being an Oregonian, I like the thoughts of some kind of heater even if it did not get used often. I like their lights and outside table. I'm not sure how much storage they have inside, but if I ever sell my LG, I would consider Oregon Trailr.
The other things I have no use for is a rooftop tent and the mirror. If it were at the side, I might use it. Mine has a mirror in the middle, and I matted a picture and stuck it over the mirror. What I could use, they have, a place to attach gas and propane.
I don't know if I want to see myself in the mirror at camp! Haha.
You should take a look. They have designed the showroom to almost feel like a museum. I have a feeling they like people stopping by. They are very proud of their work and that facility. Those little sliding doors were pretty beefy. They could support a person leaning on them. I didn't even catch that there was no place for a cooler. I completely overlooked that. Like you, a cooler is pretty important to our family. I think it would be a great trailer to consider. Very well built!
Well, I don't really like the idea of a cooler in the car, gets pretty hot in summer. On the other hand, suppose it could get stolen on the outside of trailer. I'm often in a shady spot and/or drape a white, wet towel over the cooler, and it does very well that way. I've been running a cable through the cooler lock and through the Action Packer to make it slightly more difficult to run off with either, and I got a couple cow bells to attach also. If we are inside, George would bark. Thievery has been rather prevalent the last couple years in campgrounds anyway.
Thieves,so sad 😞
I absolutely loved this trailer and this video. This is the first time that I can think of that the manufacturer focused on the actual use of the trailer rather than focusing way too much on things like shocks and wheels. I assume you are doing that stuff correctly; I'm not trying to join some car group. I am camping and I want to know how practical it is in that respect. So it shows that this manufacturer thinks about practical application because of the trailer itself and because that's where he focused his presentation.
Exactly! Good eye.
I want one that converts from a bed to a high pressure hot shower, that is sound proofed, theft proofed & EMF shielded.
I have only one burning question ?? Do you have a “Rain Guard” that attaches to rear end for heavy weather that encloses??
Impressive trailer. Looks very hard core. I would like to compare this to a Mammoth trailer. My fear is the bed space is not large enough. It would easily fit the Wife and I, but my Black Lab Chloe is a bed hog.
I like getting these little details about you. I am starting to see what you need. Does the Mammoth have a larger bed? It is hard to tell from videos.