Finally Part of the Club

I remember seeing my first teardrop on a trip to Colorado over 10 years ago. It was a true vintage classic and home built for sure. The galley door was open revealing a modest yet well appointed kitchen and I remember thinking how cool that would be to cook right outdoors like that. Being someone who has loved spending time living in vehicles of all kinds, I was hooked!

I guess life got in the way because somehow it took 10 years to get my own teardrop. A few friends have them now and we all do paddle board camping trips together. Until now I'd sleep in my tent on the cold ground and they would sleep in comfortable beds above the dirt and grime. Not any more!

Obviously Covid made sourcing a teardrop trailer difficult but after regularly checking Kijiji for over a year I finally found mine. I am told it is a 2018 model and it appears to have not had much use. It is a 5X8 and similar to the Diamond in the Rough model that they make now.

I already have lots of plans for her. First up I replaced the dead battery with two new deep cycles. I was tempted to go the lithium route for weight savings but they are too much $$$ and we are pulling with a Toyota 4Runner so we have lots of towing capacity. I am putting in more solar as well and just ordered a Renology 175w flex panel off amazon.

The painted wood on the sides is showing a little age so yesterday I paid a visit to my vinyl guy and he is going to put silver aluminum sticky back material over the wood after we prime and paint it for a new, shiny look that will match the roof and checkerplate. He says it will look as good as factory when we are done.

I think I want to change the galley a little but I feel it will be better to spend a few nights out first before I make any modifications there. My partner is gluten free and has a bunch of other food allergies as well so doing all our own cooking is HUGE on our adventures. I wish there was space for a larger 12V cooler but I think the plan will be to bring a large 12V cooler and run that off the trailer batteries or a battery generator and/or the vehicle while in motion and then pull it out at camp. Currently we travel with 2+ coolers on all our trips anyway so at least this means one less cooler in the vehicle and if we get a fancy 12V model we might even be able to make out own ice for the little one in the teardrop.

I think a two burner Coleman stove is what we want too and I have seen some nice flip out stove tables mods on the instagram feed. I think I will also do a side table mod similar to what they offer from the factory but I will probably brace mine with aluminum extruded material (Mintitec) like I have used in previous trailer builds.

I like the idea of either an awning or a freestanding side tent on one side for changing and more covered area when it rains. Any links or photos of what others are doing would be appreciated. I realize the awning requires a roof rack and that messes with the super simple aesthetic of the teardrop but it sure would be handy too. Hum...

Anyway, lots of plans and I just can't wait to get out there. Too bad about the timing with winter and all but I feel like a "shoulder season inaugural voyage" is in my future.