Tiny House Blog

The T@B is back! Dutchmen, the original manufacturers of the T@B, discontinued the production and support of the colorful, stylish little trailer in 2009, much to the chagrin of die-hard T@B owners and fans. One reason for this might have been because of the high cost of the various parts of the trailer that came from Europe. The rights to the popular trailer has now been acquired by Little Guy Worldwide, a company that makes teardrop trailers. Little Guy has partnered with Pleasant Valley Teardrop Trailers (the people who built my teardrop) to build the T@Bs. The Ohio-based company was also considering acquiring the T@B name and business at the same time as Little Guy, but instead decided to partner with Little Guy and their large fan-base.

The new 15-foot long T@B has the same smart and sassy design, options and details as the original, but is still in the initial floor plan phase. Little Guy has added some additional amenities such as an outdoor shower with a 2.5 gallon heated tank, a 3-way refrigerator that can run off 12 volt, 110 or propane and a detachable screen door. The trailer is about 1,500 pounds fully loaded, contains a sink and a 2-burner LP stove, a propane tank and battery attached to the front and has a 5 gallon fresh water tank. The interior has birch cabinetry, storage under and over the seating/Queen bed combo, a small closet, a Port-a-Potty, an LP furnace/CoolCat air conditioner and several upholstery designs.

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For those of us who want summer to go on for just a little bit longer, here are some tiny teardrop trailers that exemplify the ease of summer camping. MiniTears are beautifully designed and built by Kurt Bowden in Northern California for MINI Cooper enthusiasts and other small car owners. They are custom made for each MINI that tows it and feature a spacious sleeping compartment with handcrafted cabinetry and LED lighting and a full-size galley with a stainless steel sink, lighting, and a 12 volt battery pack. Each MiniTear only weighs about 876 pound and they start at about $7,995. Additional options like a 12 volt video screen, custom paint, a variety of cabinet options and 120 volt plugs are available.

Since 1985, Kurt has owned and operated Fine Line Design, a custom home design firm located north of Redding, California. The recent downturn in home construction allowed him the free time to get back to his woodshop where “MiniTears” began to take shape in 2008. Kurt’s background in home design and construction, along with the fabricating skills his father passed on to him, gave him everything he needs to build these beautiful Teardrop Trailers.

You can see a video of Kurt’s MiniTear here.

Photos courtesy of MiniTears

By Christina Nellemann for the [Tiny House Blog]

The owner of this unique teardrop-style travel trailer has lived in it for a few months and is now selling it on eBay. She said it held up really well during the Canadian winter. It was built in 2010 and is 20 feet long. The trailer has been road tested for nearly 4,000 miles through high crosswinds and in extreme temperatures with no issues. You can view more photos at the owner’s website, Tiny Home Teardrop Trailer or on the eBay page.

Trailer Features and Specifications:

Exterior:
20′ overall length 10′ 4” overall height
8′ by 8′ by 16′ body
High tensile rustproof steel
Fir panel sides with cedar trim
Entire roof, front and back sheathed in waterproofing membrane.
Refurbished travel trailer chassis

Interior:
6’2” headroom in kitchen area
7’6” height in front
Sitting cove with long L shaped couch
4′ by 6’3” loft bed on hinge raises to for more ceiling height in front
two small windows an lots of shelving in loft area
Couch can turn into bed below to sleep more people
Large skylight and windows
bright spacious interior feels much larger than most comparable and even larger RV’s
Tile floor in entry way and bathroom
Engineered hardwood floor in kitchen and sitting nook
2 manual roof vents and one solar fan vent for air circulation
Custom Pine cabinets and countertops
Lots of counter space for eating and preparing food or working at.
Origo Alcohol stove
Stainless steel 2 basin sink
Cold air cooler built into kitchen cabinet
Under seating storage

Plumbing:
20 gallon fresh water tank
Pressure controlled water pump
Pex water pipes with brass quick connect fittings
On demand propane hot water heater
Brand new Moen shower faucet and kitchen faucet

Electrical:
120 volt circuit for lights and outlets
12 volt circuit for water pump and heater fan
2 deep cycle batteries
2 – 20 watt solar panels mounted on hing to raise and lower on roof
1000 watt inverter
Outside covered male receptacle to plugin to external power
All warm and neutral led lighting inside
Standard connector to towing vehicle powers brake and signal lights, electric brakes and charges battery

Heating and insulation:
High density foam core walls offer r 8 insulative value
10000 btu sig marine diesel heater
9 gallon diesel tank
4” galvanized exhaust flue

By Christina Nellemann for the [Tiny House Blog]

Back in January George one of my readers shared his vardo project that he was in the process of building. Recently George sent me an update on his completed vardo and shared that he had been using it regularly. Following is an update from George.

This is my home-built trailer using classic and modern building techniques and style. Based on traveler’s and “gypsy” wagons from Britain and France as well as sheep wagons from the western U.S. I am keeping this to the absolute minimum in size and weight. I don’t plan to live in it so it can be thought of a base camp. I have mulled it over for a very long time and was torn between this style and a teardop design. Each have advantages but this just seems to suit me better.

My final design is certainly not perfect but fit within the very tight parameters I set for myself. Small, light, and relatively cheap were important as were ascetics and traditional building techniques. Unlike modern RVs where people may spend large quantities of time inside the structure, I want this to be used more like early pioneer or “Gypsy” wagons where most of the actual living is done “outside”. The teardrop RV community has taken this to heart, often with a very modern and high-tech design, including microwave ovens, television and entertainment centers, and very modern kitchens. Continue Reading »

I am in Southern California today after delivering my daughters car to her and will be driving back home here shortly. Eight hours on the road. Fun…

This is a cool little teardrop, built like a piece of furniture and with a price tag to go with it. Thank you Ben for spotting this.

William Landivar, 60, of Boulder Creek, has constructed a one-of-a-kind teardrop trailer that is a sight to be seen. Made of rich mahogany and white oak wood, the teardrop is 15 feet long and 7 feet wide and weighs 1,700 pounds.

Photos by Lucjan Szewczyk/Press-Banner

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Throughout the year, owners of tiny trailers will gather together for rallys or gatherings, in order to show off their designs, bargains or builds. The best way to get ideas for a tiny trailer is to go to one of these trailer gatherings. You will also end up meeting a wide range of really great people.

I recently went to a teardrop trailer gathering outside of Austin, NV. This was my third gathering and while there were only about 20 trailers, it was a wonderful way to see what other teardrop enthusiasts are capable of building and creating. Most gatherings will have over a hundred trailers. Continue Reading »

“It has often been said that owners of travel trailers (and especially vintage travel trailers) are some of the friendliest people on earth…it also appears that the smaller the RV, the friendlier the owner.”

- Douglas Keister, Teardrops and Tiny Trailers

How would you like to get rid of everything and live in a tiny trailer? Once you take a look at Teardrops and Tiny Trailers by Douglas Keister, you will realize how stylish tiny trailers can be, and will want to run off with one of your own.

Keister, who has written books about and photographed everything from cottages to cemeteries has a new book about teardrops and tiny trailers. Last May, I attended the 15th Annual Dam Gathering of the Tears in Lakehead, Calif. with my Little Guy Rascal. I was able to meet Keister and view a slideshow of his teardrop and tiny trailer photographs. I also realized that teardroppers really are the friendliest people in the world. So, of course I had to buy the book.

Kit Teardrop from 1941

New Teardrop and Mini Cooper tow vehicle

Keister emphasizes the neighborly warmth that emanates from the owners of tiny trailers. Because of their small size, owners are really forced to spend more time outside their trailer or RV and interact with the people around them. Teardrop owners will even decorate their camping space to mesh with the design of their teardrop.

The other benefits of a teardrop or tiny trailer are:

• You don’t need a large vehicle to pull a tiny trailer. I pull my Rascal with a Dodge Neon.

• Your camping clutter is kept to a minimum in a small space. You only take what you really need.

• You save money on gas.

• Teardrops and vintage trailers are sure to gather a crowd. You will be popular in the campground, so be prepared for many admirers.

The book mostly profiles the design and history of teardrops, canned ham trailers such as the Shasta and the Serro Scotty, the Canadian boler and of course, the Airstream. The book also includes a chapter on European caravans.

Homebuilt Teardrop by Douglas Hoder

Li'l Bear Tag-Along Teardrop

There is really no mention of people who live out of their teardrops or tiny trailers, except for the temporary residents of Slab City in Niland, Calif. Most people use them for camping or more extended vacations. I use my tiny teardrop for camping and sometimes for guests who don’t mind the cramped quarters. Tiny House Blog recently had a post on using a teardrop as a guest room. I did run across the blog of Misty Tosh, who is a writer and producer and lives out of her vintage trailer while she travels and works.

If you are interested in staying in a vintage trailer, you can visit the Shady Dell in Bisbee, Arizona.

By Christina Nellemann

1957 12.5 ft Aljo

1951 13-ft Comet

1966 Kit Companion

Comet Interior

Teardrop Interior

Gypsy Caravan at the Mas dou Pastre Bed and Breakfast in France

All photos by Douglas Keister

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Airstream Living

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Arizona Teardrops

Teardrops and Tiny Trailers Forum

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