From teardrops to truck campers our featured segment this week is all about the tiny trailer.
We were hanging out at the Colorado RV Show last weekend and couldn’t believe the crowds that gathered around all the small campers. With beds and bathrooms and indoor and outdoor kitchens, these mini RVs can pack a lot of punch.
In this episode, we talk about our eight favorite little cuties from the show (links to each below). Although a tiny trailer doesn’t work for our family right now, it was easy to understand the appeal of traveling lightweight and small.
We also have the second interview in our RV Park Entrepreneurs series. A little while ago we noticed a trend of young families opening up campgrounds in hip urban areas. On this episode we are talking to Todd Spencer who, along with his wife Dawna, is about to open Sentinel Peak RV Park in Tucson, Arizona. By the end of this interview, a visit to Tucson will be high on your list.
And in case you missed our first interview in the series with Inntown Campground in Nevada City, California, check out RVFTA Episode #21 to catch up!
Stay tuned for a blog post this week with pictures and video clips of all these tiny trailers. If you happen to own a small camper, we would love to hear from you. Brand, quality, pros and cons…send us an email and we will share during our mailbag segment next week!
The Teardrop Cuties:
A Variety of Cuties:
Jumping Jack Jump-Up Tent Trailers
Lastly, don’t forget to check out the new blog, Campfire Travelers. Podcast listeners Mandy and Jason came to meet us at the Denver Show and are the definition of enthusiastic family travelers. They are pumping out travel blog content like mad, so head on over and drop them a comment.
All of this…and so much more on Episode 25 of RV Family Travel Atlas: Hello, Cutie! (We Heart Tiny Trailers).
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Great new epsiode… I’ve seen a few of the tear drops in campgrounds in California, but now I want to “meet” one up close, will keep you posted on how that quest goes. We’re not buying one either… but I did see a family of 5 last year at a campground outside of South Lake Tahoe– the parents slept in the tear drop and the kids slept in the tent.
Can’t wait to see pics of cool tiny trailers at the Inntown Campground! And I am totally not opposed to putting my kids in a tent outside my trailer…
I just got back from a trip from PA to Legoland Florida with my 2 boys and my red/grey teardrop T@B. We have the indoor kitchen and bathroom model. It perfectly slept the 3 of us. Boys are 8 & 9.
We used a small pop up tent to store the clothing totes. And for an extra space to change. Pulled it easily behind my xterra and can hitch and unhitch it myself. As a single mom I can do it all myself.
I my little cutie camper!
Thanks so much for telling us about your trip, Terri! We can’t wait to share this information with our listeners. We love that you found something that works for your family and that you can manage as a single mom. Our boys dream about going to Legoland…
This was our maiden voyage. We had quite a few people approach us and ask about the trailer. But the best was an older woman who I would say was in her 80’s. She said that my camper gave her great memories of when she had a Scottie and those were great memories and that I should treasure the time with my boys. She was also amazed that it had a full toilet/shower and kitchen along with the bed and AC. My son was getting tired of all the people taking pics as they drove past us. Lol.
My only suggestion to other moms/ dads trying to sleep with 2 kids in one is to have each person have their own quilt. It makes getting out of bed ninja style with out waking the kids so much easier. It gave me a few minutes of quiet time in the morning before they woke up.
I’ll also be taking a hot water pot to put on a small table outside the camper so I can make coffee or tea in the mornings as well. There are 2 electrical plugs on the outside wall.
We love our Cuisinart Electric Kettle, Terri! It is a bit pricy, but we have had ours for years now and it works great. Has different temperature settings depending on what you are heating the water for.
I have a hot water dispenser that sounds similar that we will be taking along this trip. Headed to Legoland for our second trip of the summer. Can’t wait!
Hi Stephanie and Jeremy! I am one of the lurkers who listens to your podcast and checks out all your social media without actually being an RV owner – yet! I’m doing my research and having so much fun listening to your podcasts and catching up on old episodes every chance I get. I’m wondering whether any of the teardrops (or any of the “cuties” in general, like the A-liners, etc.) can sleep a family of 4? As far as I can tell, they all seem to have just the one bed. They ARE so gosh darn cute and aesthetically pleasing but I’m not sure if any can accommodate 2 adults and 2 kids. Thanks for any guidance and for your wonderful podcast – it provides me with informative, entertaining escapism all in one show!
Hi Olivia,
They really are cute, aren’t they? We feel your pain about wanting the look AND the functionality in your RV purchase. We would say it is all about whether you want dedicated beds for all family members. If you are okay with making up the dinette, sofa, or murphy bed then there might be a cutie for you…take a look specifically at the Minnies by Winnebago. But if you want dedicated beds, it’s going to be a struggle:-(