Small Travel Trailers Under 3,500 lbs – From Teardrop Campers to Fiberglass Trailers

One thing I noticed when comparing small campers lately:

Teardrop (not sure of the brand/model, but it was quite attractive to the eye – I only saw it at a campground and then very quickly in a dealer showroom): This had only a bed in the cabin, a low ceiling, and a kitchen in the back. I don’t like the kitchen in the rear, because that would make it tough in the rain, especially with high winds, and unpleasant in the winter. These seemed pretty expensive for what little you get, and it’s nice to be able to stand up in a camper. Easy to pull, though.

Prolite has some nice layouts and some lightweight units, although their ceiling are too low. I have heard that the construction is very basic, and may not last as long as others, especially the molded fiberglass units like Scamps and Casitas.

Aliner/Chalet. These seem very roomy once they are opened, and opening them is very easy – they can be literally be opened and be fully set up in a minute or two if you don’t want to disconnect one from your car. The high center ceiling makes them feel very big, even though they taper to a lower level at the ends. They feel very solid and sturdy – sturdier than most lightweight trailers, and sturdier than many bigger RV’s. They’re low when they travel, so they are easy to pull. Downside is that you do have to pop them up, even though it’s quick, and more significantly, the downsides are that interior storage above waist level is limited, and there are moving parts, so they will wear out or need repair.

Tent Trailer: These old standbys have a lot going for them, especially for those without much towing power or those on a limited budget. They are easy to find in the $1500 to $3000 range used (be careful to look hard if you buy one to make sure there’s nothing wrong with it). They give you more living space per dollar and per pulling pound than any of the hard side trailers. Many like the tent enclosure, because you can hear nature, which is why we go camping (although people can hear you, which gives little privacy). The downsides are that set up is more complicated – they do have to be detached from the car, so they are not good for one night stays, storage is limited unless you get a large model, they have moving parts, and the moving parts are built to be lightweight, rather than sturdy, so they break more easily and need more repairs. Still, they are quite comfortable once set up.

Nice trailer recommendations. By the way, may I know what towing parts you think is great to use with it? I’m still undecided what to purchase but I’m currently looking at Blue Ox towing hitch.

My wife and I decided to enter the tiny trailer scene with a “tall” teardrop trailer, one we can stand in. Obviously, we don’t have all the bells and whistles inside, but that’s pretty much the point of owning a tiny trailer. We have kind of a crush on the Airstream Basecamp, though. It’s small yet has that classy classic look. I’m enjoying your blog and how you’ve developed a good energy with it. I did write a blog article that focused on what maybe you’d call the micro trailer niche, where I interviewed tiny trailer owners as to why they went ultra small. https://www.greengoddessglamping.com/2018/08/why-such-tiny-trailer-teardrop-owners.html

What do you know about “T@B”’s?

What about the Bowlus Road Chief?

Why no mention of the Nu-camp 320 series or the 400? They all fall within the targeted weight range and, by the looks of these other campers, are equally, or better, constructed. The problem with most of these trailers mentioned here is availability. I live in the Panhandle region of Florida and you are lucky to find anything beyond the behemoths that people seem to want in this area with the possibility of a few T@Bs. I am very interested in the Alto, but the price of one combined with the costs of traveling expense (are they only sold in Canada?) makes it way out of my league. I wouldn’t even know where to travel to see some of your other suggestions, certainly not within 500 miles of me. The Lance looks interesting, but judging by the video, the build quality doesn’t seem up to the T@B. I currently own the 320 s and tow it easily with a Toyota 4Runner. You can configure it for a North/South bed arrangement or an East/West. A 320 s is well below the 2,000 lb. mark. If I ever get the money together, I would trade the 320 s in for a T@B 400. Having owned a Nu-camp Cirrus truck camper before downsizing to the 320 s, I have been made very familiar with it’s components used in the 400, as the Cirrus had the same construction, windows, flooring, Alde heating system, and the nifty fold down sink in the bathroom. I wish campers like the Aldo were more accessible, as the videos of them frustrate me knowing they just aren’t available for me to even look at in person.

In July, 2015 we purchased our very first RV – a Scamp 19 ft. “fifth wheel.” Because of its ball-type hitch which is sort of a cross between a goose-neck and fifth wheel hitch, purists frown upon calling it a fifth wheel. But, considering its interior layout, those familiar with RV’s would surely consider it to be a fifth wheel.
We absolutely love ours. It’s light (under 3,000 pounds), easy to tow, has a wet bath (though somewhat cramped), an ample dinette area and plenty of storage. With over 45 nights in it thus far, we find it to be plenty spacious for two people – especially the bed area (just huge the way we have it set up). However, when the time to take off full timing comes in two years, we will be upgrading to something larger, likely a smaller Class A.
Good luck with your new rig!