A Classic Design Revisited
If ever there was an RV aptly named, it’s the Little Guy Teardrop Camping Trailer. This teardrop RV line is based on the early, egg-shaped camping trailers made popular after World War II. When GIs returned from war, they packed up their growing families and began exploring the U.S. in home-made camping trailers concocted from military surplus parts. Airstream travel trailersand their iconic silver look are a result of surplus aluminum and rivets used to make airplanes.
Teardrop camping trailers are an affordable, versatile, easy-towing answer for those eager to graduate from tent camping to RV living. Teardrops are also great for those just getting started in the RV lifestyle. Or maybe you’ve tried RVing and are looking to downsize from a larger, heavier motorhome that requires a lot of fuel to tow or drive. No matter which way you look at, the teardrop has some big advantages for such a little guy.
Just the Basics
Little Guy teardrop trailers offer climate-controllable, off-the-ground sleeping accommodations. When camping, this helps you stay warm, dry, and comfortable in all weather conditions. A rear galley area offers outdoor cooking and meal preparation space. Little Guy models are available in a range of sizes, with and without metal mesh cargo platforms for hauling camping or outdoor gear. Bring a boat, kayak, canoe or paddleboard with you.
The Little Guy features a fiberglass exterior built on a rugged 2” x 3” tubular steel frame with rubber torsion suspension for smoother towing than leaf spring-equipped trailers. Locking double entry doors with slider window and screen allow ventilation. A wide selection of exterior graphics options, including a full camouflage wrap, gives your Little Guy a distinctive look. Other exterior features include tongue jack, aluminum fenders, aluminum stone guard, and aluminum alloy wheels.
The smallest model, the Rascal, features a 68” x 44” sleep area and is light enough to be towed by a 1500 cc motorcycle or any small car, truck or SUV.
The largest models are a full six feet wide inside, offering a king-size foam mattress, and are towable by most mid-size trucks and SUVs. In between are four-foot-wide models offering a full-size foam mattress and five-foot-wide models that offer a queen-size foam mattress, both towable by many compact vehicles. Little Guys can sleep up to three adults, depending on the model you choose.
Interior Appointments
Make no mistake, this isn’t your granddad’s used camping trailer. The Little Guy sports a nicely finished interior, with built-in cabinetry, interior lighting, carpeted floor and sidewalls, and vinyl-clad headliner. There’s plenty of room for the foam mattress, and you can customize your trailer with a number of optional features, including a portable; all-in-one heating-and-air-conditioning system; tri-fold foam mattress that folds and stows to free cargo space; Fan-Tastic™ ceiling fan/vent for ventilation and AM/FM/MP3/DVD player for entertainment. In the Little Guy, you’re camping small but camping in style.
Rear Galley
In some models you canrRaise the locking hatch at the rear of the Little Guy to gain access to your camp kitchen. Other models house the kitchen inside the main cabin, making it easy to cook in any weather. There’s a food prep area, plus plenty of storage for food and cooking utensils. An optional folding table with stove rack offers more cooking space. Opt for the sidewall-mounted charcoal grill to maximize your cooking options when outdoors.
Other Options
Available options include a custom snap-on screen room with privacy panels that adds plenty of living space. A special Tailgater package outfits your Little Guy with a swing-out, 16,000 BTU gas grill, attached umbrella, two collapsible team-branded chairs and 5’ x 6’ outdoor mat. Other travel trailer available accessories include a sunshade, custom-fit covers, locks and security cables, and bike racks.
Other Body Styles
If the classic teardrop body style doesn’t quite fit your needs, the RT (for reverse teardrop) body style features an easy-access rear door, large windows with accordion-style shades for better visibility and a front storage compartment. If you just need cargo-hauling capability for camping gear or luggage, the Travel Mate has a front-mounted storage box and rear-access hatch for easy loading and unloading.
For camping trailer purists, an aluminum-clad, retro-styled Shadow Series with birch interior, 12-volt/110-volt, multiple color options, wide white sidewall tires, and baby moon hubcaps is available. A Classic model offers retro-look graphics, lights, and fiberglass fenders, plus upgrades like a battery pack, hardwired interior lighting, and Fan-Tastic™ roof vent or similar roof vents. Of course, there are other indoor lighting options out there for inside your RV, this unit brings extreme convenience with the lighting already hardwired in.
A good idea whose time has come again– the teardrop camping trailers are enjoying a revival. They boast a low cost, nimble towing, little maintenance, and a minimal environmental footprint. While they may not offer the living space or all the amenities of a full-size trailer, they are a great way to get outdoors to relax or enjoy hunting, fishing, tailgating, biking or four-wheeling. Visit your nearest Camping World RV Sales Center for more information on the Little Guy Teardrop Trailer.
Shop Camping World’s inventory of Little Guy Teardrop Travel Trailers online.
Does Little Guy still make a Travel Mate cargo trailer? If so, were these designed for a car or a motorcycle. Is there anywhere I can get the specs on these and price?
Thank You