teardrop camper questions

[phillymummer]

Hello DISers!

We are avid tent campers but my dream is to own a clam shell teardrop camper. If you don't know what I mean, look here:
http://www.tab-rv.com/model?id=74&model=TaB-Max-CS-S

I just love them. I have been on the T@B website and have looked at many on Pinterest but I can't figure out- do they make teardrops that will sleep 3 people (2 adults, 1 older child)? I don't even need it to have a bathroom. I am just fine with using comfort stations.

I don't want a pop-up or an RV. I think there is something different and special about a teardrop.

Anyone here have a teardrop and want to tell me the pros/cons?

Thanks

~PM

 

[bama_ed]

Mummer,

I don't have a teardrop but I looked hard at them last year before I ended up with my Aliner Expedition. The dealer I shopped at outside of metro Atlanta carried both Aliners and T@bs (the cost is similar). I was open to owning a T@b and was wanting to see what they were really like.

I traded in a traditional heavy popup with two slideout bunks and a slideout dinette and wanted something that was more 4-season campable with minimal cold weather assistance plus easier to set up by myself. Also I have only 1 child left at home and we will soon be empty nesters but I had to, like you, consider a smaller trailer for three people in the short term (in our case). Like you I had also tent camped quite a bit.

I looked at both the Clam Shell T@b with the kitchen in the back and other T@bs with internal kitchens. To answer your direct question, T@b does say on its website that they can sleep 2 or 3 people depending on the model (on their website click the "About Us" link then the "Teardrop History" and it's in the 3rd paragraph). However, their individual models don't list "sleeps 2" or "sleeps 3". Their Q, S, and U models all claim to have a 70x73 inch bed arrangement (folding down the dinette table) while the CS and CS-S all claim to have a 70x58 inch bed arrangement. So I would think the bigger bed is for three people and the smaller bed for two people.

Having said that, though, putting 3 adult sized folks in a 70x73 bed is a tight fit. I'm 5-11 inches tall and 70 inches is not long enough to lay straight. A little sideways might work but not with 3 people. The smaller bed for 2 leaves more elbow room but again it's a short bed.Also the ceiling is 5-9 inches high in all T@b models and when I went into them they were claustrophobic and I had to bend over slightly all the time while inside. By comparison, my Aliner back sofa folds down into a 60x80 inch bed for 2 people and the front dinette folds down to 40x80 for 1 person. I could stand up regularly in all walking space inside the Aliner.

With the fold down dinette sleeping arrangement of the T@b, when 1 person wants to go to bed, there's no room for anything else. And if it's cold, raining, and/or you are spending time inside for some reason, it's tight. At least with my Aliner since the bedding is split into 2 locations, someone can sit up and keep reading or computing or watching tv in one location while the sleepers can set up and turn in.

But the T@b does have a huge "cute" factor and my Aliner has something of a "cool" factor. The T@b is easy to push around by hand and not heavy from a towing perspective. There are people out there that love them and work around the lesser points but they are couples that I know and not families of three.

Don't know if I helped much. I had admired the T@bs but had never been in one till I had the chance on the dealer lot.

Also with your three people (DD according to your signature) will it be long before she goes off to school and there are two of you possibly in a T@b? You might be willing to put up with some tight spaces for a short time and think more long term with a T@b when there are just two of you.

Bama Ed

PS - is there a T@b dealer near you where you could look at them in person and go inside?

 

[phillymummer]

Thanks Bama Ed! Your perspective is very helpful!!

I will have to check out the Aliner you mentioned.

My daughter is 9 (10 next month) so she will be with us for awhile. We are used to tight, low quarters. Our tents are "dome" shaped, not cabin-style and we spend a lot of time outside when we camp (that's the point, right? ) . That is part of the appeal of the clamshell- cooking outside. I don't think we would be inside for anything other than sleeping. We spend a lot of time around a campfire or in a hammock that we sling between a couple of trees.

That being said, the three of us could not share a bed! I couldn't tell from the t@b website how much a model could be customized. Like I said, I don't need a bathroom..... could that space be used for an extra bed? Just thinking (typing?) out loud!

The closest t@b dealership to me is about 2 hours away. However, there are RV shows around my area. I should go to one sometime.

Thanks again Bama Ed!

~PM

 

[bama_ed]

The T@b bathroom is smaller than a phone booth. It's not an option.

Here is my DIS thread from last year about my Aliner. I put in lots of pix. http://www.disboards.com/threads/bama-ed-has-a-new-camper.3259749/#post-51129892

Here is the link to my Aliner dealer. The Aliners are under the "RV's For Sale" and "Pop Up Camper" link. They have T@bs under the "RV's For Sale" and "Ultra Light Travel Trailers" link. http://www.southlandrv.com/georgia/atlanta/rvs-for-sale.html

The thing about the Aliner Expedition is it's the biggest Aliner that they make (a 14 foot box under the roof). Other like the Classic are 12 feet and a little smaller.

I'm not trying to dissuade you. I think the T@bs look cool. But there's a reason T@b went bankrupt and got bought out by LittleGuys.

Bama Ed

 

[joannamet]

I share your dream but DH thinks I'm cra-cra! I don't know if its a teardrop but I like the R-Pod.

http://www.forestriverinc.com/product-details.aspx?LineID=173&ShowParent=1

 

[phillymummer]

Thanks for the links! I did not know that t@b went bankrupt! Or maybe I did... maybe I did read that somewhere.

The aline's look so...... weird! LOL! Almost like the old pup tents my brother had when he was in boy scouts. The big draw for me with a teardrop is the clam shell kitchen. I see LittleGuys has a model with the clam shell kitchen, but I can only figure that it is still designed for only 2 people. It's okay. i am not in a rush to buy anything.

 

[bama_ed]

Let me correct myself...

T@b production was stopped in summer 2009 by a company named Dutchman.

Little Guys bought the rights, drawings, etc. and began production in fall 2011 after making several design and manufacturing improvements.

So to say they went bankrupt was incorrect on my part. It's presumed the line wasn't profitable enough for Dutchman.

Bama Ed

 

[jcdean]

The Eggcamper Teardropp might work for you- http://www.roamingtimes.com/rvreports/eggcamper-teardrop.aspx

 

[phillymummer]

That does look like it would work! And it is nicely proced too! But where can I find one? It looked like there were people placing "wanted ads" to buy one. I live in NJ so, it would be rather inconvenient to travel to Michigan! Although, I was in Ann Arbor once and loved it! Would love to go back.....

 

[jcdean]

That does look like it would work! And it is nicely proced too! But where can I find one? It looked like there were people placing "wanted ads" to buy one. I live in NJ so, it would be rather inconvenient to travel to Michigan! Although, I was in Ann Arbor once and loved it! Would love to go back.....

I just spoke to Jim from Eggcamper... apparently they are not producing the Teardropp this season. Next year it will be available, possibly in kit form. They would ship the kit to NJ, but I don't know how appealing that is to you.

There are some teardrop enthusiast clubs on the east coast. Maybe one of them could help you find a trailer that would meet your needs?

 

[phillymummer]

Thanks!! I am no where close to being able to purchase yet. My hubby said they can be made, so a kit might actually be a possibility! But how much would it cost to ship?!?

I'll google teardrop clubs (?) and see what I find.