The daily life of work and returning home can be tedious for everyone. Once in a while, our hearts desire some excitement and sometimes it calls for adventures in the wilderness. If you are thinking of camping then you may want to consider a teardrop trailer. But do teardrop trailers hold their value? Let’s have a look.
Do Teardrop Trailers Hold Their Value?
This is a major question for camp lovers do teardrop trailers hold their value? The answer is yes, teardrop trailers always hold their value. These trailers can be towed behind any car mainly SUVs. When you compare it with an RV, it will be much more expensive and suitable for bigger trips. But if you have to face the glare from your boss after a month-long trip, you don’t need such expenses.
Many people are confused about the price, usage, and convenience of a teardrop trailer. We too were confused at first so here we’re providing a small trip story with a teardrop van so that we can help you understand its benefits.
Small and Medium Sized Teardrop Trailers
Teardrop vans are very useful and they hold their value till the day you last use them for a trip. Teardrop trailers come in various sizes. If you are a solo traveler you can get used to a small size. Then if you are two people, you can get used to a medium-sized trailer.
These campers are not available in very large sizes so you have to fit only a small family into the larger size. You will get covers for the trailers in customized sizes as well. This will protect the trailer when you are on the road and do not need it until you set camp in a place.
Do Bathrooms in a Teardrop Trailer Provide Value?
If you are looking for a bathroom, you will get that too in the smaller space. You may not be able to take a bath, but other major businesses can be managed properly. If you are a solo traveler then you can always pack a portable toilet in the van. This will save you from parking at a camping site and you can do your business under a tree facing the beautiful lake you are visiting at the moment.
Oh, the Places You’ll Go
As for the places you can visit, you can always take a trip to the rural areas of Mexico, or on a cross-country visit to the USA, you will need a teardrop camper.
Based on our experience of towing a teardrop van, we had our best time on a trip last autumn to Grand Tetons National Park in Wyoming. We set our camp in the background of the camping place because we didn’t need to stay in the designated place. To be honest, we didn’t want to pay the camping ground fee and wanted to spend our time near nature not closer to people.
The Value Is In The Versatility
We were a family of two me and my friend and we had a lot of fun in the area. The teardrop van we towed with our Honda CR-V was enough for the two of us and we set up a mini kitchen at the back of the van. Our car was spacious so we didn’t pack many things in the van but the trunk of the car. Things we packed like food ingredients, charcoal bags, a tent, an awning, and water. We also packed camping clothes and kept them in the teardrop van.
We went rafting in Jackson Lake and before that, we set up a shed with the help of the van. So after we came back from the water sport, we enjoyed our quiet evening under the shed drinking wine.
Primarily we wanted to sleep under the stars but then we decided to do it inside the van. The open skylight of the vehicle was enough for the stargazing and the vehicle provided much value.
As we had this tour for more than five days we invested in some necessary accessories like LED taillights to see in the night. If you are camping in the mountains these lights can be very useful. We had no issues cooking under the lights and it fit properly on the hood of the van.
Also, we took this trip as a girl’s trip we wanted to make our camp a bit sparkling and for that, we bought trailer party lights to hang over the van and the tent. We still remember the majestic nights we spent under those lights and amidst nature.
How Much Does a New Teardrop Trailer Cost?
If you are curious about what a teardrop trailer may cost, you should know that the price depends on the brand you are purchasing from. You will find mind an expensive one for $15000 or an affordable van for $8,000. For two people you can pay $14000 and you will get an outdoor kitchen at the back. If you are looking for a luxury option then go for a $20,000 teardrop camper. You will get lots of storage, modern décor, a wet bath, and other features.
If you have no problem making the trailer from the scratch you can build one with the help of a kit. It will cost you $500 to $3000 which is a more realistic price for a DIY van. You can watch YouTube videos to get an idea of the work.
There are several guideline videos on building a teardrop camper and if you follow that properly you can have a DIY van. If you want a simple teardrop camper you can check the kits based on their features. No matter what you buy, or build it will never lose its value. If you are thinking of spending a bit more after the van, you can buy a teardrop camper, which will be the best investment for you.
What About a Luxury Trailer? Any Value In These?
If you are looking for a bit of luxury for the trip, you will get things like an in-built kitchen, air conditioner, a TV, and so on. But if you are trying to save some money, you can stay content with the meager ingredients then, a DIY or a rented van is the best for you. But your heart wants what it wants, you can always look for luxury amenities like a good kitchen and who wouldn’t want a TV on a camping trip? So, you can satiate your desires with your tablet and the rear side kitchen of the van. It’s easy and affordable.
How Much Does a Used Teardrop Trailer Cost?
If you are not much of a builder and you don’t have $14000 to spend on a new van, you can go for a used one for $5000. We opted for a used one from our friend and he adjusted for $4000 just for us.
Other than that, we had to spend some money on the accessories like an awning for the teardrop van and other things, but the van was cheaper for us. You can also opt for the same, and if a friend is not selling the same to you, you can ask for a used one from a shop.
However, buying a used one isn’t always the best idea, why? Let us explain. If the van was in the best condition why would anyone sell it? They would have used it for their trips. Renting is different though. But in the case of purchasing an old one, you have to be curious about it. We were too.
Although, it was a friend we didn’t just fall into his sweet talks about the teardrop van. We checked the interior, which was rusty and old-looking, some hooks on the van were damaged, and it needed paint. Additionally, we needed to add a skylight after we finally bought it. So, it didn’t prove to hold its value.
Also, we mentioned the things we needed to buy other than the van. So, if you are fine with the smaller flaws of a used teardrop camper, you can go for it. It will be affordable and you can later sell it to a friend adding some sweet words.
Tips for Camping in a Teardrop Trailer
Before you finally make your decision to buy a teardrop van, you need some camping tips with it. Let’s take a look:
- You need to be careful when you are turning the radius while selecting the camping area. If you are not comfortable parking the car in a trailer, you can look for bigger campgrounds, where you first want to settle the van.
- If you have a big car, you must use signals when you are merging or turning on the road. You must remember that a long car with a teardrop van will take time to park.
- You need to look for flat ground. Just as you set your tent on a level platform, the camper should be on the same. If you fail to find a flat surface you have to hoist the van and trust us it will be a hard task.
- When you are taking a trip with a teardrop van, never forget to mark the wheels of your van. We used some 2×4 screws we brought with us. Also, you must lock your van when you are not nearby. This is because you never know what or who lurks in the wilderness!
- The main thing about taking a trip with a teardrop van is that you need to go out there first. If you just stay at home thinking of the camping tour, you will not learn anything. After you take a few trips, things will start to make sense. This will prepare you for your next adventure.
Final Thoughts
The best thing about traveling with a teardrop van is that you won’t have to worry about night-time accommodations. One must always think about the value verse the cost. You can travel for a week without any hassle, and you can save lots of money when you can cook at the back of the camper. This value may be worth the cost.
As a first-time camper, you will get better assistance from the recollecting your journey with our teardrop trailer tips. You will still stumble a lot at first, but you’ll soon become a pro camper. And who knows, you might upgrade to a luxury teardrop van. In the end, we believe that teardrop trailers hold their value and are a good idea for epic camping trips.
If you like this article, check out our post on the safety of a teardrop trailer here.
