Having limited cargo space is a common problem among overlanders. Your camping experience in remote places is greatly determined by how much space you have for all the necessary travel accessories.
This is why, even though trailers make offroading even more challenging, many overlanders are forced to tow a trailer, and teardrop trailers are among the most popular ones. But that begs the question: How fast can you go with a teardrop trailer?
In general, you can drive from 55 to 75 miles per hour in a teardrop trailer. However, this is on highways and smooth roads. It doesn’t take into account rough terrain or bumpy roads. It is always best to get used to your teardrop trailer before heading out on your next overlanding expedition.
Let’s take a closer look at teardrop trailers. Teardrop trailers are smaller in size, lightweight, affordable, can be towed by any vehicle, and are easy to maneuver. These make them the best among other trailers.
However, a teardrop trailer is still a great weight that your vehicle has to pull, and whether you like it or not, it will negatively affect how fast you drive your vehicle. A common rule when towing a teardrop trailer is to drive slower than the speed limit, but how fast specifically? That is what we will be discussing in this article, so stay tuned!
How Fast Can You Drive With A Teardrop Trailer?
It is important that you know the right speed to tow a teardrop trailer. However, several overlanders find that maneuvering a trailer is difficult and this discourages them from purchasing one. Teardrop trailers can weigh up to 4,000 lbs depending on the model, but you can find one that is just 1,000 lbs.
Still, it is an added weight that the vehicle has to pull. This would make sudden braking, lane changes, and rapid turn-arounds more difficult for you. If you drive carelessly with a trailer, road accidents can happen. It can also cause damage to both your vehicle and the teardrop trailer. This is why it is advised to drive slower than the speed limit imposed on the region you are exploring.
What Is The Safest Speed To Drive Teardrop Trailers?
Towing a teardrop trailer will slow you down, and this should not be surprising at all. The safe speed to tow a teardrop trailer depends on many factors but, you should not go beyond 75 mph.
The safest and ideal speed for driving with a teardrop trailer is 55 miles per hour.
You can still slow down to 45 mph. There are a lot of factors that can determine how fast you can drive with a teardrop trailer. One is the state-imposed speed limit. Of course, you have to abide by the rules of the road. Moreover, there are states with special limitations on towing that you also have to follow.
Another thing to remember is that there are instances where you need to drive even slower, such as in making turns, nighttime driving, windy conditions, tough terrain, poor road conditions, and if you lack experience driving with a trailer.
The general rule is to slow down because trailer sway is more likely to happen when you drive fast. You also have to be extra careful and vigilant while you drive to avoid unwanted road accidents.
3 Different Teardrop Trailers and Their Top Speeds
How fast you can drive with a teardrop trailer also depends on what specific model of teardrop trailer you are driving. Teardrop trailers vary in size. This only means that the optimum speed ranges vary according to what specific model you are driving. To expound more on this, let’s cite three different teardrop trailers and find out how fast each of them can go.
1. Little Guy Max Teardrop Trailers
The Little Guy Max is the most popular teardrop trailer from the company Little Guy Trailers. It’s much heavier, weighing almost 3000 lbs, but what comes with that is a very spacious cargo room. You get a 6’7″ interior height and 58 cubic feet of space.
The trailer can accommodate three people inside, where they can comfortably take a rest. It contains hardwood cabinetry, a kitchen sink, a stove, a kitchen pantry, and a queen-size master bed. Boredom has no place with this teardrop trailer because it also comes with exterior speakers, an exterior TV mount, Bluetooth connectivity, and a 24″ bedroom TV.
All these amenities explain why the Little Guy Max teardrop trailer weighs more than typical ones. The Little Guy Max is equipped with 15″ tires that can drive up to 149 miles per hour. This doesn’t mean you can go beyond the speed limit of your vehicle. Remember that how fast you drive is dependent on many factors. The speed rating just means that the tire can still perform well at that speed.
2. Pika Teardrop Trailers
The Pika Teardrop Trailer is lightweight and small. It gets its name from the American Pika, which is a small rabbit-like mammal that lives in the Rocky Mountains. Just by knowing its natural habitat, you can already tell that the mammal is an adventurous one, traversing rough and rocky tundra on a daily basis.
But don’t underestimate the Pika teardrop trailer. It only weighs 1025 lbs with a 54-inch by 96-inch frame. This makes it easy to maneuver no matter what the terrain is. The Pika teardrop trailer features a galley with drawers and cabinets to store all your belongings. You can even put a fridge here.
You can choose from the Standard, All-road, or Off-road Pika depending on the type of adventure you want. The Off-road Pika is equipped with 31×10.5×15 BF Goodrich KO2 tires, and these tires have a speed rating of 112 miles per hour.
3. Polydrop Teardrop Trailers
The Polydrop Trailer offers a new and unique shape different from the typical teardrop trailers, which have a smooth edge. The Polydrop teardrop trailer is small in size and only weighs 760 lbs! You can tow this teardrop trailer behind almost any vehicle with ease.
Although the trailer offers limited cargo space, you can still get comfortable and organized due to its strategic design. It can accommodate two people. It has 3 storage cubbies, a heater, roof ventilation, and a kitchenette. Outside the trailer is a reliable 100-watt solar panel for comfortable off-grid camping.
The Polydrop trailer is one of a kind. The aerodynamic design of the trailer makes it capable of reaching a speed of 200 miles per hour. Just always remember the limitations you have while driving, like the speed limit.
Final Thoughts
It is a general rule to drive slowly and carefully when you are pulling a trailer, especially in overlanding, where poor road conditions are inevitable. Even though teardrop trailers are relatively small in size as compared to other trailers, you still need to monitor your speed to avoid accidents and damage to your vehicle. It can also improve your gas mileage.
Always follow the speed limit in the state you are in and slow down even more if necessary. Drive at least 10 miles per hour below the posted speed limit. There is no specific safe speed to tow a teardrop trailer because it depends on many factors.
One is the type of teardrop trailer that you have, and another is the kind of terrain you are traversing. It is safe to drive at 55 miles per hour, but if you need to drive faster, make sure you don’t go past 75 miles per hour.
Also, let’s find out how easy it is to tow a teardrop trailer. Find out in our article here.
