Teardrops have always been available as build-your-own projects. You can find ads for kits and plans in old magazines from the 1930’s and 40’s. Some of these are pretty sophisticated, but most are clumsily-built, and look and feel cheap, so the boat-building kit company Chesapeake Light Craft (CLC) decided to take the same boatbuilding materials and techniques they have been refining for 25 years and build a teardrop trailer
The result is a 5′ x 8′ (1.5 x 2.4m) teardrop, that’s a lot more elegant than the common “canned ham” teardrop designs.
The teardrop features marine plywood panels, epoxy and taped seams, a sculpted fiberglass shell, doors and hatches, and a galley.
If you’ve ever made a stitch-and-glue kayak or similar, you’ll be an old-hand at putting one of these together in no time.
All you need to do is buy the kit and a trailer and follow the supplied instructions.
If you’re impressed with the exterior, you will be more than impressed with what’s hidden inside. It looks relatively compact on the outside, but you will be surprised with how much interior room you have. You can fit two adults up to 6’6″ (198cm) quite comfortably, all the while having room to spare for your clothing and bedding as well.
There are doors on both sides, a roof hatch for ventilation and access, and space for a 12-volt electric system too. Therefore, there’s no problem if you want to run lights, entertainment systems, or charge your mobile devices.
In the rear of the trailer is a galley which you can use for all manner of things. However, if you require it for storage, you can choose a shelving unit as part of the kit option. T
he simplicity of this design is incredible, yet it works so well for so many different occasions. You can take it camping, on long road trips, or even as a “just in case” option should you find yourself weary after a long day of driving.
The price for the base kit $2155, the storage box is an additional $416 and the galley module clocks in at $337.
Read also: Explore Iceland with a teardrop trailer and fall asleep with a view of the northern lights
