The US market is full of trailers. Teardrop units, in particular, seem to be one of the most famous, and sadly, there are many brands out there that get them wrong.
However, others feature a great level of detail, functionality, and luxury that make them the ideal item to take on an overland adventure.
When you combine these great trailers with a few teardrop trailer camping tips from people who have years of experience hitting the road in style, you end up with an unforgettable adventure.
In this article, we’ll go over some of our favorite teardrop camping tips and use one for the best teardrops out there, the Freedom trailer by Second Wind Trailers, as a prime example of what you need for your teardrop camping trips.
Table of Contents
- Learning How to Pack is Crucial
- Prep Meals Ahead of Time
- You Need Emergency Gear
- Get Practice Towing a Teardrop
- Final Thoughts
Teardrop Trailer Camping Tips: Learning How to Pack is Crucial
Learning how to pack is an essential teardrop trailer camping tip. It involves both utilizing space and not taking absolutely everything with you.
For example, it’s a good idea to pack using the principles of how often you use certain items. The items you use the least should go into areas that are harder to get to and the items you use the most should remain reachable. On the one hand, this prevents you from getting frustrated every time you need something out of your teardrop trailer. On the other hand, by making it easier on yourself to find things, you’ll have more time to spend enjoying the scenery!
From there on, you need to use the space as well as possible by utilizing every little storage area you can find. Try to take only the gear you need with you instead of packing your trailer and truck with gear that you think you might possibly need at some point. This will keep the whole setup more organized and lighter, which saves fuel and reduces maintenance costs.
Having a tow vehicle that has good storage space is useful as well. Wagons and pickup trucks work great by providing you ample room to keep your essential gear.
The same is true for your trailer. With something like the Freedom trailer, you can store items in a tongue box or on a roof rack, plus you get interior storage solutions (gorgeous birch cabinets, to be exact) that make organizing and storing your camping gear a much easier process.
For even more smart tips for teardrop trailer camping check out the video above by Highway to Hoeftland.
Teardrop Trailer Camping Tips: Prep Meals Ahead of Time
The Freedom Trailer offers an excellent galley space, which makes it much easier to prepare meals while you’re on the road.
For example, the galley comes with a resin countertop for spreading out your food items, LED lighting so you can see what you’re doing, and you can add a fridge to the mix if you like. You can also opt for a sink and water pump, a 10-gallon water tank, and a 115-volt plug for small kitchen appliances.
Even with a well-equipped galley, prepping your meals before you leave is a great way to make your teardrop trailer camping adventure that much more fun. Simply heat your meals up while at camp, and you’ll have less cleaning to do! This also saves a bit of space in the galley as you don’t have to carry all the ingredients for cooking.
If you prepare your meals from home, you can also cook in larger quantities or make food that requires cooking equipment like an oven that you wouldn’t have when out on adventures.
Teardrop Trailer Camping Tips: You Need Emergency Gear
Overland adventures can get us into some questionable situations – especially if we include dirt roads in our travels. To ensure we’re prepared, we need to carry recovery gear and spare tires.
First, we need spare tires both for the vehicle and the trailer. If your trailer and vehicle share the same bolt pattern and tire size, you’re lucky as you can use spare wheels for both. If not, you will need to purchase separate spares for each of them.
A jack and snatch strap are also important. The jack will help you change tires or undertake any other repairs while the snatch strap provides the ability for recovery in case you get stuck.
These are but two examples of the gear you might need for a recovery on your trip. Check out this list for more advice on recovery gear.
Teardrop Trailer Camping Tips: Get Practice Towing a Teardrop
Single axle trailers are notoriously difficult to back up, so it’s a good idea to get some practice in an empty parking lot before you hit the road for your adventure. You also need to get familiar with hooking and unhooking your trailer as sometimes it may be worth setting up basecamp and exploring the surrounding areas without the weight of the trailer behind the vehicle.
Getting some practice at highway speeds will also get you feeling more comfortable. Driving around town at 30 miles per hour with a trailer is one thing; doing 65 on the highway is another. Don’t let your first camping adventure be the first time you get a feel for how your teardrop handles higher speeds!
At 13 feet long, the Freedom Trailer isn’t huge, but it’s still 13 feet of trailer behind your vehicle that normally isn’t there. Taking the time to get comfortable behind the wheel with a teardrop in tow is critical for your future trips.
Finally, setting up camp a few times just as a tester ensures you have everything you need, where you need it. If you’re like me, you often get to camp after dark, so developing a bit of muscle memory regarding setting up camp means you won’t be looking around for stuff in the dark while at your first camp spot.
Final Thoughts
By combining the above teardrop trailer camping tips with a quality trailer like the Freedom by Second Wind Trailers, you will have a comfortable and enjoyable camping experience. There’s nothing like the freedom of the open road, but one of the quickest ways to make your trip miserable is to go into it unprepared!
Likewise, when shopping for a teardrop trailer, it’s necessary to do your due diligence and invest in a trailer that meets your needs and fulfills your wants. That’s why Second Wind Trailers is such a great choice – their handbuilt trailers are beautifully built, smartly designed, and are customizable, too. What more could you want?!
If you have any further questions about these teardrop trailer camping tips or anything else off-road or overland-related, head over to the forum section of our page.