One of the biggest drawbacks of towing a trailer is having all that weight behind you. It can lead to getting stuck more easily, using more fuel, and causes more stress on the tow vehicle.
However, some trailer styles like the teardrop tend to be a bit lighter; therefore, they can reduce the negative effects mentioned above.
In this article, we’ll take a look at how much teardrop trailers weigh while also giving you insights into one of our favorite teardrop trailer options – the So-Cal Teardrops XS511.
Table of Contents
- How Much Does a Teardrop Trailer Weigh?
- What are the Dimensions of a Teardrop Trailer?
- How Off-Road Capable are Teardrop Trailers?
- Teardrop Trailers Come with Tons of Options
- Final Thoughts
- Recommended Overlanding Gear
How Much Does a Teardrop Trailer Weigh?
Obviously, how much a teardrop trailer weighs depends on the make and model of the trailer.
Let’s take the So-Cal XS511 as an example. Its dry weight is 2200 lbs, which, when compared to other types of trailers, is very light.
A Jeep Wrangler – which is not known for not having a good tow rating capacity – can tow a maximum of 3,500 lbs. Therefore, something like the So-Cal XS511 will be no issue even for the Jeep.
The company offers some other smaller options which weigh even less. It all depends on the size and build of the trailer you want.
What are the Dimensions of a Teardrop Trailer?
The XS511 is the largest teardrop trailer from So-Cal Teardrops. With this in mind, its body length is 120” with an overall length 189”. The interior cabin width is 59” with an overall width 84”. The interior height is 44.5” and the overall height 71”.
As you can see, teardrop trailers are by no means large, and this is mainly the reason why they are so light. Yet, in a trailer like the XS511, you can fit a 4”x59”x88” mattress, which is a good size for two people to sleep.
Keep in mind that you also get roof rails which can be used to add a rooftop tent. Therefore, you can use the space inside the trailer for storage rather than sleeping. This will make packing up for long trips with the family much easier.
You can also do the opposite. Since the trailer is enclosed and safer than a tent, you can use it for sleeping and use the included roof rack for storage.
The interior of these teardrop trailers is mostly made from wood and is cleverly laid out. You have plenty of storage space, an electrical panel, and a flat space for a mattress.
How Off-Road Capable are Teardrop Trailers?
Since these types of trailers are light, narrow, and short, they tend to perform really well when taken off-road.
So-Cal teardrops market their trailers as being capable of rock crawling, which not many trailers out there can do.
For example, the XS511 comes with 30-inch mud terrain tires, 20” of ground clearance, gusset reinforcements in all corners, and a straight axle with electric brakes. The trailer is also equipped with a shock reservoir system and airbags, reinforced ribbing, and a double seal in all exposed openings.
In other words, this thing is ready for the trail!
It’s worth mentioning that all So-Cal Teardrops are hand-built, and judging by their appearance and specs, the So-Cal Teardrops team have the toughest of conditions in mind. These trailers look every bit the part of something that can tackle the most difficult tracks.
Teardrop Trailers Come with Tons of Options
When buying a trailer from So-Cal Teardrops, you will also have the chance to choose from tons of accessories that allow you to customize the trailer.
For example, you can add an airbag suspension with an air compressor, a front jack wheel, and an extended tongue. There are other frame accessories, too: storage side wings, a metal cage with a locking lid, and side receivers, to name a few.
For electrical amenities, you can opt for:
- Vent fan
- Floodlights
- AGM battery
- A battery monitor
- LED interior lights
You can also add reading lights, a 110v outlet in the cabin and galley, and an additional 12v outlet.
Wood-related accessories include flip doors, shelves, and a marine interior. Add additional kitchen drawers, a side mount counter, and many other convenient upgrades while you’re at it!
Finally, you can choose between other general accessories like RotopaX, a flagpole holder, or a Trasharoo. Add an LP tank side mount, an ARB fridge and slide, a 30-gallon water tank, and many more useful features as well.
Clearly, how much a trailer weighs should be of primary concern to you – a trailer that’s too heavy to tow won’t do you much good!
But be sure to consider other factors, like the trailer’s off-road capabilities, features, and options, too. Doing so ensures that you design the best trailer for your needs – something that So-Cal Teardrops can certainly help you with!
Final Thoughts
A teardrop trailer may not weigh that much but it sure packs a lot of features. You have the benefit of being able to take the trailer in places other larger and heavier options have no chance of going through.
Furthermore, as we have seen in the “how much does a teardrop trailer weigh” section, the light weight of these trailers means that you will save fuel and put less stress on the vehicle.
Putting less stress on the vehicle leads to fewer breakages and more fun off-road!
If you have any further questions regarding off-road trailers or for anything else overland or off-road-related, head over to the forum section of our page.
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