Skip to main content

Trekking: Hit the highway with the High Camp Teardrop Trailer

Man isn’t meant to stay indoors — our weekly “Trekking” column can attest to that. It’s a column dedicated to the adventurer inside of all of us, the one pining to ditch the office humdrum for a quick surf session or seven-week jaunt in the Grand Tetons. One day we may highlight an ultra-light stove and the next a set of handmade canoe paddles. Life doesn’t just happen inside the workplace, so get outside and live it.

There are few things as iconic and welcoming as a classic, teardrop trailer. The thought alone conjures up images seeped in nostalgia and comfort, ones that seem to revel in a design that hasn’t vastly changed since the camper’s initial introduction in the late 1930s. And while we can’t deny the relentless allure of perching a tent beneath the night sky, we also can’t resist the minimalist aesthetic and no-frills functionality afforded by the High Camp Teardrop Trailer ($15,895).

Related: The Trekking Summer 2014 Outdoor Gear Guide

1410916443527_1410916443527_DSC_0154.850x1268.0_0_1339_1998.fit=trueWith the Teardrop Trailer, owner and builder Dennis Caron set out to improve upon the design of classic camper models after making a cross-country excursion with his wife in the mid-’90s. He had qualms regarding the galley layout of other models, so he set out to redesign his own, complete with automotive-style gas struts and three-burner cooktop. The outside of the trailer is more Airstream-esque than anything else, but the aluminum design and the beautiful birch interior help envelop the camper with a sense of streamlined minimalism. The galley features a slide-out, stainless-steel Coleman cooler and the aforementioned stove, not to mention plenty of storage compartments for stowing your equipment and LED lighting to illuminate the space as you cook.

However, there’s more to the Teardrop Trailer’s design than just the kitchen. Brushed-nickel reading lights conveniently shed light upon the sleeping quarters — which houses a queen-size mattress and a multi-speed ventilation fan for increasing airflow — while the headboard provides even more storage space. Optional accessories, such as a custom iPad mount and water heater, push functionality even further. It’s all built within an eight-week span, too, utilizing local welders, millers, and Caron’s own handiwork. Now, you just need a place to go and the right vehicle to haul it.

Check out High Camp Trailers online for more information, to place an order, or to peruse the company’s broad swath of custom accessories.

Editors' Recommendations

Brandon Widder
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Brandon Widder is a journalist and a staff writer for the Manual and its brother site, Digital Trends, where he covers tech…
Airstream’s Most Popular Travel Trailers Are Looking a Lot Sexier for 2022
airstream flying cloud international updates 2022 2021 27fb exterior bug eye web

Airstream builds some of the most sought-after travel trailers in the world. The brand’s iconic “silver bullet” design has been a part of the Great American Road Trip since “road tripping” was first popularized in the middle of the 20th century. Next year, Airstream is upping its game with top-down refreshes of its two most popular models. We have to admit that they’ve never looked better.

For almost a century, the Flying Cloud has been Airstream’s most popular travel trailer. It’s versatile and family-friendly thanks to 14 available floor plans, making it easy to choose a layout that fits your particular mode of travel. For 2022, the model is receiving a complete interior overhaul. The new Sunlit Maple decor is light, airy, and thoroughly modern. Virtually every aspect of the fit and finish, including the fabrics, upholstery, countertops, fixtures, and flooring, is getting an upgrade. Airstream pulled heavily from residential design for inspiration. The sinks, for example, feature a square design and premium Delta pull-down faucets in the bathroom and kitchen. Many of the fabrics have also been swapped for Ultraleather options, which are more durable and handsome. Other functional updates include blackout curtains, soft-close cabinet hinges, and better overhead storage design.

Read more
Taxa Outdoors’ Rugged Mantis Travel Trailer Just Got Even Better
taxa outdoor mantis outdoors  rugged

For decades, the best option for hardcore, adventurous campers was a classic teardrop trailer. The 21st century opened things up, bringing a slew of ingenious new manufacturers, all building capable, lightweight, rugged travel trailers ready to go anywhere. New for 2019, Taxa Outdoors -- one of our favorite towable brands -- returns with a redesigned flagship model.

The most noticeable thing about the refreshed Mantis is its size or, more specifically, lack thereof. While the model gets a 12-inch bump in length up to 19 feet, it’s still incredibly compact with a footprint that can be stored in most 7-foot garages. At roughly 3,000 pounds, it’s towable by even moderately equipped trucks and SUVs. It all rides on 15-inch steel wheel all-terrain tires for a comfortable ride that’s capable of venturing off-road when necessary.

Read more
Airstream Brings Back 2 of Its Most Popular and Affordable Travel Trailers
Airstream Caravel

Most travelers with a pulse have fantasized about crisscrossing the country in a vintage (or at least, vintage-looking) Airstream. The iconic aluminum travel trailers are legendary among roadtrippers, symbols of The Great American Road Trip. Sadly, they’re too expensive for most mortal men with some models starting in the six figures. However, just this month, Airstream announced the return of two of its most popular travel trailers. The good news? They’re almost affordable -- almost.

If the Airstream Bambi and Airstream Caravel don’t ring any bells, you’re not alone. Both models debuted back in the 1960s when the RV company was toying with lighter, more compact, more efficient single-axle designs. Though wildly popular, both were discontinued in the ensuing decades to make room for larger, more luxurious alternatives. One look at the second-hand RV market, however, reveals that demand never died down. Used models of both styles hold their resale value remarkably well and are still among the most sought-after Airstream travel trailers.

Read more