Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Auto

The Secret to this Featherweight 298-Pound Teardrop Trailer Is Chicken Feathers

Mike Richard
By
Earth Traveler Teardrop Trailers

For decades, teardrop trailers have served as the perfect base camp for roadtrippers looking to criss-cross the country with as little gear as possible in tow. However, even the swankiest teardrop trailers tend to be cramped and still too heavy to be towed by a compact car or electric vehicle. Earth Traveler targets both problems by starting with an expandable, organic-inspired design and a unique construction base of actual chicken feathers.

Earth Traveler’s entry-level T300 brings a whole new meaning to the word “featherweight.” The teardrop trailer’s one-piece construction is built using fiberglass and resin-reinforced feathers to bring the dry weight down to less than 300 pounds. That’s light enough to be towed by most any electric car — and even some motorcycles — on the market. The company’s flagship T250LX ups the ante with a 100% carbon fiber construction that’s ultra-durable and weighs just 216 pounds with the axle.

Earth Traveler Teardrop Trailers

The handcrafted designs were inspired by biomimicry with a shape that’s both organic and aerodynamic. The compact footprint of both models measures just 5 feet by 5 feet by 11 feet to minimize drag while en route to your next destination. Once you’re ready to pitch camp for the night, the pop-out, gull-wing roof and side walls expand the sleeping quarters to a roomier 11 feet by 7 feet by 11 feet. Mosquito mesh all around helps keep out biting things. By day, oversized windows ensure the cabin is awash in light, while after dark, five interior LED lights ensure you’ll always be able to see what you’re doing.

Recommended Videos

Standard equipment for both models is intentionally sparse to allow customers to customize their Earth Traveler to their specifications. Front pop-up and side tents plus an available UV awning help make each model more livable and provide bonus outdoor space to create a separate “living room.” Each model can also be outfitted with a full-featured electrical system including additional LED lighting, plus flexible solar panels and a backup battery. An optional dedicated kitchen station and off-roading kit are in the works for real off-grid living.

Earth Traveler Teardrop Trailers

Earth Traveler’s T300 bases at USD $10,000, while the flagship T250LX teardrop trailer starts around $31,000. All are built to order with an expected lead time of five to seven months. At least that means you can start planning your winter camping and roadtripping now.

Related

If you appreciate a bit more living space in your camping setup, check out the best ultra-light travel trailers of 2019.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Mike Richard
Mike Richard
Contributor
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…
What does interval mean in Formula 1?
Time intervals have three different purposes in Formula 1.
Yuki Tsunoda driving a Formula One racecar for Scuderia AlphaTauri Honda.

Formula 1 racing is the top level of motorsports and is gaining fans rapidly in the United States. Since F1 racing began in 1950, it has always been an international competition. Formula 1 is governed by The Fedération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The FIA F1 Regulations specify the technical, sporting, and financial operations of the ten teams in each year's F1 season. Some people find F1 racing hard to understand because certain terms aren't used in typical ways. For example, the word "interval" has three meanings in F1 racing, all related to time between cars, but for different purposes. We break out the three meanings of time intervals below.
Why time intervals are important in F1 racing

The time gaps between cars in Formula 1 races are often measured in fractions of a second as 20 cars speed around tracks, often reaching speeds over 200 mph. Sometimes, the time difference between the first and last cars finishing a race can be just a few seconds, showing how closely they compete. It's not unusual for cars to finish within tenths or hundredths of a second of each other, so timing is crucial in F1 racing.

Read more
Maserati rounds off its 2025 Folgore lineup with an electric GranCabrio
Maserati's sports convertible goes all-electric
Maserati GranCabrio Folgore

Maserati has unveiled the final piece of its 2024 electrification puzzle in the form of the GranCabrio Folgore -- an all-electric version of its new convertible. The battery-powered roadster was unveiled as part of “Folgore Days,” a celebration of Maserati’s new electric lineup held in Italy’s motor valley. Folgore Days itself is following on from the Formula E racing weekend at Misano World Circuit -- with Maserati being the only luxury brand represented in the electric racing series.

The Trident has gone all out with its latest offering, producing what it claims is the fastest electric convertible on the market. It can do 0-60 in 2.8 seconds and is capable of hitting speeds of just over 180 miles per hour. As with many of Maserati’s sportier offerings, “Corsa Mode” is available and is the easiest way to get the most out of your electric Maserati. The vehicle produces just over 750 horsepower, though with boost, this can briefly reach around 820 horsepower. So the GranCabrio sits alongside its hard-top sibling as the most powerful vehicle Maserati currently offers.

Read more
This is what’s new with the 2025 Subaru Forester
Rather than reinvent models every few years, Subaru focuses on improving each model incrementally.
Right side profile shot of a 2025 Subaru Forester parked on a stone drive in front of a multiple story stone mansion.

Subaru introduced the sixth-generation 2025 Forester SUV in five trim levels. The sixth variant, the Forester Wilderness, remains unchanged for 2025 because Subaru redesigned the 2024 version of the more rugged, off-road trim. Like all Subaru SUVs and most sedans, the 2025 Forester trims have full-time, symmetrical all-wheel drive (AWD), four-cylinder Boxer internal combustion engines (ICEs), and continuously variable transmissions (CVTs).
Why 2025 Subaru Forester trim levels matter

Unless you already own a Subaru, and even then, discerning the changes between years is difficult. Walk on a Subaru dealership lot with new cars mixed with used models, and it's easy to mistake a 10-year-old Forester or Outback for a spanking new version. Subaru doesn't make drastic design changes. The brand's value point is based on reliability and durability, much more than attracting attention with spiffy new profiles.

Read more