I love your approach to the outdoors! There IS a difference between camping and RV-ing. That’s why we built our teardrop

@HighwaytoHoeftland

9 ай бұрын

Yeah, that's true. We noticed several differences between camping with our teardrop compared to when we had a Casita Travel Trailer.

I've been following you guys since the beginning, and have been camping in our 4runner with a platform for about the same amount of time. Tight squeeze. The longest we have done is 7 nights, and much longer would be tough. We will be picking up our new teardrop next month, and plan a month away. All the things you have mentioned, have been a concern, but we just love boon docking sooooo much, and look forward to the places that you can get to, a bit easier with the smaller rig. We will report back after the month in the drop! Thanks for the inspiring vids!

@HighwaytoHoeftland

9 ай бұрын

We would love to hear how that goes! Congrats on your new teardrop. There's definitely more pros than cons with the smaller rigs. Thank you! 🤗

Good stuff. We are currently truck/tent camping using variety of tent sizes depending on the trip plans, but looking at squaredrops for a bit more of a base camp feel. And adding a popup gazebo for rain/bug protection. Your first point, that some RV parks ask for self-contained vehicles, would also limit you from using systems like Harvest Hosts or some Hipcamps, that kind of thing. We use a collapsible REI toilet inside a popup privacy tent for road trip emergencies and camp comfort, but it's a similar limitation on being self-contained. I'd rather be at a state park, or better yet at a boondock site or similar thing, anyway. But it's nice to have options.

@HighwaytoHoeftland

9 ай бұрын

Such great points! Thank you!

Great video! I agree on the bathroom part. We camped in teepee tents at a campground once and ended up across the lot from the bathrooms. I realized in the middle of the night going to the bathroom meant walking all that way in the dark with my small child sleeping alone without me. I didn’t want to wake her and bring her but didn’t want to leave her either. Spending time outdoors is fun, but can also bring challenges!

@HighwaytoHoeftland

9 ай бұрын

Great point! Thank you! ❤️

@davidf9630

9 ай бұрын

@@HighwaytoHoeftland… “go” before you go to sleep 💤 We went on a weeklong trip and we broke it up …3 nights camping in the teardrop, 1 night in a hotel, then 2 more nights in the teardrop

@HighwaytoHoeftland

9 ай бұрын

@@davidf9630 We like that approach. That is a helpful idea that could be restful and restorative by spending a night in a hotel during the trip.

@herrp8765

9 ай бұрын

​@@davidf9630It's amazing how one night in a Super 8 can be invigorating during a multi day camping trip.

I have a Nucamp T@B 320 teardrop, which has an indoor toilet/shower and I can stand in it (floor to ceiling is 5'10"). I considered the smaller teardrops but all the points you made are valid, hence I ended up with this one that I love

@HighwaytoHoeftland

8 ай бұрын

Hi Nancy, That is good to know. We might give that trailer another look. Our only hesitation is that Mike is 6'2" and might have similar problems fitting in the space comfortably. The T@Bs are definitely neat trailers.

I have a vistabule trailer camper. It has the windows for the views. I've been on a 5 month trip from the east coast to the western mountains. I was in no hurry to get home. And am planning another long trip out west next year. Plus I have done several 1 to 3 month trips in my vistabule.

Nothing makes a RV park better. It's a picturesque apartment complex. Leaving a RV park makes it better. Your hearts are in the right place for sharing your thoughts and wanting others to know how congested these places are. That is clear and much appreciated. What a beautiful dog you have. Even some state and national parks can be over crowded. Keep searching for the right places that have access to the beauty and wonder you seek. Be safe, and happy adventures to all 3 of you. Thanks for sharing.

@HighwaytoHoeftland

8 ай бұрын

Well said! Thank you.

Wife and I love your videos and watched them since the beginning. I am glad you are back making them and health issues behind you ! We just purchased a Hicamp teardrop out of Portland Oregon. We used it all the way back to New Hampshire where we live. We didn't have a full set up as we were our west for a month prior to pick up. 7 days cross country was easy trailering, stopping at a rest area making a sandwich or more elegant meals in camp. We will add a clam shelter and privacy tent and continue the journey. I understand the bathroom thing and it's all part of the learning. I never trailered before and this is a good one to learn on. We are retired and taking the teardrop to Alaska next year for 4 months. I am sure we will have a better understanding of long term camping then ! Keep the videos coming. enjoy the TD until you move on... it's ok to learn as you go what you like :) Good honest video for people thinking about the TD.

@HighwaytoHoeftland

8 ай бұрын

Thank you very much for your kind and understanding comment. We're glad to hear that the trailering went well across the country. That is definitely a big benefit to these smaller trailers that we also appreciate. Alaska will be an amazing trip for you! We went on an Alaskan cruise in May, and it was stunningly beautiful. Thanks again, and happy camping. 😊

We own a InTech Pursue camper - basically a square type, all aluminum frame, utility trailer. Roof-top AC/Heat unit & Maxx fan, TV/stereo. Fits in our home garage. Live in the Tampa area & camp several times a year in the North GA, NC mountains. We attach one side of a large Iron Man tent around the rear doors of the trailer's back frame with magnets. Tent area used for changing clothes, eating during inclement weather, & additional storage. We also use a large clam shell which covers the front of the trailers pull-out kitchen. An awning covers the trailer's main side entry door. Total weight around 2200 lbs. EZ pull with a Toyota Tacoma Off Road 4x4 MT. We use this as our Base Camp while we enjoy hiking & exploring surrounding areas. EZ camping set-up which provides an off the ground, very comfy, sleeping/security solution. Simple, Functional, and FUN.

@HighwaytoHoeftland

3 ай бұрын

We started looking into the InTechs as well. We watched some channels on KZread that love their InTech rigs, so it caught our attention. We're glad you're enjoying yours. Happy camping. :)

You really badly need an awning/ side entry tent, both for privacy, and for changing in. If you also had a toilet/ shower tent, your other problem would go away as well.

@HighwaytoHoeftland

9 ай бұрын

Hi Mike, Thanks for your tips. We do have a bathroom tent that we use in less established campgrounds. The side tent is a good idea for longer trips. We will think about that as an option. We like the idea of extending the space for privacy. For the shorter weekend trips, sometimes we like to keep things simple and don't feel like setting a bunch of stuff up. However, this reminds us that there are a lot of creative solutions out there that could definitely help with extended travel. Good stuff to consider. Thanks again

I really enjoy your channel and your ideas. A couple of thoughts: 1. Big windows make it really difficult to maintain a comfortable temp - too hot in the sun, and too cold if it's cold. 2. When I built mine, I deliberately designed in a propex heater. It's sooo nice to have forced air heat to keep things cozy warm, or to really warm it up if you are cold (especially here in Minnesnowta!) 3. We haven't done 'months', but we've done several 2-3 week trips. The biggest thing is breaking camp every day to move to the next stop (for example, doing Route 66). 4. IMHO, there's no such thing as a 'good' RV park :) Between iOverland and Google maps, I can usually find a National/state/city/county park or BLM/NFS location.

@HighwaytoHoeftland

7 ай бұрын

Those are helpful tips, thank you. Good point about the large windows. There are always trade-offs. We hadn't heard of iOverland. We'll be interested in checking that out. The propex heaters definitely sound like a nice addition to a teardrop trailer. We wish we had that and might consider adding one in the future. Thanks again! Happy camping. 😊

I have run the camping life full circle. Started in tents as a child and through the years progressed to large towable RVs. My last shelter was a Kodiak Canvas truck tent. I should have my InTech Flyer Pursue within a few days, Lord willing. I do plan on several extended cross country trips and will definitely share my experiences. Thanks for all yuor videos and the advice that you have.

I enjoy your videos very much. I think getting a side room that fits with your awning is a solution for bad weather and going potty at night. Keep on traveling and making videos. Love Teddy!

@HighwaytoHoeftland

9 ай бұрын

Thanks so much, Donna! That is a good suggestion. We appreciate it. 🤗

I just picked up a Hiker camper. For my needs it’s perfect, lightweight w/ solar. I live in Washington but drove over to Utah to buy it. Now I’m going over the many options I want to install. Have you tried Skull Hollow CG near Terrebonne ( Or.) ? Really enjoyed my stay there. Happy travels !

Besides a shower tent, I have a Clam 6x6 shelter, I can put up, but easy as it is, it's a nuisance for short stays, especially if you have to put it away wet. I had an ARB awning, but that does not give any privacy. I sold it. Some places wont allow tents at all, but i avoid those. Even my shower tent with floor is a bummer sometimes. I'm in Oregon, and my last trip was at the coast. Sand in everything! My attached shower tent will be helpful on one side. I have a Kelty Backroads that is good, but it can be a problem under certain circumstances. I can use it at the side of trailer or over the galley.

I know how you feel about your teardrop. They're really easy to tow and park, better towing fuel mileage, etc... but I'm going to suggest that IF/when you might move "up" you try a 6' X 12' cargo trailer and convert it. The rear ramp door can serve as a deck, you may still have the galley in the back and if you leave the ramp down and use drapes/1/4" ply half wall/whatever you may have that great view of the lake from your bunk! and have standing room to get dressed, a spot for a small lo0... and you could call it a squaredrop. Heehaw. Safe travels to you! Thanks for your vid.

Have you seen the Darche 360 batwing 30second awning, when I get a teardrop that will be the must have accessory.

Awesome video. I just talked with Bend Teardrops today. I'm planning on a 6x12, but I want to DIY the interior. Plan on a drop drown TV, cabinets, a fold out couch with removal table and one of those sealed dometic toilets for the really rainy days. I so want the windows you have over the portholes. Have it mostly designed in CAD. I grew up all around the West during summers in a Winnebago. Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa I have ideas. Dave at Bend was so accommodating and helpful about subtle little things I want. Thanks for your videos. You are motivating me. Can't wait to see more of your adventures.

@HighwaytoHoeftland

3 ай бұрын

We agree that Dave with Bend Teardrop is really nice! He was easy to work with. You'll have a great time with these campers.

@1:24. "Close quarters." Man, you ain't kidding! But good reminder that everyone's out camping to have fun. Meeting other peeps simply is a part of that, even if they're within spittin' distance. 😊

@HighwaytoHoeftland

9 ай бұрын

Very true! We like that perspective. Thanks 😊

Could you use a folding screen in front of your door for changing your clothes? Then move the screen to the side to use a porta potty? I've never seen a folding screen used for camping but it seems like it would be useful, for showering too.

Uh oh. I better not watch this. I just picked up my brand new Intech Luna Rover yesterday! 😊 Seriously, I plan to bring my Coleman 6p instant tent on my adventures. It provides enough room for a porta-potty and as changing or hang out room. Specially in inclement weather.

@HighwaytoHoeftland

9 ай бұрын

Haha! It's minor stuff, mostly. Congrats on your new trailer! 🙌

@herrp8765

9 ай бұрын

@@HighwaytoHoeftland thanks so much. We're very excited!

We have a 54inch by 8ft. home built squaredrop trailer with 4ft of height. It's strictly a bed on wheels. We use a Clam Sky Camper scree/tent to do everything but sleep. It is big enough to set up a shower tent inside, which is great to get out of a shower and still have privacy. We set up a portable toilet for trips when going to bathrooms aren't convenient. When its nice out you can pull up the sides and it is a screen tent. For us it works great and would not own a small camper without it.

@HighwaytoHoeftland

9 ай бұрын

That sounds like a nice set-up. We will look into the Clam Sky Camper tent. Thanks!

I loved this video. We have a Meerkat which is a tiny towable. It is only 13 feet. Has many of the same drawbacks as a teardrop. With that said we took a long 50 day trip from NJ to Utah. We stopped at ten National Parks and consider it to have been one of the most interesting and invigorating trips we have ever taken. I say go for the long trip. Join Harvest Hosts and Boondockers Welcome. We have a side tent so if it’s a little buggy out we have some relief. And since we were working while we traveled if one person wanted to be alone they could be in the side tent and the other could be inside the camper or in the car. You have a truck so you could get one of the big pop up tents everyone with a teardrop it seemed to us had. We tow with a SUV. We have a Thetford portapotty in the camper. It really was not bad. I used it twice. And our camper allows us to sit inside as the bed folds up and there is a little table along with a tiny kitchen area with a sink. But we mostly cooked outdoors for obvious reasons. We don’t have air conditioning or heat build in. But we have portable air conditioner (used once-don’t love it) and heater like you do. This next year we will just do east coast traveling. Seriously having a tiny towable camper is great just as you said even with the limitations.

@HighwaytoHoeftland

3 ай бұрын

Thank you for your comment, Shirley. This is very good advice and helpful. We're glad to hear you're having wonderful adventures!

I kind of went on the opposite side of this.I ended up buying a van and Converted it I have more room than a teardrop camper Plus I can pretty much camp anywhere I want . And if I can't I can always stealth camp!

Is there a camper company that makes a universal unit? Meaning camping, and the option of removing the camper unit and be used as a utility trailer to haul other stuff. Utility trailer kayak trailer lawn clippings debris etc. ??? just to have a trailer that could be used year round?

The longest I have done in our tiny squaredrop is 10 nights. I think I could easily go for a month or 3, but that would never work out with our 6 year old . (She was 3 when we did 10 nights)

@HighwaytoHoeftland

9 ай бұрын

It's good to know you wouldn't mind going for 1+ months if you didn't have your kiddo with you. 10 nights is a decent amount of time, too. We'll have to test it out on longer trips. Thanks!

Check out a Gazelle Gazebo. That will give you a place to hang out, change, eat or whatever. They are great.

@HighwaytoHoeftland

9 ай бұрын

Thank you, Barb. We will look into that.

It's called camping. You're supposed to be outside most of the time. You don't have an RV (recreational VEHICLE). You have a trailer.

@HighwaytoHoeftland

9 ай бұрын

Thanks for your input. An RV can be a motorhome or a trailer. But regardless, we were talking about a trailer. There are RV parks all over the country, and we're occasionally going to want to stay there. We don't have to stay outdoors all of the time if we don't feel like it. We love being outside, but not for 3 months straight.

@stumpgrinder13

9 ай бұрын

@HighwaytoHoeftland A trailer is essentially a hard sided tent that you can easily carry essential CAMPING gear. What you need is something like a recreational VEHICLE, which you can take all the amenities of your home with you.

@HighwaytoHoeftland

9 ай бұрын

We'll likely keep the teardrop for a couple more years because we're enjoying it for weekend camping. We're looking into possibly buying a small travel trailer with a bathroom and dinette in the future.

@stumpgrinder13

9 ай бұрын

@HighwaytoHoeftland I hope you guys enjoy many, many happy adventures as myself and my family have.

@HighwaytoHoeftland

9 ай бұрын

@@stumpgrinder13 Thank you!

Why don’t y’all try a larger teardrop that has a bathroom like the tab 400

@HighwaytoHoeftland

9 ай бұрын

Good suggestion. We did look into that, but it seems Mike is too tall for the bed.

A tear drop is able to go were big camper can not even get too and most big campers will never go camping in the cold ...I would rather have a tear drop than a camper that is only used for summer because its to darn heavy to tow ... and tear drops you can tow with a car ...

@HighwaytoHoeftland

3 ай бұрын

Very valid points. Thank you.

My motto is, "Little camper, little problems, big camper, big problems."

Side tents can be helpful in solving some of these problems. I use a Kelty Backroads and the every popular Lightspeed pop-up privacy tent. That said, as a solo woman in a squaredrop, I can comfortably spend time inside as my bed is just a cot and there is other open space for other uses. I can sit up on my bed and can even put a camp chair inside.

@HighwaytoHoeftland

9 ай бұрын

It sounds like you created a great setup. Something to think about. Thanks!

@WildcatPhoto

9 ай бұрын

I also have a Backroads, a privacy tent, and a Clam shelter. I don't take them all at once. I don't like to set up a bunch of stuff for a couple nights. I keep thinking about something I can sit up in. The Backroads needs a bit of room to get it up and down, usually in dirt or gravel, but I like it. Some RV parks won't allow a tent.

@HighwaytoHoeftland

9 ай бұрын

@WildcatPhoto We completely agree. We don't like setting up a bunch of stuff for just a night or two, either. It can be a lot of work. But for longer stays, it could make sense because then it's a lot more comfortable. Good point about RV parks not allowing tents.

@davidf9630

9 ай бұрын

One thing that we always set up is our awning, it works great for those damp mornings

@WildcatPhoto

9 ай бұрын

@HighwaytoHoeftland I don't go to RV parks anyway, but the Backroads has been nice even if a bother, when needing privacy. The Clam screen tent is useful, as I have wind walls for privacy, but I don't always like it, folding up the walls and such. The Backroads has a back door and window, and one can roll up the sides for a breeze, and it packs up small. I had it up in some wind and a rain storm and it did good. I have an ARB awning, not good in wind, but I tied the Backroads to the ARB cover. It would not be fun to try to get it up after the wind starts.

another possible reason is access to the camper if you have reduced flexibility

With mine, I only dislike it when it's rainy or cold. I don't go to RV parking lots. The dog likes it.

@HighwaytoHoeftland

9 ай бұрын

Our dog loves our teardrop, too. It is definitely cozy. We believe this was the first time we took our teardrop to an RV park as well. Thanks for your comment. 🤗

@WildcatPhoto

Ай бұрын

I have ordered an attached shower tent that just rolls down. However, the other shower tent can be useful to block the view of others. I try to stay where there are lots of bushes between spaces.

outside tent !?

@HighwaytoHoeftland

8 ай бұрын

Hi there, a side tent is definitely on our list of items to add this winter to our camping setup. We have a screen day tent we use when there are mosquitoes and bugs, but a side tent might also be a practical solution. Thanks

Just watched a video with a lady who lives in her Tag teardrop trailer. But, she is traveling alone.

@HighwaytoHoeftland

3 ай бұрын

We have seen a few examples of that, too. In certain circumstances, it makes sense. Especially for the most adventurous among us. :)

You want an RV but could only aford a Teardrop? Sounds like RV envy. Lots of people I know who havw RVs or big vans complain they they are stuck with only being able to use van/RV parks, they hate it and would love the freedom of the RTT or Teardrop.

@HighwaytoHoeftland

3 ай бұрын

They all have pros and cons. Seems like people switch their rigs quite often.

As a Teardrop camper, i'm kind of shaken by this video. We bought ours, like most people, as an upgrade from either tent camping or camper trailer (tents pulling out of the trailer). We knew what we would be in for buying one and hence we made the informed and educated guess this was for us... and still is. I'm shocked anyone could do this video. Its like your bitter about a poor choice for you. Yes you say you still enjoy it... but it seems you did this just for views.

@HighwaytoHoeftland

8 ай бұрын

There are pros and cons to all types of trailers and RVs, and you don't know how much you'll like something until you experience it and give it a try. As we said in our video, we like our teardrop, but we won't keep it long-term. It's no biggie, and we're not bitter. It's just us living life and accepting and embracing change as our lives and plans change. We're having a great time and learning a lot along the way. We'll eventually (within 1-2 years) want a little larger travel trailer with a bathroom for longer-term travel. Take care.

Organised camp grounds isn't camping! Teardrops are ment to go off road & camp in national forests or BLM land.

If we can't stand up in it, we ain't buying it

@HighwaytoHoeftland

9 ай бұрын

Haha! Thanks for your comment. That is completely understandable. 😀