Starling Travel

Mike and I saw a listing for a T@B Clamshell trailer at a local dealer. Even though our little Prius couldn’t tow it, we took the drive up north to see it. They are so rare to see in person, that I just couldn’t resist.

Even though the graphics on the side aren’t retro by any stretch of the imagination, I still loved how this trailer looked. The blue is the appropriate color of aqua to please me, apparently.

I even liked the huge T@B logo on the back of the trailer.

I absolutely adore the kitchen in the back of the trailer. I love to be outdoors while I’m cooking and a clamshell teardrop is the best way to achieve that with little setup. This T@B had a sink and a fridge (12V only). The water reservoir for the sink was in the cabinet under the sink. It was just a five gallon jug that you could carry to the water faucet and fill by hand.

I was a little wary of the cooktop, however. I’ve had a couple of greasy pans flare up while cooking and I would feel much more comfortable if the cooktop had a metal wind guard around it.

The downside of the T@B came inside, however. Mike is six feet tall, so he did not fit in the bed. I loved that the bed converted to a table, but Mike would have hit his head on the wall of the trailer every night if he tried to squeeze in there to sleep.

The ceiling height was 5’9″, so Mike couldn’t stand in the trailer either. It was tall enough for him to be able to put on his pants, but he would definitely have to sit on the bed or bench to put on a shirt in the cabin.

One other problem with the T@B is there is no place for Mike to sit if he’s not sleeping. There was an adorable bench next to the door and flanking a window. I imagined I could sit there and read a book if it were raining outside, but when Mike tried to sit there, he couldn’t fit. The curved roof prevented him from finding a comfortable way to sit on that lovely little bench.

He was able to sit on the spot above the Cool Cat heater, but it was a pretty small spot and it was right next to the bed, so he didn’t feel comfortable there, either. In the end, it wasn’t a good fit for my husband, but for me, I was in retro heaven.

Sadly, no one is making the T@B Clamshell design right now. Little Guy is making T@B Trailers, but they are only making the Q floor plan. You can see a tour of their T@B trailers here:

I fell in love with the T@B Clamshell and I wish I could buy a brand new one from Little Guy right now. All I need to do is convince my husband that a bumped head every now and again is a small price to pay for a lightweight trailer that can keep us warm when we camp in the winter.

Update 03-31-12: Just noticed on the T@B website that the T@B clamshell design is coming back in Fall this year!

Thanks, Little Guy, for bringing back the best designed almost-standy teardrop!

Update 11-22-12: Little Guy has just announced TWO new floor plans! The return of the clamshell design AND one with a BATHROOM!

• Starling Travel » The Return of the T@B Clamshell! Plus, A T@B with a BATHROOM!!

I was trolling the eBay listings today and I found this amazing Trailorboat:

• Trailorboat Trailer with Boat | eBay

I had heard about the Trailorboat, from these sites about teardrop trailers:

• ANGIB: The Amazing Trailerboat

• Nicks Teardrop Trailer Page

It was an ingenious design manufactured from 1961-1963 that incorporated a boat on the roof of a tiny trailer, making it easier to haul. The photos of these trailers have been few and far between, so seeing this beauty on eBay is a rare treat.

Continue reading to see the rest of the photos: (Continue Reading…)

Cheryl R. Gonzalez has a huge photo collection of her vintage trailers and restoration projects, but this photo of her great uncle and aunt camping really touched my heart.

I can imagine how this photo was taken. It’s obvious that they are focused on hitching up (or off) the trailer. This process took so long that the photographer got bored, found the camera and snapped a photo. Once again, I’m reminded that having a trailer wouldn’t save me any time or work. It would just exchange it for different work.

On another note, I absolutely ADORE Mabel for wearing a dress while camping. I have a bunch of little skorts that I wear camping and people always look at me funny at the campsites. I feel a strange bond with Mabel across the generations. Way to go, girl!

I was watching a video about A Frame trailers and this video from Teal Camper came up as a related video.

I was shocked at the ingenious design! You provide your own trailer, like the bolt together 4′ X 8′ frame from Harbor Freight and they ship the parts to you to create your own camper using only a screwdriver (preferably electric).

The Teal Camper Owners Manual shows you every step in how to put your camper together either on a utility trailer or on the back of a pickup truck.

Because the parts are modular, you can make your camper as big or as small as you want. In fact, there is even a design for making a 8′ X 8′ shelter. Here is a video walkthrough of it.

Here is a video tour of the 4′ X 8′ camper:

If you want a bigger camper, here is the 5′ X 10′ design:

Unfortunately, when I checked the Teal Camper Pricing Page, their online store is temporarily closed. They say they are negotiating with a new manufacturer, so you can’t order them right now without contacting them personally.

What Teal Camper lacks in beauty, it more than makes up for in flexible design and DYI ingenuity. I hope they are successful enough to move beyond their awkward appearance and are able to design a camper that is both modular AND beautiful.

It’s unavailable in the States, but the DoubleBack Camper Van looks like the best thing to happen to the camper van since Westfalia started converting VW buses. Not only does it have the lift roof like the old conversions, the back of the van expands, doubling the indoor space.

Here is a video describing it from BikeRadar:

The cost for this van is approximately $87,000. For that price you could buy a tow vehicle and FOUR bumper tow trailers with full RV capabilities and more space inside. This van is cool for its ability to transform like an Autobot, but you end up paying quite a bit for that feature.

If you want something that will fold up nice and small in the back of your VW van (or even your VW Beetle), nothing beats a tent.

Via: Gizmodo – Extending Camper Vans Give the Modern Hippy Plenty Of Leg Room

Here is the television commercial for the Barbie Star Traveler:

If it hadn’t been for this toy, I wouldn’t be struggling with my trailer and motor home obsession right now.

This toy was a replica of the GMC Eleganza II. You can see a brochure reproduction here:

Here is a picture of one looking so much like the Barbie Star Traveler that I want it for myself.

Mike and I saw one of these for sale in Quartzsite, AZ and I took a walk through it. The minute I climbed aboard, I wanted it. The back area had twin bunks with a dresser between them, so it wouldn’t have worked for us. Not to mention the fact that Mike wouldn’t let me even ask the price. The thought of trying to keep a 35 year old motor home running in perfect condition makes my skin crawl, actually.

In the end, we’re sticking with the tent and Prius just because the cost of the gasoline alone would curtail any adventures we’d be able to have in a motorhome, but the Barbie Star Traveler will always be my first motor home.

Update 12-27-12: Here is a video tour of a GMC Eleganza

I just finished watching The Long, Long Trailer. It’s a funny movie starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz made in 1953. It’s about all the problems of traveling with a trailer. Desi is an engineer who must travel for his work and Lucy decides that they should live in a large trailer instead of living out of hotels.

Here is an introduction:

It’s worth watching just for the beautiful cinematography of Yosemite National Park. Vincente Minelli must have had a bit of a crush on Lucille Ball, because he makes her look more lovely than she ever did before or after.

After seeing the two of them suffer through the difficulties of driving a large trailer, getting stuck on muddy trails and winding their way along treacherous mountain roads, I was very happy to just throw the tent in the hatchback instead.

If you have ever considered buying a trailer, make sure you watch The Long, Long Trailer. It will cure you of your trailer fever and you’ll happily pitch your tent instead.

It seems that the more I look at camping trailers, the more interesting things I find. For example, the Fold-N-Roll Trailer. It was created in 1996 by Irv Perch, the original founder of Aristocrat Trailers, but they are a far cry the from canned ham design of his past.

It’s not as pretty as an old Aristocrat trailer, but you can’t argue with its utilitarian design. Unlike the A-Frame trailers or even the TrailManor trailers, the Fold-N-Roll unfolds entirely differently. The top slides up and over, creating a sloped roof on the front and a handy awning over the door on the back.

It was easy to find photos of the trailer in its extend position, but I could only find one photo of it closed up. It looks like a clunky and awkward mess to me.

When compared to the streamlined design of this 1959 Aristocrat trailer, the Fold-N-Roll looks like a monstrosity.

What it lacked in beauty, it more than made up in utility. It was equipped with a queen-sized bed, a separate dinette and a full bathroom. And it all folded down into an ingenious bit of trailer origami.

Sadly, the Fold-N-Roll was not long for this world and are no longer made today, so if you want one of these babies, you’ll have to find one on the used market. With gas prices as high as they are, a small trailer that folds so compactly, yet opens up into such a roomy space is exactly what most people need.

See more photos after the break: (Continue Reading…)

I never really understood tent campers. If I have to pitch a tent, why not just pitch a tent?! If I have to haul a trailer, I want to be WARM and protected from the bears. A thin layer of canvas really isn’t any protection whether it’s on the ground or folded out of a camper.

After seeing the Adventure Campers from Australia, however, I kind of understand a tent camper much better. When I watched this overview video, I wasn’t very impressed. I thought, “Meh, so it has power. So it has water. So it packs up small. I still have to pitch a tent.”

When I saw this video, however, I was blown away. He shows how long in REAL time how to break camp and he does it all by himself with no help.

He was able to pack up the tent, awning and kitchen in less than ten minutes! I was shocked! I’ve seen people with motorhomes take longer to pack up to leave! Now, I realize that he has had a lot of practice with this trailer, so he’s making it look easier than it would be for a beginner. Mike and I however, have just as much practice setting up and breaking camp. We’ve timed ourselves breaking camp and the fastest time to date is just over forty minutes.

Too bad these campers are only available in Australia right now, because they marry the light weight of a teardrop camper with the utility of tent camping.

When I realized that the reason I hated the A-Frame trailers is because they were so very ugly, I knew that I had to stick with the teardrop design. Since a tiny teardrop was out of the question due to my husband’s claustrophobia, I started looking at the full-sized teardrop trailers.

The first I found was Heartland RV’s MPG trailers:

I like that they are aluminum framed, so they are really light. Of course, I still couldn’t tow it with my Prius. I didn’t care about the “amenities” like the TVs and all of that chestnut cabinetry, but I was attracted to the bathroom and shower. Even though they have the retro design, the graphics on the side look so modern that they look a little wrong.

Then, I found the R-Pod Trailers from Forest River. I fell in LOVE with this model because of the rear “garage”.

I love that I can still have the benefits of a classic teardrop trailer with the kitchen outside the trailer with the luxury of a bathroom and shower. The exterior graphics are STILL a problem, however. The design is so retro, but the graphics look so out of place.

What DOESN’T look out of place are the graphics on the side of the Serro Scotty trailers. These brand new trailers look EXACTLY like what I was hoping for in a trailer. I could have a completely modern interior with the PERFECT exterior design.

Here is a tour of the HiLander:

The Serro Scotty is eerily similar to the trailer that started this entire journey:

So, why don’t I own a Serro Scotty HiLander right now? It’s EXACTLY what I wanted in a trailer. Why wasn’t I rushing to the midwest to pick up my ideal trailer? I have enough money saved that I could actually BUY one. Why wasn’t I buying one?

That was the day when I realized that I didn’t want a trailer. No matter how obsessed I was, I still preferred tent camping.

• Starling Travel » Camping: Trailer Vs. Tent

The whole process took me a couple of months of SERIOUS obsession to get past. Honestly, I still catch myself looking at used trailers online. When I do, however, I remind myself of the Serro Scotty HiLander. It was the absolute PERFECT trailer for me and I still didn’t buy it.