Teardrop trailers are some of the smallest campers around. If you’re interested in the ultra-minimalistic teardrop trailer life, you must have a good idea of the weight class for this camper type before you start shopping around. How much does the average teardrop trailer weigh?
Teardrop trailers weigh anywhere from 500 pounds on the lighter side to around 3,000 or 4,000 pounds at their heaviest. Most teardrop campers are in between, clocking in at about 1,500 pounds.
This guide will tell you everything you need to know about teardrop camper weights, including real examples. We’ll also talk about the factors that determine how heavy a teardrop trailer is and which towing vehicles are most appropriate for this type of trailer.
Let’s get started!
What Is a Teardrop Trailer?
First, a brief introduction to the teardrop trailer to get you on the same page.
Teardrop campers or trailers are lightweight caravans with mostly rounded sides that are shaped like a teardrop. The average length of one of these trailers is between eight and 10 feet, with the trailer measuring about five feet tall.
If you’re taller, squeezing yourself into a teardrop trailer wouldn’t be very comfortable. At most, these trailers are designed for two people. Even then, the quarters will be rather close.
Teardrop trailers aren’t big on amenities, as there just isn’t enough room to accommodate much. Many teardrops have a rear that opens and expands to reveal a small gallery kitchen.
The main part of the trailer might have a mattress or two, but that’s about it. You won’t find a living space in most teardrop trailers, and they usually lack bathrooms.
That said, in a teardrop trailer, you can expect at least some storage space. The storage caddies and cubbies are usually quite creatively placed so you know your stuff is secure.
The Average Weight of a Teardrop Camper
Now that you’re familiar with the specs of teardrop campers, let’s talk further about their weight on average.
The lightest teardrop trailers on the road are 500 to 700 pounds. These are the teeniest-tiniest trailers you’ll see. As you can likely guess, they’re incredibly bare-bones as well, with only the basic amenities.
Larger teardrop trailers are 1,000 to 1,500 pounds, which is considered average. At this size, two passengers will have at least a modicum of breathing room, but the space will still be tight. For those who adore minimalist living though, a teardrop camper of this size could be just cozy enough.
The biggest teardrop campers weigh 3,000 to 4,000 pounds. Yes, manufacturers do make teardrops this big. The extra size is usually to add more sleeping room so a family of four can camp in the teardrop.
If a teardrop camper is to ever have a bathroom, that’s a feature you’d find in the larger trailers.
19 Real Teardrop Camper Weight Examples
As we’ve done on the blog when talking about other types of trailers and how much they weigh, let’s highlight some real teardrop camper models so you can get a feel for how heavy they are.
- nuCamp Tag: 1,269 pounds
- nuCamp Tag XL: 1,369 pounds
- nuCamp TAB S: 1,946 pounds
- nuCamp TAB 400: 2,840 pounds
- Timberleaf Trailers Kestrel: 860 pounds
- Vistabule Teardrop Trailer: 1,330 pounds
- Bean Trailer Black Bean Off-Road: 2,500 pounds
- Bean Trailer Meaner Bean Off-Road: 2,000 pounds
- Bean Trailer Classic Bean: 1,800 pounds
- Little Guy Trailers Little Guy Max: 3,010 pounds
- Little Guy Trailers Mini Max: 2,320 pounds
- Colorado Teardrops Basedrop: 1,000 pounds
- Colorado Teardrops Canyonland: 1,150 pounds
- Colorado Teardrops Mount Massive: 1,470 pounds
- Colorado Teardrops Summit: 1,750 pounds
- Rustic Trail Teardrop Campers Koala Bear: 1,110 pounds
- Rustic Trail Teardrop Campers Grizzly Bear: 1,475 pounds
- Rustic Trail Teardrop Campers Polar Bear: 1,700 pounds
- Rustic Trail Teardrop Campers Papa Bear: 1,295 pounds
What Factors Influence Teardrop Camper Weight?
Although none of the teardrop trailers above hit the 4,000-pound mark, some were very lightweight at only 1,000 pounds (and under!) and others were around 3,000 pounds or just slightly over.
Why the weight discrepancy between one teardrop trailer and another? Let’s explore the factors that are at play.
Size
You only have to look at the collection of teardrop campers from one manufacturer to see the differences in size play out. For example, Little Guy Trailers’ Little Guy Max and Mini Max are standard-sized teardrops.
Their MyPod, which has a tongue weight that’s merely 110 pounds and a curb weight of 760 pounds, is nearly 12 feet long. The Mini Max is over 17 feet long and weighs 2,320 pounds dry, which is quite a deal heavier than the MyPod because it’s also over five feet bigger.
Larger trailers will naturally weigh more, which is true of any trailer type, not only teardrop campers.
Materials
The materials that go into your teardrop trailer’s construction will also influence its weight.
Like all trailers, teardrops are available in a range of materials. For cost savings and to prevent the vehicle from becoming too bulky, many teardrop trailers feature aluminum frames. Sheets of the metal are laid atop each other to form the skin while rectangular bars comprise the frame.
Wood is another popular outer material since it’s recyclable. The wooden finish also lends a teardrop trailer the rustic feel that makes this trailer so beloved. Plywood frames are even more inexpensive than aluminum, and when glued together and finished with a more durable shell, the plywood can hold up for quite a long time.
The most durable teardrop trailers will feature stainless steel skeletons. Keep in mind though that of the three materials we discussed in this section, stainless steel is undoubtedly the heaviest. Even if your camper was smaller, the teardrop trailer would still be heavier than one with an aluminum or plywood frame.
Some manufacturers might use a combination of materials since many teardrop trailers are custom-built. This unique construction ramps up the durability of the teardrop camper, but usually at the sacrifice of it weighing less than 1,000 pounds.
Amenities
You’ll recall from earlier that teardrop trailers are sparse on the amenities, but that doesn’t mean they’re totally bereft. Instead, teardrops have amenities only where necessary except for bigger teardrops. Those will feature beds, a kitchen, and sometimes even a toilet (maybe a shower too!).
The greater the number of amenities, the more your teardrop camper will weigh. This connection is causation though. Smaller teardrops can’t fit more amenities, so it’s both the reduced amount of space and the emptier trailer that contributes to their moderate weight.
Gear
Speaking of empty spaces, the gear you bring on your teardrop trailer is another determinant of its weight. Well, not only gear, but people too.
For larger trailers, the amount of gear and the number of passengers can tip the scales, creating weight distribution issues.
The smart storage options in a teardrop trailer mean you can bring too much and make your trailer heavier than it should be. It doesn’t matter the size of your trailer – weight distribution is important!
How Much Towing Capacity Do You Need for a Teardrop Camper?
You can’t drive a teardrop trailer, which means you must hitch it to a towing vehicle. Given the tremendous expense of teardrop trailers (seriously, they’re among the pricier types of trailers), you hope you don’t have to shell out for a new towing vehicle just to pull your teardrop around.
The good news is that you likely don’t. If your vehicle can tow between 1,000 and 4,000 pounds, then you can hitch your teardrop camper to it and hit the road.
You don’t even necessarily need a heavy-duty SUV or a pickup truck for towing. Plenty of cars are capable of towing even heavier teardrop campers. Here are some examples:
- Volvo XC90: 4,000 pounds
- Porsche Cayenne: 6,000 pounds
- Chrysler Pacifica: 3,500 pounds
- Volvo 90 Cross-Country: 4,000 pounds
You read that right; some of the above car models can tow over 5,000 pounds. It’s never a bad thing if your vehicle’s towing capacity is greater than the weight of the trailer you’re towing. That extra wiggle room gives you peace of mind that you’re not pushing the weight capacity limits too far.
Of course, if you’re an SUV driver, then nearly any SUV model under the sun can tow a teardrop trailer. Here are some examples:
- Audi Q5: 4,400 pounds
- Jeep Wrangler: 3,500 pounds
- Toyota 4-Runner: 4,000 pounds
- Ford Expedition: 9,300 pounds
- Honda Passport: 3,500 pounds to 5,000 pounds
- Nissan Armada: 8,500 pounds
- GMC Yukon: 8,400 pounds
- Chevrolet Tahoe: 8,400 pounds
- Toyota Land Cruiser: 8,100 pounds
- Dodge Durango: 8,700 pounds
- Land Rover Defender: 8,201 pounds
- Lincoln Aviator: 6,700 pounds
- Jeep Grand Cherokee: 7,200 pounds
- BMW X5: 7,200 pounds
- Audi Q7: 7,700 pounds
- Subaru Outback XT: 5,000 pounds
- Hyundai Santa Fe: 5,000 pounds
If you can tow a teardrop camper with an SUV, that’s even truer of pickup trucks, which can often tow into the 10,000-pound territory. Is that necessary for a teardrop camper? No, of course not.
Think of all the freedom that extra towing capacity grants you though. You could bring a canoe and a teardrop trailer or a few bikes and still not hit capacity. That’s a great feeling!
Final Thoughts
Teardrop campers are small, cylindrical trailers that often weigh 1,500 pounds but might be as much as 4,000 pounds depending on the manufacturer. Since they’re so lightweight, your towing capacity is very generous with a teardrop, which is one of their biggest benefits!