Teardrop trailers are small, lightweight, and easy to tow with any vehicle. As such, they’re a popular choice for tent campers who are ready for four hard walls and air conditioning. They’re also popular for those who own standard-size RVs and are looking to downsize.
Regardless of which group you fall into, traditional/old-school teardrop trailers won’t have all the comforts of home, such as storage, a full kitchen, or a bathroom. However, with modern teardrop trailers, you no longer have to sacrifice having a bathroom for the ease and convenience of owning a teardrop.
What is a Teardrop Camper?
Teardrop campers are small, lightweight travel trailers that typically have low ceilings and minimal living space. Teardrops can be anywhere from 13 to 20 feet long and are so-named because their shape resembles a teardrop.
These little campers are often light enough to tow with any car or small SUV, making them a convenient option for those who want to get into camping (but don’t want to shell out thousands of dollars on the right towing vehicle). However, while their small size makes them convenient, most original teardrop campers don’t include bathrooms.
The Guide to Teardrop Trailer Bathroom Types
Because most people don’t like to go on extended camping trips (or even short ones) without a bathroom, newer teardrops started to include bathrooms. Note that not all teardrop trailer models have the space for a full bathroom; some only have a wet bath or dry bath.
Teardrop Trailer Models with Wet Baths
Wet baths are a type of full bathroom where you have a shower, toilet, and sink in the same space. Because they take up half the space of a standard bathroom, wet baths are extremely common in teardrop trailers. While this means that the toilet and shower can’t be used at the same time, it’s a serious space saver.
Here are some of the top teardrop trailer models with a wet bath:
Teardrop Trailer Models with Dry Baths
On the other hand, if you prefer a more traditional bathroom setup, the dry bath is the way to go. A dry bath in a teardrop trailer separates the toilet, sink, and shower, much like a regular bathroom at home.
However, because these dry bathrooms take up more space than a wet bath, only larger teardrops can accommodate them. As a result, you’ll sacrifice small size and towability in exchange for a full dry bath.
Here are some of the top teardrops with full dry bathrooms:
Teardrop Trailer Models with Cassette Toilets
A cassette toilet is where you have an RV toilet that isn’t connected to a traditional black tank. Instead of having a black tank that you can dump using a hose and your sewage system, a cassette toilet is connected to a removable black tank. In other words, once the tank is full, you’ll need to remove it and dump it manually.
Cassette toilets are often included in a small teardrop camper bathroom as part of a wet shower. However, they can also be included in larger teardrop campers with bathrooms that have separate showers and toilets.
Here are some of the best teardrop campers with cassette toilets:
How to Choose the Best Teardrop Camper With a Bathroom
Now that you have a good idea of your various bathroom options when it comes to teardrop trailers, let’s look at how to choose the right one for your needs. You’ll need to consider the following factors:
Towability
Anytime you’re considering a teardrop trailer, the dimensions (width and height) and the weight should be in the back of your mind. After all, most people opt for teardrops because they’re light enough to tow using almost any vehicle.
However, when you add a bathroom to the mix, the weight can significantly increase. Typically, full dry bathrooms will add the most weight, especially when they have a black water tank below them. If you’re concerned about weight, you’re better off getting a teardrop with a small wet bath and a cassette toilet.
Budget
Along with towability, the size and type of teardrop trailer bathroom will affect how much the trailer costs. Dry bathrooms with separate toilets and showers will increase the cost the most, whereas small wet baths with cassette toilets will be the cheapest option.
Your Needs
While budget and towability are important factors when it comes to teardrop campers with bathrooms, your needs matter more than anything. The last thing you want to do is buy an RV that doesn’t have everything you need, especially a bathroom.
Therefore, if you want to be able to use the bathroom or take a shower in the middle of the night, a full bathroom is necessary. Additionally, if you don’t want to worry about manually removing your black tank and dumping it, you’ll want a teardrop trailer that doesn’t have a cassette toilet.
Tank Size
If you plan to take your teardrop trailer on extended RV trips or off-roading excursions, it’s important to choose a model with a large black tank. That way, you won’t have to cut your travels short to go to a dumping station. If you have long treks ahead, you’ll also want to avoid a teardrop trailer with a marine toilet, as those typically need to be dumped daily.
Additional Features and Bathroom Amenities
Along with the type of bathroom you want in your teardrop trailer, you also need to consider additional features of the camper. For instance, teardrop campers with full dry bathrooms are typically larger overall, which means more sleeping space, storage spaces, and a galley kitchen.
Smaller teardrops with wet baths, on the other hand, typically have less sleeping area, no storage space, and no grey water tank. Most of these campers also won’t have a freshwater tank, which means no boondocking.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a travel trailer that’s lightweight, easy to tow, and the size of a large tent, teardrop trailers are the way to go. However, if you don’t want to live without a bathroom, it’s important to buy a trailer that has the right type of bathroom for your needs.
Once you buy the teardrop trailer of your dreams, it’s important to protect your investment. Consider using Neighbor to help you find safe, affordable, and climate-controlled storage so that your trailer is protected and ready for your next weekend getaway.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Does a Teardrop Camper Cost?
Teardrop trailers can cost anywhere from $15,000 to $50,000 depending on their size and amenities. Typically, larger rigs with dry bathrooms will cost more than smaller teardrops with wet baths.
What Are the Benefits of a Teardrop Camper With a Bathroom?
Teardrop trailers with at least a wet bath and cassette toilet are extremely convenient. They make it so that you don’t have to leave the comfort of your camper to use the restroom or take a shower.
Do nuCamp Trailers Have Bathrooms?
nuCamp is one of the top producers of teardrop travel trailers. Most of their trailers have wet baths, which include a toilet and a small sink in the showering area.
