“I have always been a fairly keen camper; Scouts, Army and time in PNG. I started with a modest camp kit, slowly building it up, getting the bug to buy more and more stuff, competing with friends for ownership of the latest and best camp gadgetry until someone remarked – “You don’t go camping, you move house for the weekend!”
I got sick and tired of the planning, then the set up and horror upon horror the pack up and clean up when you got home.
I have been interested in a camper trailer for a number of years, making my annual pilgrimage to the Camping and Caravan Show, tantalizing myself looking at all the latest offerings none of which I could afford. Not only that, but I didn’t see anything that interested me or which I felt offered the versatility sufficient enough to motivate me in the direction of my trusty bank loans officer.
Then one day I bought a copy of the Campertrailer Guide. Whilst pleasantly engaged leafing through the comprehensive and spectacularly expensive range of camper trailers on offer, I turned the page and nearly dropped the magazine. There was this miniature caravan, perfect in every detail offering a world of escapism without the need for a 100 series V8 Landcruiser or a Ford F250.
As I had recently disposed of a very nice but costly 4WD myself, and now parked a very modest and rather elderly Toyota Camry in my garage, the size of this tiny caravan was very appealing. Not only that but how handy it would be for those overnight BBQ’s where you either don’t drink, catch a cab home or wake up stiff and sore after a night spent on the lounge room floor!
I sent an E-mail to the address on the article and made an appointment to see for myself the following Saturday. I wasn’t disappointed. As soon as I saw the Teardrop Campers I knew I had to have one. It wasn’t long before Reiner (Who makes them) and Sam (His Lady) were showing me all the ins and outs the Teardrop had to offer. It must have been my lucky day because Reiner had a demo model for sale considerably cheaper than the usual price. I lost no time in convincing my bank manager that a Teardrop Camper was the most vital item necessary to survive the next ten years, and picked up my new pride and joy a week later.
I have every intention of travelling extensively with the T/D (Not the Camry) and to this end have installed a full battery system with solar panel, made improvements to the kitchen and generally customized it to suit myself. I have taken it out camping on every opportunity and it has performed as well as or beyond my expectations. It’s comfortable and convenient, easy and hassle free. It is certainly not one of those things which will sit in the back yard because of the drama involved in moving it.
Your Fellow Teardropper
Leigh