A Brief History of the Homebuilt Teardrop Trailer

A Brief History of the Homebuilt Teardrop Trailercovered the construction of the chassis, walls, and
“America’s homes are rolling . . Seven yearschimes. The next step is to stud the sides.[14]”
ago, trailers in which you could live as you traveledWhile this is not a teardrop trailer in that it has a
were virtually unknown[1].” This statement waskitchen in the back under a separate hatch formed
published in 1936. It establishes the beginning of theto match the roofline but it does have a teardrop
travel trailer craze that is still going on today. As forshape. This trailer has all the amenities inside and
the start of homebuilt teardrop trailer craze, well,provides standing headroom. It shows a trend on
that is a bit hazier. In the same article as above it ishow people were starting build their teardrops just a
stated, “the typical trailer of today is a one-roomlittle bit bigger. Then in 1947 the article that gets
affair with the kitchen usually as part of thecredit for starting the teardrop trailer mania was
combination living-dining room.[2]” This almostpublished. It was called the “Trailer for Two”
sounds like it could be a teardrop trailer, but maybeand was published in the September issue of
not quite. The article goes on to talk about the costMechanix Illustrated. If you look at the article you will
of purchasing a travel trailer and even shows picturessee that Hi Sibley was at it again, this being his third
of two teardrops with the following caption: “Ateardrop trailer construction article. This time he
‘teardrop’ trailer designed to accommodatestarts, “Getting away from it all doesn’t
two persons. Below, one of the small units that havemean giving up the comforts of home, for with this
cooking facilities at rear.[3]” This establishes thecompact camp trailer you bring them right along with
existence of teardrop trailers in 1936. It does notyou. As it’s only a fraction of the size and
establish whether these teardrops were home builtweight of a full-grown trailer, you can take this 10-ft.
or commercially built. Another article published in 1936tourer wherever a car will go.[15]” Ok, you make
specifically addresses the construction of a teardropyour own judgment here as to if this is truly the
trailer. This may be the first article ever written onarticle that started it all. I believe that Hi Sibley
how to build a teardrop trailer. It is called “Thecertainly did his share of starting the fire a few years
Ideal Outdoorman’s Trailer[4]” and is theearlier than this. Continuing with the trend towards a
first part of a two part series. The trailer developedbigger teardrop that seemed to start around the
in this article is identical to many of the renovationstime of the 1946 Popular Science article, another
seen on the road today. Moving along to 1937larger teardrop was introduced in the Popular Home
“The Ideal Outdoorman’s Trailer[5]”Craft February 1951 issue. The “Wander Pup”
continues to finishing and equipping the trailer.article was written by John Gartner. Do you
“With the chassis and sleeping compartment builtremember this name? Do you see the similarity with
according to the instructions and drawings given lastthe design from 1946? This time Mr. Gartner states,
month, we are now ready to start on the“WANDER PUP licks the one big bug-aboo of
kitchenette of lightweight trailer. The generaltrailers – excess weight.[16]” You need to go
dimensions of the extremely compact and convenientback and compare the two Gartner trailers. I think
kitchenette are given.[6]” Amazingly, at least towe found another designer that found a way to
us in the 21st century, the trailer is built out ofcapitalize on his design. With another design very
plywood, calls out for a built-in water tank and icesimilar to Wander Pup, this March 1951 author, Clinton
box yet accommodates for the use of a ready-madeR. Hull, in Mechanix Illustrated says, “Li’l Guy
ice box. Do you suppose that ready-made was onewas made because I could find no factory job light
of the original Colemans? Reading on you get theenough, or one that would enter the average
feeling that this trailer was meant to be made todaygarage.[17] In addition to the slightly large size, weight
yet the plans were published so many years ago.is also emphasized. So now it seems that what
Also in 1937 another article on building a teardrop canpeople want to build is a larger and lighter trailer. We
be found. Although technically this is about a utilitycan see that builders are drifting away from the small
trailer it is still a teardrop. It proves that people wereteardrop with the kitchen in the back. Or, perhaps
thinking about building teardrop trailers. The uniquenot. Perhaps the larger trailers were just a trend. In
thing about this trailer is that it is a uni, i.e. a onethe April 1953 issue of Popular Mechanics, Vic
wheel trailer. “Designed especially for sportsmenGoertzen introduces the “Wild Goose.” Wild
and light delivery use this single wheel trailer is wellGoose is the origins of the Kampmaster, a
suited for hauling moderate loads simply by clampingcommercially produced teardrop trailer that opens up
it to the rear bumper of the car.[7]” Thevia the back, or what would be the kitchen hatch on
significance of this article is that it establishes the factthe smaller teardrops. Vic describes his trailer,
that uni-wheel trailers existed in 1937. This“Overnight campers, hunters, fishermen, and
substantiates the claim made by the ebay seller ofvacationers with limited time can appreciate the
the below trailer: Uni-trailer found on ebay He states,convenience, comfort and ready roadability of
“Here is a really unique and very rare trailer that I‘Wild Goose.’ Hung low to the ground, yet
bought from a gentleman who is in his eighties. Hewith ample road clearance for the back trails, it tows
told me his father built it back during the depressionanywhere your car will go. Keep it packed with
and moved out west here in Oregon in it. It has beennecessary bedding, also canned and dried foods and
awhile since I talked with him about the history ofyou can get away for a week-end trip in only a few
the trailer, but if I remember right he built it fromminutes’ time. When you arrive at the
scratch with this very unique and rare design. Thedestination, Wild Goose sets up into a neat outdoor
trailer has one swivel wheel with very unique and‘kitchenette’ in less time than it takes to put
retro rubber covered coiled band springs and two ballup a tent.[18]” The last article that can be found
hitches that mount to the bumper of the towingabout building teardrop trailers was published twice.
vehicle so it becomes part of the vehicle and theFirst in the August 1956 issue of Mechanix Illustrated,
whole thing stays straight with the vehicle, the wheelnext in Volume 4, 1961 issue of Mechanix Illustrated
under the trailer turns not the trailer itself, this makesHow-To-Do-It Encyclopedia. Called “Camp
it very easy to back, it can't Jack Knife on you! itTrailer” this was a traditional teardrop except it
sounds like it had quite a history and held everythinghad a squared off back, very similar to the “Tiny
he needed to camp in while he traveled across theTears” teardrop. “Mr. Art Harvey of
country looking for work, a real Grapes of WrathBrockway, Pa., . . . takes off . . . pulling a camp trailer
story.[8]” Another view Also, Boone states,– one that he has constructed in his spare
“Four workmen engaged in constructing a gastime.[19]” This trailer was 10’ long and 4’
line in the Middle West save rent as they move fromwide. The article claims that the whole family can
job to job by ‘hatching’ in their trailer.camp inside. After this last article there is an apparent
Instead of paying rent of sixty dollars or more alack of articles or building activity for teardrop trailers.
month, they live in their trailer for less than fiveYou can be sure there was activity though, especially
dollars. Elsewhere, families beat the high cost of livingin California, but it was minimal and in small pockets of
as they follow seasonal occupations.[9]” Thisareas. There was one periodical publication about
corroborates the ebay seller’s story andteardrop trailers being published. That publication is still
introduces another use of teardrop trailers that mostbeing distributed today, to more and more people.
people may have not have thought of. Of course ifAround 1996 though, the World Wide Web was
the trailer was going to be used to save money itbeginning to become very active. Home builders
must have been home built. Around 1939 home builtbegan to post websites about the trailer they built. It
teardrop trailer construction started to heat up, aswas this time, in 1998, that “Tiny Tears” had
well as for other travel trailers. Around this timeits beginnings. It posted its original website and
period a designer named Jim Dandy started sellingstarted the first teardrop bulletin board. It was also in
plans for travel trailers. One of these was a teardrop.this time period that so many others posted their
His goal was to make the construction very simple.websites and created their bulletin boards. The
He states, “Just an ordinary kit of tools and ahistory of the homebuilt teardrop trailer now
little skill in handling them are all you need to build theswamped the public. TV shows were even made.
‘Cruiser’.[10]” Many of these home builtWith all this activity, and information that is easily
trailers were made. Also in 1939 Hi Sibley was at itobtained for free, one doesn’t see articles in
again with his “Honeymoon House Trailer”national magazines any more. Building information is
article published in Popular Home Craft. Hi doesn’tfound in a growing number of plans distributors and
take credit for designing the trailer and states,on the World Wide Web. And, it is there that a
“This trim little trailer, designed by Louis Rogersperson should go to learn the detailed modern history
of Pasadena for his wedding trip, has proved itsof the homebuilt teardrop trailer. “It really is a
practicability in long service on the road.[11]” Withsimple project, when you divide it into manageable
a second article published in a two year period it cancomponents!” All the above mentioned articles
be seen that there was much building activity goingare available at "Tiny Tears". This article is the first
on. One author was certainly taking advantage of it.chapter of the "Tiny Tears" teardrop trailer building
This later trailer is very similar to the trailer in themanual. Copyright (C) 2005 "Tiny Tears" Teardrop
1937 article. The theme of the story changed but theCamping Trailers.PO Box 3014, Newport, RI 02840
design didn’t. Obviously the public felt thatUSAEveryone is permitted to copy and distribute
“you don’t need to fix what ain’tverbatim copiesof this license document, but changing
broke.” More evidence of interest in buildingit is not allowed and credit must be given to the
teardrop-like trailers at home is shown by the 1940original author: John Blewett,
article in Mechanix Illustrated: “A Model Airplane[1] Boone, Andrew R., 1936, “Modern
Trailer.” It exemplifies the theme of a cheap andGypsies”, Popular Science Monthly, April 1936,
easy build. “A trailer for the purpose of carryingpage 29 [2] Boone, 32 [3] Boone, 32 [4] Sibley, Hi,
model airplanes can be built at a considerably lower1936, “Ideal Outdoorsman’s Trailer”,
figure than those commonly used for camping orOutdoor Life, December 1936, [5] Sibley, Hi, 1937,
traveling. Any old automobile frame from a light or“Ideal Outdoorsman’s Trailer”, Outdoor
medium weight car will make an excellentLife, January 1937, page 28 [6] Sibley, 28 [7] 1937,
chassis.[12]” Obviously this wasn’t the only“Uni-Wheel Trailer Hauls Sportsmen’s
thing about the design that the airplane modelEquipment”, Sportsmen’s Manual, 1937
enthusiasts must have liked. They must have also likeEdition [8] Wallscapes, 2003, “1930s Antique
the aerodynamic shape and streamlining that theyTeardrop Travel Trailer/RV”, [On-line] 6 June
thought about when they built their models. From2003 [9] Boone, 31 [10] Dandy, Jim, 1939, The
1940 to 1946 there is no history/articles aboutComplete Plans and Instructions for Building the Jim
building teardrop trailers. It can be presumed thatDandy Cabin Cruiser Model ‘C’, Jim Dandy
World War II had an impact on this period where notDesigns, Wausau, Wisconsin [11] Sibley, Hi, 1939,
many people thought about building a teardrop trailer.“Honeymoon House Trailer”, Popular Home
However, “Then in October of 1945, C.W.Craft, March-April 1939, page 447 [12] 1940, Mechanix
“Bill” Worman and Andy Anderson formed KitIllustrated, October 1940, page 114 [13] Mooney,
Manufacturing Co. in an abandoned fruit stand onMike, 1998, “Teardrop Trailer Heritage”,
Telegraph Road in Norwalk, California to produce[On-line] 6 June 2003 [14] Gartner, John, 1946,
“Kit Kamper” Tear Drop Trailers.[13]”“Finishing Your Week-End Trailer”, Popular
This was the start of commercially producedScience, April 1946, page 198 [15] Sibley, Hi, 1947,
teardrop trailers. Kit Manufacturing is still in business“Trailer for Two”, Mechanix Illustrated,
today but it doesn’t produce a teardrop trailer.September 1947, page 113 [16] Gartner, John, 1951,
Wee won’t take this string any further as this“Build the Two-Place Sportsman’s Trailer,
article is the history of home built trailers. Other 1946Wander Pup”, Popular Home Craft, February
activity was seen in the March and April issues of1951, page 156 [17] Hull, Clinton R., 1951, “Build
Popular Science in a two part article on “BuildingLi’l Guy”, Mechanix Illustrated, March 1951,
and Finishing Your Weekend Trailer.” “Part Ipage 106.