25 cool vintage / retro micro-caravans to compliment your VW Camper Van
After seeing a few retro, teardrop micro caravans at some recent shows, I though I would go on the hunt for some of the best caravans to compliment your Volkswagen Camper Van.
It seems that prices for these are almost as high as a decent VW Van! Much more than I thought you would have to pay. I was hoping to get one to tow behind my VW T25 but I think it will have to wait (especially as I am still waiting to get my interior re-upholstered).
Anyway, I have managed to find 5 places where you can buy your own Retro Micro Caravans. I have also included 20 more images of awesome micro-caravans which would look amazing behind any VW Camper Van:
Retro Teardrop Caravan - Danbury Motor Caravans
For just £5995, Danbury will make you one of these ultra cool retro teardrop caravans.
The Bed Bug - www.thebedbug.co.uk
Originally designed with Trikers in mind, the Bed Bug Teardrop retro caravan would look at home on the back of any vintage VW Van. Prices start at £3950. For more information visit the Bed Bug website at www.thebedbug.co.uk
King Tiki - Vintage Trailer Company
The guys at King Tiki will build you a completely custom vintage retro teardrop caravan ‘individually hand built to exacting specifications using the finest methods and materials available’. Prices start from £4499 and they look awesome!
So Cal Teardrops - www.socalteardrops.com
As well as providing a lot of history on the teardrop caravans, So Cal offer up four models from you to choose from, each with a different specification. Prices start at $8995. For more information visit their website at www.socalteardrops.com.
Turtle 1200 - www.thelittleguy.co.uk
If your after something a bit more modern then the Turtle 1200 is for you. Priced at £4675. For more information and to see the other models available visit www.thelittleguy.co.uk
Desert Teardrops - www.desertteardrops.com
If the prices above have scared you as much as they have me, the other alternative is to built your own custom vintage micro caravan. Desert Trailers offers you the ability to order what they claim to be the most details plans and instructions on how to build one for only $60. Payment can be made through Paypal. For more info check out their website at www.desertteardrops.com. Below are some photos of the teardrop caravans some people have built from the plans:
Other Vintage / Retro Micro Caravans and Trailers:
Or why not be original like these guys and make one of your own!
Being a T25 owner, the last 2 are my personal favourite. If anyone knows where I can get one please let me know!
What do you think of the micro-caravans - do you like? Hate?
Posted by Steve
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Posted
on Sunday, November 16th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
Posted In Bay Window, Split Screen, T25, VW Camper Accessories | Tags: Caravan, Retro, Teardrop, Trailer, Vintage
25 Responses to “25 cool vintage / retro micro-caravans to compliment your VW Camper Van”
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Great piece Steve,
you found some lovely photos there.
A couple of other manufacturers in Blighty for you.
http://www.sleeperkitcaravan.co.uk/index.html
http://www.teardroptrailers.biz/
Hi Lee,
Thanks for your comment and the extra links - I had not seen these before so thanks.
I am still thinking of getting a teardrop trailer to go on the back of my VW Camper Van but I can not make up my mind which one - I quite like the trailers that have been made out of VW Van shells - very cool!
Thanks again
Steve
The VW ones do look the part I must admit. I suppose it depends on any issues you have with weight. A 500 kg torsion axle is always going to be a fraction the weight of a van axle.
By the way I forgot to mention the 1st UK gathering for teardrops coming up in May, well worth a visit if you’re thinking about building / buying a trailer. Details below.
Stiff Upper Lip Gathering
Location Shallowgrange Campsite near Buxton, Derbyshire.
From 22 May 2009
Good luck with the blog
Regards
Lee.
to 25 May 2009
The Innaugral UK gathering for Teardrop Trailers is being held in the beautiful Peak District. Organaised by the Uk chapter of Tearjerkers. For more info check their website at http://www.tearjerkers.net
Thanks Lee,
Hope the gathering goes well - perhaps you could send in some photos of the best vans and I can publish them on the blog?
Steve
I have a custom Teardrop Sized “Mini Canned Ham” style camper I made from scratch for my 66 Beetle.
I’d love to share some pics with you.
http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/455472.jpg
Jerad Pitts, Florida
Hi Jerad,
Thanks for the photo - I have just tweeted it (http://twitpic.com/2qleq).
The teardrop caravan looks cool. Do you have any more photos of it? Can you send us a link? It would also be cool to see some photos of your VW Beetle.
Thanks for your comment!
Steve
Hi Steve,
I had not followed up on my post here and was just messing around on Google. Got a link back to here. I have some pics up on http://www.photobucket.com/JERADS3D and also if you search in the gallery on http://www.thesamba.com for “teardrop” some of my pics will come up. Please email me @ JERADS3D@aol.com if you’d like me to correspnd directly with you.
Thanks for the compliment on the camper. I get asked “What year is it?” all the time and it’s the best compliment I could ask for. I used some of the design cues from the larger 1956 Shasta Camper Trailer. I just shrank it down and leaned the shape forward to compliment the Beetle’s shape more. Glad you like it.
Sincerely, Jerad Pitts, USA…. Williston,Florida
Hi Jerad,
The pics look cool - thanks for the links!
Steve
[...] cool vintage / retro micro-caravans to compliment your VW Camper Van Some of these trailers seem small enough to be towed by a Smart Fortwo. With Desert TearDrops, one could build it as [...]
Hi there, we manufacture the Sleeper Teardrop in the UK.
We have also developed another model called Mi Shell.
You’re more than welcome to ask us anything or have a look at the web site.
Cheers
Alright guys! How big is the frame for the bottom of these trailers?
Hi jake,
Thanks for your comment. I am afraid I have no idea how big the frame is for one of these. Perhaps try on of the companies above? I am sure they would give you some sort of idea?
Hi Martin,
Thanks for the info.
Steve
Hi, I have just made my own micro van. I have looked at other vans and found them to be very flimsy! There are a lot out there but I wonder if they will last? Fiberglass is OK, but behind a camper it gets thrown about a lot (british roads are not that good) so can they take all the bumping about?
We have Sleepers out there that are years and years old and still going strong.
Ours are fibreglass to keep the weight down to a minimum. The Sleeper weighs in at 100Kg.
How much does your home made one weigh?
Mind you, behind a VW camper or a reasonable car, weight isn’t an issue. Ours is deliberately made for the ultra light market, so there is a definite weight limit before the build even begins.
Your pic’s are great,only recently have i descovered these little marvel’s and would love to have a go at building one.It’s always good to have a good idea of what you can possibly achive,your pic’s do that.
Cheers Paul
Hi all
I have recently managed to get hold of a classic mini/micro caravan that I’m currently renovating, however, I can’t find anything out about it at all, all I know is that it says trident on the back embossed/moulded into the fibreglass bodywork, I have done lots of searches on the Internet and the only one that is the same is called a trident companion, I have tried to contact that owner but without success. Please could anyone shed any light on this wonderful van??
[IMG]http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c161/civicsrcool/b77ba9ee.jpg[/IMG]
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c161/civicsrcool/b77ba9ee.jpg
I love your site! Can I just say that I run a teardrop trailer hire service in the UK (Norfolk). If anyone wants to hire before they buy or build one please contact me through the website.
Re last comment (Could you add the website- http://www.clevercamper.co.uk- to the body text)
Thanks
Hi - I would love to buy a cut down camper to tow from the back of the VW Camper (Bay) - do you have any idea where I should start looking. Thanks so much! xxx
Hi all, Have a bed bug tear drop for sale.( in blue as listed)
Ex Demo used 4 times mint condition towed it with my VW trike,
beats a tent any day. IKEA bed base with storage under and awning.
Stored inside
Open to sensible offers
How about a real retro style teardrop trailer from http://www.diddyvans.co.uk?
Have a look at these little beauties… http://www.dub-box.com …caravan eye candy!!!!
If a bed bug is attached to a trike, is it classed as a caravan? Meaning is it legal to tow it up a hill such as Sutton Bank, posted ‘No Caravans’?
Sorry mate probably not unless they specify a weight limit too it weighs so little probably get awy with it as a ‘trailer’
Sold it now anyway and got a Campmaster 4 trailer tent brilliant bit of kit so comfy warm and tons of space as easy as an awning plus storage better visibility on the trike too.