Little Guy "Rascal" teardrop trailer

[apopj]

First, I make no recommendations as to whether YOU should tow this nor any other trailer. That is up to you to decide based on your own skill and comfort level......

Now, purchased the Rascal right from the owner of the company here in Massillon, Ohio. I was looking for a trailer that I did not have to erect (ie;put up a tent) and that I could legally take a short nap in at Rest Areas on the highway.

The Rascal (list price of $5495) weighs about 490 pounds with a tongue weight of 45 pounds. It is of plywood and aluminum construction with a door on each side, a lift panel in the rear for the galley (nothing there but a table like affair and some cabinets) and a vent on the roof. Aluminum "mag" wheels and LED exterior lights.

The floor space is something like 44 x 68 and the mattresses are 4" heavy foam with heavy mattress type covering. There are also three cabinets in the sleeping area which pass through to the ones in the galley. Three battery lights keep things bright.

Thats it.... no toilet, no stove, no shower... sleeping area only.

The tow vehicle in my case was a 2009 Harley Ultra Classic. Load was myself, my wife, a few clothes and a tool kit. Trip duration was almost 1000 miles in rain, wind, sun and fog.....

The Trailer towed like a dream. It was smooth, no bouncing (rubber torsion suspension) and tracked perfectly. Until I got used to it, there was a little "snatch" for want of a better word, but once I got used to it, it towed fine. I did not notice any drifting and wind from the side had only a slight effect on tracking. This may have been due to the weight or shape or whatever but it was never a problem.

I allowed PLENTY of time to stop. The trailer had no brakes. The discs on the Harley seemed more than adequate for the job at hand and never felt as though I could not stop. Did I mention I allowed for PLENTY of room to stop? The brakes never seemed to fade and I didnt notice any undue wear when I got home.

Sleeping in the trailer was great. It was nice to just get off the bike and get inside without putting up a tent, either on or off a trailer. The trailer was cosy when sleeping and there is room to sit up and read or watch a DVD on the iPHONE. You MUST open the upper vent a little at night though. I did and all was well in the sleeping area, but the rear galley area was damp with condensation from our breathing while sleeping. Not sure if this would be a problem over time but took a towel and wiped it down. No harm no foul. I spent two nights sleeping at Rest Areas on the highway in the truck parking area and was never bothered by the Police or truckers. You can also stay in Walmart lots as long as you don't erect a tent, either on or off a trailer.

So, I would highly recommend the Little Guy Rascal. Whether you tow it with your bike or a car is up to you, but for me, the darn thing was great.

And for all the legalistas out there, no, I am not employed paid, smiled at or anything else by the manufacturer....
P^

[Ironheadziggy76]

Pictures, we need pictures! :takepics2:

Glad to hear it's working out for ya, I looked at one at my local Gander Mountain and was wondering how it would pull behind my Road King.

Not that the wife would let me buy one, but I was wondering. :p

[Trekker]

My wife & I have been looking at the teardrops for a few years now. It may become our next camping shelter when the current cabin tent wears out. Since my Princess doesn't ride this would be for car camping only. I'm not sure I want to pull this large & heavy a trailer with my bike. I can see my mpg dropping to less than our Volvo wagon fully loaded with a canoe on top driving through the mountains.

[quadancer]

No way in heck am I gonna put that much weight behind my Harley. I AM considering a teardrop though, without the kitchen and some amenities. The Pico Light caught my eye at 260 lbs. and I have a friend who is a woodworker; I'm a carpenter, so this would be easy.
http://www.angib.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/teardrop/tear58.htm

[Swanie]

What did it do to your gas milage?

[SCOTT WARE]

i have a mini mate camper and feel it is probably one of the best on the market. $2,800 and it will take you through a storm. it is only 250 pounds dry and with the extra 50 pounds of junk i put inside i hardly notice it. just have to look for one gear down on a steep hill. i have had it for about six months and have over 2,500 miles on it and no complaints. has a four inch mattress and sleeps fantastic. three big screened windows and a door it really vents. just got back yesterday from a 200 mile trip and am leaving again next week. look at their site "kompact kampers" and you will get the surprise of your life. the advertise it takes two minutes to set up. don't believe it, it takes almost three minutes to set up.
try it you will love it

[BELOWaverageBOB]

I'd like to make one of these pop-ups this winter out of my HF trailer, but I'm going to need the 'pop-up' canvas for it...

Any ideas where to purchase said canvas that is already made for one of these tiny pop-ups?

[kdf9511]

I'd like to make one of these pop-ups this winter out of my HF trailer, but I'm going to need the 'pop-up' canvas for it...

Any ideas where to purchase said canvas that is already made for one of these tiny pop-ups?

You might look into a Tent Cot. http://store.kamprite.com/catalog/ They make a small trailer for towing behind a bicycle. I was thinking about doing something simalr with a Harbor Freight trailer and my Sears X-Cargo.



http://store.kamprite.com/images/D/DSCN8539.jpg

[BELOWaverageBOB]

You might look into a Tent Cot. http://store.kamprite.com/catalog/ They make a small trailer for towing behind a bicycle. I was thinking about doing something simalr with a Harbor Freight trailer and my Sears X-Cargo.


Very nice! but # Weight Rating up to 260 lbs (120 kg ). that may be an issue, I weigh in at around 200 and the SO is about 140.

My plan is to totally remove my X-cargo carrier and replace it by boxing in the trailer with aluminum and fiberglass, but we'll see.

[kdf9511]

Very nice! but that may be an issue, I weigh in at around 200 and the SO is about 140.


Well according to this the /Kamp-Rite-Oversize-TentCot (http://store.kamprite.com/catalog/Kamp-Rite-Oversize-TentCot-p-16146.html) has a "Weight Rating in excess of 350 lbs (150 kg). "

[BELOWaverageBOB]

^ That would do nicely! Thank you for posting up!

[quadancer]

Have you guys seen the "camper" top they put on top of the Range Rovers? Folds down fairly flat on the roof, but pops up big enough for two - one I looked at had a 4" thick mattress.
Unfortunately, the one suggested to me was expensive, but it looks like a good project for a bike trailer. And you wouldn't need that ladder!

[lytle1gw]

Yeah that would be kinda like the slip stream trailers except the whole top would go up instead of just on end.P^

[zig]

Have you guys seen the "camper" top they put on top of the Range Rovers? Folds down fairly flat on the roof, but pops up big enough for two - one I looked at had a 4" thick mattress.
Unfortunately, the one suggested to me was expensive, but it looks like a good project for a bike trailer. And you wouldn't need that ladder!

Is it like the tree house on top of the FJ in the pictures from the Michigan campout?
I'd never seen one of those before, but I wonder how that little dog with the little biddy legs gets up that ladder?:confused:
Those Californians get all the cool toys first!

[SidecarMike]

Lots of choices here. http://www.top-tent.com/mombasaprodpage.htm

[BELOWaverageBOB]

Lots of choices here. http://www.top-tent.com/mombasaprodpage.htm

# $679.00 Base MOAB kit


ouch....:(

[dray]

here is a couple more for the top of your car

http://www.autohomeus.com/

http://autotoptent.com/

nice but way toooooo........ MUCH $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[BELOWaverageBOB]

here is a couple more for the top of your car

http://www.autohomeus.com/

http://autotoptent.com/

nice but way toooooo........ MUCH $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

I have thought of a way to make a whole pop-up but I need someone to make the canvas, could I take the finished camper to a textile place and have them sew up the canvas to spec?

It would be an aluminum skeleton box pop-rivited to the HF trailer covered in fiberglass with an aerodynamic lid that lifts with legs and the center folds out.

Total cost of aluminum, wood, bedding is about 280$. Fiberglass alone would run about 60$ then cost of the canvas, I think it would be WELL under the 1000+$ price tag of a factory unit.

[SidecarMike]

I have thought of a way to make a whole pop-up but I need someone to make the canvas, could I take the finished camper to a textile place and have them sew up the canvas to spec?

It would be an aluminum skeleton box pop-rivited to the HF trailer covered in fiberglass with an aerodynamic lid that lifts with legs and the center folds out.

Total cost of aluminum, wood, bedding is about 280$. Fiberglass alone would run about 60$ then cost of the canvas, I think it would be WELL under the 1000+$ price tag of a factory unit.
Might be a little sticker shock in store. We had an old tent camper years ago. The thing was built like a tank and still like new inside, but the canvas was showing it's age. I took it to a place that specialized in tent and camper repair. We discussed replacing the canvas with nylon, which they said would be much cheaper than canvas. I don't remember what the total estimate came out to, but do remember that the labor alone was going to be $500 and the guy said it was that "cheap" because the old stuff was good enough to use as a pattern. It looked just like this one. http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p304/s-dog13/Camper/100_3046.jpg

Granted, this is much larger than you are planning, but that estimate was done in 1995.

[dray]

I have thought of a way to make a whole pop-up but I need someone to make the canvas, could I take the finished camper to a textile place and have them sew up the canvas to spec?

It would be an aluminum skeleton box pop-rivited to the HF trailer covered in fiberglass with an aerodynamic lid that lifts with legs and the center folds out.

Total cost of aluminum, wood, bedding is about 280$. Fiberglass alone would run about 60$ then cost of the canvas, I think it would be WELL under the 1000+$ price tag of a factory unit.

I would check with canvas and awning places also anyone who would work on boat covers or top also check with anyone in your area that would sell the fabric they would for sure know of some one who could sew up one for you

[quadancer]

Or maybe an upholstery shop? I think you're on to something good here if you have some fabrication skills. I feel sorry for some guys who take on projects they don't have tools or the "stuff" for. They usually won't finish unless friends bail them out.

[fredric]

Review this thread about building a folding camper, I didn't see it referenced.

http://www.motocampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3578&highlight=camper