Like it’s the case with the other parts of the world; in South Africa too, teardrop campers are becoming adventurous but with a very contemporary approach and a high-ticket price. TrailPod, an outdoor adventure brand in Cape Town, is doing things differently to keep their generation of teardrop rigs closer to the good old past, while integrating features that make it completely modern and dependable.

TrailPod shares our love for adventure and is therefore providing bespoke 4×4 teardrop trailers, which are designed for off-roading, but have a very nostalgic appearance to them. These rigs are made from zero-wood composite construction and feature a suspension system ready to deal with all road types.

Designer: TrailPod  https://trailpod.co.za/

The TrailPod Cricket series teardrop trailers are therefore cut out for off-roading, but they are subtle, competitively priced, and retro-inspired. Staying true to the teardrop shape and style from the past, these are ideal for adventurers seeking a variety of camping options without breaking the bank. For this, the foam composite body trailers have an aluminum layering underneath, prioritizing durability and retro-aesthetics.

The Cricket series may be new, but the first Pod was made in a garage setting during the Covid-19 pandemic. The idea back then was to build a vintage-style teardrop, close in aesthetics to the ones built in the 1940s with aircraft aluminum and army jeep wheels. “Feeling a bit like Pinocchio’s Geppetto,” this rig was called Tintin. Over the years with tweaks and perfection, the Tintin prototype is now evolved into a fully-fledged TrailPod Cricket teardrop series, which people are loving for obvious reasons, which definitely starts with the woody construction that dates back to the teardrop’s earliest days. It looks woody, but as said, it features a foam-composite body and no wood is involved (so not roting, mold and corrosion at any moment of its lifetime).

Tough laminate finish on the inside of the Cricket and thin aluminum cladding on the outside, which is overlaid with foam composite, make it a completely different teardrop option we have seen in recent memory. The comfortable and spacious interior of this trailer, which measures just 3.5 m long, is provided with a sleeping arrangement for two people, a small side-mounted kitchen, and cupboards for storage. Internal and external lighting are provided with energy by a 100-Ah lithium battery onboard and solar panels. Owing to its size and lightweight build, the TrailPod Cricket can be towed behind almost any vehicle.

Available in wide and extra-wide body options, Cricket can hold up to 200 kg on the roof when camped, so it’s possible to fit a rooftop tent on it. TrailPod has three teardrop variants in the Cricket series: Cricket, Cricket Lite, Cricket Max. While Lite is the smallest and cheekiest of the three, the TrailPod Cricket Max is the flagship model designed to go off-roading and ensure a prolonged off-grid stay. Its extra-wide body makes space for a double bed and a tailgate galley (a teardrop charm). Though TrailPods come in standard color options, they can be customized in a color of your choice, if you want.

The post South Africa’s TrailPod brings retro teardrop camping to 2026 first appeared on Yanko Design.

Teardrop trailers have their own drive and dwelling convenience on the road. This is distinguishable from other forms of camping solutions for their size, weight, and price. There are a number of lightweight teardrop trailers adventurers have been using to their advantage but not many have the grit to go off the paved roads with equal expediency. Presenting a light and robust solution for the needs is the new Bean Stock 2.0.

Designed by Bean Trailers, founded in 2016 by Mark and Brian, who have been designing trailers with durability and minimalism in mind, the Bean Stock 2.0 is another rugged and lightweight teardrop trailer that can take the habitants to pretty much anywhere they desire.

Designer: Ben Trailers

I said there are three primary advantages that teardrop trailers carry over the other camping rigs, and the Bean Stock 2.0 fits the bill with its fiberglass body that renders the tiny trailer lightweight at 1,175 lbs. The construction ensures the trailer is fundamentally affordable in its stock variant yet its ruggedness makes it a capable off-roader. How is that possible is discussed further in the article.

The teardrop has a one-piece fiberglass shell with composite honeycomb side walls, while the former is not customary, the latter is a prerequisite in Bean Trailers’ models. Bean Stock 2.0 given the solid, lightweight design is built for the toughest and roughest trails. To that accord, the structure is slimmer and capable of being towed behind any small SUVs like the Subaru Forester, Ford Escape and similar.

The stock model of Bean Stock 2.0 is off-road ready with 2,000-pound HD suspension and 15-inch wheels. But it is the customizable option that allows    3,500-pound suspension and bigger tires with more ground clearance that add to the off-track capability. All the features are nothing without the interiors you want to be in after a long day’s drive. The Stock 2.0 is equally fashioned inside also, which absolutely revolves around the 60-inch x 80-inch queen-sized mattress facing a wide window filling the living space with natural light during the day, the warm-tone recessed lighting keeps the ambiance lifted after the sun goes down.

For all its wonderful features and interesting design, the Bean Stock 2.0 is available in a choice of 18 different colors. The entry-level variant of the rugged teardrop trailer starts at $15,999 and the customizable option with all add-ons onboard spikes the price to over the $20,000 mark.

The post With single-piece fiberglass shell, Bean Stock 2.0 is most capable ultralightweight off-road teardrop trailer first appeared on Yanko Design.