Small is "in" for RVs again

Small is popular again. Oh, some people want the 40-foot RVs, but more manufacturers are coming out with small retro teardrop trailers. Today's RV Daily Report included stories about the Serro Scotty and Heartland Recreational Vehicles LLC, which has entered the teardrop market.

Serro Scotty plans to market their small trailers directly to the consumer. Says the article, "The new factory direct program offers a consumer direct discount, lower base price and $1 per mile shipping. Once again the black Scotty dog adorns the front of the camper and the traditional spirit is alive again."  Pictured is their smallest unit, the Serro Scotty Pup.

Heartland Recreational Vehicles LLC is entering the teardrop market with the retro-styled MPG line set to debut at the 47th Annual National RV Trade Show Tuesday in Louisville, Ky. The MPG combines a contemporary look with retro styling, which they hope will appeal to the youthful demographic. It comes in 18-foot and 20-foot lengths and with a dry weight of less than 2700 pounds allowing it to be towed by smaller SUVs. 

I also came across an article at the Petaluma360.com site about a man in Petaluma, CA who makes small structures of 120 square feet. They are quite popular as backyard retreats, shops, sheds and artist studios because they are unique. He can make one a bit larger that qualifies as an RV, though moving it is tricky and requires a professional. If your RV retirement has taken you to a lot in an RV park or resort at least part of the time and you want extra space besides your RV, one of these could fill the bill. They are very reasonable, though you can run up the bill with customizing them.

We seem to have the two extremes: RVers who want as large an RV as they can get and those who travel in a small, simple unit. Not as many full-time RVers choose the smaller RVs. Friends have a T@B trailer with no bathroom facilities. That would not do for more than a short trip for me! Another RV friend's sister and husband are traveling full-time in a van with no bathroom. It does limit the places where they can stay, for sure.

You have to admit some of these little guys are cute! It would be fun to travel in a vintage teardrop. The new ones play on that nostalgia. I doubt we'll be doing that soon, though. George is over six feet tall and most of these little ones mean he would have head bruises and scrapes from encounters with the AC or doorways. We'll have to pass. Too bad because secretly he'd love to build one. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Related posts

• Bruce Osborn shows how he built his own teardrop
• Jordan full-times in a teardrop- one night his coffee pot froze!
• Alice wrote this article on vintage trailers for RoadTripAmerica.com

Comments

[Nancy Kroes]

Nice article - there are many many folks out there who are resurrecting original vintage Serro Scotty trailers and camping in them again. And we provide the resources for them to do so at http://www.nationalserroscotty.org/

Nancy Kroes
NSSO Owner and Admin

[Jaimie Hall Bruzenak]

Yes, the vintage ones are cute. Nice to see they are back in production too. I see on your Web site you have outings scheduled that owners can participate in.

Jaimie

[Nancy Kroes]

Yes we do. Anyone is welcome to attend our outings, although our big National Rally is restricted to members of our organization since space is limited at the small family-owned campground we use in PA.

[Jaimie Hall Bruzenak]

That's good to know.

Jaimie