Black Bean 2022 - TOP OF THE CLASS with these 7 New Features (Teardrop Camper Full Walkthrough)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 ต.ค. 2024
- With a number of design changes to the Black Bean Teardrop Camper this may be the best small camper of 2022. Besides the fact that this is a molded one piece fiberglass shell, this teardrop trailer is built to last! Plus it is setup to truly take you anywhere you want to go off road. Now, mind you this isn't a budget camper. This is a trailer for the person who wants the best and doesn't mind paying for the best. However, if you compare this to other small camper manufacturers, you will find the cost is competitive for the features. And we find it really is hard to put a price on a fiberglass camper.
🟡Want to learn more about why we believe fiberglass teardrop trailers are the best on the market? Check out this video • Why We Chose a BASE MO...
🟡Why not compare trailers head to head? Check out our playlist of all our small camper walkthroughs here: • Why Teardrops are BETT...
🟢Interested in the gear we use, abuse, and trust when camping? Click here: www.amazon.com...
Features Mentioned In Video Found Below:
Oh, probably should give you a link to Bean Trailer’s website beantrailer.com
➖Redarc Manager 30 Battery Management www.rv.com/arc...
➖Dometic Air Conditioner www.dometic.co...
➖Truma Varioheat Teardrop Heater www.truma.com/...
➖Guzzle Water Filtration System www.guzzleh2o....
➖Espresso vs Expresso www.merriam-we...
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The Bean is definitely by far the best looking tear drop out there. We have been researching tear drops and love this trailer. Now, to justify dropping that kind of money on one. Great video and review. Thanks
I like this type of informal walkthrough format, because reasoning and rationale for the design features comes out that I just don't get out of marketing. Kudos!
Thanks Mike! I was fortunate on this one to have Nick from Bean Trailer around. I asked if he would man my camera and he did a better job than I ever would have done. We did the same thing with the factory tour. That’s a video I’m really excited to show you at some point. Once you see what the production line looks like for Bean It All Makes Sense! This is not your Ma and Pa operation. Haha.
@Early Bronco Good points. Really agree with your "first view / last view".
The other mistake I think they make is ONLY marketing to their largest audience. They could have multiple marketing messages as long as they say it up front eg "If you like dragging your camper to the top of a mountain with a winch" group, and "If you like driving forest roads" group, and "If you like traveling cross country," group, etc. Like you said, I should not need to read ALL their marketing (and will not) to find the information I want. Once I get to a huge "fluff" section that is not what I need, and I don't know where to go to get what I need, I go elsewhere.
Admittedly, their technique may eliminate the marginal buyers like myself anyway, so that may be to their benefit ("I wouldn't join a club that would have people like me" ;)
Yeah. Agreed. Playing With Sticks is my go-to source.
We have Bean # 270. Picked it up last year and we love our Bean and what we have been able to do as a family. The Black Bean is the ultimate! Our Mean Bean definitely gets us where we need to go though. They have to be seen in person to really appreciate the care that happens in the construction. Nothing feels cheap. It is worth the admission price for sure.
You nailed it there. People really need to see these in person. Once I saw Bean Trailer he quickly became the trailer I compare all other trailer to.
Wow. Bean has packed in a ton of features and has hit many of the “wants” from the market. Really cool set up!
We just had a comment from a Colorado Teardrop owner. Now this from a TC Teardrop owner. Now I’m just waiting for an Escapod User. I tend to clump these trailers all together. Trailers built by owners who actually prefer no water systems and paired down designs. My type of builders 😊 but if you notice a few in the pack or starting to branch out and make a specific trailer in the lineup for the current wants of the market. That’s where this Black Bean comes in. But even with all the bells and whistle‘s it’s still has a very simple and clean aesthetic and design concept. Thanks for checking this out Matt! Always nice to hear from you.
?Cable hook up/ for starling etc would be perfect? Did I miss it?
My reaction to these awesome trailers: "Cool Beans!"
😆😆😆
The house generator feature is game changing. Speaking from someone who went through the Texas grid failure last year.
Glad to see the beauty in it. Like you we had the same issue in Alaska with our last big earthquake. Once you go through something like you have it really impacts the way you see things.
Incredible setup, really well thought out from the folks at Bean.
Beans are involving great! BTW, it's true that people put too much importance on ground clearance. However, the greater GC for both the trailer and the TV, net better break over angles. This is why a 4 door Wrangler (120" wheel base) on 37" tires can go anywhere a 2 door Wrangler (98" wheel base) on 35" tires. The sharp angles on either side of the trail on a creek crossing are a good example of break-over angle or the image you have on this video.
This is funny we’ve had so many people try to refute Mark’s comments over the years. You are the first one that actually made sense. Thank you so much I’m going to use this comment in future videos.
Does this only apply when the ground clearance of your TV is greater than your trailer? I'm still picturing the TV being the liability if it is lower than the trailer, especially when it comes to dragging the tongue.
@@PlayingwithSticks Probably in most cases for an off-road model, the trailer GC is higher then the diff on the TV, but the break-over angle is measured from the back of the TV wheel to the midpoint of the distance on the bottom of the trailer between the TV's wheel and the trailer wheel .Obviously, if the TV and trailer have two different wheel sizes, their will be two different angles. But with step-down or step-up hitches, a level trailer should be attainable. BTW, how did you get 10" under the Chrysler 8.25 diff on your Liberty? Stock is closer to 7" and it takes a lot of work to fit 33's on those -hats off to you on the lift.
Fantastic video. Love the galley pass through and the movie screen! We love our High Camp. We also don’t have a sink and don’t miss it. The heater and fans are great. I’ve taken it on crazy forest service roads up in the high Cascades and it performs exceptionally well.
I really appreciate your real life insights and reviews; and love the Bean trailers!
love the quality of your videos. the trailers you review are always so amazing until the end (the price). but i understand everything is super expensive now. cleanest shoes i've ever seen! Merry Christmas and God bless to you and your family.
I promise to make a concerted effort next summer to find us some budget trailers. Now I find them? the list is starting to get smaller, but I think there are still a few out there. This summer with the big move to Thailand it was just easier to focus on the trailer out West. And I’m a little partial to those trailers because I love the scenery in the area! God‘s blessings to you and your family during the holidays as well. We are having to really focus on the fact that it’s the Christmas season. Still feels like September here. Haha. Dave I just want to thank you for all the positive comments. They have been so uplifting and nice to read every video. This TH-cam hobby got a little bigger than I was expecting it to be when I started. And it’s people like you that make it all worth it.
I'm in love with the cooking set up!
Seems much nicer and full-featured compared to all other Bean trailers. Unfortunately, Bean only guarantees the shell and not all the other individual components of the trailer (e.g A/C, windows, kitchen equipment, etc.). Unlike any other manufacturer, If something breaks or is defective on your Bean trailer, you have to argue with the individual manufactures of any part or equipment that may fail. If a part or equipment on a Rockwood, Winnebago, or any other manufacturer RV fails, they will guaranty it and an authorized service provided will fix it for you. Freezer, A/C, heater, etc. Just deal with one guy, not twenty.
Will you in the future do a comparison between the Bean trailer and other Overlanding manufacturers? For example, I like the new Ember Micro ROK and the Lance Enduro (I think still a prototype).
In addition to the trailer itself, what I love about the Ember Micro it has the best suspension, the toughest chassis, and the best construction. I think the trailer will outlast any vehicle. Regarding the Lance Enduro, again in addition to much other stuff of the trailer itself is the following; part of the roof is raised where you can stand up. On the raised roof area has a bathroom which will make it easier to convince the missus and the rest of the family. Finally, I like you can access the fridge from the inside. During a rainy day or in the middle of the night, being able to grab a drink or snack from the fridge is priceless.
Enduro Video:
th-cam.com/video/rBwBhNQihJ4/w-d-xo.html
Ember RVs Video:
th-cam.com/video/_8mvRRYXSFY/w-d-xo.html
Excellent overview! Thank you very much! Right now the Black Bean is the trailer we are leaning towards.
Friendly advice:
Make the tongue box four sided, then place it on top of a lazy Suzan.
Then: Floor pits.
Hope this helps! 😊
Having two fridges is nice as one can be a fridge the other one the freezer could have ice cream in the woods could go longer off grid too that side table would be my bar setup
Our philosophy is if you have the tow vehicle to do it why not?
@@PlayingwithSticks a Ford Bronco 2 door would be a super nice towing a Black Bean off road teardrop trailer
Wow, fantastic upgrades, very innovative. Excited every time a new video comes out!!
I love the tongue box! One of my favorite items!!
Completely agree! Such a simple, but impactful edition to the trailer.
Holy crap! What a trailer! All I'd want is a moonroof.
Haha. I think I had the same conversation once with Mark. He sees the advantage of a moon roof as well but with his design and construction background he doesn’t truly believe a moon roof can stay leak free for a lifetime. I think this was Mark who told me this. sometimes I get my builders confused. He wants to create a trailer that will last a lifetime with minimal maintenance and so this is one thing he’s careful to approach. He often mentions the forces that are acting upon a trailer when you’re putting them through this type of conditions. So many different frequencies of vibrations when you’re getting a trailer out there. It really dictate some of these builds in terms of what will and won’t survive on a trailer. BUT, Mark and his team are pretty smart guys so I bet at some point in time they may find a workaround.
Why don’t they just do away with the front box and extend the deardrop forward with a large pass threw storage compartment. Could fit a bunk or cabinets
Great presentation!
Glad you enjoyed it! Personally I enjoy having a conversation with the builder much more than just having them talk at me. We’ve been so busy with a recent move that we haven’t had a chance to check out your channel. Looking forward to digging into some of your content.
Trailer needs more clearance than the tow vehicle. You can more readily pick the path of the tow vehicle. Even then think how hard it is at times to get a good path for front and rear around a corner. The trailer is worse. Track may be different and it is just along for the ride and has to handle less optimal paths.
Bikes on the front. We had a pop-up a long time ago. It definitely beat the bikes and there were some issues. Think about the last car on the roller coaster, same thing.
I love that Black Bean...Very cool.
$38K!! Talk about milking it from a niche market. Bless the companies that get people into a teardrop for half.
When you first see these prices they can be quite shocking. But there’s a market there. And over the years I’ve come to the conclusion that you can’t blame the manufacture if the buyer is willing to pay that amount. Now good on companies fir keeping the price down I won’t argue against that.
We do have a great trailer that does starts at about half of the Black Bean. It is Beanstock. There is a segment of the market that demands more than what is available in our other Bean models. That is who Black Bean is targeted toward.
You should be able to buy the 1-up fat bike adapter to accommodate wider tires. I have a 1-up rack and that's what I did. You should be good up to 4" and above if needed with the 1-up FB adapter....I'm assuming they are mounted far enough apart on that box. Spacing on the mounting is probably more key here... My 2 cents. Great video!
Thank you! We have three bikes now with 4 inch tires so that’s good to know. And like we mentioned in the video I think a lot of people are going to have this question. When you see that box in person it’s really deep. I think there be plenty of room to separate for the fat tire bikes.
Prepare to redefine adventure with the off-road teardrop camper. Its robust build and off-road capabilities take you to remote and breathtaking destinations. It's time to create your own trails and experience nature in its purest form.
Are the rear-stabilizers and tongue-jack strong enough to use to change a flat tire on this or any Bean camper?
One of the slickest things I saw on a homebuilt teardrop was lifting the tires off the ground far enough to change the tires without using an additional jack. They accomplished it by adjusting the tongue-jack to get the trailer-tongue close to the ground, then dropping the rear stabilizer-jacks as far as they would go, then raising the tongue using the tongue-jack. The whole trailer was supported on only the rear-stabilizers and the tongue-jacks with the trailer wheels off the ground far enough to change a flat.
I was told by some small camper manufacturers that lifting the camper that way was not advisable, because the real stabilizers/mounts were not strong enough to support the entire weight of the camper - rear-stabilizers were only meant to stabilize.
Love the channel. We have spent many hours watching and rewatching many of your videos as we build our on trailer. That said, do you know where Bean gets the Ikea trufast slides? Love that idea.
we make them.
Fantastic trailer and a very fun walkthough. Thanks.
Okay love the black bean but… what can be added later, to keep the price down?
How long would it take to charge the 4 battery’s with the solar panel they use ?
Nice, but I priced out what I would have to pay for the Black Bean to come close to matching our ordered Escapod TOPO2 and came back with it being around $7000 less cost. And the TOPO2 will fit in our garage. Also, the TOPO2 weights around 1000 pounds less. I liked what they did with the Black Bean, but will stick with our TOPO2. You should do a video of the new Escapod TOPO2 when you get a chance.
The Black Bean looks good
As with all new innovations, I would hope most of these additions could be backwards compatible to other Bean models.
Yes, Mark actually talked about this during our interview, but I cut it out to keep the video under 20 minutes. Glad you mentioned this Jack. Mark's intention for the Black Bean is to have a trailer that he can continually try new designs and concepts on. Basically using this as a testing ground for innovations that may trickle down to his other Bean models. Again, thanks for bringing this up Jack. It is a really good point.
Nice trailer. We have been looking closley at the the galley of many brands.
It seems to us that the galley counter height is getting too high on some of these lifted teardrops. Just looking at it, I don't think my 5'4" tall wife would be comfortable using this space, at least without using stilts.
Whats the counter top height from the ground? A home kitchen is ~ 36"
We really like your channel. Thanks for all the well balanced, excellent content.
The Black Bean can be ordered with a 2" lower Timbren suspension that lowers the counter 2" making it better positioned. Bean has other trailers like the Mean Bean and Bean Stock that lower the counter even more.
Love the tour! Makes me feel like I’m there. I do love the look of that bean. Do you know how tall it is on the inside?
54"
Thanks Mark!
I don’t want to give your secret away May.
But I think if you remove the mattress you’d be able to fully stand up in the camper. 😆
@@PlayingwithSticks well now the secrets out
Love the Black Bean !!!
It definitely catches the eye!
Wow!!!!! Love it!!
Cool Beans!
Love it do the rims match a Sierra pickup bolt pattern .I would like to have a bean with that set up i live on Long Island New York
I know most companies will do this. I’m not sure with Bean as they have such a streamlined process of getting the trailer to the owner. Meaning most companies have a one and a half year to two year wait time to get a trailer where Bean is getting them to you in weeks. I just looked up their current wait time I believe it is 60 days. I guess that’s officially months or eight weeks 😆 Give them a call though they’re really quick to respond. In the overlanding industry it just makes sense to match the bolt pattern to the truck
Just stumbled across this video and teardrop trailers. My first, and main question, is size and comfort of bed. I'm 6'2".
That is a very valid concern. I believe all models of the Bean are a standard queen size bed. So you should have plenty of room. One of their engineers who tests the trailer is 6 foot 6. I’m also wondering if you stumbled on this video that you may not be familiar with other Teardrops. If that’s the case this teardrop is also 1 foot taller in terms of headroom compared to most other off-road teardrops on the market. You may want to check out our Trailer versus Trailer playlist I think you can really go down the rabbit hole there and quickly understand small camper trailers better.
@@PlayingwithSticks Thank you. I see there is an Overland Expo show not too far away in August. I might just make a day trip for that.
Greatest thing since canned beans at a filet mignon price! 🤣
Haha!
Now if someone would make something like this with a dry bath and a good bed. Thats all I need...good bathroom with a good amount of fresh water and a good bed. I can cook outside. I'm an athlete and taking showers everyday is a necessity along with good sleep.
Do you and your family still live in Alaska? We loved seeing our beautiful state in your vids.
Unfortunately we are currently out of the state. And by out of it I mean we sold everything we owned and moved to Thailand. Quite the change for our family. We definitely miss the good 907 life. East is always talking about ⛄️
@@PlayingwithSticks Will you be making content on this? I would love to hear about the move.
It will be coming, but quite delayed. We’ve been going back-and-forth on should it stay on the main channel or become its own channel. It’ll be camping, but quite different.
You said, “if you. Have enough lithium you can run this off grid.” How much is enough and for how long , say in the night?
I like this one!
these are amazing. I wish I could have one, but the layout of the galley just feels a bit awkward in terms of layout.
Wait, wait, wait....There are a handful of things I would say I dislike about this trailer. But the galley would not be it! It really is probably the best you can get. Galleys can be misleading if you have never spent time with a teardrop. Tell me what you think is off about this galley and I can help you understand why it was designed this way. They put a ton of thought into this. If you are in the market for a teardrop I would love to help explain things for you. Not trying to get you to get a Bean. I just don't want you to end up with a galley that isn't right for the job. 50% of your time with a teardrop trailer will be in the galley. It makes that decision very important.
I'll take one for testing lol. Pretty cool and seems well built
Wow this is super cool! Can this hold a big rooftop tent like the 4 person ikapmer? Jw thanks!!
I would like it if you would review more smaller ones that also have a wet room.
Unfortunately that’s not really our style of content. But, I would suggest checking out the TH-cam channel RV Blogger. He has a ton of videos of what you’re looking for.
@@PlayingwithSticks I love ❤️ the teardrops and smaller campers. I just like ones with a wet room. I’m old.
does a residential queen mattress fit in the blackbean?
Do you guys offer Finance on your being trailers.
by the time i can afford one of these, theyll be able to fly themselves like a George Jetson mobile. 👍
Haha. So true for probably 90% of us!
I could save enough to buy one BUT I would have to save at a rate of $800/month for 4 years just to get the base model Black Bean.
That's assuming that I stop investing for 4 years. That is a NO.
Great interview, very nice trailer.
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it! Have you taken any trips lately? I haven't heard about any of your adventures for a while.
@@PlayingwithSticks yes, as a matter of fact I I went to the Sierras for 5 days for Thanksgiving.
There was quite a bit of snow and cold enough temperatures where it wasn't muddy. I had a blast. I am actually going to travel to Death Valley for Christmas. And spend a few days there.
I’m going to have to vicariously live through you. I’m still in the testing phase of all my new camping gear and haven’t done a proper trip in quite some time. I must say I’m a bit jealous.
My kids are all in or near their 30s, and I am single. I made arrangements with the kids to do holidays every other year. This way I can travel during the holidays and when I camp, there is no people. Figuring out new camp gear is part of the fun isn't it! I really want to hear more about your volunteer trip.
That is a great arrangement you have setup. After traveling a bit of the west this summer we realized if we ever want to see a national park in the next five years we’re going to have to figure a schedule out like yours. It was downright impossible to get into quite a few of them without reserving months in advance. And that’s not really our style. I’ve always been fine staying outside of national parks, but my wife hasn’t had a chance to see many in her life. I would really like her to experience a bit of them. And you’re so right about the new camp gear. I’m going for this whole nostalgic camping set up this time around. Basically trying to re-create the camping that my grandma and grandpa used to take me on when I was a kid. It’s been really fun collecting the items and now breaking them in. And I must admit we have the coolest backyard for breaking them in! Once we figure the ins and outs of this place a little better we will definitely share with you everything going on. It’s been an adventure so far and we’re super excited to share the Thai camping adventures as well.
1UP makes a simple and inexpensive kit to allow for 4” fat tires.
That’s what I was hoping somebody would comment on. Thank you!
Love the wood slats as the interior headliner...nice touch! Gives me and idea for a mod to my trailer. This trailer has it all and then some...if you're into DIY mods look elsewhere cuz this thing has nothing left to do to it.
I really like these, but man the black bean starting at 40k usd? so expensive
Right! The trailers at the top of the pack recently have gotten out of most people‘s price range. It’s crazy how quickly prices have increased in all companies. Most of them are blaming it on global supply chain issues. But in reality it’s more of an increase demand which allows the industry to increase the prices. Is the supply chain causing the price increase as well, yes. But I think it definitely goes beyond that. I don’t like the price hikes. But at the same time I can’t be mad at the industry. If people are willing to pay these prices then I don’t see why the manufacturers wouldn’t have the right to set them however they please. But with all this said just remember there are some great trailers out there that are about a quarter of the price of this trailer. Are they going to have a few less features, of course. But they all get us to the same destination.
@@PlayingwithSticks Aluminum up 50% since September, fiberglass up 35% since September, axles up 30%, steel is up, Paint is up 30%, everything is up double digits including labor cost. I cannot speak for others but it does not "go beyond that" for us. You ordered a trailer at todays price of materials but they have increased significantly when we order the materials to build the trailer 90 days down the road. Black is for those who want the best of the best. We have other great trailers that are a tremendous value.
@@mark-di5pf This is crazy! Wow. I have a feeling I will be reposting this comment quite a lot this year. Haha. When you say labor is up double digits. Is this for your staff or you are saying labor in the nation causing prices to go up on all components?
Sorry by the way to lump you in with all the other price jackings. That was definitely not my intention, but I see how you could get that from my comment. What I didn’t say specifically there, but probably should. I think many companies are looking at their competitors and feeling if they can charge $30-$40,000 for a trailer why am I selling mine at $15,000. I think this is why we seen so many trailers in the industry almost double in price in the last five years. Basically it’s playing off the nativity of consumers. I think a lot of consumers can’t see the difference in quality between a $15,000 trailer and a $30k trailer. And obviously some companies realize this.
@@PlayingwithSticks Both. It is extremely competitive to find competent labor in the last year as anyone in manufacturing knows. The bigger issues is the unprecedent increases in material cost. Metal has gone up 50% since September, paint and fiberglass 30% since September. Everything has gone up. Price out the Elkhart RV junk and see what has happened to prices in the last year. I'll send you a link to an article.
Im seeing this in my future.
They should make a model called the bean flicker. Lmao
Fire exthinguisher will be down soon from shock and vibration.
Really? I can’t imagine off-road companies epilepsy not ensure that doesn’t happen.
@@PlayingwithSticks as an airplane mechanic and restorer I can spot these things a mile off
Do you have any suggestions Mark? I can definitely reach out to Bean and share your thoughts. I know they would appreciate the feedback.
Nice work as always Drew. And kudos to Mark for a fine product. Love my ColoradoTeardrop. But those Beans…..
I don’t say this enough on the channel. But when we go and search out a trailer manufacture that says a lot. There’s only been a few that we’ve purposely driven to to see. And Colorado was on that list. Although Bean and Colorado are much different in design. They have very similar build and usage philosophies. These are builders that actually go camping. And take pride in their finished product. Thanks for the kind words Tom!
@@PlayingwithSticks Thanks Tom!
Thanks for the vid-we’re still shopping and Bean is still in our top 3. “Jeep is my limiting factor” regarding clearance. I do disagree on this point. In your tow vehicle, you have the luxury of picking your travel line to go over rocks and obstacles. But you’re dragging the trailer and can’t achieve that same precision. This is why trailers need more clearance than their tow vehicles.
I’ve heard this argument before. I still don’t buy into it. I mean I get it, it makes sense. But there’s theory and then there’s reality. When you’re actually out there towing something you know the limits and it rarely has to do with clearance. It’s typically more about tight spaces, dead ends, tight turns, etc. I think there’s way too much emphasis on clearance and it actually creates trailers that function poorly in the field. Again just my opinion. I’m also not really a rock crawling guy so there may be some things I’m overlooking. And I should add one last bit. I’ve never thought twice about dragging my trailer over something especially when the trailer has skid plates. I’m constantly thinking about the potential of my vehicle dragging over something. This is the reality of towing. Less about getting stuck, more about causing damage. But again I assume in your world it’s more about getting stuck. I’ve always been surprised how much jeep and Toyota club members are willing to sacrifice in terms of damaged components and vehicles.
Yeah, we are the rock crawling sort-you’re probably right for most users, but it’s a limiting factor for some of the destinations we’ve been to. Great walk through!
You’re also absolutely right though that you can’t sacrifice CG and basic functionality for the sake of better clearance.
I’m not asking this in a mean way. This is an honest question hoping to learn a bit more. I assume your comment was aimed towards the 15 inches of clearance that I said was sufficient for most general users with a stock vehicle. My question is were you referring to the 20 inches of clearance of the Black Bean? Meaning were there times where you were out with your jeep and 20 inches of trailer clearance wouldn’t be sufficient?
Yeah, sorry if that wasn’t clear-I think the black bean clearance is great-it’s just the general argument that I’ve heard from Mark before that implies the clearance doesn’t need to be any better than the tow vehicle. I’ve driven my jeep through dry mud ruts where I can hide the line only to bottom out my trailer. So not saying it’s a primary factor, but definitely a consideration
They installed the drawer slides for the fridge on the wrong sides. The yellow ‘U’ shape should be facing down.
Thanks for sharing.
Anyone have any input on resale value of a mean bean?
Oh dear lord- expresso!
Clearance. I have never hit anything due to not having enough ground clearance even when I had very little. I have hit and done damage on the tow vehicle and trailer from dragging their front and rear edges due to entrance and entry angle limitations on hills and gullys.
Bingo. It is the approach break over angle and the take off departure angle you need concern yourself with. Ground clearance is minor in comparison.
Thank you for sharing this Mike. A lot of the newer trailers are putting a lot of thought into the angles on all sides of the trailer. Basically cutting away a bit allowing you a little steeper entrance and departure angles. I used to wonder if the rock rails were worth the upgrade. Rock sliders if you’re using Bean terminology. I think if you were towing solo or with a family it gives you some peace of mind. Typically when I’m with one of my buddies they’re outside the vehicle during hairy situation‘s watching my approach. But at the same time sometimes it would be nice to just push through and not worrying about not having to back out or try a new angle.
I love hearing people sharing this stuff! THANK YOU!
@@metaxaanabeer Perfect! Those were the words I was looking for! Thanks!
I’m going to have to borrow both of your words. This is all pretty new terminology to me. I here it occasionally when hanging with the overland crowd.
When I’m at home with my friends I call it the front of my trailer just hit the ground or the back of my trailer just hit the ground. 😂 how about when my tongue drags is there a term for that one? That seems to be the one that happens to me most.
On a design & aesthetics pov I would like to see the fender-wells & rock-sliders with a more curvature design to blend w/ the curvature of the shell, also a roof-rack that would incorporate a curve frame to follow the lines of the beans overall aesthetics.
Just ordered our Bean Stock. Only thing is I wish we could have had are the drawers. But, I would not want the rest of the kitchen. Still happy with our choice.
My pet peeve are those sliding cabinet doors on the top. I think my plan will be to just use one side for kitchen stuff until I can engineer something better. That would be the single most important change you should make to the kitchen.
To create extra countertop space for our kitchen, I'm going to get a a cutting board made to fit in the spot for that pull out sink tub.
Heat is really unnecessary. We recently camped in a Bean Stock and we had hard freezes both nights. We were super warm and we even left a window and the fan vent open all night. Our plan is to use an electric throw blanket to warm up the bed at night.
Congratulations Lisa! Like you the drawers would be a great addition. What is your reservation with the sliding doors? Are you saying you would like them open? Or you would like swing out doors? Great idea with the cutting board. That will be a very simple fix. A well insulated trailer keeps you super warm. Most of my Alaska mid winter nights I don't use a heater. Basically all I use is a hot water bottle before bed and an electric blanket in the morning.
@@PlayingwithSticks bottom line, I'm short. The sliding doors are hard to reach. I found myself constantly sliding them around to find stuff. And when you've got the stove out, it's impossible to reach the door on that side. Course we were using a rental camper and I could not remember where things were. But, then I was constantly moving the wrong door or they were getting stuck behind each other. It's the only flaw in the Bean camper design. I think some kind of garage door roll up could fix it. I'm going to hope that it was just inexperience that was leading to my frustration. Hopefully after a few trips, I'll know just where I want things and can be more strategic about what I place behind the doors.
Your reviews were very helpful in deciding which Bean to get. We have a stock Rubicon, so your analysis was just what we needed.
I really enjoy your channel. Although, we are much more minimalist in our camping. When you start unloading all your stuff, I'm cringing. But, then as you set up, I'm thinking of all the reasons why I don't want some piece of gear you pull out. Lol. It actually is helpful when I get those late night ideas that we need some crazy piece of new gear. Just watch your channel and click, it gets deleted from the shopping cart!
Two things in my cart right now are a battery powered pump system that you put in a bucket for washing dishes & showers. Those solar showers are great, but we have to buy a new one every season as the carrying handle always fails. And a roll top table. Our 20 y.o. Walmart wooden roll top is literally on its last legs. No one makes them with wood anymore. I may have to just buy a crappy aluminum one and transfer the attachments onto the old wooden table slats.
Anyway, our whole philosophy of camping less gear, more fun. My only extravagances are my hammock and guitar.
Between this and the mammoth trailer …….. what to get ???
They are so different in my mind. I think you are lucky in that the choice is quite easy because you’re looking at almost 2 completely different aesthetics. I’ve had quite a few people ask me about Mammoth lately. I think they get compared with Bean because of the build quality basically having a design that will last for life. The thing I like to point out to people is the storage. Really look at the storage options of both trailers and think about actually using them in the field. Not what they look like opened up, but what does that storage look like when everything is closed. How does the gear fit? Is there enough storage capacity?
Awesome
Its perfect
Wow. 2500 pounds dry weight. It's nice but that's ridiculous for a teardrop this size.
Yes. For us and how we would use it, it’s not practical. But for the hard-core off-roaders they are all about over built
Get the offroad camper brs sherpa and do a sick review
What happened to movie night with the basic bean?
Sorry I’m not sure I understand the question.
Nice but the price must be alot
Holy Teardrops Batman.... $38K? It should have been named "Black Dimond" - I think I'll stick with my Micro RV and Clamshell.
Bro for 40g I’m getting a Toybox
I completely understand. Well, the price anyways. Not really sure what a Toybox is besides a 3d printer.
Great. Now I have to sell my mean bean and upgrade.
Haha! May and I joke about that often. If you are a bean owner it’s painful because you know whatever you buy today it will change tomorrow. Other trailer manufacturers seem to keep the trailer pretty similar from year to year. But with all the research and design on the Bean team they’re changing so quickly. I like that it just kind of incentivizes you to buy now. There’s been so many things that I’ve purchased and then months later they come out with a new version and I’m kicking myself because the version had been out already for like three years. With Ban you don’t feel bad when you purchase because you know it will change and you won’t have regrets with a new one comes out. Haha
@@PlayingwithSticks haha it’s definitely part of getting into a product from a new company too. Ah well. Even if I wanted to upgrade (I mean I do lol) it would cost like 20 grand even after selling my mean bean. That thing is so sweet though. I LOVE the new galley. Solves so many of my current pain points. Don’t care for ac and don’t need two batteries. I just want that galley, and the single battery system with solar while I drive.
It really is an awesome galley. I always thought the traditional galley from Bean was perfect. But throw in some drawers, add a fridge going out that makes an L kitchen, And a stove they can do it all. You’ve got a pretty sweet set up. And I must admit I’m a big fan of the side table, such a small addition but makes a big difference. Like you the other stuff is a little overkill for us and I think it is for mark too. But he’s not designing this trailer for just anyone. This is for the guy who wants it all!
@@PlayingwithSticks Hi Drew, hi Pedro! Couple things; We have a very talented team of production and development engineers. We promote and reward a culture of relentlessly pursuing efficiency and innovation using the scientific method. That back pressure sometimes results in short life cycles for features. This is really apparent on newer trailers like the Black Bean. Drew, you probably noticed how many changes there are on Black Bean in the new footage from the unit we reviewed last summer. The hope is that the relentless pressure to perfect Bean results in a little shorter lead time and a little more refinement and functionality everyday. It also means that if you are waiting for something new around the corner to buy your Bean, you will wait forever because there will always be something new around the next bend. Pedro, I love the fact that we have model options that are the sweet spot for a minimalist like Drew (Beanstock) on one end to a fully decked out Black Bean to rival anything available on the other end of the market. All with the same construction that will last for generations with minimal upkeep.
@@mark-di5pf You brought up an interesting point with the back pressure. It's a challenge. This summer we hopped in a trailer, not on TH-cam, from one of our favorite small ma and pa manufacturers. Previous trailers were immaculate, the attention to detail was almost boat builder quality. Well, in the last couple of years this company has really grown in terms of demand. So they outsourced a few parts of their trailer and hired a larger team. And unfortunately it can definitely be seen on the builds within 10 feet of walking up to the trailer. Not that they were cuttting corners, but the quality of the finish work and inspection process had greatly decreased. It was really sad to see. And from talking to people in the industry, this seems to be the norm for many of these companies as the pressure increases. Something you said that stuck with me. "Just because you can build a teardrop, doesn't mean you can run a successful business." And I have come to see this really play out with the current culture of high down payments for trailers and long wait times. Basically holding on to your cash as a way to keep them in the black until they figure out how to course correct. But, as I have also learned many of them struggle to find the key to success at larger scale manufacturing and this is why so many small ma and pa shops just go out of business overnight. And unfortunately many in the RV industry have ran off with those down payments as well. Super sad. And I am pretty sure none of these folks were shady going into this. They just got caught up in a wild ride and didn't know how to control it.
How much???
Weight of this unit and price?
No direct link in this to the Manufacturer of it?
Sorry, sometimes I just assume everyone knows this company. As for the weight of the unit and price I’ll wait to see if Bean Trailer sees this comment. If I don’t see a reply in the future I’ll reach out to them. I will make sure to add a link to the website. Thank you!
2 things I want to know first!
I have a feeling you’ll get an answer soon. Like you those are two pretty big pieces of information for me as well. Typically I’m pretty weight conscience in these videos. But I often assume someone who’s buying a black bean doesn’t necessarily worry about weight. I mean someone who wants a trailer packed full of everything and lined with rhino liner probably has a truck or tow vehicle that can tow anything. But that’s a bad assumption. Look at the thumbnail of this video and check out what is towing it.
Black Bean averages 2600 lbs with a tongue weight of 350 lbs. Price starts at $40K averages around $50K.
Thanks Mark!
I assume the person replying as "Mark" is the manufacturer of Bean trailers. If so, then here's my feedback: design one with a bathroom, please. Seniors love those. You could call it the Potty Bean. Or the Senior Bean. As far as I can tell, no one designs a teardrop trailer with seniors and their needs in mind. Give it some thought. Thanks.
I am the Manufacturer and I am a Senior so I did design it with myself in mind. I think there are much better ways to handle bathroom issues than putting one inside one of these small trailers.
Hi Tom. I’m glad you have the chance to shoot this to a manufacturer. I know you and I have talked about this a few times before. Like Mark mentioned in the video he knows and believes what’s right for the end-user. However, he does mention he can be swayed by owner/user requests. By putting this out here in the comments you never know how many other people have the same need.
That’s what I really appreciate about Mark. He can be pretty strong on his opinions when you first approach him with an idea. But like you noticed with the tongue box on the Beanstock Overtime he grew to understand the need and now it’s an option for anyone when buying Bean Stock. Not that I predict the toilet to become an option, but it never hurts to ask.
Once you start putting in bathrooms you no longer have a Teardrop, you have a miniature RV. I don't even want a water system interfering with my mobility/ability. Plenty of small trailers with bathrooms, no need to compromise a true Teardrop.
May and I often say that Bean is the limit on a traditional Teardrop. If you added just a few inches to a Bean Trailer technically I think we would have to call it a “Standy” not a classic teardrop. Not only does this change functionality it loses a bit of that aesthetic charm. I haven’t spent a lot of time watching the Teardrop owner from the channel “no legs no problem tv” I wonder what he does for his bathroom situation?
@@PlayingwithSticks "No Legs No Problem TV" doesn't seem to post many videos, but I did see one a couple of years ago when somebody gave him a 17' Taylor Coach. I can't remember what he did with his Teardrop. But as much as I'm intrigued by the whole Teardrop thing, I would definitely want at least a potty inside during the night.
A $40,000 teardrop that’s insane!! Who is this made for
I think people underestimate the impact of inflation on materials and components for small trailers in the last year. The average small camper and trailer has gone up 39% in the last year according to JD Power. There is a strong market for trailers made of the most durable materials with the best systems and a high level of refinement. Black Bean has competitors in this price range with inferior construction.
👍🏽❗️
Not you and your minimum wage job. Best stick to your Coleman tent...
Holy 39k base price Bean
Pretty high for what it is. If you buy a larger tow vehicle your options expand a lot.
Love the Batman reference. Haha. Yes, this is not your entry level teardrop trailer. I should’ve mentioned this more in the video, this is a trailer for someone who wants the best. This is the land of the best Overland components, highest clearance, everything‘s wrapped with rhino lining, just try and damage me I dare you trailer design. Originally when I saw these trailers years ago I thought there would never be a market for them. But I was wrong. This is why Escapod just came out with their $40,000 trailer. This is basically the space race right now.
I assume you’re referring to large travel trailers? Like trailers outside the off-road and teardrop industry?
@@PlayingwithSticks you have to admit its way over the top
Of course! If you know me at all this is not my style. That’s kind of the beauty of the black bean. It’s definitely not for everyone!
Any idea on Bean's lead time these days? Are all of them custom built per order only?
90 days for all models except Black Bean. Black Bean is 8 months.
@@mark-di5pf Thanks!
WOW
No bunk bed option?
Sorry I skipped a lot of the small details in this walk-through. I actually skipped a major one in that I didn’t even mention that it was a fiberglass trailer I think… I just kind of assumed everyone knew. Haha. but yes, I assume like the other models there’s definitely a bunk bed option. It’s a canvas bunk (more like a tight weaved mesh) that easily rolls up out of the way if not needed. We used it quite often this summer on the bean stock. And I assume with the interior changes on the black bean it wouldn’t impact the install location of the bunk. If anyone’s heard different let me know.
You’d have to have your legs bent to even lay down in that thing, huh?
To sit, yes. To sleep, no. I'm not sure how long the bed is, but I know they have a video of one of their workers who is like 6'6" or 6'7" lying in it.
Named after a bean, priced like a Cadillac
picking up 60 lb E bikes are gonna be a bitch to put up there
For sure. Most people are putting traditional bikes up there. The e-bikes can be mounted to thetongue though.
@@PlayingwithSticks Didn't he say they don't like mounting bikes on the back. Or maybe I watched another video. BTW. I've been obsessed with your videos for the last week. LOL I can't wait to get a trailer for my Bronco. Thanks for replying
Yes, you are correct Bean Trailer, like us believes in mounting their bikes on the front. I think maybe you didn’t quite understand my response. The back hitch is called a rear receiver. The tongue which I was referring to is the part of the trailer on the front that attaches to the receiver which attached to your car’s tow hitch. Maybe I didn’t understand your original question. I think you were saying it would be too hard to put an E bike up on the cargo box correct? And yes, it would be harder, but you can put it on the tongue on a bike rack right in front of that cargo box. Hope this makes sense. This can all get quite confusing when you’re first learning about all of this. I’m jealous of that bronco. That’s my wife’s dream vehicle.
If you'd like to hire me to train your builders on proper wiring techniques, let me know. @11:21 is not something to be proud of.
We are always looking for help so come see us!
BEAN BATHROOM???
Hmmm..Wonder if that will ever be a thing. I have a feeling it won't unless they make a completely different style of trailer. Basically not a teardrop. I know bathrooms are a big thing though for many people. The most similar build with a bathroom is a T@B. But unfortunately they aren't quite built to handle the offroad like a Bean. But if you are going what I call "soft roading" it should be able to handle anything you throw at it. Worth giving a look, especially their Boondock package.
the price is so absurd it blows me away people are dumb enough to spend that much. Ridiculous how people spend money so stupidly yet complain life is too expensive. You can get so much more for less
Dibs
I’m pretty sure that’s how it works on here. Mark I think you owe this person the trailer. He/she called dibs. Love it!
@@PlayingwithSticks lol! Nice video. Ill buy a bean when my new towing vehicle gets built...someday.
Out of curiosity what are you leaning towards for a tow vehicle?
@@PlayingwithSticks 2.7L V6 2022 Bronco; probably coming in 2024
For the same price of a new Corvette 750hp car, you can own a Bean!
Over price trailer you guys are killing the whole purpose, I wouldn't spend that kind of money regarding how many added features to the trailer, I be better off buying an RV.. I could imagine in another few years Tear Drop costing over $50,000
I would say that the purpose of an off-road, single-composite fiberglass teardrop and the purpose of a traditional RV that stays at RV parks are verrry different.
Nice walk through. Thank you for showing us this new Bean. It has lots of good features that I like including the larger refrigerator, the 420 amp hours of LFP batteries, the articulating hitch, and the rock sliders. However, I do have some concerns about this trailer:
- In earlier videos you pointed out the benefits of storing your trailer in a regular garage. It doesn't look like you can store this one in a regular garage.
-The 420 amp hours of LFP batteries is GREAT, but It does not appear that it has sufficient EV panels to keep them charged. It looks like it is only a 100 watt panel. This would limit the ability to use it as a backup for the house. Once you drain the batteries 100 watt PV won't recharged them in a day.
-Most important to me though is that you are still relaying on fossil fuels for cooking and space heating, we need to stop burning stuff. An induction cook top and either a resistance heater or a heat pump for space heating would be more sustainable choices. Adding 400 watts of solar panels to support the 420 amp hours of batteries would allow you to replace the fossil fuels and extend the time you could use the batteries as house backup. Of course you would need a battery electric vehicle to pull the trailer but those are becoming more available.
I'm sorry to be so critical but these are my concerns.
The Greener Bean! I’ll be interested to see how Bean Trailer replies to this one. I think you are aware of this, but just in case this Black Bean is not their typical trailer. It’s a limited edition model. I’m not sure who they market this trailer for. But my assumption is it’s more for the work hard play hard crowd. This would be people using it in jeep clubs, for rock crawling, for hard-core weekend getaways. I may be wrong but my assumption is that sustainability and long term off grid living is not their top concern in terms of trailer needs. I think if that was the case they would be more interested in the simple trailers from Bean like the Bean Stock or Classic Bean. Thanks for sharing all your thoughts on this. I think manufactures appreciate seeing all the different perspectives.