Why We Chose a BASE MODEL Fiberglass Teardrop Trailer
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ส.ค. 2021
- What if a Scamp fiberglass trailer and a teardrop trailer had a baby! All the benefits of fiberglass, but the form of a teardrop trailer. That is what we were looking for. Low maintenance, fits in the garage, high clearance, no water intrusion, and the ability to expand (rooftop tent, shower, awning, rock guards, etc.)
Searching for the perfect small camper trailer is hard, maybe even impossible. But, this is as close as we have come in terms of what works best for our family of four. Our goal is NOT to get you to purchase a Bean Trailer. The goal is for you to use this trailer as a base comparison when shopping for other trailers on the market. In terms of cost to components and build quality we believe the entry level Beanstock model from Bean Trailers is actually quite the bargain. Now don't get me wrong, there was some sticker shock when we originally saw the price of this fiberglass camper. But, Once you do your research. You will probably realize, like us, that it is priced accordingly when you set it side by side with other campers on the market.
And then there are the big questions I have for you. How well do you know your camping style? Will you actually benefit from an off road trailer or would you be better off with a base model? And in terms of clearance, do you really need more than 15 inches?
Videos mentioned in this episode of Playing with Sticks:
🟡Valiant Trailer Build Interview: • Valiant Off-Road Teard...
🟡18 Reasons Why You Should Buy a Teardrop Trailer : • Why YOU Should Buy a T...
🟡Our Trailer vs Trailer Playlist: • Why Teardrops are BETT...
🟢To see all the camper gear we currently use and abuse, click here: www.amazon.com/shop/playingwithsticks
Our absolute favorite camping gear:
🟢Clam Venture Instant Pop-Up Tent amzn.to/39iVxmP
🟢Portable Refrigerator amzn.to/2M6oYQo
🟢Expensive Projector, But Best for Camping amzn.to/2NFo4uE
🟢Portable Power Station, Our Favorite by FAR! amzn.to/3cfhghm
🟢Portable Solar Panels amzn.to/36fqVAJ
🟢BioLite Base Lantern amzn.to/2MsTJ1T
🟢Biolite Site XL ( Pairs Great with Base Lantern) amzn.to/36c5vVe
🟢Heated Mattress Pad (The Best Out There) amzn.to/36fSDgM
🟢$18 Heater amzn.to/2M6Iv3c
🟢Stanley Cook Set with Nesting Cups amzn.to/36fT22M
🟢Cook Table (Don't own, but know friends who do) amzn.to/2M6pKNi
By purchasing items through these links there is no additional cost to you. Our family gets a small kickback from amazon for any purchases you make using these affiliate links.
The Gonex Home Gym Is currently not running a promotion. However, here Is a link to a $25 discount www.amazon.com/dp/B08CZHDZ3B?... I find if you are patient this home gym set seems to go on sale quite often.
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The Bean, specifically the Meaner Bean, was on our short list of trailers recently. Ultimately, we ended up placing an order for an Off Grid Trailer Pando 2.0 since it checked more boxes for us and was less of a compromise. The base Bean is a great little trailer for sure and would work well for a good portion of people, but we're one of the "we need an off-road trailer" because we've already ventured areas with the RTT on our vehicle where a base Bean or standard teardrop wouldn't go and we want to make sure the trailer isn't what limits our options. We also decided to spend a little more money on a quality off-road trailer for various reasons. Durability/Longevity (no wood and solidly built), retains value, etc. We've been in the mass-produced trailer world and the kind of money these smaller trailers are demanding seems excessive compared to traditional trailers, but as you said it really comes down to components and build quality. Sure, you could spend half as much money on one of the mass-produced "off-road" trailers but they're going to fall apart after a couple of years of actual off-road use, let alone damage that could/would be caused by condensation, leaks, etc because they still use a lot of wood or similar materials that won't hold up. So value really depends on what you expect out of a trailer.
We have been hearing a lot more about the Off Grid trailer recently. I need to pin this comment. You said it perfectly! One of these days we are going to have to take out a trailer from Off Grid.
BRX if you want an indestructible off grid trailer!!! Plus made in the 🇺🇸
@@PlayingwithSticks I watched a video, just this morning, of a man who owned a Mini Mate that was over 20 years old and still in awesome shape. If you had no children and just a wife, that would be the way to go. Could be pulled by a small car or a motorcycle and under $5000 new.
@@gregzeigler3850 what trailer are you talking about because I’m semi interested in getting a trailer or something similar to move for wildlife technician jobs but don’t want to put a giant hole in my pocket😬
@@PlayingwithSticks what do you think about the new bean stalker vs the bean stock?
Getting out doing something is the real goal. Later, a person learns what makes it easier to have fun. Having any camper is better than having no camper. And a person doesn’t really know what they value until they use it. And those values change. Go camping and exploring. The perfect camper will come later after many s’mores induced deep philosophical scientific camper attribute discussions. It takes many s’mores. Can’t be rushed.
Love this one Mike! You know me. I am always in search for that impossible perfect camper. We have a lot more s'mores to go. We will keep eating them while the manufactures keep getting closer and closer. Haha.
@@PlayingwithSticks Yeah, well….I dont follow my own advice. You acted! I’m still looking for the perfect camper at the perfect price ….
Signed “Camperless”.
@@mikemead2315 I still have faith that the industry will come around. Meeting with camper manufacturers this summer they have a lot of neat announcements coming up. A lot of great new technologies, builds, etc. BUT a majority of them are not going in my direction. A lot more tech, offroad, power, etc. But, I bet someone will come out with the almost perfect trailer soon. Almost being the key word.
@@PlayingwithSticks Yeah. Probably more young people want a teardrop’s attributes vs young families and retired guys. Still, I feel left out. I understand the reasoning behind narrow marketing focus, but still, aren’t lots of the great attributes also valued by multiple groups - just got to make sure those attributes are in the brochure for the non-targeted to see. Seems like leaving sales on the table to me.
@@mikemead2315 From all the marketing gurus I run into on occasion it seems like they really push for a niched market these days. I am more of a cast the net wide guy as you can probably tell from my channel content. I know it probably hurts the channel in terms of views, but I love chasing a wider interest and learning from others who see things much differently than me.
Cool trailer and good points about what you really need. We went big with a SoCal Teardrop XS10 on 33"s with tons of clearance, water storage and off-road goodies. My point is that at least here in California, you can't even get a camping spot for 6 months to 1 year reservation...it's so lame like that out here. But with our off-road teardrop / vehicle we can cross deserts, climb up legit 4x4 trails and get to places no-one else can or would even try without a serious off-road setup. Not cheap, but the adventures are priceless. Thanks for the great videos!
I finally saw the black bean for the 1st time at overland Colorado and I get it now. They are extremely well built. I call them works of art. Some are ugly square wooden boxes on wheels. Bean trailers are now on my list of top tier trailers.
I still love that extra large valiant though. I'd have him make a bunk bed model for me if I bought a valiant. I have 3 kids
do they make a bunk model?
Thanks for all the good advise you give to the small trailer community.
I agree fiberglass is the way to go, we have a 2012 Little Guy with fiberglass sides and an aluminum and the fiberglass looks like new, what we liked most it was built on a 2 x 3 steel tube frame with the Dexter axle. we brought it without a many options and kitted it out our self as we go. We have been all over the lower 48 states and loved every adventure.
We always tell people we sleep inside and live outside.
"Sleep inside and live outside" Love that. We have heard great things about those trailers. There are a handful still running around Alaska.
Your whole proposition in this episode is exactly why we are buying a new all fiberglass Casita 17’ Independence.
Our first travel trailer was a ‘79 Scamp 13’. It survived a brutal “100 year” hail storm without a scratch, and only one broken window pane.
We took it everywhere, and had a ton of fun with it.
Seeking more comfort and room, we made the big mistake of buying a traditional stick-built Keystone Passport 23’.
Worst decision we ever made. We’ll be selling the Keystone this summer, and taking delivery of our new Casita in July.
We’ll be doing some upgrades to the Casita, but right from the factory, with no mods, it is perfectly adequate.
Happy Camping
Congratulations on your purchase! You’ve probably noticed by now we are huge fans of the Scamps and Casitas. They just makes sense in so many ways. We have always leaned towards a Scamp, because of our small tow vehicles, but if our vehicles were a little stronger, we would pick the Casita over the Scamp. Same thing goes with 13 foot versus 17 foot. The 17 foot just makes a lot more sense when you have a table that doesn’t need to be converted into a bed every day.
Good video and I agree with you wholeheartedly about the benefits of fiberglass construction for an RV. I don't have a Bean but rather a 1998 Bigfoot fiberglass truck camper. Its 2 molded shells and no seams to caulk other than around the windows. IMO it's the best way to construct a truck camper compared to as you said with wood, aluminum, glue etc. Northern Lite is another fiberglass truck camper company and along with Bigfoot are constructed in Canada so these things are built and insulated to handle harsh sub zero temperatures. Keep up the great work and looking forward to your videos 👍
Great video! We love our Bean and all our interactions with the Bean Trailer. Couldn't be happier.
Thank you for sharing. It is always nice to have feedback from actual owners.
I am definitely on board with this trailer company. Great information as always! Happy trails!
Likewise. We definitely give it our stamp of approval. One of these days I will put up the Bean factory tour video. I think once folks see what type of quality control goes into these trailers they will have a better appreciation of them. At least that is how it went for us.
Really great, honest and insightful video. You provided a perspective I had not given much thought with a fiberglass trailer.
I really like the Hiker Trailer models and the 270 degree awning they come with. Really fits our style of camping.
But you made very valid points with the wear and tear of fiberglass vs aluminum box/bolt framing.
Hiker is a great little trailer. And with care this type of trailer can last for a long time. To me it really comes down to how much you will be using it and how long you think you will be owning it. And if many of us are honest with ourselves I think we don't use trailers and keep trailers as long as we think we will. You are going to laugh when you see our 270 awning video this year. It is about how much we love them and hate them at the same time. Like you we are big fans. But then we flip flop and absolutely swear we will never use one again. And the cycle starts over. Haha.
The comments about costs with regard to Teardrop and Squaredrop campers is an interesting one. Before I started to build my Squaredrop, I looked at lots of caravans of all sizes to see how they were constructed and frankly, was amazed at how poor the construction was in a lot of them. Whilst well made Teardrops are small, there is a sizeable amount of work in them. I have the analogy that a well made Teardrop is like a piece of high end furniture that will last for many years rather than say, something from Ikea that looks awesome initially but isn't going to be handed down from generation to generation. Thanks for the videos, enjoy the channel.
Agree! Living here in Colorado we have several options of trailers but after doing our research about fiberglass, we chose our teardrop from High Altitude Trailer. Yes, we had done our homework for nearly four years and finally found what works for us. We love it! Yes, we asked ourselves all the questions you discussed here in this video too. We wanted something that would not fall apart in three years, especially here in the Colorado! We camp year round too.
This is what I LOVE to hear. Someone doing their homework and then purposely seeking out a local option! Thank you so much for sharing this.
Really informative, great review Drew. Giving that Valiant video a second look 👀
Glad it was helpful. That's what I love to hear!
Love the fiberglass. We were on the list for an Escape, but changed to a Scout truck camper so the wife feels comfortable in sharing some of the driving details. Very nice camper though 👌.
Great video, great points on clearance, great points on pricing, you get what you pay for. I could see mt wrangler jku pulling this into the back country with the right hitch. Looking to tour the Bean plant in October
I bought the Classic Bean because I love those fenders! I wanted to get outdoors but can't handle sleeping on the ground. I wanted minimal set up, minimal maintenance and maximum comfort. I wanted something that would last and that I could leave packed. Throw some food in there and I'm ready to go at a moment's notice!
The kitchen is just as great to cook in as my kitchen at home. I have the same kitchen as your Beanstock.
Not to mention that the 90 day lead time gets you a custom build.
When I'm out with it I get a ton of admiration and questions... then people hear the price and often think it's crazy. They sometimes mention it doesn't even have a bathroom. Well most campgrounds have bathrooms and most of the time that's where I camp. Also I have a super easy pop up tent with a luggable loo and I don't have to worry about black tanks and the stinky slinky. I know myself and if I had a big camper with a bathroom and indoor kitchen, I'd stay inside. But I want to get outside that's the whole point. With the Bean I cook outside, eat outside, sit outside and explore and hike.
And I don't have to worry about rain and high wind blowing down a tent. I love it.
😀
If Bean has helped in anyway to enhance your camping experience and get you outdoors, you cant imagine how fulfilling that is to us. Bean There!
So do we! We love it. And we love this comment. It originally was our favorite trailer in the lineup. But when asking about the trailer they thought our style of camping would probably be a bit rough on the fender's paint. However, I asked again this summer if potentially we could rhino line or armadillo line the fenders. And they said of course. It wouldn't look quite as good. But you would still get those nice classic lines and protect that fender from chipping. But like you mentioned, with the places you camp you would be much better off with those nice beautiful painted fenders. It is one thing to see a picture of the trailer online. But a completely different experience seeing a Classic Bean in person.
@@DIYOutdoorLife Hey Brian! We meet again Lol!
@@mark-di5pf It really does enhance my experience! I love the base plus galley with the Norcold. It's so perfectly laid out. I'm going to try boondocking in national forest soon!
Thanks for this video; I’ve been scoping out Bean for a while and love their concept.
Wow, so glad we found your content. It’s so informative and you do it so well. Thank you. We are in the process of buying our first fibreglass teardrop. A Vagabond Joey (mid range model) from Cruizy campers here in Australia. South African manufacture and put together in Oz. Very confident we’ve made a great choice. Made much easier by watching your work :-))
Great videos! They have been super helpful as our family starts camping with a teardrop trailer. Would love to hear your take on the rooftop tent in general as a solution to teardrop camping with a family of four and any comments on the iKamper specifically.
Third time watching this video in the past 2 months. I created a spreadsheet comparing the bean vs other trailers, and they keep coming out on top. There are a lot of great teardrops, Bean makes some of the best, and I agree it is difficult to put a value on fiberglass. Great video.
Share the spreadsheet?
Glass and foam are the only way to go. I'd love to see that spreadsheet, too. From the builders, where did you source your composite walls and glass channels?
I’ve been fibreglass here in the U.K. for 20 years with our Polish Neiadow. They are amazing! Very professional vid’ with great info and you will NEVER loose money on this type of caravan. They hold their value! Looking good boy!👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼❤️❤️❤️❤️
I couldn't' find that trailer online. Does it go under another name? Would love to see it. You are absolutely right on the losing money part. I used to see these trailers as expensive. Now I see them more as investments. You are going to have to post some videos of your travels some day. I can't even imagine what caravan camping looks like in the UK. Sounds so fun!
The family time/memories are priceless!!
Great video thank you! What we’re looking for is something very basic to literally replace a tent, but not have to set up in the middle of the night. Thank you.
Love the bean! Great reasons why you choose the bean! I love fiberglass trailers and the bean looks great! Very sleek and modern.
It definitely turned heads this summer on the road. But so did the other brands we towed as well. Teardrops just look good rolling down the road!
Great information and different perspective from other trailer videos. Very helpful mate! Thanks.
Glad it was helpful Kurt!
Road Toad (fiber glass, aluminum tear drop) versus Hiker (aluminum, wood, steel square drop), that was our dilemma. Price, features, and actual use. We felt that the Hiker gave us options to modify as compared to a fiberglass setup. The Bean trailers were a WOW on several levels, we just didn't have the cash to dump into such a high quality teardrop. One income family - two in college, and two home schooling ... bills! Glad you were able to get into a Bean. Would love to have it too!
To be honest between the two of them we would have went with the Hiker as well. And you really do need to factor in the price. I like to tell people they all get us to the same destination. I don't want to even think about the costs we have ahead of us with East and Rye. Haha.
I like tear drops because it's basically set up and ready to roll, small compact and good for tight areas. They are also very comfortable for sleeping. Low maintenance is another one. They do get expensive though it just comes down to what type of camping you do and what you can afford. I like that you can unhitch it and turn it around relatively pretty easy. I give you props for doing it with your whole family. The bean seems cool and well built but testing is the real way to know if it's worth it. I'd like to have one to push it to the limits. Im sure it would hold up a long time.. Good video Cheers to you guys! 👍
I just happened to be the 800th 'thumbs up' viewer, only ONE DAY after this was posted. It's easy to see why...or why there are 117K subscribers. This channel's content speaks to 'value' - in experiences and in products - in unique ways and it's a joy to subscribe.
Thank you so much Jack! This is why we do it. It’s so fun knowing people see value in the content.
Drew - your video is crazy polished. Love it.
We had our eye on a bean for many years and still may end up with one.
We have officially sold out T@G and are now in our TC Teardrop!
Teardrop for life!
Thank you! It has been pretty amazing having autofocus for the first time. I can't even believe I used manual focus for all those years. Congratulations on the new teardrop. I keep telling May we need to catch up on your videos. We are so behind. It has just been such a crazy 6 months!
@@PlayingwithSticks how to walk everyone through the video, switch angles when it makes sense, laced with great b roll, informative and great storyline. I (Matt) don’t even think I blinked.
Stay in touch and stay safe out there.
Thanks man, we love your stuff-super helpful and informative. We looked at teardrops after viewing your videos recently but decided a Casita was the best for our family right now. You are spot on about fiberglass. Went to see a non-fiberglass trailer and it just didn't sit well how poorly things are made for the price. Plus, who buys a trailer with the hope they will only last in great condition for a few seasons? Talking with Scamp and Casita owners so many have had their trailers for years and they look and operate so well. Hoping to make it your way this upcoming summer. Cheers!
Casita! Nice! Lots of the old fiberglass campers (Casita, Scamp, etc.) sell for more than their original price!
You made a great choice! You have probably noticed we are big Casita fans as well. We definitely consider ourselves part of the fiberglass cult following. Haha. You definitely need to make your way to Alaska. Just Canada alone is worth the trip!
Yes they do. And especially the last 2 years!
No other vlogger makes me want a Bean trailer as you, May & the kids do. Another good video! Thank you.
Blessings all around
Thank you so much! We really appreciate this sweet comment.
@@PlayingwithSticks I only speak truth. That’s the way Holy Spirit likes it. I am getting pretty fond of your channel. And most importantly your family. Very precious
Its because of you and your reaserch and trustworthiness that I now have a iceco fridge and a bluetti. Thank you for these informative videos.
That is awesome to hear. Looking forward to updating the community on our newer ICECO. You will love this. It is the JP30. We ran the entire Beanstock and the fridge off of 1 lithium battery powered by a 70 watt solar panel. Talk about low energy usage. The only issue we ran across was that our vegetables would freeze when they touched the side. Will be trying a bit higher temp next season.
@@PlayingwithSticks I look forward to that video and all your videos. I have the JP 50. I have a clipper 9.0. Im now looking forward to price drop of the zero breeze. Its hot in summer for camping in Ontario so this might help. However I love spring and fall camping.
looking forward to the tour. thanks for sharing, thumbs up
Thank you! I even talked May into giving us a cabin tour. Its always nice to have her do a bit of the talking.
Thanks drew. I really like your shows. We camp in a Chrysler town and country. We’ve travelled all the way to Alaska and also from Washington state to Florida and back. My wife (51 years of marriage) says she doesn’t want to pull a trailer. We do a lot of camping in the Pacific Northwest. We want to take the Alaska marine highway again in the middle of may. We hope Canada stays open.
Love what you are doing. Find what you like and stick with it. Thats my motto. Well, for others. Haha. I am always wanting to try new things. I had the perfect rear bed and storage situation in my Jeep when I met May in my early 20s. She was not a fan. Haha. From there I was always on the hunt for the next best thing to get us outdoors. I have my fingers crossed for your Alaska adventure. The last time we were forced through Canada with just a few days of travel time. It was rough.
Great video, thank you for your insight. This was really helpful.
Just stumbled on your channel. I really appreciate all the great work you put into your vids. Thanks for the awesome work.
Congrats on the new trailer Drew!!
You are definitely making me second guess building a trailer from scratch haha
It would be so rewarding though. We have found with traditional construction I think you can keep them intact for decades. But, they require a bit more tlc. I think the main one is just keeping it covered and preferably inside. And the one I don't like to think about with my traditional teardrop is knowing that overtime the harder I push it the quicker I will probably have to tighten things up down the road. But with all that said. We push our little teardrop hard and have had no structural issues. Over the years the vibration has impacted trim work and all the ground trim on the trailer. But that is all aesthetic and easily fixed.
@@PlayingwithSticks You make some great points! Unfortunately I won't be able to store mine inside so long term weathering is definitely a concern. The fiberglass construction of the bean trailers seems like the best option if I want a worry free trailer.
@@brycemariano5955 Yes, if worry free is what you need. We definitely would lean towards fiberglass or something like a cargo trailer with zero would components.
Love it! My wife and I are arguing back and forth beta Safaricondo Alto and a Tab 400.
Love your videos. Had the same discussion and did the same research. Wanted a smaller trailer I could take to remove places. I have a large 5th wheel, but I want to get in the back country more.
I ended up going with the E - Pro 12SRK. After 7 months of waiting, I'll pick it up next week. Offroad package, solar, 2 propane tanks, 2 batteries, manual awning, TPMS, AC, furnace, hot water heater, electric jack for less than 15,000 out the door.
With the price jumps this year, they are 2k to 3k more this year.
You are going to have a blast in that. A lot of people end up going with the trailer you selected. And why I think that is is because there really isn't any trailers out there that offer all those features for that price. And the other is that they have created their trailers as a good bridge between the small camper industry and the larger 5th wheel industry you are more familiar with. Meaning you get that small camper we all want to get out to remote places. But you still get some of those nice amenities that typically only come on larger campers.
For me...the need for an indoor porta potty is essential. Yes, I know there are ways to get around that but there is just something about having access to a potty indoors IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT that is so very vital for some (ME!). Nice video and cute little camper there.☺️
Valuable insights, thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
I love the quality of the bean. The more I learn about teardrop trailers, I think the bean is reasonably priced for its quality:)
You are starting to sound like Drew!
@@joemomma3770 Right!
Thanks for another great discussion and overview Drew, we'll have to start calling you Mr. Bean from now on!
Love it! I will take that name. Big Bean fans here. Comedic and trailer. It is the nerd in us!
I really love your channel. I can't invest in the trailer where I'm at currently in life, but I have found your insights really informative, particularly where other camping related products I can invest in are concerned. Anyway, thanks for the info on this trailer. A bit out of my budget, but if I happen to fall into some funds, I'm glad to know about it.
Glad you are enjoying the channel. There are a lot of great used campers out there. Even if this is out of your price range I hope you can use it as a base for determining the quality of other campers. There are a lot of fiberglass campers out there in the $4,000 to $7,000 range. Well, that was before Covid.
Nailed it Drew ...fiberglass one piece shell, low maintenance ✔ minimal kitchen set up, junk free✔ light weight, ⛽ saver✔ + + + good choice crew
I love my kit built Chesapeake Light Craft ( marine ply, fiberglass and epoxy ) teardrop, I could cook in the galley but use a folding camp kitchen to cook next to the picnic table. Also it’s so light to trailer, just had a great 1200 mile trip from Pittsburgh to Mackinaw City in Northern Michigan. My kit cost with basement ( integrated cargo carrier) was about $8k and about 300 hours of my time. Really appreciate your videos.
Those Chesapeake’s are the best looking teardrop period. Impressive. More campers should be made that way.
I originally thought they were WAY out of my price range, but it looks like wood parts kits start at around $3k now, and their (non mandatory) trailer less than $2k.
Interesting.
They seem to sell a lot of those kits. I hope a larger, more traditional model will be offered. I’ve been dreaming of building one of their boats because they offer them in sizes that fit me.
We have a fiberglass trailer!! So glad you chose this!
We picked up our Bean Classic late May of this year. Every thing you said is exactly why we chose a Bean.
That classic is so cool! That was the initial Bean trailer we were interested in.
Great video such a professional job from start to finish. Thanks for the information
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.
Happy to hear the Bean is working out for you guys! How do you deal with condensation inside? Thanks so much
I have a 1987 Cadet fiberglass trailer. I love that I don't have to worry about water damage.
Good information. I hope more Beans show up on rvshare or outdoorsy so more people can try before they buy one. I see this must be my first youtube cameo, hopefully I show up in a few more videos. Thanks for a great trip in the Bighorns my cousin.
Hey drew! Love the video on bean. My wife and I have been torn between this or the vistabule. Have always appreciated the way you break down pros and cons. Hopefully you can do a comparison video in the future
Same here - bean vs Vestibule. Have you guys decided?
Congratulations with the new trailer, looks amazing and the quality is super! Greetings from the Netherlands 🇳🇱❤️🇺🇸✌️👍💪👌🥇
Thank you! It was short lived. We had the chance to take out our dream trailer for 2 straight months. Loved it. But, we returned it a few days ago. Heading off to Thailand in less than 1 week! Always a kick to get comments from you. Can't believe you are watching all the way from the Netherlands. So cool.
Thanks for the great videos! My wife and I have been thinking about going the teardrop camper route - bouncing around a few options. We really like the Bean except one big worry - lighting. From everything we have read, an aluminum body RV is safe to be in during a thunderstorm, but a fiberglass shell is not. One of our reasons for getting the tear drop is in case of bad weather. We love tent camping and want this to enhance the experience - I love the outdoor cooking area (all the time it takes to setup/tear down/clean/stow my current kitchen stuff is a pain), and we love the inside for a rainy day/bad weather. When we're out for a couple weeks at a time - bad weather can happen. So what does everyone do during a thunderstorm in a fiberglass trailer? Thanks.
Awesome review, thank you.
Love your set up man.
Excellent argument for a teardrop. I like the off road lifestyle too.
saw your setup on tfl channel, glad i found this channel
Great video. Very informative. Thanks.
17 k sounds like a lot of money but im building a DIY full custom all aluminum but vintage styled teardrop just im materials it will cost me over 10k easy i am 10k in and I'm not done that is no labour its a different builds so it's not cheap but it shows what the costs or build if you do a nice job can be. if i had to pay for my labour it would be very expensive. people for get the hours that go into some of these people don't work for $2 per hour so and materials are not cheap. great channel! really enjoy it. it has been helpful for thinking of stuff on my build. im very good with fiberglass but wanted to try aluminum for that high polished look but fiberglass is a great way to go!
Between steel frame, powder coating, wheels, tires, fiberglass shell, composite sheets(floor and walls) axles, doors, electrical, lighting, fans, millwork, galley components and the rest of the direct materials, that equal more than 50% of the purchase price of the trailer. That does not include any labor or overhead. That is why when someone claims that they can 'build a way better trailer cheaper' I invite them to apply for a job at Bean; I want to see them do it. I don't think people realize the expense of quality materials.
@@mark-di5pf Agreed!!!!👏👏👏
$$ Yikes! Yeah. If you want to build one, go for it. I’m still itching to do so. The typical build diary say count on way more time and way more money. I helped build one. The issues was not the main components which took a few weeks to put together, but the uncommon little stuff that had to be ordered taking a week each time stopping production and stuff had to be modified and doors, latches, and windows leaked and refit, wiring …. It goes on forever past when it kind’a looks like a camper. Ha! - Getting the mattress in the tiny door 🤣. That was fun.
End of summer it was useable. Next year it was done. Cost 2x the main components.
2nd one would be WAY faster. Build plans help first time.
I still want to build one, even knowing I will still underestimate.
@@mikemead2315 good point. I did not include the hundreds of little items(adhesives, wiring, latches.....) that add up.
Finding a mini camper for my wilderness, then your video, nice setup
Been eyeing the wilderness, this is a sign for me to get one.
Love all your videos! Question… with the teardrop; in official campgrounds, do you go to the “tent sites” or to the “RV” sites? How about the pop up?
Nice new rig!!!! I've been looking around at small trailers and for some reason I keep coming back to the Bean website. They may very well be my first "teardrop" trailer.
Can we get a full walkthrough video? I would love to see how y'all make use of the storage in the trailer.
You sound just like us! It's funny I wonder if many people have the same journey as us. Meaning you look at Bean, you don't get it the first time. But eventually it starts making sense. I have had to have a lot of conversations with folks here in the comments and trailer manufacturers to really understand what I was looking at. These trailers may be small and simple. But, there are some fine details you can easily overlook.
@@PlayingwithSticks Watching your videos and some other walkthroughs of larger RVs (all the way up to class A) the thing that keeps popping into my head is water intrusion. As a homeowner that is always on my mind. Their biggest win is the lack of seams on the shell. It also helps the long term life of the camper and help prevent it shaking itself apart. I hope y'all are able to keep up the great content overseas in Thailand! I wish all the best on the next journey in y'alls life!!!
I recommend checking out TC teardrops. Their most basic model is $4,000 and is WELL BUILT! We love ours! They have several models and can be customized. Oh, and I should mention, TC stands for Todd and carol who are the couple that build them in Wisconsin.
Super nice camper and room to grow with the roof top tent. Congrats!
Thanks David. We are heading out to Thailand in less than a week. It was bitter sweet. 2 months straight of living in our dream trailer. But now we have to part with it. We returned it a couple of days ago. Great experience, but left us wanting more! But now we know this is exactly what our family wants. Like you said the room to grow with the tent we will be needing that option in the next few summers.
@@PlayingwithSticks Best of luck on your next adventure. I'm sure it will not disappoint.
I kind of went a different route, buying used. Found a Heartland MPG that is in good shape and has enough amenities to keep the wife happy. Teardrop shaped and pretty well built. We're approaching retirement so this is a good fit for us. Hoping to upgrade it to a rear kitchen instead of those useless rear bunks. I can probably do upgrades and solar for half (or less than) the price of a comparable new trailer. We don't extreme off road so suspension is fine.
I love the idea of converting the bunks to a kitchen. That’s half the fun isn’t it? Making it your own!
Wow you got me sold on this 🤣 thanks for the info! Very inspiring! :)
Great to hear. I was really trying to sell people in this video. I have just come to really understand the benefits of composites. Regardless of the company I think it is just a great route to go.
Whenever we went to look at tear drops...the height of the galley counter was absolutely my number one complaint. Thanks for doing this video. Now, to convince my husband that my 1999 Ford Ranger XL off road, 3L V6 could pull this.
I ford ranger V6 would easily handle a bean tear drop. Drew and I towed with a Subaru Outback effortlessly.
@@kevinmoon6973 Thanks!
I spent my life working and we traveled every 2-4 years for 23 years (military) including 16 years in AK eight of which I was a civilian…we had an 18’ camper we used quite a bit (2 years) and even bought and lived in a fifth-wheel for 2 years…then I retired at age 60 and wanted to travel again so I bought a Nucamp TAB 400 and it was too big! Now I car camping my SUV…but I’ve been looking at these and the Nucamp TAG.
Loved it!
I love your new ride for camping 🏕 enjoy it.
It has been a blast. Unfortunately we had to leave it behind. But, enjoying the process of scoping out my new ride/trailer. I have some fun ideas, now to find out how to make it become a reality.
Thanks for the video and information. Quality enhances ones experience and avoids downtime and field repairs. Question: is your Subaru Outback equipped with the turbo four engine which gives it more towing power? Thank you.
The wilderness Outback comes standard with a 2.4l turbo. The main reason manufacturers use a turbo is to get maximum power out of the smallest engine. Towing capacity is generally dictated by weight and braking.
@@byever1 Perhaps, but for the Outback specifically, the 2.4L turbo models (Wilderness, Limited, etc.) are rated at 3500 lb. tow capacity, and the 2.5L standard is rated at 2700 lb.
Mean Bean owner here. You get what you pay for. They are made to last and hold value.
Thank you for sharing! You are absolutely right. I should say that more. Very simple "you get what you pay for." I know that is painful for folks to hear sometimes, but it typically is the truth in the small camper industry.
Thanks 4 video i think im gonna get the bean stock
Love it, really nice run down Drew! Hope you guys are seeing some great places in the lower 48.
I shot you an email with some questions, circle back when you're online!
Oops. We have been missing quite a few emails lately. We are struggling a bit to stay on top of things while on the road. Hopefully we will find a home base soon.
@@PlayingwithSticks haha, all good. Family first, YT fans second...lol
Ya done good! Great breakdown and delivery of your reasoning. You are a really good communicator.
Your decision is the result of research, knowledge and experience. The natural Evolution of values, needs, and wants chooses your “Next Last Camper!”
I did not realize it was fiberglass! Nice!
I recognize and appreciate more quality attributes now. And the resulting price creep! Yup. Getting more comfortable with the prices 😳. Kind’a. Still can’t tear the money out of my hand, but getting closer.
Like you Mike, we didn't realize it was fiberglass either. And then when we did hear it was fiberglass we thought it was two piece fiberglass. If you look at this trailer in real life it has some beautiful lines in the one piece fiberglass. But online those lines appeared to me as end caps. Meaning, holding together two pieces of fiberglass (a potential weak point in the design). But, nope. I was wrong as I often am. This trailer is 1 piece fiberglass. I think when I realized that I quickly became much more interested.
@@PlayingwithSticks Really! One Piece! Even better. Did not even realize.
Most marketing departments are not selling to my type. I had discounted Bean long ago…but that one piece fiberglass is something new 🤔. Interesting.
@@mikemead2315 When I dropped off the Subaru yesterday they interviewed me. That was one thing I mentioned. The marketing is definitely not for me. I'm not a go big or go home, weekend warrior, charging mountains, chugging bears type of guy. As you probably have noticed I am a take it slow, build my outdoor living room, enjoy my family time kind of man. So honestly the marketing is what pushed me away in the beginning, because I didn't think the trailer was built for me. It seemed to be built for someone else. But, I say this to you a lot on hear. I find I am wrong quite often these days.
@@PlayingwithSticks Yeah, I am pretty sure you live your life knowing being wrong on the path to knowledge is still very valuable. Your “wrong” showed us Bean has a one piece fiberglass camper. No one knew that! Never heard it before! You need to be “wrong” more often! Thanks! I’ll take your “wrong” any day! 😃
@@mikemead2315 Aww, thank you! My ego needs that from time to time. I need to balance out all those wrongs with some positives. Haha. And that is really neat to hear this is shedding some light on the build process. I thought I was the only one who missed the messaging on that.
Why are so many campers being built so many ways? Because needs, wants, and budgets are all different, and people's lives go thru seasons of maybe single, married, family, and retired. I have been camping since age 12 and I have camped in at least 9 different campers in my 60 years of camping, starting at the bottom, to a fifth wheel, and now to a 21' with one slide built for comfort and useability. Never have we needed a camper that will last 40 years, nor even 10 years so durability is not that important to us but bang for the buck is. A mid-size camper with refrigerator, AC, stove and sink are far more important than having the strongest box made. But they sell them all, so it appears that there is a market for them all and one needs to choose what works for them at the stage of life they are in. We have added solar and a generator to our outfit, so we are quite prepared for whatever comes.
I love it! My only issue is the rear outdoor kitchen. I spent 3 months in Alaska in 2023. It would be too cold to cook outside when the temperature is below zero. How would I combat the hundreds of mosquitos? I mainly travel in the Fall and Winter 2~3 months at a time. Other than that, I love it! Thanks!
Fantastic content👍
Thanks Mark!
Love your videos.I’m looking at a Bean Stock, largely because of you, and I wonder if you think the $1900 price tag for the first galley upgrade is worth it. Sliding rack outs seem to be what you’re paying for. Must be a way to get those retroactively. Think window upgrade in front is worth it, also?
We are researching getting a fiberglass camper of some kind. We have a 5yo (who is really big for his age) and a baby due any day, so we were thinking along the lines of maybe a 13’ scamp, but we are absolutely fascinated with the teardrop idea too. We currently have an older popup camper that needs a lot of work, and honestly using a pop up is so much more work than what I like to deal with as far as loading, unloading, etc. It would be nice to have something we could just load up some food and clothes and go in.
Big fans of the Scamp. We like the 16' model because you don't' have to convert the bed into a table every morning and then reverse it each night. I have seen a few 13' layouts over the years that have a stationary table, but those are pretty rare. And yes, it is so nice to have a dedicated space for all your items in your trailer. The packing/unpacking in our opinion is the worst part of camping.
@@PlayingwithSticks we like the idea of being able to tow the 13’ with our current vehicle, but I agree, the 16’ would be preferable for the table setup. We are still a year or two out on actually taking the jump, so lots of time to suss out the details and wait for the camper to actually be done if we do in fact go with a Scamp. I heard they’re around two years backordered.
Great videos! Really helpful info. Thanks!!!
Would you mind sharing your video tow vehicle specs? (Or is there a video for that?)
4 or 6 cylinder? Type of transmission?
I don’t want a trailer that’ll hurt my car or make it hard to drive.
That’s what scares me the most... getting a trailer that’s not right for my car....
I don’t always trust the specs of the cars or the trailers 😉
It’s great to hear the common info posted on other camping videos about older vehicles that have pulled trailers for years, but that’s not a fair comparison to the more complex (& often more fragile) newer cars.
(I already visit the on-line car/camper-specific consumer groups. A great source of first-hand experience info.)
Love this video and all the details. We are a family of 4 as well. Two adults, 9 and 3.
How is the room inside as your kiddo’s are small?
Do you see this to small when your kids are in high school?
I have yet to see a video on the tube showing the actual space with people laying in it. 🤦🏻♂️
We are looking for longevity here with this trailer or the Valiant.
Appreciate all you do on your channel brother!
👊🏽 Victor 👊🏽
A lot of Bean customers that have 2-4 kids utilize the roof top tent as a 'second bedroom' as their kids get older. It can start on the trailer and then move to the top of the vehicle for more privacy as their kids age. Some of the roof top tents, like the ikamper, have king size mattress floor space so they are very roomy. Couples with smaller kids will have them sleep on the queen size mattress with them and/or on the optional children's bunk in Bean.
Hey Drew really enjoyed the video! My wife and I finally ordered our Mean Bean last week! Nothing like a little positive reinforcement right! Will you continue the teardrop trailer life in Thailand or will Playing With Sticks be on hiatus? Also I’ve been researching a way to mimic shore power with a Portable Power Station and Solar panels. Would you happen to have any insight because honestly I have no idea what I’m reading when it comes to watts, volts and , amp! First day on the Job “I don’t know what I’m doing. I’m new here. I’m new”. Anyways I always enjoy your video’s and I wish you and your Family the best!
Solar will run some 12 volt DC items like lights, radio, and maybe a 12v DC tv and refrigerator. If you want to mimic shore power, you'll need a generator.
@Playing with Sticks Such a good video. Subscribed! I have a couple of questions:
1. You mentioned that you use the basic model. But can you please indicate which add-ons you have directly from the manufacturer?
2. Which add-ons can be done yourself by finding maybe a cheaper or slightly more expensive and yet higher quality?
3. Are there any add-ons that you didn't add at the time of customizing your bean and later you realize 'I should've done that'
regards!
I am jealous! Nice score Drew!
Not quite a score. Even though it’s the trailer we’ve chosen for our family, we are moving to Thailand in one week. Bean let us take it out this summer when they heard that we didn’t have a trailer. We returned it yesterday. Bitter sweet. Super great experience taking out a dream trailer, but tough walking away. But in my book it really is a score! Such a cool experience to see the lower 48 with my family.
@@PlayingwithSticks never stop doing what you are doing. Good luck and love life one campsite at a time! Best wishes from Minnesota!
@@getlosttoday4045 Thank you so much! Love Minnesota. A large portion of my family is from the Shakopee area.
Got a Mean Bean in April and love it. My son is into off-roading and felt the beefy fenders and added ground clearance might benefit his future use, since it should last for years. Also, my daughter at 6-1, is the short person in the family. The higher galley and entry heights are actually a bonus for my family of giants. Yes, I outfitted it with more than I need, but price was just about $25,000 even. There is a special edition Black Bean that has literally everything and is priced at about 40 grand! As a recent retiree with grown kids just down the street, this set up works great. I go out with the dog on Tuesday, find a great open dispersed site and the working family members join me on Friday.
Love that you are sharing this. Yes, when purchasing a Bean or any fiberglass trailer one goes about the decision a bit differently. When you know how long they potentially will last you really have to think future. 6'1, the short person in the family. WOW! We have them in the 4 foot range in ours. No joke! We are on the opposite end of the spectrum. We always say short people problems. I bet tall people have some problems as well. I'm guessing airplanes aren't the most fun. Haha. I think I heard Mean bean is Bean's #1 seller and Meaner Bean is #2. Completely makes sense. The offroad capabilities appeal to a wide audience. And don't get me wrong. When I said 75% of the time in the video. During the other 25% of the time I look at those offroad setups longingly. Haha!
Love the videos and appreciate your insight. Did you chose not to have a water tank and faucet/sink with this build? What are the pros and cons of a water tank and sink in a teardrop?
If I may answer because we just ordered a teardrop without the sink/faucet. We like the counter space and don't like that taken up by a sink that's too small for it to be useful anyway. Also we are tent campers and really I never missed having a sink. We have a collapsible one and use that on our camp table or we do the dishes in the communal facilities on the campsites. As for a water tank. That also takes up valuable storage space and the campsites we frequent usually have running water nearby. If you go off grid I'd put a water tank in the car to not have that weight in the teardrop.
You do bring up one good point here as well. Base Models.
RV dealers will always try and upsell, they will always suggest, On you need these independent suspension, you need the backup camera, you need... But in truth, you don't NEED any of this, and don't need it right away. Does your SUV "need" the raised exhaust, the raised air intake for the engine so you can Fjord 4' of water? Some people will take their vehicles out to that type of place almost weekly, so yes, they need those modifications. The average person though doesn't.
And this brings things back to the trailer/rv. Think about what you truly need, then, decide if after market items you already have, will do the job for you. Do you need a built in solar panel on the roof, or will your portable panels you already have work, especially with your portable generator. Do you need all sorts of hookups? or are you not going to be using this teardrop at camper parks where you can have a cable hook up?
Going with the most basic model is often the best for most people, knowing that as things change as you grow, you can always add on if needed. You can always make changes, or carry a few extra things. Its always harder to REMOVE things you've paid for, that you never use, then to "add" something. heck even if you want something like Satellite tv, why pay to have it perminatly mounted on your RV, when you can get small, portable ones. This way you are not "bound" to using it with just 1 vehicle, you could have it in your suv for tent camping, your tear drop, or your larger campers.
Same goes for Satellite internet, why permanently buy one to mount on each vehicle, when you can buy a portable unit that sets up and auto-locks to the satellite for you.
Well done!....on the video... and going with the Bean :)
Thank you! I just sent someone to your channel to find what you use to cover your windows. What video was that in?
@@PlayingwithSticks Thanks, very nice...the first video I did, the walkaround at Trona Pinnacles, shows Passenger Pigeon shades and also can view them in one of my recent videos "A Few Mod Ideas for the Expedition 2.0"...thanks again for the video...I always love to watch and learn from you!
@@BirdPhish Thank you for this. I will share it on that comment. And it is honoring to hear you enjoy these videos. Especially coming from someone with such an awesome rig and from someone who frequents amazing camping locations. You are living many people's dream.
Great info and welcome on the quality of production. Really good. What is the price on your Bean Stock minus the roof tent? You added a lot of upgrades, correct? Thanks.
Buncha good points. I'll have to build me one
That sounds fun! I like your way of thinking.
Great video, thanks for sharing. I was really looking forward to this one, I'm still waiting for my Bean Stock won't be done until end of October. I loved Bean stock because that extra $3000 you save over the others allowed me to add a lot of extra's like upgraded galley (same one you got), roof rack with awesome awning they make and heater. I have one question, I see you have an Iceco fridge on yours, is that the JP30? I have an Iceco JP30 so I didn't get their fridge. I think it will fit. Love your videos, keep them coming.
Lucky guy! Yes, it is an ICECO JP30. It was a tight fit. It fits just perfect. I mean JUST (which is nice because no room for it to move around. You will have to remove the handles to make it fit. The ICECO and Bean were a great match. We ran the entire trailer and fridge off of just one lithium battery powered by a 70 watt solar panel for 2 months straight. Talk about low power consumption.
@@PlayingwithSticks Cool, thanks for info. Which solar panel did you get? I have two Jackery Solar Saga 100w panels and didn't know if I could use one of those. I know I would need an adapter since it uses and Anderson connector.
Drew, Great insight as always. I’m in the queue for an escapod right now. Any comment on comparisons between it and the Bean?
That is really a tough one. At first I thought they were very similar trailers. But after using both of them this summer. The are actually quite different in most every way. The thing that makes them similar is they are both designed by folks who understand trailers and camping in them. Plus the use of similar offroad/overland components. Other than that one is more traditional, one is more modern. One uses warm tones, the other uses cool tones, one is basic in terms of design, the other has unique/but useful flare (the cutting board/table). Honestly they are two different trailers designed for two different types of people. Which is funny because a lot of people, like us, will narrow both of them down into their top 3. But once they see the two in person nobody seems to be on the fence. They either like one or the other. Utah sure knows how to make great trailers!
I bought a Tiny Camper Company off road Kong for $12k. It’s composite, has a Timbren axle-less suspension and came with a ton of standard equipment. It’s a tank that can go anywhere my Jeep can go. The owners worked with me to install solar power and a bunch of extras.
Love hearing this. Composite, Timbren, small camper. You are talking my language. Then you throw in $12K... You are screaming my language! I wonder what a comparable build from Runaway would come to? I am guessing more in the $16K range? I haven't priced it lately.
Thank you for your videos! I like the bean but do you have some recommendations for a budget option? We've done some tent camping in the past and enjoyed it. My wife and I are in our mid 40s and are looking for something to do some beach and state parks camping. I'm not sure how much it will get used. Thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge!
I really enjoy your videos. Especially this one. I’m still in the market for my first trailer. Beam is in the top 3. Intech Rover is also near the top. Thanks so much for this video
With that Intech rover you’re going to get a lot of great benefits as well. Big one is the aluminum frame in terms of preventing corrosion. And then you don’t have wood for framing, so if water did make its way into that trailer you’ll have some damage, but not structural damage. At least in theory.
@@PlayingwithSticks I also have a Subaru Outback and hope to upgrade to the new Outback Wilderness Edition. You hit a major point for me with having an everyday car pulling your trailer. The tongue weight and total weight is such an important point to me too. I really like that Bean.
@@mk27texas I'm an Outback fan, but to be honest I don't know if I would upgrade to the Wilderness. It was better, but not THAT much better. We were telling Bean trailers that this summer we would have been able to get to all the places we went in a standard Outback. And we went to a lot of remote places! Now, if your Outback is due for an upgrade than I say YES! That turbo, extra clearance, and nice departure angles make it a bit more worthy of getting out there.
@@PlayingwithSticks I just have a standard 2016 Outback. If I go with an Intech Luna Rover I would be max or maybe slightly over for the towing and tongue weight. The New XT has the turbo, which is nice snd higher tongue and towing weight. So if I have to upgrade anyways lol… but thank you for that info and reply. I really appreciate it! The hard part is trying to afford both a new car and teardrop. 😩
What is your other brand / model in the top 3?
There is also the blackbean I saw. Looks like a more hardcore offroad version. Well both of them hit a really good sweetspot between being classic but durable like a square drop. Arguably more due to having fiberglass construction. Well anyways hipe the trailer brings you guys many great trips. Also did you guys move, some videos it looks like you are in Utah?
Quite the upgrades. I liked that you used that Jeep in the Alaska wilderness.
Not really upgrades, wish they were. Just a dream trailer. We returned both a couple days ago. Driving the jeep again for another few days before we move to Thailand. Crazy to think we went from the house, to a cargo trailer, to living two months in a Teardrop, to now everything we own fitting in bags ready to be thrown on a plane. Quite the whirlwind of changes for the playing with sticks family
Stoked for your next adventure!! Hopefully there’s boondocking opportunities in Thailand !
Thank you. We are very hopeful as well.