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SUV Off-Road Suv Option

Margaret and Ed

Margaret and Ed

Novice
This weekend we rented a tear drop and had such a fun time. So now we are even more excited about our 550 Ultra coming in September. We have to make a few decisions by the end of May, AC, Solar and SUV. We probably won't get to AC because we like the extra cabinet space and tend to be cooler weather campers. But we are having trouble deciding about the SUV option. Does anyone have the SUV height and regret having it? Alternatively, does anyone driving an Subaru Outback wish they had the SUV option? We currently drive a Toyota Sienna but will probably join the Subaru Outback crowd relatively soon. We like the low profile but wondering about the counter top height and how much that matters.
 
Unless you are 5'4" -ish or less, I would recommend getting the SUV option. That puts the countertops at a more comfortable height, imo. I don't know how the extra 3 inches might affect visibility with towing, etc., but I think most CampInns sold have the SUV option, and there are plenty of people towing with Outback's and similar sized vehicles. We drive a full-size SUV, though, so hopefully someone with an Outback will jump in and let you know their thoughts.
How did you like your teardrop rental experience??
 
We have a 560 Raindrop with the SUV height option which matches up height wise with our tow vehicle which is a Toyota Highlander Hybrid. You want things as flat as possible for towing. Remember you will also have to adjust things when you get to the campground. The higher ground clearance just helps to deal with some of the non paved roads you may encounter. I would definitely recommend getting the SUV option.

Jim
 
I wish we had the SUV option...I got stuck in what I call the "only" trap --- add this, its "only"...add that, its "only"...then we we got to the SUV upgrade I came to my senses and said "No honey" Unfortunately after delivery I discovered that we started looking at the list at the wrong end. The SUV upgrade should have been the first addition...

Forunately for me, my wife does most of the cooking, so its not a big deal personally. That is until I have to cook. Then I have to stoop, or put my feet about 3 feet apart to lower my head enough to be under the hatch.

I think this summer, I'm going to get my hands on some of the plastic stabilizer pads --- see if I can find a few more inches of height somewhere.
 
Our thoughts are as follows:
GET AC!! We are here in Florida and we will not be doing any July/August camping because of the heat and bugs, but...when we were camping last month in February and the 3 hour rainstorm hit we happily climbed into our wonderful "cabin", fired up the 17" laptop, popped in a movie and placed it down by our feet on top of a cutting board for stability and turned on the AC!!! Because in no time, with the fantastic vent having to be closed up because of the hard rain, we had the amazingly quiet Frigidaire AC on low and it kept the temperature in the cabin perfectly comfortable!! We have PLENTY of storage shelf area in the cabin! I am so happy we got the AC.
We did not consider any of the solar options so we can't offer any opinion of that.
We do have the SUV height, Alan reversed the bracket for the ball on the truck hitch after it was installed at Hitch World because we needed it a little higher for our 500 Special Suv. We tow with a 2 wheel drive 2012 Toyota Tacoma 5 speed and it works great. Good luck and make good choices!!
Susan and Alan
 
Go with the SUV option! The FAQ says height to the top of the hitch ball should be 12-16 inches for Street, 15-19 inches for SUV. Just about any SUV type vehicle will put you in the 15-19 inch range, including the Outback. (My 2001 Outback was at 17" with factory hitch and a straight ball mount) Outbacks have gotten bigger over the years, so a newer one would certainly be as high or higher.

I'm 6' even in height. I can clear the hatch on an SUV with my head, but have to duck under the hatch (slightly) on a Street version. More comfortable working at the galley as previously mentioned, as the counter top is closer to what you are used to in your kitchen.
 
I'm 5 foot "nothing" and love the SUV height. The counter would be too low to comfortably cook on.

Meribeth
 
I am 6' "nothing" (as Maribeth says) and wish the galley counters could still be yet another 2-3 inches higher for my comfort. As Jerry and Tina indicate, you can configure hitches to accommodate just about any desired towing height, so I would not let THAT be a reason to get the SUV package.

I also would second Jenn's thoughts about really thinking considering getting A/C. I live in Michigan and although summers are typically tolerable, we had many many days of 90+ degree weather last summer. I was in Florida last week with my Raindrop, and although I only needed the A/C on one of those days - it would have been a rough day without it. The space lost in the cabinet could probably be made up by keeping something in your vehicle. Just my two cents.
 
Where/what type of teardroping do you plan to do?

I have a 550 Ultra SUV. The SUV option enables us to camp in remote areas (Mojave Desert, Trinity Alps, Cascades, Sierra Nevadas, etc.) Our experience with the SUV option so far has been very good and would buy again.

I use one of three tow vehicles depending upon the trip... A Toyota Tacoma for Wilderness Access roads; A GMC Yukon for long driving trips, and my 31' Ford Street Rod. All vehicles ride level on flat ground. I use a drop hitch to resolve any height difference between the teardrop trailer and the tow vehicle. I used a 2" drop and a 2" rise for the hitch ball.

The stabilizers and nose wheel usually do a good job of leveling and lifting the teardrop when parked.

As luck would have it, the small Rubbermaid Action Packer slides nicely under the teardrop when parked. I don't think the Action Packer will fit under the teardrop with out the SUV Option.

I have AC, but we've not found a cactus or Redwood tree that we can plug into yet.

Happy Teardroping.
 
Get the SUV option. Counter height is critical. I'm only 6'1", but I would HATE it if the counter were lower.

Save the money and do NOT buy AC. It's simply not needed in Northern California, or the west, generally. This is not Florida. This is not Michigan. This is not New Hampshire. We camped 20 days in our first year of owning the TD, and there wasnt'a single MINUTE that I wished we had AC, even when we were in Pinnacles, and it was 95degrees all day and was still somewhat warm at night. With the doors open, the screens in use, and the ceiling fan barely on, we were VERY comfortable. As Californians know, even when it's 100 degrees during the dayk, it ALWAYS cools off to under 70 at night. The only reason our homes need AC is because they heat up during the day (when you will NOT be in your TD) and because our homes do not ventilate well enough at night to get rid of the hot air. But the TD cools down very quickly once you open it up.

Now, if ytou plan to take the TD to Florida in the summer (which is crazy for many reasons), then I would consider the AC, no doubt.

Perhaps the AC could have some impact on resale value, if that is a factor for you.

Being in the west, I would buy the supplemental on-board braking, since we have serious hills and mountains. That's a better place for your $, I think, than the AC, for the buyer in a western state, particularly Cali.

Just my opinion, obviously. If I lived in Florida, Michigan, Boston, I might want the AC.

-Al

-Al
 
Wow! I love this forum! We are so new at all of this. We most likely will not get AC- not planning on ever selling it. We are definitely cold weather, away from crowds campers(hiked the Grand Canyon in the snow in th e beginning of February. Definitely will have screen doors and have ordered the electrical brakes. I did not have any experience with hitches until we rented the Teardrop this weekend - I now know about drop hitches bit wasn't sure if we could get something to raise it up - currently have a Toyota Sienna and the hitch will be pretty low when it is installed I imagine. I don't see anyone on the forum with a mini van to ask. Thanks for all the input. We cannot wait to have our very own!!
 
I know MiniMc tows with a mini van, not sure which brand though. Might try sending them a note. Being in the west, I also didn't feel like the AC was for us. Having to depending being plugged in was not appealing. We have the 560, have the door screen, fan and skylight, so I can really open things up, and it works well for us out there. We are not much for the heat (85 is pretty much my max without being overly comfortable), but have done well in the 2.5 years we have had her. If we ventured to much warmer climates, I might have thought more about it, but the chances of that is slim at this point. Just my two cents. Completely agree with Al.

We do have the SUV height, and I am really happy with it. Also have the electric brakes, and glad to have those too.
 
I second the skip the AC and get the SUV option post. SUV setup should be the standard setup. Low should be the option -- for dwarves.

I live in L.A. and got the AC but I haven't used it yet and only expect to if I am traveling in very hot places in the summer. Would not get it if I did it over again.
My always-shivering wife made me get the heater and I have to say I like it. If you do colder weather camping or go to the mountains, you might like it. We go to Yosemite a lot and camp in the upper campgrounds where reservation are not needed. You can get up early in July there and find ice in the cup you left out. the heater warms up the cabin quickly, then you can turn it off and go to bed, or warm it up before you get up. Very luxurious.
 
Agree with Greg, SUV should be standard. I purchased an used Tear, wish it had AC. skip the furnace. I also tow with a 4 cylinder Subaru Outback. Great tow vehicle. (Even after all the bad luck I have had the last two weeks, would purchase the same again).
 
Also, agree about the SUV - it should be standard, and the current standard option should be renamed "Midget Height Option for Vertically Challenged Persons and/or Undersized Tow Vehicles".
We live in the NW but we did get the AC. In three years we have used it two times. When we did use it, it was wonderful, and at that moment if felt like it was worth the money. The other 364 days of the year, I'm not so sure... At least, when the house gets too hot we can go sleep in the tear.

If your only concern is storage, that is a normal concern - but usually unfounded. Most people find that there is plenty of storage in a Camp-Inn - with or without the AC. This should not be your deciding factor. Rather, what kind of camping do you do? Do you plan on touring the US sometime? One trip might make the AC worth it. Unless, you only camp in the wilderness...
 
re the AC...and the heater

although I am in the no-AC/no-heater camp, I submit that I am certain there will be a time when I will regret that decision

and I could also see a way to use the tear even losing the storage space that disappears when you have a heater and/or AC; heck, a TENT has less storage than a tear with a heater and AC in it and you can manage that. People certainly make it work.

It's a roll of the dice to not buy the heater and AC, actually, even for those of us with less extreme camping weather

the AC and heater are probably a smart thing to have, if the money isn't an issue.

but they do disturb the interior feng shui...

:)
-Al
 
Alan here and having livid in the orient I have a few thoughts on the matter.

Having 2 opposing doors will negate any effort to relate to feng shui and any of its benefits; those doors allow the "kami" free access to the interior and will influence the occupants in a decided negative manner. Also, failure to align the structure,ie td, to the proper direction will cause even greater harm to befall the occupants making the need for an extremely accurate compass and exact declination tables even more critical to the external and internal harmony of existence while camping. Taking the values and properties of feng shui into account one can only conclude the only "friendly" td will be the 500 series since they only have 1 door.

As to the ac question I have it on our td and know it may not be often used, however I refuse to limit my opportunities to enjoy camping in a variety of situations.
 
I was joking about the feng shui

These "Al" guys can take these things so seriously....

-Al

:-)

I KNOW the time will come that I turn to Cathy and say, "why didn't we get the [heater]/[AC]?"
 
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