Compact Caravans

Brief History

Teardrop campers were originally designed in the 1930s and became very popular in America after World War 2. During that time, a surplus of materials such as wheels from army jeeps and sheet-metal from bombers were commonly used in their construction. Decades went by with consistent popularity, until the mid 1970s saw a decline, mainly brought on by the emergence of motels, larger caravans and motorhomes.

It was not until the popularity of the internet that helped promote discussion and an exchange of plans that gave teardrops a strong resurgence. Today, the popularity has grown out of a need for a light caravan/camper that can be towed by a smaller, more fuel efficient vehicle and people’s desire to enjoy the craftsmanship and style of days gone by.

Teardrop Interior

The interior of a teardrop is big enough to comfortably sleep two people. On the floor, there’s an upholstered mattress with high quality 3 inch foam and upholstered pillows to match. The roof has a vent which ensures a comfortable flow of air inside when stationary. Some of the other interior options include security doors, blinds, clothes storage and magazine cargo racks.

Teardrop Exterior

The typical teardrop caravan/camper has a shiny hard-shelled exterior that’s usually cladded with fiberglass or sheet aluminium. A lot of them have an Art Deco style appearance and come in a variety of designs and colour schemes. Teardrops usually have two lockable doors on either side to offer convenient entering or exiting. The rear hatch provides the kitchenette – which typically carries a pull-out propane or LPG stove and storage shelves for kitchen and camping equipment. Wheels are protected inside moulded fiberglass or rolled steel mud guards and options include: stone guards, stainless steel sinks, annexes, water tanks and iceboxes.

Aliner

The Aliner is one of the most popular A’van models. It is a medium sized A’van with an external body length close to 3.7m. There are six floor plans available with single and double bed configurations. Some of the standard interior and exterior features include: 90 litre 3-way fridge, 63 litre water storage tank, auxiliary battery pack with charger, two 4kg gas bottles, sports wheels, electric brakes, independent suspension and gas-assisted shocks.

Sportliner

With a tare weight of around 670kgs and an external body length of just under 2.7m, the Sportliner was designed for those who want a light weight caravan with a short overall towing length. It has the same features as its larger Aline brother and has 3 floor plan layouts that are cleverly designed to maximise the living space. These layouts would suit either a single person or a couple and there are plenty of optional extras such as an air conditioner, annexe, awning and a large storage boot to name a few.

Cruiseliner/Cruiser

The largest of its class, measuring up to 4.4m is the Cruiseliner. This model features higher road clearance, a chassis upgrade and larger tyres when compared to the original Aliner. It provides more interior living space which is needed for the family traveller. The Cruiseliner comes in 7 layouts with examples such as: a kitchen with single beds, a lounge or sofa that can convert to either double beds or single beds and a dinette that can convert to a double bed. The Cruiser model is basically the same as the Cruiseliner except it is around half a metre shorter and does not include the large storage boot at the front.

Weekender

The smallest of the A’vans is the Weekender with an interior body length of only 1.9m and a tare weight of 350kgs. The Weekender is really in a class of its own because the design is unlike the other A’vans and more like a Teardrop Camper. Being relatively light in weight means it can be pretty much towed by anything with four wheels. You enter or exit the caravan by lifting the rear hatch up and it features a large 190cm x 130cm double bed with a generous under-bed storage compartment.