Outdoors

Droplet XL teardrop camper is a bigger rolling observatory

Droplet XL teardrop camper is a bigger rolling observatory
With its large reverse doors and multiple windows and skylights, the new Droplet XL offers serious views, day and night
With its large reverse doors and multiple windows and skylights, the new Droplet XL offers serious views, day and night
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The new XL packs on a foot and a half of extra body length that gets dedicated to added storage
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The new XL packs on a foot and a half of extra body length that gets dedicated to added storage
The new inset kitchen shelf and deeper central slide-out compartment team up for a more well-equipped kitchen
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The new inset kitchen shelf and deeper central slide-out compartment team up for a more well-equipped kitchen
The $16,950 Droplet XL comes with drawers and slide-outs, but the dual-burner Primus stove and Dometic CFX3 fridge are sold as add-ons
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The $16,950 Droplet XL comes with drawers and slide-outs, but the dual-burner Primus stove and Dometic CFX3 fridge are sold as add-ons
New storage cubbies on the sides are good for carrying folding chairs and other gear
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New storage cubbies on the sides are good for carrying folding chairs and other gear
The tailgate galley includes a hand-pumped sink
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The tailgate galley includes a hand-pumped sink
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With its large reverse doors and multiple windows and skylights, the new Droplet XL offers serious views, day and night
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With its large reverse doors and multiple windows and skylights, the new Droplet XL offers serious views, day and night
Despite its extra size, the Droplet XL trailer is still quite lightweight at 1,050 lbs
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Despite its extra size, the Droplet XL trailer is still quite lightweight at 1,050 lbs
The original Droplet 58 lights up to show just how much window space Droplet includes for starlight views
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The original Droplet 58 lights up to show just how much window space Droplet includes for starlight views
Droplet customers can personalize their trailers with nature graphics and support artists at the same time
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Droplet customers can personalize their trailers with nature graphics and support artists at the same time
Droplet XL teardrop camping trailer
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Droplet XL teardrop camping trailer
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Droplet got its start in 2017 building Scandinavian-simple teardrop trailers with a panoramic window array, perfect for viewing the gorgeous sea-to-sky scenery of the company's British Columbia surrounds. After rolling its original trailers out for four years, Droplet has now added an upsized version of its trailer based directly on customer feedback. The new trailer features the same scenery-amplifying layout, simple design and lightweight construction of the original, but it brings along more dry and cold storage space.

With the camper market on an extended hot streak, Droplet reaches out to new potential buyers with a slight tweak of its photogenic trailer. It stretches the trailer out 1.5 feet (457 cm) to give it a 9.5-foot (2.9-m) body length and 15-foot (4.6-m) tail-to-tongue-tip measure. That provides extra storage and space for a larger refrigerator while adding just 100 lb (220 kg) for a 1,050-lb (476-kg) dry weight that still maintains Droplet's light, easy-tow ride.

Droplet XL teardrop camping trailer
Droplet XL teardrop camping trailer

"We are focusing on continuous research and development of our tiny campers," says founder, owner and designer Pascal Pillon. "The design process of Droplet XL was influenced by inputs from our community members. Based on their feedback, we decided to build a longer trailer while maintaining the signature Droplet features – lightweight, large doors, spacious sleeping area and fully functioning kitchen."

Inside, the Droplet XL still shares its proper 60 x 80-in (152 x 203-cm) queen-size mattress and cabinet/shelf unit with the original Droplet, now called the Droplet 58. Since Droplet's interior has always had the large bed and felt even larger than it measures thanks to the generous number of windows and skylights, Droplet doesn't bother expanding the cabin, instead dedicating the extra volume of the longer body to added storage space. Slim external storage compartments on both sides of the trailer offer room for things like folding camping chairs and table.

The new inset kitchen shelf and deeper central slide-out compartment team up for a more well-equipped kitchen
The new inset kitchen shelf and deeper central slide-out compartment team up for a more well-equipped kitchen

Around back under the tailgate, the extra galley depth creates slide-out space for an optional 25-L Dometic CFX3 fridge/freezer, whereas the Droplet 58 is limited to an 18-L fridge. There's also a new inset shelving unit for added storage over the countertop. The kitchen comes stocked with a hand-pumped sink, but instead of an inbuilt stove, Droplet offers an optional Primus Kinjia portable dual-burner.

As far as construction goes, Droplet continues to use an aluminum-composite skin over a wood-fiber frame atop a powder-coated steel chassis. Wool laminate interior paneling covers over the closed cell-foam insulated walls, and Droplet takes care to eliminate screws wherever it can in favor of marine-inspired high-strength structural adhesives.

Droplet customers can personalize their trailers with nature graphics and support artists at the same time
Droplet customers can personalize their trailers with nature graphics and support artists at the same time

The Droplet XL comes standard with 13-in wheels cushioned by an axle-free torsion suspension. The basic XL "Naked" edition with mattress, sunroof, storage box, water canister, hand pump, USB charging ports, bug screens and LED lighting starts at US$16,950. Buyers can add options like a dedicated battery pack, awning, RoadShower, and the aforementioned Dometic fridge and Primus stove. A unique option is to decorate the teardrop with outdoorsy artwork through Droplet's Design Initiative, which passes all initiative profits through to the American and Canadian artists who created the work.

Source: Droplet

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6 comments
6 comments
paul314
Solar panel?
John
It would fit inside my garage 'except' for the inane location of the spare wheel, rotate 90 deg(In Vertical Plane) or as my Bailey Caravan, use optional extra mount bolted to the frame underneath. And yes, an optional extra Flex Solar Panel would indeed be good .
Ideal when the children grow up, and your significant other is no more. (And I've got a Meade scope, with massive Bino's)
Aross
From the picture or lack there of I assume the inside is just a bed. Almost everything you need, stove and fridge are extras. Since the inside does not seem to have any sitting space in the event of inclement weather I doubt there is enough storage room for the tents etc you will need to be comfortable. Putting the add-on fridge in the back is also not a good idea as everything in it will get badly bounced around. Al that to say that I would not trade my 40 year old Bonair BA1000 in a straight swap for a new one of these.
BlueOak
What prevents that large, front facing plastic "window" from becoming a scratched and scoured mess as a result of cleaning off bug spats and road debris?

And if it is glass, what prevents it from breaking from road debris?
PoCo_Chris
I ordered one of these a month ago... fantastic company with thoughtful design. In answer to some of the comments below... @paul314 solar panel is optional and mounts over the window during travel (which protects the window @BlueOak) . @john everything is customizable... reach out to Droplet with your concerns about the spare tire. @Aross the inside is a bed, with some storage. there is also a large support cushion to use the bed are as a siting space protected from the elements. In the XL version, there is also storage accessible from the outside via a removable side panel (viewable in the first picture behind the wheel).
DROPLET Trailer
I was about to respond to the comments here, but it turned out that @PoCo_Chris did most of it :). To add some information:

1) The solar panel is designed specifically for the DROPLET trailer and made by LightLeaf Solar in Saskatoon. It is easily removable, so you can position it correctly without moving the whole trailer.

2) As Chris mentioned, we can modify the placement of the spare tire. There is also an option to attach a different storage box in front.

3) We did not want to cut the mattress to make it foldable because it compromises sleeping comfort. The cushion is placed under the front window to provide the same option for sitting. The DROPLET XL comes with the extra storage space for the exact reason @Aross mentioned - camping and hiking gear.

4) We used to offer the trailer equipped with the fridge, stove and battery in a bundle, but we do not want to force customers to get all of those things from us if they already have their own. Offering them as add-ons seems like the fairest option.

4) The fridge is securely placed in the drawer, so it does not bounce around. The only thing that might move while on the road is the water jug, so we always recommend people twist it under the sink to prevent any movement.

5) All the windows are plastic and 26 % tinted. We clean the rental units with an old t-shirt and the Novus Plastic Clean & Shine product regularly. It has never cost any damage to the window. Additionally, the trailer is so close to the car that rocks flying off the vehicle have no chance of damaging the window.

Feel free to reach out to us at marketing@droplet-trailer.com if you have any questions; we will be happy to give you more information.

Adam, DROPLET