Small Camping TrailersI have a thing for small camping trailers. I’m not quite sure what it is that appeals to me so much about them. I mean, there’s no question that a bigger trailer may offer more comfort to you and despite the fact that larger trailers are more “roomy” I still like the smaller ones the best. One of the most obvious things about a larger camping trailer is the immediate cost of purchasing it. I’m not going to get into dollars and cents here on this page but you’ll know immediately when you start to look around that as a rule, the larger the trailer, the more it costs to buy it. A larger trailer will almost certainly require you to buy a truck to pull it with, probably a ¾ ton or better, which is tougher on fuel even without the trailer. Add your big trailer into the equation and your fuel economy will likely be cut in half again so when you think about, there are a lot of associated costs with owning a large trailer. Costs you wouldn’t even think of. Small camping trailers seem to be making a bit of a presence on the camping scene. They help to keep the costs down and are generally cheaper to buy. Not necessarily true in all cases but generally.
Any pop trailer comes to mind when thinking about small camping trailers. All in all I think they’re likely the best bang for the buck for most people. They’ll often sleep up to eight or ten people and they fold down neatly which helps make them easier to store, and a lot easier to tow. They’re lighter and can be towed by most minivans or small trucks. Some can even be towed with a small car. As I stated above, the general rule is that smaller is cheaper so if you have a family with a small car, you can likely get into a used folding hard top camper fairly cheaply. Or of course if you have the money you can buy new. At least when you buy new you know for sure what you’re getting and it will usually come with a decent warranty should any problems actually occur.
If you’ve been around this site then you’ll know that I’m a big fan of A frame campers. They’re not everybody’s cup of tea but when I think of looking at small camping trailers they’re usually one of the first that I want to see. There are a couple of reasons for this. The first reason is the fact that they have a nice low towing profile, the same as the tent trailer variety. This is a big deal to me not only because of the better fuel economy I’ll experience but also because I can see better when driving down the highway, changing lanes, backing up or whatever. They’re also easier to man-handle in the laneway when you’re trying to connect it to your trailer hitch. Another thing I like about the A frame trailer compared to the tent trailers is the fact that they have hard sides. The tent trailer may keep you out of the harsh weather but they have been known to be drafty where the A frames are more solid and less susceptible to letting the wind blow through. They’re probably more of an ideal trailer for a couple, but many will accommodate a family so they’re definitely worth checking out when you shop for a trailer. 
The Teardrop Camping Trailer is the oldest and therefore “king” of the small camping trailers family. They’re making a bit of resurgence these days and there even Teardrop Camping Trailer clubs for those that are enthusiasts. To be honest I was quite into them for a while but because they don’t have a washroom facility they don’t really fit my needs at this time. If I had the money to own a couple of trailers however (some people do) the teardrop camper would be one of them. They offer comfortable sleeping for two adults and are usually equipped with a pop up kitchen at the rear of the trailer that is shielded from the sun and the rain by way of a peg out tarp. You can cook and do dishes in this kitchen area so they function really well as a weekender but you need to stay at a park that offers washroom and shower/bathing facilities if you’re going to be more than a couple of days.
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One of those exceptions to the rule is the Ponderosa camping trailer like the one pictured here. It’s an extremely small camping trailer that will sleep two people but is fully functional and even has a bathroom in it. I was immediately attracted to this trailer because of the size and weight. I liked the idea that it had a bathroom on board and thought I would investigate it. Frankly I was alarmed at the price. The trailer is pretty cool and everything but for the price I could get myself into a much larger trailer that would sleep my whole family comfortably and have a bathroom and everything. Nonetheless these are the perfect trailer for a niche market of people that love small camping trailers and don't mind spending a bit of money to get what they want.
One of the tiniest small camping trailers that I’ve seen recently is called the “outlaw”. It’s a trailer that can be towed behind the smallest of cars and has absolutely no bells or whistles at all. It sleeps two adults and nothing more. There’s no real storage space (there's some but not much)and no bathroom or anything, just shelter from the rain with a enough room to slepp two people. They come equipped with a rack that would be sufficient to carry a canoe or a couple of kayaks. Once again the price of this little guy might startle you but they also are really geared to a niche crowd of campers and adventurers. The picture shows it with a whitwater kayak on it. It could be the perfect trailer for camping at your favourite whitewater play spot (I love the whitwater!).
