April 2018 – In our RV travels we love taking small roads from one destination to another because there’s more to see and you never know what you’ll bump into.
As we were towing our trailer in Utah from Strawberry Reservoir to Huntsville, we found ourselves driving through the village of Wanship. As we turned a corner, we noticed several cute tear drop trailers parked by the sidewalk.
What a cool looking teardrop trailer!
Our heads whipped around to get another look as we drove by, and we noticed two big red garage bay doors were open and a teardrop trailer was peeking out of one of them.
There was a teardrop trailer in one of the garage bays.
Did they build teardrop trailers here? We quickly found a place to pull over and walked back to see what this was all about. We noticed a petite trailer frame glinting in the sun and the company name “Escapod” on the building.
Out front there was a trailer frame waiting for a teardrop body.
Escapod trailers are ruggedly built with strong frames made from 2×2 inch steel tubing.
We’d never heard of Escapod trailers before, but we LOVE teardrop trailers. So, we went over to one of the models to have a closer look.
Sturdy, tough and ready for back country camping.
Then we heard a voice behind us and a tall, lanky fellow came over and introduced himself. He was Chris Eckel, and he had recently moved to Utah from New York to become a partner in Escapod Trailers alongside the founder Chris Hudak.
“Would you like me to open it up for you?” He asked.
Yes indeedy!!!
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The back end lifts up to reveal a galley with drawers, shelves, a high end cooler and a cooktop.
We were very impressed with the quality of the woodworking and the craftsmanship of the trailer all around.
The woodwork is top notch.
Like most teardrop trailers, the galley is in the back. There is a stove set into a stainless steel countertop, and sliding doors in the back open up to shelving. Three finely crafted drawers are set next to a high end cooler.
The stove is recessed into the countertop.
Chris explained that the origin of Escapod was the desire for a well built and rugged trailer that could handle anything the backcountry might throw at it but could be purchased at a reasonable price.
Too often teardrop trailers are either relatively plush and unsuited to off-road travel or they are sufficiently sturdy yet astronomically priced.
Escapod is filling the void of top quality off-road durability for those who are budget conscious.
The front of the Escapod is aluminum, ready for tough back country travel.
A Group 27 12 volt battery powers the rig.
There are lots of options that can be added to an Escapod trailer. The unit we were looking at has an awning, but you can even add a rooftop tent to make the trailer a double-decker and have more sleeping options than the residential sized queen bed inside.
An awning provides shade and the propane tank is easily accessed.
There is a door on either side of the trailer, and we poked our heads in to see more beautifully finished cabinetry inside. There is storage space at the head and foot of the bed, an opening hatch vent with a fan, opening windows in each door and a fixed window at the head of the bed.
Besides having wonderful air flow through the trailer for hot summer days, Escapod trailers are very well insulated for winter travel as well.
Inside: a residential queen bed, storage space with push button latches and a hatch vent with a fan.
The doors on either side both have opening windows and the front cap has a fixed window.
What a neat little package!
The foundation of any trailer is the frame, and with large fifth wheel trailers almost all the frames are made by Lippert Components. However, with small trailers like the Escapod and other independently manufactured teardrop trailers, the frames are often made by the trailer builder.
The Escapod frames are purpose-built for off-road travel in the outback.
The frame is built right here at the Escapod manufacturing facility.
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The Escapod foundation includes high end gear like torsion axles, heavy duty Firestone Transforce AT tires and Mickey Thompson wheels.
Torsion axles ready for the Firestone Tranforce AT tires mounted on Mickey Thompson wheels.
While Chris Eckel told us all about the Escapod teardrops, we saw Escapod’s founder, Chris Hudak, hard at work welding a new frame.
Escapod founder, Chris Hudak, welds a frame.
A nearly finished Escapod teardrop was in the next bay. Escapod builds two trailers a month, and each one is built to order for a particular customer. When we visited in April they had trailers on order through July, so the wait for a new trailer was about 3 months.
Although all Escapod trailers have the essential basics in common, Chris works with each buyer to understand exactly how they intend to travel with their trailer, and they discuss which options will make the most sense for their particular needs.
Somewhere out there an excited buyer is eagerly waiting for this Escapod to be finished!
The GVWR for an Escapod trailer is 3,500 lbs, and the basic model with a few options and a full 20 gallon water tank is just 1,500 lbs. So you have a whopping 2,000 lbs of Cargo Carrying Capacity to work with, making it easy to carry a kayak or bicycles or a rooftop tent system on top or load up the cupboards and cooler with anything that might be needed on a camping trip.
These tough little teardrop trailers can take you anywhere you want to go.
Folks who live in relatively gargantuan fifth wheel trailers like our 36 footer may raise an eyebrow at the idea of doing any kind of long term travel in a teardrop trailer. However, it’s feasible. Last year at Sturgis Bike Week we met a man who designed his own teardrop trailer that he could tow with his motorcycle. It had a twin bed inside. He had lived in it for nine years and was truly loving life!
Home for nine years to a very happy motorcycle camper!
The Escapod motto, “Born in Utah. Bred for Adventure. Tow and Behold” invites customers to go boondocking with their trailers out on America’s public land down remote and precarious dirt roads that those of us with big fifth wheels would never dare try.
And you can go for weeks at a time. Chris told us he took his girlfriend on a six week trip all around the back roads of the west in an Escapod last year and they had a blast.
A hot water heater and shower nozzle hookup are possible, but a solar shower bag is also a great way to go. We used one on our sailboat all through our Mexico cruise on days we’d been at anchor so long that our engine heated hot water was no longer hot.
Born in Utah. Bred for Adventure. Tow and Behold!
The Escapod we looked at came in at just under $14,000, a remarkable deal for a quality trailer. For those who are worried about such a big purchase, Escapod has several teardrops available for rent so folks can try before they buy. Even better, they have plans down the road to build rental fleets and partner with outdoor outfitters in America’s most beautiful locations.
We are so tickled we bumped into Escapod as we rounded the bend in Wanship, Utah. What a neat discovery!
Chris Hudak (left, he’s the founder) and Chris Eckel (right) and canine camping companion Milo
It turns out that Trailer Life recently did a fabulous article surveying the many teardrops that are being built today. The article is here: Tiny Trailers: New Era Teardrops. Escapod is the third teardrop in the list under a fabulous photo of an Escapod in Utah’s red rock country.
Unlike the market for larger travel trailers and fifth wheels that has less than a handful of independent builders and is dominated by a few conglomerates, teardrop trailers are the wild west of trailer building. Independent builders are staking claim to portions of this unusual market and building trailers to suit their special niche. How fun!
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More info about Escapod and Teardrop Trailers:
Food for Thought if you’re buying an RV:
- What to look for in a full-time fifth wheel trailer
- Choosing an RV for full-time living – Motorhome or Trailer or Something Else?
- Learn About RVing with a Small, Cheap Trailer
- Choosing a Trailer – A Look at Cargo Carrying Capacity
- The Rigs We’ve Owned
Other RV manufacturers we’ve visited:
- Casita Travel Trailers – Lots of RV in a Tiny Package
- Chanute, KS – Tour of NuWa / Hitchhiker RV Factory
- Elkhart, IN – RV Factories and Amish Country
- Space Craft RV Factory Tour – Custom 5th Wheels Made To Order!
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Enjoyed the article. I suggested to Rhonda that “I finally settled on the right camper for us!” She suggested that I would need the tent top option because I would not be inside with her! I guess I will keep looking. These really are cool looking trailers with a heart that is built into them by dedicated and passionate enthusiasts. I love the small ventures that sell quality and craftsmanship. Thanks again for sharing your adventure with the rest of us!
Teardrops aren’t for everyone, but one of these beautifully crafted campers will bring years of pleasure to folks who love simplicity, functionality and comfort when they’re way out in remote places in nature. And the tent top — I’d be up there with Rhonda! I love to lie in bed with a bird’s eye view!!!
I applaud your, “Let’s pull over and check it out” philosophy! That’s definitely one of the advantages of being on the road with a flexible schedule. A round of applause for Chris and Chris, also, for recognizing a need and putting forth their best efforts to meet it. My brother is a carpenter who used to build wooden boats and now works on restorations of old structures and ships. I have a feeling he would appreciate the attention to detail that’s obvious in the Escapods. Thanks for sharing this very interesting stop!
We were so intrigued when we saw these trailers as we drove by, Mary, and we had nothing in particular on our agenda so it was perfect timing. Luckily there was a big area where we could pull over and park our rig not far beyond the shop. We love little trailers and fondly remember our many trips in our popup tent trailer. There’s something so cozy and homey in a tiny rig, and these guys are making them right!
Excellent! What a cutie.
A great little trailer!!
Charming post. Dearly LOVE small, compact and tidy….just pack up and GO – American ingenuity at its best !
Fondly remember the pop-up…especially hanging out the hummingbird feeder…..
Fits in the garage. You can keep it packed with the basic essentials needed on every trip. Then, hitch up and go have some fun at a moment’s notice!!