With smaller Teardrop trailers which are the focus of this blog, the experience has more in common with camping than with RVing. These Teardrops are sometimes described, not inaccurately, as “a bed on wheels”. So if the bed is essentially the main feature why not have an awesome one, comfy and cozy as your bed at home?!? Here are some suggestions to enhance your Teardrop sleeping experience.

Mattress

Just like your home bed, the mattress will define much of your sleep experience. My teardrop trailer came with a 4” mattress, standard open-cell foam. I assume that height was chosen because it came just about flush with the lower edge of the door. It was surprisingly comfortable, and I rarely ever felt like I was touching the floor, but then I added a 1½” of memory foam on top and it was the difference between good and great.

If you’re going to sleep on foam, it might as well be memory foam. This stuff has a dense, supportive feel which molds to your body, quite distinct from regular open-cell foam which is lighter and has more “bounce” to it. I also got a cotton mattress to cover with a thin padded layer on top to wrap up the whole assembly of foam, which felt much nicer below the sheets and quite similar to a real mattress.

Photo shows memory foam layer, on its own and then wrapped up a mattress cover (appears on a slight angle because mattress not yet tucked in to the floor), and finally with fitted sheet on top.

You do need to be mindful of how far above the lower door edge is pragmatic… in particular keep in mind the door window opening… that’s why I went searching for 1½” of memory foam. It seemed like the minimum thickness to make a difference in feel, while not being too bulky.

As an alternative to adding memory foam, you could get a mattress topper which typically contains and inch or so of down or other luxurious padding. But check the mattress dimensions in your teardrop–many of them are nonstandard, similar to a double or a queen or something in-between. Memory foam can easily be cut to exact size (I found a serrated bread knife was effective for doing this!). But with a mattress topper, if it’s too big it may be a challenge to stuff the excess down the sides.

Bedding

I know there are folks who quite happily snooze in their Teardrop trailers inside sleeping bags. But seeing as the bed, perhaps more than anything else, is what differentiates the teardrop trailer experience from tent camping, I’ve always been a fan of proper bedding.

I use a cozy down duvet and bed linens, including the duvet cover, which are a blend but primarily cotton and a decent thread count. This gives them a luxurious feel, and the high cotton content means they are breathable and comfortable, especially in warmer weather.

Now here’s some advice you’ll thank me for: DON’T use retired home bed linens that were destined for the cottage, the bunkie, or the rag bin. Get some fresh new linens for your teardrop camper bed! They don’t have to be high-end, IKEA is a great soure. All-in-all it’s a pretty minor expense, and you will feel so comfy and snug in your teardrop-shaped sleeping cocoon.

Pillows

So, same advice as for the linens, buy a couple new pillows rather than use the sad, flattened ones that no longer hold a place on your home bed. Again, it’s a small investment of money relative to the trailer and can make such a big difference. Treat yourself!

If you can find pillows which fulfill a dual function for reclined sleeping as well as propping you up to sit in bed then all the better. I really like “down surround” pillows, which have a feather core to provide support surrounded by down for comfort. My second pillow is buckwheat hull; these are heavy pillows which can be shaped to fit almost any need (with a waterproof cover, it has outdoor uses too!).

Storage & Lighting

The dimensions, and general look+feel of the Teardrop “bedroom” remind me a lot of a sleeper compartment on an overnight train, which are outfitted for both comfort and efficiency. (If you’ve never experienced an overnight train “berth” you still can on VIA rail, which uses refurbished 1950-era cars on its trans-Canada train. BTW, book a lower berth not upper and you will have a window to gaze out of.)

Your Teardrop sleeping experience will rely muchly on the mattress, bedding and pillows. But, like in a train berth, it will also be helped by having hooks, small shelves, or other ways to stow your clothes/gear/stuff so you are not sleeping with it on top of you. And some soft lighting is nice too… I really enjoy the LED up-light strip I installed inside the “sleeper” cabin.

Your Bed: Not a Place to Cut Corners

For me, teardropping is what got me out camping again. I had tent camped for many years, both car camping and backcountry, but with age I got tired of the discomfort and inconvenience. Teardrop camping offered the possibility of a comfy, cozy bed and a galley that was handy and always accessible. That’s all I needed, and all I wanted, to get back out into nature again.

Your little Teardrop camper is your home away from home. Nothing feels nicer than cozying up in a comfy bed, especially when you’re out in the middle of nowhere. Or sipping coffee snug in bed on a cool morning.

So, that’s how I do things with my Teardrop Trailer but by no means the full story or the best way. What about you? Add your own methods, ideas and experiences using the comment box below for the benefit of all readers.