10 top teardrop caravans for weekend getaways


Teardrop caravans are usually the go-to RV when looking for an affordable, light, simple and compact way to camp within the hard walls of a ready-to-sleep-in caravan. In this article, the second in our Caravans for Beginners series, we explore the unique features of teardrops and 10 brands worthy of your hard-earned cash.
While these vans traditionally have a rounded ‘teardrop’ shape, the category also encompasses ‘squaredrop’, or pod caravans; the same idea, just with a more squared-off body. The main thing is they all have a fixed hard roof and walls, with no material such as canvas. Teardrops usually only sleep two, and most don’t have an internal bathroom or kitchen, unlike many bigger vans. Internally, they are mostly just a bed on wheels.
While we have listed the standard features for the teardrops below, all the manufacturers here offer numerous extra-cost options for power, water and camping convenience and comfort. If you like a particular teardrop but it’s missing some specs, you can probably get them as add-on extras.
Here are our top ten recommendations for teardrops.
This premium teardrop is built for hardcore off-roading and off-grid camping. It has a conventional but large (for a teardrop) squared-off body housing a queen-size bed, accessible via two side doors, and a rear kitchen tucked under an external hatch. The Arco has an internal monocoque structure, with no timber used in the fit-out. It features an extensive off-grid electrical system. The kitchen is fully equipped with a fridge and an induction cooker.
The imported two-model Vagabond teardrop range (Joey and Brumby) are mid-priced, stout caravans that have a slightly more angular style, while maintaining the typical teardrop interior. The bed area is accessed by two doors, with a rear kitchen. Both models feature a queen mattress (which folds to become a day couch) and lockable sealed front boot storage. The rear hatch kitchen has a two-burner cooker, sink and 50L Snowmaster fridge/freezer, and also comes with a four-person crockery set.
The Cool Beans Campers Retro is built in Western Australia with a locally made steel chassis and aluminium and timber body. This is a traditional teardrop style camper with front A-frame toolbox, a queen-size bed accessed by two doors, and a rear kitchen under a lift-up hatch. The kitchen features a slide-out two-burner cooker, sink and a 60L Engle fridge/freezer. The standard power system is a lithium set-up, wired for solar input and also has DC-DC charging provision. The entry model is a road van, while for $3000 extra gets you the off-road model, with heavier chassis construction, off-road suspension and tyres, and better stone protection. The cute Retro is available in a variety of stand-out colours.
This is a larger, more luxurious take on the teardrop, and one of the few that has sitting room and floor space even when the bed is made up. With its squaredrop silhouette, the Kube is a bigger caravan inside than you’d expect for the teardrop class. There’s a front toolbox, large cabin and a slide-out kitchen. The Kube comes with plenty of luxury features such as a king-size bed, 360-degree windows, diesel heater and hot water on demand, plus a full side slide-out kitchen with two-burner cooker or barbecue. There’s also an external ensuite shower and even 4G connectivity with anti-theft software.
Due on the market in September 2025, the JAG Glider is one of the smallest and lightest off-road teardrops in the traditional mould. Built to be towable by the likes of the Suzuki Jimny, the JAG Glider is light and maneuverable (500kg tare and 50kg towball download), while still offering a memory foam double bed inside and fully equipped kitchen at the rear. A highlight is the large roof skylight at the front of the cabin and wide variety of exterior colour options.
The J-Pod is a squaredrop design that comes in three models, including two with the luxury of a small amount of internal floor space in addition to a fixed bed. The base Outback model has unique rear tailgate entry and a slide-out kitchen with a two-burner cooker and sink and 85L internal fridge. The X and XL models have traditional side door entry, with the XL featuring a built-in external kitchen with upright fridge, and an entry galley with a wall of storage cupboards. While you can’t quite stand up in the XL, the floor space and storage are remarkable for a teardrop.
A traditional teardrop design, the Little Guy Deluxe is the entry model in this four-range series of campers, which also includes the Deluxe Plus, Cruiser and Rough Rider. The Deluxe is light, cheap and has dual locking doors and a rear kitchen set-up accessed via a hatch. A cooker and fridge are optional features, as is a water tank and off-grid power (although it is set up with 240V). There are six external colours to choose from.
Available in standard and off-road versions, the NooKee is a different take on the teardrop design; slightly more squared off while maintaining a lightweight construction and low entry price point. With a single door (second door optional) leading to the conventional bed area, the NooKee has a traditional teardrop kitchen on the rear tailgate. This camper is well equipped for off-grid camping for the price, with three 200W solar panels and two 100Ah batteries as standard, as well as a kitchen with double-gas cooker, 50L 24V fridge, 24in TV and queen-size bed.
This is a premium pod-style teardrop available in two models (Intrepid and Ultra). Both are available as a blacktop (Super Lite) or off-road (XT) caravan. While the Super Lite Intrepid is the entry-level van, all models share the same body, housing a large front tunnel boot, sleeping quarters (with a queen-size bed accessed by doors either side) and a rear kitchen with two-burner cooker and fridge under a lift-up hatch.
Stockman Rover 02 Super Lite Intrepid
The Tucana is available as a single model and is a larger teardrop with standard interior sleeping quarters (with a double bed) and rear kitchen with a difference – the bed area can be converted into a dinette with a telescopic table. There’s also free floor space between the bed and door in the 1.88m wide body (total width is 2200mm) to allow you to step out of bed within the cabin. The Tucana has single-door entry, a front lockable toolbox, and an 80L fridge/freezer, cooker and sink in the rear kitchen, enclosed by a lift-up hatch.