Tiny campers like teardrops are so much more prevalent on the road these days. However, while some buyers like the idea of a lightweight, fuel-efficient way to travel, they don’t like the idea of not being able to stand up inside their own camper.
A standy is a tiny trailer that is tall enough to stand up inside.
“Standy” is a term used by small trailer enthusiasts for a camper that is tiny and has minimal amenities, but you can still stand up inside of it. These five standy trailers have the same simple design and layout similar to a teardrop trailer without the galley kitchen. They all weigh under 1,500 lb. and can be towed by smaller vehicles.
Most standy interiors are usually simple with basic amenities.
While the kitchens in these trailers are either non-existent or very basic, they can still be used for preparing coffee or a simple breakfast when the weather is not cooperating.
In addition, none of these tiny campers have bathrooms or showers. They are meant to be light, easily towable, and inexpensive, but still offer comfortable sleeping and living options with a bit more headroom.
1. Rustic Trail Polar Bear
The Polar Bear by Rustic Trail Teardrops in North Carolina comes in at a streamlined 1,365 lb. This standy trailer has six feet of headroom and a width of 5 feet 10 inches. There are two versions of the fiberglass coated teardrop.
The standard model starts at $8,750 and includes birch plywood cabinets and an elevated queen bed with a mattress that converts into a dinette. The base model includes an unfinished exterior and a finished interior with no cabinets, bed, dinette, or mattress.
Each of the models have 14-inch aluminum wheels, stabilizer jacks, and are built on heavy-duty metal frames. The Polar Bear can be painted in a variety of colors. Options like a rear camp kitchen, canopy, and a front rack are available.
2. Tiny Camper Company Stand Up Spam
The Tiny Camper Company is a Florida-based teardrop trailer company that also builds an efficient little 980 lb. standy trailer. The Stand Up Spam is only $5,300 and is built on a 5×8 metal frame. The inside is only 5 foot 9 inches, so it’s best for shorter people.
However, the interior is multifunctional. It contains a drop-down table, a pullout bed, two front cabinets with a wooden countertop, LED lights, and a NOCO electric system.
The interior has hardwood floors and birch plywood walls. The exterior can be painted in a variety of colors and can also have a front cargo rack or bin.
3. Little Guy Trailers MeerKat
The MeerKat Trailer by Little Guy Trailers in San Diego is a standy with a little more headroom in the form of a canvas popup. The 900 lb. MeerKat is small enough for lightweight travel but large enough to fit two people.
The interior features a wraparound seating area and table that converts into a double bed. The kitchen includes wood cabinets, an icebox, and a closet. The stove is a portable one-burner butane stove that fits into a drawer.
There is no holding tank for water. Instead, you can use your own water container that fits underneath the sink.
The MeerKat exterior paint and canvas and the interior fabric can be customized with any color or fabric you want. There is also room underneath the dinette for a portable toilet and other camping supplies.
4. Weiscraft Little Joe
Weighing in at only 1,100 lb. and with over seven feet of headroom, the Little Joe by Colorado-based Weiscraft is an affordable trailer for two people.
Made with smooth, molded fiberglass on a steel frame, the Little Joe contains a long dinette that converts into a bed, a table, plenty of overhead storage, and a kitchen with a sink, cooktop, and ice box. A refrigerator and microwave are optional.
5. The Relic
The Relic has been featured on DIY RV before. This unique fiberglass camper from Washington is more of a vintage-style trailer than a standy, but with its 1,000 lb. weight, it deserves to be on this list for its combination of amenities in a lightweight package. The Relic starts at around $16,000 and goes up depending on added options.
There is an optional kitchen that features an icebox, a stainless stove, and a drop-in sink. The interior also features wood cabinetry in the front and rear, vintage-style interior lighting and jalousie windows, and wood paneling with your choice of finishes.
The Relic has over six feet of interior headroom and the interior floor plans can be customized. From a full bed option with cabinets to twin beds and a U-lounge, the Relic fits everything you need (sans bathroom) into a classic shape. The exterior comes in several colors including Celeste Blue, Buttercup Yellow, and even a limited edition Flamingo Pink.
