By: Hey Jude
This little group all met in the desert over the last couple of years and you will often see them clustered together. Out of curiosity, this roving reporter approached them and asked for an interview for our desert newsletter and they were all very obliging. When I asked them about their love for these little rigs, here is what they all said: “they are economical to buy and use, we can go many more places than the big rigs, and they’re cute”!
Little red caboose…have you seen it in the “Wash”?
Owners, Becky & David, from Andover, Illinois, purchased their little caboose in 2015 and they love it. The guy who builds these is Glenn Wallin Sr. in Dixon, Illinois, and this particular one is his 12th creation (he just finished #13 and it is a Pullman car style). Each one has a different theme, and no two are alike. They are built on Coleman Camper pop-up frames and are 11’ long.
To learn more about this particular RV, go to www.cooltears.com and there is a free online subscription available for Cool Tears & Tiny Campers. Check out their Jan. – Feb. 2015 issue and see the article and photos featuring this little red caboose. (I did not know that burros liked the color red). And no, these folks DID NOT feed them! *See below more information on these darling little critters (the burros I mean).
Since like attracts like, David & Becky have become good friends with other owners of tiny RVs. This little group all met in the desert over the last couple of years and you will often see them clustered together. Out of curiosity, this roving reporter approached them and asked for an interview for our desert newsletter and they were all very obliging.
Here is Verna, whose travel companion is Sunny Day (her sweet little Shih tzu), and she is from Indianapolis, Indiana (thus her nickname, Hoosier). Her beautiful little Tear Drop is actually a T@B sold by Little Guy and manufactured by Pleasant Valley Teardrop Trailers. The T@B is a stand up, larger version of a Teardrop.
She has radiant heat, and to allow it to come out of its compartment, she has scroll sawed an artistic grate, complete with palm trees, butterflies, etc. She is a gifted woodworker and here is just a small sampling of her beautiful creations.
She has added 12V outlets, solar panels, upgraded batteries, unusual shelving (using paracord) for her dish receiver and made a new tabletop. Verna is a very talented lady… what with her woodworking expertise, she can build or modify just about anything.
Then we have Carol & Chuck from Park Rapids, Minnesota with their 1986 Play-Mor II which they named Polly. She is 13’ long and has had a total make-over, inside & out, with the installation of solar, Max fan, etc. They also love their Teardrop, which they built 3 years ago and they use it all summer to go to Teardrop Rallies and use their Polly here in AZ in the winter. They have fostered a family of friends throughout their travels, particularly in AZ, due to their love of tiny trailers. They bought it in Arizona last year and are extremely happy with it.
Last but not least, Wayne & Linda from Park Rapids, Minnesota in their recently completed Teardrop (a DIY) and this is their maiden voyage in it. It’s 9’ long, (not a kit) as Wayne also built the frame. It took him about six months to complete – custom cabinetry (hickory), 100 w solar panel on roof, TV, etc. How does a guy who is 6’2” fit into a 4’ high RV. He says they lay around a lot and basically live outside. Can you imagine? As they say, they are “crampers”. The construction of this RV is flawless and Wayne is extremely proud of it, and so he should be.
On the topic of burros…see below some interesting tidbits
* What is a wild burro? Excerpt from U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT , Arizona
The word “burro” is derived from the Spanish word “borrico,” meaning donkey. Burro refers to a small donkey, often used as a pack animal.
A wild burro is a free-roaming, unclaimed, unbranded burro found on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or U.S. Forest Service (USFS) administered rangelands. The majority of wild burros live in the arid deserts of the Southwest. Wild burros are descendants of pack animals that wandered off or were released by prospectors and miners.
Federal protection, and a lack of natural predators, resulted in thriving populations of wild burros that grow in number each year. The BLM monitors rangelands and wild burro populations to determine the number of animals, including livestock and wildlife, which the land can support. Each year, the BLM gathers excess wild burros from area where vegetation and water could be negatively impacted by over use.
These excess animals are offered for adoption to qualified people through the BLM’s Adopt a Horse or Burro Program. Since 1973, the BLM has used this popular program to place more than 25,000 wild burros into private care.