Teardrop Trailer Essentials – Getting Started with your New Camper

You are buying a new teardrop camper and are wondering what gear you should pick up first? Here is a list of Teardrop Trailer Essentials for your new camper. These are the basic camping items that will help you to tow and operate your new teardrop camper or small camper.

This article will cover these areas of Teardrop Trailer Essentials:

Gear for Towing Your Camper

Gear for Parking Your teardrop Camper

What you need to Power Your Teardrop Trailer

Teardrop Trailer Water System Essentials

Gear for Towing your camper

The first equipment you will need is gear for towing your camper. You will need to know what size trailer hitch ball your teardrop camper requires. The 2021 T@G Teardrop Camper fits a 2″ ball. You will also need to measure the distance between the hitch on your tow vehicle and the tongue height of the trailer, to determine if you need a drop. For example the tongue height on my T@g is 16″, and I need a 2″ drop to tow with my Ford Explorer to keep the trailer level. Check with your camper manufacturer or dealer for more information. Click here to read more about how to hook up a teardrop trailer.

You will also likely need a break controller if you have electric breaks. You can choose to either have one hardwired/installed in your tow vehicle, or you can choose to use a bluetooth break controller. I went with this choice so I did not have to alter my tow vehicle. The Curt Bluetooth Break Controller is controlled via your phone. Once you pair your phone with the controller, it works automatically applying the trailer brakes when you apply the brakes on your tow vehicle.

Gear for Parking Your teardrop Camper –

Whether you are parking at a campsite or your driveway, these tools will help keep your camper safe. Click here for tips on How to back up your Teardrop Trailer

Camco Wheel Chocks – will keep your trailer from rolling away from you on an incline! Even a slight incline can send your light weight trailer moving, wheel chocks are a very important safety item.

Wheel Dock – if you have a wheel on the jack at the front of your trailer, the wheel dock will keep it from moving around when parked.

Leveling Blocks – while you can use the jack on the front of the trailer to level from front to back, these leveling blocks will help if you need to level from side to side. They can also be used under the stabilizers to prevent them from sinking into the dirt or sand. Keep in mind your stabilizers are usually only strong enough to “stabilize” your camper, they are not meant to be used to level your trailer.

Coupler Lock by Master – Receiver Lock and Latch Lock – my favorite thing about this set is that all three locks are keyed alike.

The Trimax TCL65 Wheel Chock Lock will add another level a security to your trailer if you need to leave it in your driveway or at the campground. This fits around the wheel of the camper making it difficult for someone to drive away with your camper.

What you need to Power Your Teardrop Trailer

Your camper will typically come with a power cord to plug in to “shore power” or the power pole at the camp site. You will want to find out from the manufacturer of your teardrop trailer if you need a 50 am or 30 amp adaptor. My T@G teardrop camper uses 30 amp.

30 amp to 15 amp adaptor and extension cord – when you are at a campsite with electrical you will likely have access to the 30 amp receptacle at the power pole. But most of us don’t have this at home. You can use the adaptor so you can plug in your camper at home to use the lights and outlets and charge the battery.

Portable RV Surge Protector Portable EMS-PT30X – A surge protector is very important to protect your electrical system from bad hookups at a campground. The surge protector will protect against power surges and test the power at the pedestal for reverse polarity and open ground from the campground electric hookup, which can severely damage the electrical system in your camper. I had the dealer hardwire an EMS Surge Protector into my T@G, if you don’t have one hardwired, you can purchase a portable unit like this one.

Honda 2200 Watt Generator – if you do not have electrical hookups at your campsite, you may consider a Generator to power your camper. This will allow you to run your air conditioner, electric powered heater and other high powered items that can not run off the camper battery system. If you choose to use a generator, be aware of rules surrounding generators in your campground. They can be loud, so many camp grounds do not allow generators to run after certain hours, and some do not allow them at all.

teardrop Trailer Water System Essentials

If your teardrop has a water tank and sink – here are some essential gear you will need to hook up to the water system at a campsite, or fill the tank if you don’t have hookups.

Water Tank Filler – the water tank filler can be used to fill your tank from any garden hose. Make sure to only use this to fill your tank so you don’t contaminate your tank and water. A jerry can with a funnel also comes in handy if you are not close to a spigot.

Water Pressure Regulator – this will protect your camper water lines by regulating the pressure of the water from the water hookups at the campground. This is necessary because if the pressure is too high, it can damage your camper water lines and cause leaks.

Drinking Water Hose and Water Filter – when you have a water spigot at your campsite, you can hook up your trailer to the spigot using the hose after the regulator, then add the filter to filter the water from the spigot before it gets to your trailer.

Collapsible Wash Basin. A wash basin comes in hand for doing dishes, washing up, or carrying water in an emergency! The collapsible wash basin takes up less space – very important in a small camper.

Outdoor Biodegradable, Concentrated, Camp Soap is safe for the environment and can be used for washing dishes or yourself!

Teardrop Trailer Side Tent

The Pahaque 5×7 side tent is my go-to tent for my T@G Camper. It works for getting dressed and having your coffee in the morning bug-free. The small size makes it easy to set up and attach to your camper. Read more in our article here.

Check out our other posts for more teardrop trailer essentials!

Teardrop Camper Kitchen Essentials

Teardrop Camper Storage Tips and Tricks