In 2024, Vistabule began the soft rollout of its newest trailer model. For those of you that know anything about Bert Taylor, creator and founder of Vistabule Teardrop Trailers, you know that he has an obsessive love for some old band from the UK…The Bug Boys, er, The Beatles. It was from their extensive catalog that he drew inspiration for his latest creation, The DayTripper by Vistabule, sharing its moniker with the song of the same name. It should go without saying that this was a dream fulfilled for Bert, to pay homage to those Lads from Liverpool in some small way, but the intent behind the creation of the DayTripper extends well beyond that.
The flagship model, the Vistabule, will always be the iconic teardrop trailer that put us on the map. Often described as a piece of art on wheels, with its vintage americana stylings, massive windows flooding the cabin with natural light, a versatile interior cabin that thoughtfully utilizes every inch of space, and a wide offering of modern amenities, the Vistabule is Vistabule Teardrop Trailers. But in the ever-competitive luxury teardrop trailer space, we saw a growing trend to do more with less. We needed to create a new model for a new era at Vistabule, we needed something that was more accessible to different generations of campers, folks in greener seasons of life (the wiser amongst you are still more than welcome to consider our new model!) with their own unique approaches to the outdoors. So the DayTripper was born to meet those needs.
Of course, with the introduction of a new model, one at an enticingly lower price point, and with its distinctly minimalistic design, we have created a bit of a quandary for our prospective customers. Where before there was one path forward, the Vistabule—-now there are two, the Vistabule or the DayTripper. Let’s call it the Robert Frost Dilemma. For us, it’s a great problem to have, because it means we can offer our passion of cultivating outdoor experiences to a wider audience. But for you, the potential buyer, you may feel your eyes and hearts being pulled in two different directions. This blog seeks to help you figure out which path to take at your own fork in the road, by putting our two models side by side, breaking down their similarities and differences, and then ultimately letting you decide which is right for you. Let’s look at the numbers!
The Numbers:
Let's get the specifications and numbers out of the way to satisfy the eggheads. (And don’t get us wrong, we love our eggheads. We have quite a few working here in fact.)
First, let’s look at some of the exterior measurements on each trailer.
DayTripper
Body Length: 8 ft.
Total Length: 12 ft.
Body Width: 5 ft.
Width w/ Fenders: 6 ft.10 in.
Height from Ground to Top of Fan Cover: 67 in.
Vistabule
Body length: 10 ft.
Total length: 14ft.
Body Width: 5 ft.
Width w/ Fenders: 6 ft. 10 in.
Height From Ground to Top of Fan Cover: 67 in.
The first thing we notice is that the DayTripper is 2 ft shorter than the Vistabule. By removing the kitchen galley and “guts” from the original design, the overall body length of the trailer could be shortened, without compromising on the size of the interior cabin (it actually made it bigger, but more on that below.) When considering where you might store your trailer, this 2 ft of savings could end up being significant. Where the Vistabule is already designed to fit in most single car garages, some folks still might not be able to fit a trailer inside their garage, and the DayTripper gives you that much more space to play with.
It stands to reason that a shorter trailer is likely lighter too, right? Let’s look at some of the weight specs.
DayTripper
Weight Approx (Base Pkg): 900 lb.
Tongue Weight (Estimated): 140 lb.
Vistabule
Weight Approx ( Base Pkg): 1,420 lb.
Tongue Weight (Estimated): 160 lb.
It is immediately obvious that the DayTripper is significantly lighter than the Vistabule. We can’t tell you how many times potential customers have come to us with tow vehicles that are right on the edge of a recommended towing capacity. 1,500 lbs is the capacity we see most often, and while this absolutely can tow a Vistabule safely, it will have an impact on the wear and tear of your vehicle which turns some people away. Buying a new vehicle or upgrading your hitch is a big expense, and likely isn’t one you want to do at the same time as purchasing a brand new teardrop trailer.
At a starting weight of 900 lbs, if your vehicle has a hitch on it, odds are you can tow a DayTripper without a second thought. This also opens up possibilities for smaller vehicles, a real plus if you are conscientious about your carbon footprint.
Now what about the inside of our respective trailers?
DayTripper
Cabin: 58.5 in. x 92 in.
Interior Cabin Height: 44 in.
Vistabule
Cabin: 58.5 x 78 in.
Interior Cabin Height: 43 in.
Earlier we touched briefly on the DayTripper cabin being roomier than the Vistabule because we removed the kitchen galley and “guts” of the trailer. We have also removed the sofa bed functionality, focusing instead on just having the mattress for simplicity's sake. This doesn’t mean by comparison that the Vistabule isn’t also roomy. Anyone that has sat in a Vistabule stretched out in couch or bed mode can attest to how much space there is.
But with the DayTripper, you get an extra 1ft 2in. of horizontal space. If you are a taller individual, say 6’4” or more, this extra room could mean everything to you. Or, if you fancy bringing a furry friend along, it might be the difference between them sleeping outside in the cold or all warm and cozy inside with you, curled up at your feet.
Power
And what about powering your trailer? While we are still honing in on the specific energy options we will offer for the DayTripper, the intended goal is to give more flexibility in this area than was previously available with the Vistabule. With the rise in popularity of portable power bank brands like Jackery, EcoFlow, and Goal Zero, we want to leave space in the DayTripper to utilize these flexible systems, while still offering the same shore power connectivity and the option of portable solar panels.
Body specifications and power supplies aside, it’s the features that really differentiate the two models.
Features
Let’s look at the most obvious one first. The DayTripper is hatch-entry only. This means that we have removed the two side doors featured on the Vistabule and made the hatch your alcove to the world. Secured inside with two sturdy hook latches, the hatch is easily pushed open with your foot (yes, your foot), or your hands if you have no sense of style, opening the cabin up to the world beyond your “front porch”. With this unique design, you can be outside in a second, ready for adventure, or dive straight into bed after a long day of exploring, closing the hatch securely behind you.
The Vistabule favors that massive front facing window when you’re seated in couch mode, and no complaints here, what a view. The DayTripper then, with the couch function removed, gives you a little more freedom to move around with its simplified interior, offering you more vistas to choose from. You still get that big iconic window right above your head, two side picture windows opening up the periphery, but now also have the enticing option to pop open the hatch, taking in obstructed views and fresh air.
With larger workable dimensions in the cabin interior of the DayTripper, there is more room for the DIY’ers out there to explore and experiment with accessories. While the Vistabule offers a lot of great options up front, the DayTripper differs in that it leaves more space for you to explore your own imagination. A hook here, some storage netting there, a device shelf, a speaker, etc. It leaves you with possibilities. And this raises the key philosophical distinction between the DayTripper and the Vistabule; and yes, if any of you know Bert, you should know that it really is that heady of a distinction.
The Vistabule is the luxury teardrop trailer for those that want to leave all of the headaches of planning and hauling camping gear behind. They want someone to have already done most of the planning and thinking for them, giving them the time and freedom to worry about all the fun stuff. Pull into camp and hit the ground running. You still get to pick out colors and options, tailoring the exact trailer that you want. But because there are more decisions made for you ahead of time through the options we have provided, this may feel restrictive for some. And that’s where the DayTripper truly shines.
Think of the DayTripper more like an “open floor” plan. A DayTripperer (hmm…not quite there yet) is someone who has all of the camping gear they need—the camp stove, the camp chairs, the water canisters, etc. They don’t need a kitchen galley, they don’t need a fresh water system, or a working sofa (all great things, but they all come at a premium, both in terms of cost and space). They want a comfy, safe place to lay their head, and the freedom to decide how they want to do the rest. It’s a tabula rasa, a blank slate.
Bringing It All Home
We didn’t touch on every single option of both trailers, comparing and contrasting the pros and cons of each model. That would be exhaustively boring, and I’m on a deadline here. But the hope is that your mind’s eye is opening up a little, and you can imagine yourself in a DayTripper or a Vistabule. Keep in mind, this isn’t a test, there are no right or wrong answers. But, and please forgive such a corny and hackneyed idiom, we want you to find the trailer that speaks to you.
Please reach out to us today to learn about The DayTripper* or The Vistabule!
*We are still working on the Interactive Build Form for the DayTripper. So please send us an email if you would like to place an order, info@vistabule.com.
