Adventuresome outdoor enthusiasts set on exploring the more remote parts of North America while keeping their ecological footprint as small as possible, will find the Oregon Trail’R DoDrop Alpha (DDA) off-road teardrop a nice step up from tent camping. The DDA’s small footprint, minimalistic design, robust build, and light weight make it an ideal companion to tow behind a wide variety of smaller cars, crossover SUVs, Jeeps, and other 4x4s popular among the overlanding crowd.
The DoDrop is the smallest of five Oregon Trail’R teardrop models, and it’s available in four trim levels—Base, Standard, Deluxe, and Custom just like its larger stablemates. The DDA’s 1,100-pound empty weight, independent suspension, and more than 20 inches of ground clearance make it ideal for boondocking, as my wife and I recently learned during a 3,600-mile camping excursion through the Pacific Northwest and desert Southwest.
Built For The Long Haul
The Deluxe model (MSRP $19,225) we spent two weeks camping in is a well-thought-out overlanding-type teardrop built atop a strong 2-inch x 2-inch tube-steel frame with an extended tongue. The wood body is 48 inches W, 42 inches H, and 84 inches L, with double-sealed and insulated doors that lock securely with deadbolts and utilize screened-and-tinted sliding windows for ventilation.
Its heavy-duty roof rack is compatible with the largest of roof-top tents, and a heavy coating of Platinum Line-X over the entire Baltic Birch body makes the DoDrop Alpha a study in craftsmanship, functionality, and durability.
OT uses the highest quality marine-grade Baltic Birch for the builds, with meticulous attention paid to waterproofing every edge and joint.
“All of our off-road teardrops are built like giant custom cabinets,” says founder and co-owner Jon Christianson, “We use dado and rabbet joinery everywhere possible to create an ultra-strong and stiff body. We only use the best waterproof glues and cover all seams and end-grain [edges] with penetrating epoxy, just like is done in the sailboat industry. To us, one of the most important aspects of overlanding camper production is water-proofing inside and out.”
Life On The Road
The DoDrop Alpha looks diminutive, but it has plenty of interior space for a comfortable bed and quiet space for one or two people.
The DoDrop Alpha doesn’t have a galley, fridge, or built-in water system, so you’ll have to bring along the camp stove, cooler, and whatever else is needed for overlanding, much like tent camping.
The 1,100-pound Oregon Trail’R DoDrop Alph teardrop is a great off-pavement camp trailer for those who love overlanding.
Despite its minimalistic design, this off-road teardrop provides a safe, quiet, comfortable enclosure to stretch out in when rest and relaxation are the day’s priority. Two 48-inch x 42-inch closed-cell foam mattresses turn the interior into a comfy bed with a small storage shelf at the head and a large integrated shelf across the rear of the interior.
Lighting in the model we tested came via a touch-sensitive LED light strip in the small storage shelf at the head of the bed and LED lights in the 12-volt ceiling fan. There’s also a power control panel built into the front wall, making it convenient to control the fan and lights while snug in bed.
We charged our cell phones and other devices at night using an eco-friendly Jackery Explorer 550 12V/110V power bank, which is a highly recommended Oregon Trail’R option for anyone overlanding, and we mounted a folding solar panel open on the roof so the battery pack could fully charge during the day.
The rear storage shelf is a good place to keep a battery power bank like the Jackery 550 we had on our trip. The trailer is wired for 12-volt, and it also has receptacles to plug in a solar panel and small appliances.
Added Features Make Camping Enjoyable
This teardrop’s interior is comfortable and quiet, a testament to Oregon Trail’R designing an off-road teardrop to maximize sleeping/camping needs and fit into a very small footprint.
An example of this is the rear side windows have sturdy covers that can be released and dropped down to serve as external shelves above the fenders. Our trailer was also equipped with rear stabilizer jacks that made it rock-solid when camping for the night. (The jacks also help level the trailer if leveling ramps/blocks aren’t in play.)
The trailer we tested rolled on 30-inch all-terrain tires and steel wheels. This gives the trailer nearly 20 inches of ground clearance, which is more than enough for the average overlanding user to navigate backroads and moderately difficult offroad trails.
Three other features we loved about the DoDrop Alpha are the pressurized, seven-gallon Road Shower mounted on the passenger-side roof, the Iron Man 4×4 America 10-foot awning mounted to the roof rack on the driver’s side, and the sturdy aluminum cargo box mounted on the tongue that we used to carry firewood, shovel, axe and a couple small gas cans.
Author using solar-heated, pressurized Road Shower to wash dishes while camping off-grid.
The Oregon Trail’R DoDrop Alpha Deluxe-trim model is a great overlanding trailer for those who want to stay minimalistic yet comfortable camping off grid.
Custom Built Off-Road Teardrop
The ability to select which of the four trim levels and which added features one wants to customize a DoDrop Alpha is one of the benefits of Oregon Trail’R building each trailer to each specific customer’s needs. Oregon Trail’R also offers this trailer in five body colors to better match buyers’ preferences.
The Oregon Trail’R DoDrop Alpha is an ideal overlanding teardrop for cars, crossover SUVs, and other vehicles that have tow ratings of less than 2,000 pounds.
At the time of this writing, there’s about a 12-month lead time between placing a trailer order and receiving the finished product, according to Christianson. Also of note: you can rent a DoDrop Alpha directly from the company’s facility to try before you buy.
$19,225 | Oregon Trail’R
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