Designer, builder, and founder of Timberleaf Trailers, Kevin Molick, is a US Army veteran with a background in fine woodworking, furniture making, and home remodels. As the saying goes, necessity is the mother of invention, and in the case of Kevin and his wife, Paula, the couple was looking for a camping trailer but coming up short on appealing options. Everything on the market either lacked style or capability. So Kevin took matters into his own hands and created what is now known as the Classic, a full-featured teardrop trailer that hit the market and immediately got the industry’s attention.
Following media features and stories, demand ramped up almost immediately, and Kevin switched from remodeling homes to building trailers full time. After the Classic came the Pika and the Kestrel, and eventually, all three trailers were offered with three different suspension packages.
“Timberleaf brings an unmatched combination of clean lines, elegant detailing, bold use of color, and nods to mid-century modern design. Together, these elements are what make up the most premier teardrop camping trailers available today built by craftspeople with years of experience and uncompromising attention to detail.”
The Timberleaf Pika Off-Road Trailer
The Pika trailer falls right in the middle of Timberleaf’s range of teardrop trailers. It is compact, fully-featured, and can tackle the pavement or dirt, depending on which suspension package you choose. If rocky, rutted two-track roads and dispersed camping is your cup of tea, start with the off-road suspension package.
Base pricing for the Pika starts at $15,700 and includes Timbren 3,500-pound independent axle-less suspension (with 4 inches of additional ground clearance), electric drum brakes, BFG K02s on 15-inch polished aluminum wheels, HD fenders with corner steps, front corner rock sliders, and a Max-coupler articulating trailer hitch. The Pika’s basic configuration certainly appears to be a capable, well-thought-out trailer; price climbs quickly, though, when you add elements like curtains, solar components, shelving, propane brackets, and jacks.
“Our goals with the design of the Pika are to maintain the highest quality of craftsmanship and construction that we have become known for, while keeping the open and comfortable feeling to the cabin—two windows, two doors, and our signature large curved skylight were all key components to include.”
Frame, Galley, and Cabin
The Frame: The Pika was designed with a 2- by 3-inch 11-gauge tubular steel frame that measures 54 x 96 inches. Its base weight starts at 1,025 pounds and only requires a 1,500-pound towing capacity to be pulled.
The Galley: The Pika’s galley, located in the rear of the trailer underneath a hinged cover with gas struts, has a two-tiered countertop, with ample storage for dry goods, utensils, and a compact stove (stove not included). If you opt for the fridge/cooler layout, 2/3 of the lower tier storage is replaced with a drawer on slides that can accommodate a Dometic CFX-35 refrigerator or similar-sized cooler for keeping perishable food items. Smartly placed USB, 12-volt, and 120-volt GFCI outlets are easily accessible for use in the galley, and dual overhead LED lights provide illumination for food prep once the sun has gone down.
The Cabin: The Pika’s cabin is compact yet comfortable, with a double-sized mattress filling up its 54-inch-wide footprint. Creating the compact yet comfortable space required some creative storage solutions, like the cargo net pockets on both walls and at the foot of the bed. USB and 120-volt GFCI outlets are accessible inside the cabin. To further ensure the comfort and non-claustrophobic feel of this compact trailer, two doors with sliding windows, two windows, and a large skylight let in natural lighting and views of the surrounding environment.
Check out the Pika’s full trailer specs and the rest of Timberleaf’s trailer lineup on their website.
