Interior of Evolve Traverse with a snowy background.
With the holidays just around the corner, many families find themselves looking for extra space to host guests for the night, or even the duration of the holidays. Rather than giving up your bedroom for the in-laws or witnessing your brother crash on the sofa in just his boxers (yikes), using your teardrop trailer or travel trailer for a spare room is an easy and fun way for giving everyone their own space.
If you don’t own a teardrop trailer but love the idea of using one for the holidays, renting is a great option too. With teardrop rental prices often being cheaper than hotel rates, it gives your guests the ability to stay close without worrying about getting a taxi, Uber, rental car, or yourself for transportation.
Evolve Journey Rentals is a division of Evolve Solar Teardrops Ltd. who offer teardrop trailers to rent in Aldergrove, BC. You can visit their website to see what models are available for rent.
Some other great sites to find a variety of travel trailers in your area are:
Before making arrangements to have a travel trailer as a spare room it is best to see if the trailer you plan on using is a good fit.
Is it Spare Room Worthy?
If you already own a travel trailer or teardrop trailer the first question you need to ask is, is it “spare room” worthy? This question is to help determine the condition of the trailer. If it is older and not well looked after, chances are your guests may not be keen to sleeping in it. However, if the trailer is in good condition, and no major repairs are required, chances are you can make it inviting enough for your guests.
Areas to consider are:
- The condition of the mattress = is it old or musky?
- Electrical issues or use = is the battery dead? Can it be recharged?
- Functioning outlets and lighting = do the lights work? Can you charge your phone?
- Storage areas = do the drawers and cabinets function well?
- Bugs / Mice = is there an infestation? Can it be easily resolved?
- Drafts = does the weather stripping need to be replaced?
Many of these areas can be fixed to have them spare room worthy, however, if you find there is more need for improvements financially and timewise… this idea would be better suited for another year. The idea of using your trailer for a spare room is to make sleeping arrangements and the stress of the holidays easier for you. As well as providing them with their own sanctuary they can retreat to for some quiet time. Adding time and cost-consuming repairs is not the solution. However, with some care and planning… next year that spare room will be a hit!
Last but not least, you need to consider your guests. If you have grandparents coming over and you know that sleeping in a teardrop trailer will be uncomfortable for them, offering them this space is not the best choice. Understanding your guest’s needs and capabilities is what can make their stay memorable. The option of turning it into your own space if you are opting to give up your bedroom can be pretty exciting too.
Picture of Evolve Outing Models in Osoyoss, BC.
Location. Location. Location.
Teardrop trailers are small and compact. They can easily fit in your garage, beside your house, in your driveway/carport, and even in underground parking. If your trailer is already being stored on your property, you are ahead of the game. However, if you typically store your teardrop trailer at a storage facility, some arrangements will need to be made in advance to be able to bring it home for the holidays.
If your camper is already being stored in your garage that is a perfect place to start. A garage will have better temperature control and can have indoor access to your home, but will allow less natural light and fresh air into the trailer. By keeping it in the garage your guests can go back and forth without necessarily worrying about coats and shoes.
If you choose to park your trailer outdoors, you can definitely have more fun setting it up for your guests. You can do this by setting up the awning (if you have one), outdoor shelter, or even some chairs and a fire pit for your guests. Who doesn’t love a warm firepit under the stars?
Picture of Evolve Outing with awning and camping chair.
** Holiday Enthusiasts**
One last task you can do for your guests if you are in the Christmas spirit and you truly want to wow them… decorate it! Have some fun with it. Put a little wreath on the door, and maybe add some Christmas lights. Now you officially have the best Christmas lawn ornament in your neighbourhood. Everyone will definitely be remembering your place for years to come.
Evolve Outing decorate for Aldergrove Christmas Parade
Preparing Your Trailer
Once you have decided on a location for the trailer now is the time to prepare it for the makeover. This may involve removing any debris or clutter, cleaning the interior and exterior of the trailer, and making any minor repairs. You should also ensure the lighting and ventilation in your trailer are adequate. You will not need to run water or plumbing lines to your trailer as these amenities will be available from your home. Ensure the battery is full and capable of recharging. If you have solar panels you may find that during the winter, due to low UV index, you may not see a consistent charge. I suggest running an extension cord from your house to the trailer giving your guests ample power and not being concerned with draining the battery and power sources.
Evolve Outing with Dual 100-Watt Solar Panels on the roof.
Picture of 30 Amp Shore Power Outlet on Evolve Outing.
Create Comforts
Depending on the teardrop trailer you have, will depend on how much insulation it contains.
Evolve Solar Teardrop trailers use high-quality DuroFoam insulation to keep our customers cool in the summer and warm in the winter. They use 1-inch of insulation throughout the walls, roof, hatch door and entry doors, whereas the floor contains 2-inch insulation. If your trailer is not insulated or contains little insulation, keeping it warm will be a priority for the comfort of your guests. In the winter, small thermostatic space heaters can be run for a couple of minutes to keep your guests comfortable throughout the night. If the heater does not contain a thermostat, it will continue to run all night long and cook your guests right out of the trailer. We have found that with the Evolve trailers, running it for about 5 minutes keeps it nice and warm.
Evolve trailer in production, showing installed insulation.
If you don’t have the ability to run a small space heater inside another great option is to use an electric heating blanket between the mattress and the comforter. This way it can warm the bed before the guests climb in. Who doesn’t love a toasty warm bed on a cold night?
Consider adding warm/thick blankets, or even faux-fur blankets. This helps add layers of warmth as well as giving the space a more luxurious look.
Interior of Evolve Traverse with pillows and fur blanket.
If you are in the festive spirit, adding some holiday pillows and blankets can bring the holiday cheer right into the room as well.
Evolve Outing with holiday blankets and pillows.
If your trailer is equipped with a child bunk, make sure to add blankets, pillows and a welcoming stuffy and children’s books for them to read before bed.
Evolve Outing with child bunk, giraffe and books.
Now not all comforts of a stay focus on blankets and pillows. Everyone now has phones, tablets and other electronics they bring with them everywhere they go. To make their charging abilities easier, make sure your outlets are functional or if you have none, you can use an extension cord and power bar for them to use.
Cellphone charging from an outlet in an Evolve Traverse.
If you are interested in elevating their experience you could try adding a Keurig coffee machine with some pods, tea bags, sugar, cream, spoons and mugs on the side so they can make themselves a coffee or tea in the morning. Even having a cooler that can store some items for them like bottles of water, juice, milk/cream, or even snacks can help save them trips into the house in the middle of the night or early morning.
Interior of Evolve Traverse with mugs and french press on a tray.
Lastly, adding a welcome mat on either side of the entry doors can provide a place for your guests to store their shoes and keep dirt out of the trailer. Adding thoughtful finishing touches can elevate any trailer.
Holiday Success!
You now have a fully functional spare room in your teardrop trailer! You can use this space as an extra bedroom when family or friends are over any time of the year, or even a home office when you need to take a Zoom call without distractions. With a little creativity and effort, you can turn a simple teardrop trailer into a comfortable and convenient living space.