We Are Turning 13!

On October 11th, 2024, Vistabule Teardrop Trailers officially becomes a teenager. October 11th marks the day thirteen years ago that Bert first registered Minnesota Teardrop Trailers, LLC with the Secretary of State in Minnesota. We’ve been making quality trailers for thirteen years, trailers that strive for both function and beauty. We are fast approaching Trailer # 900 too, another significant milestone for us. That so many of you have put your trust in us over the years is incredibly humbling. We hope that it is a testament to the quality of our product, service and care to you as customers. The fact that our network of Vistabule Ambassadors continues to grow is a good sign that we have a loyal and enthusiastic customer base, something we don’t want to take for granted, as it is tantamount to our success. We are proud of what we have accomplished in this time and thought it would be fitting to take a look back at our story and the “long strange trip it’s been,” to borrow a phrase from the Grateful Dead.

A Vistabule Story

 Following in the tradition of other like minded entrepreneurs (like Gates, Wozniak, and Jobs, who went on to do something or other) Bert Taylor started Vistabule out of his garage, building the first concept trailer there, and eventually Vistabule # 1.  At this time, Vistabule existed only as a website, and we sold our first trailers through Craigslist. 

Our very first sale began with an email on July 5th, 2012, fittingly one day after celebrating the birth of a nation.

 Then prospective buyer of VB #1, Steffi Weiss, wrote, “Hi. Great camper! Can you tell me the dimensions and weight? Thanks!” 

 Bert responds, “Hi Steffi, Thanks for your interest in the Vistabule.  The trailer’s outside dimensions are 5′ x 10′, the weight empty is 1240 pounds.  If you’d like more info, go to our Vistabule website at www.vistabule.com and go to the specs page.  Let me know if you need anything further!”

Eventually Steffi would put her faith in Bert and his vision, and she placed an order for the first official Vistabule.

They would talk back and forth during the trailer’s construction, even meeting up for coffee. Looking back, these conversations feel like they are out of a time capsule, as many of these once novel digital platforms and lingo have become ubiquitous with daily life and the trailer industry.

 Steffi writes, “I wanted to let you know that a number of people I follow on Instagram, a photo-based social media platform, and on Twitter, have been talking about the Vistabule…Along these same lines, I’ve found that there is a whole subculture of people who like to camp in style. Many like vintage and teardrop campers, and luxury accommodations while tenting. They call their version of camping “glamping.” So, in social media – particularly Twitter – I’ve started to tag folks talking about vintage campers and teardrops with the hashtag “glamping.” 

 Bert responds, “Hi, Steff. GLAMPING?! I love it!… Would you be available to meet again for coffee? I’d like to discuss with you more about this social networking thing as well as Glamping etc., and progress on your Vistabule.” 

While Steffi’s story is unique in how it plays into Vistabule’s origin story, we hope that all of you that own one of our trailers have found ways to use and enjoy them just like she has.

How We’ve Grown

While we don’t take every customer out for one-on-one coffee with the boss anymore, we like to think that we have maintained that same friendly and personable level of customer service that sets us apart in the teardrop community  While it might come across as being a little cliche, we continue to strive for a family-vibe around here.

At a quick glance the Vistabule has stayed true to its original self over a decade and change, with its signature front facing window, the ingenious use of limited space with the sofa bed, and elegant high-end wood finishes. But we have been hard at work improving upon its design, and longevity (we are pretty proud that VB #1 is still out on the road being enjoyed.)

 Because we are nothing without our customers, we have leaned heavily on your feedback and suggestions over the years. Let’s take a quick look at some of the improvements we have made. These changes represent the current iteration of the Vistabule (and where applicable the DayTripper as well) you can expect to see on all trailers coming off our production line.

Material Improvements:

• The most significant change and improvement is the introduction of our new wood materials. Based out of Finland, our new supplier is a high end custom wood parts manufacture utilizing sustainably grown Finnish birch, applying their own proprietary adhesion process to fully finished plywood boards, the result being a wood core that is far more resilient to water damage, and de-lamination—while maintaining strength, flexibility, and that real unique-to-every-trailer wood grain that we love. This material comes with optional textured surfaces that we have integrated into the floor of the trailer cabin and cabinetry, which does a much better job concealing or preventing scuffs and scratches.

Technological Upgrades:

•  We have pushed our suppliers to improve upon their products as well, so that we can deliver the best possible trailer to you right off the production line. Thanks to ongoing conversations with one of our suppliers, they’ve upgraded their solar panels to ensure they’re more durable and long-lasting, solving a common issue of peeling protective film—so now your trailer can go further and longer with less maintenance.
•  We now offer DC to DC charging, to stay in line with advancements and changes in the automotive industry.
•  We offer a much larger propane tank, from 11 to 20 lbs, significantly extending your camping season.
•  Every trailer comes with a battery monitoring system that can be linked with Bluetooth, taking the guesswork out of your power management.
•  We include a circuit breaker to protect your trailer from power surges.
•  We continue to strive for a balance of utility and energy efficiency in all of our components.
•  And the latest and greatest upgrade is to our axle and electric brake system, a substantially beefier axle that supports 3,500lbs (a 1,300lb increase, taking away most practical concerns for what you load into your trailer), and an electric brake option with self-calibrating drums.

Design Enhancements:

•  We have expanded interior storage options, reconfiguring our front storage bin to offer more space, when space is at a premium.
•  We now officially include a split-bed option, a request we saw so often that it just made sense to offer it to everyone.
•  And of course, perhaps most obviously, we introduced an entirely new trailer model to the Vistabule Family, the DayTripper. We have spoken at length about our new minimalistic little buddy, but rest assured that its creation was a response to the feedback we have received from so many of you over the years, from current owners to prospective buyers. We may not pump out new models every other month like some of our competitors, but when we do introduce something new, our end goal is the creation of something unique, thoughtful, and wholly Vistabule, that will take you and yours out into a wild and wonderful world in style and comfort.

The Road Ahead

 Over the years, the many faces at Vistabule HQ that make up the dedicated team of people that build these trailers that you love have gone through changes as well, but the core values that drive our work remains a constant. We don’t expect that to change, and you have an open invitation to let us know if we stray from the path! As we look towards the future, we are excited to keep building trailers that have cultivated such a loyal and passionate following, and we hope you continue the journey alongside us. For those of you that already belong to this quirky little group of ours, we thank you. And for the rest of you, what are you waiting for? Join in on all the fun and give us a call!

 Happy 13th Birthday, Vistabule, and Happy Trails to the Vistabule Family!