Trailer Terms
Every term on our spec sheets, from suspension to solar, explained in plain words.
The Basics
Teardrop trailer
A compact, streamlined camper named for its profile, rounded at the nose and tapering toward the tail. The cabin holds the bed, and the kitchen, or galley, opens to the outdoors.
Suspension & Hitch
Timbren 2000 HD
An axle-less suspension from Timbren. Each wheel rides on its own rubber springs instead of a shared steel axle, so one can rise over a rock while the other holds the ground. The number is its rated load in pounds for the pair.
Cloud Air suspension
Bean's own air suspension. Custom trailing arms carry each wheel, and height-adjustable airbags take the place of steel springs, so the ride height can be raised or lowered with air.
Monotube Bilstein shocks
Gas-pressure shock absorbers from Bilstein built around a single tube, a design that sheds heat well under hard use on rough roads.
Max Coupler
A fully articulating hitch from CU Off Road. It replaces the hitch ball with a joint that moves on three axes, so the trailer follows the tow vehicle over uneven ground without binding.
Cruisemaster DO35
An off-road coupling from Cruisemaster that joins trailer and vehicle with a pin rather than a ball. It turns a full 360 degrees on one axis and at least 70 degrees on the other, so the trailer follows through steep, twisting terrain.
Trailing arm air suspension
Bean's own independent suspension. Each wheel hangs from an arm hinged to the frame ahead of it, with an airbag where a steel spring would be, so every wheel moves on its own over rocks and ruts.
Weights & Towing
Dry weight
The weight of the trailer empty, before water, gear and supplies are loaded.
Tongue weight
The downward weight the trailer's tongue places on the tow vehicle's hitch, which must stay within that vehicle's tongue weight limit.
Gross vehicle weight (GVWR)
Gross vehicle weight rating, or GVWR: the most the trailer is rated to weigh fully loaded, with water, gear and options aboard. The figure is set by the manufacturer.
Min. tow capacity
The lowest towing capacity we list for a vehicle pulling this model. A vehicle's own rating appears in its owner's manual.
Tires & Finish
Tire size
Tire sizes are written one of two ways. A size such as 205/75 R15 reads in order: 205 millimeters wide, a sidewall 75% as tall as that width, and a 15-inch wheel. A size such as 33/9.5 R15 reads in order: 33 inches tall, 9.5 inches wide, and a 15-inch wheel.
AT tires
All-terrain tires. A deeper, more open tread grips dirt, gravel and rock, while the tire stays composed on the highway.
Raptor coating
A tough urethane coating best known as a truck bed liner. It flexes instead of cracking and resists scratches and sun, so the finish stands up to brush and gravel.
Power & Cabin
Wh (watt hours)
Watt hours, the measure of how much energy a battery holds. A 500 Wh battery can run a 50-watt load for about 10 hours.
Goal Zero Yeti
A portable power station from Goal Zero: battery, inverter and outlets in one case. It recharges from solar or a wall outlet, and it lifts out to power the campsite.
MC4 and XT60 ports
Two plugs for solar power. MC4 is the locking, weatherproof connector widely used on solar panels, and XT60 is a compact, high-current DC plug that fits only one way, so the polarity cannot be crossed.
Shore power
Power from an outside source, such as a campground pedestal or a household outlet, brought into the trailer by cord.
AGM and lithium
Two kinds of trailer battery. AGM, short for absorbent glass mat, is sealed lead-acid and should be drawn down only halfway. Lithium can use its full capacity, so a battery of the same size delivers about twice the usable power.
R-value
A measure of how well a material resists the passage of heat. The higher the number, the better it insulates.
MaxxFan
A roof vent fan from MaxxAir that pulls heat and humidity out of the cabin. The Deluxe model adds 10 speeds in either direction and a built-in rain shield, so it can run in the rain.
Truma VarioHeat
A propane furnace from Truma, the German maker of RV heating systems, that warms the cabin almost silently through cold nights.
Arctic Tern doors and windows
Doors and windows from Tern Overland, designed around teardrop trailers. The windows are dual-pane acrylic with a bug screen and a blackout blind.
MOLLE
A grid of slots for fastening pouches, straps and tools wherever they are needed. MOLLE stands for Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment, a system first designed for the U.S. Army.
D-rings
Tie-down anchors shaped like the letter D, fixed to the floor so gear can be strapped down and stay put on rough roads.
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We hope this glossary has made every spec sheet easier to read. If you are ready to take the next step, we are here to guide you.
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