Today we’d like to introduce you to Mark Hagen.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Mark. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
We have been involved with small trailers for about 15 years. We have carried several brands including Aliner, TAB, TAG, Little Guy Teardrops, Silver Shadows and Sylvan to name a few. We have carried vintage trailers and used but nothing did exactly what we wanted so we started building the MeerKat. The MeerKat needed to weigh in at less than 950 pounds so it could be towed by almost any car. It needed to fit into a garage and have stand up headroom; sink and stove; Icebox or refrigerator; toilet; hanging closet; and accommodate two adults and a dog. That is a MeerKat.
We still carry the other brands but MeerKat sales have overtaken every other brand. People start looking at a teardrop (and they are wonderful) but then they quickly realize they want to be a little more comfortable. They will also look at our larger trailers but then go down to a MeerKat because they don’t have a big tow vehicle and want to be able to store it in a garage. The MeerKat is like a mini Airstream but with its roots based in camping rather than RVing. A comfortable camping experience sitting around a fire, looking at the stars tied in with nature hikes are what our customers tend to like. They also appreciate the quality of a hand built trailer.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The struggles are what led up to the development of the MeerKat. The older vintage trailers were heavy and tended to need a LOT of work to get them up to par. The teardrops are great but as we age it starts to be a challenge to get dressed while lying in bed. And the larger trailers tend to be expensive to store and require more car and strength to manage. So the struggle was to put everything we wanted into a small, lightweight package. We build each trailer as if it was for me and we do not cut corners. The result is that it shows in our trailer. We are also able to work with our customers if they want to be involved in fabric or exterior color choices to customize their own trailer.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Nobody sells a trailer that matches the MeerKat. Weight, amenities, quality build, etc. We really wanted to fill a part of the market that was overlooked. We are also a family run business and we camp with our customers.
As far as Teardrops and the others we are one of the oldest ultra-light dealers in the country.
We also keep all of our inventory indoors so we do not have the big dealer feel. We are kind of the Disneyland of small trailers and people come from all over to see us. Our inventory really sets us apart.
What were you like growing up?
I was ALWAYS driven. Grew up in Northern California and camped in the Tahoe area all the time. Loved sports and fishing. I’m still growing up!
Contact Info:
- Address: Little Guy Trailers
8148 Ronson Rd Ste A
San Diego, CA 92111 - Website: LittleGuyTrailers.com MeerKatTrailers.com
- Phone: 858 277-7607
- Email: LittleGuyTrailers@sbcglobal.net
Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
