Travelling by camper van has never been more popular, and we can see why so many people love this form of travel. The facilities on offer in campsites are better than ever, but the campers themselves are evolving into highly sophisticated and clever homes on wheels. We were intrigued at various features on the campers and trailers we came across in 2018, and here are some of the ones that caught our attention.
1. Land Ark RV’s Don Draper inspired modern luxury trailer
The Draper RV is inspired by Don Draper, Mad Men’s main character. Image courtesy of Land Ark RV
The Draper trailer is a creation of US-based company Land Ark RV, which has just released the model on the market. With its mid-century modern design and neutral palette, it can sleep up to four people – two in the sleeping loft and two in the convertible sofa. It has a large hardwood deck accessible from the sliding patio door and a custom-designed oak ladder that leads up into the loft, a full-size shower, and a lot of windows to let in as much natural light as possible. To learn more about it, see here.
2, Nissan’s pop-top electric camper
Nissan’s e-NV200 camper van will be entirely powered by battery. Image: Nissan
Nissan announced during 2018 that as well as launching its new regular camper vans, the NV300 and NV200, it was also introducing an e-NV200 camper van, which will be entirely powered by a 40kWh battery and will have zero emissions. It will be able to travel a maximum range of between 200km and 300km per charge. A full charge using the onboard charger will take about 7.5 hours. The Nissan e-NV200, NV200 and NV300 camper vans were only due to launch in Spain, but the company said that there has been great interest from other countries. For further information, see here.
3. Kompanja’s camper with a roof that turns into a movie theatre
The front of the roof can turn into a movie screen. Image by Kompanja
If you like to be entertained on the go, a new camper with a projector and pop-up roof screen will let you create a movie theatre anywhere you go. Kompanja – a German conversion shop – came up with new a new van based on the Renault Trafic that includes some pretty incredible tweaks, like the option for a projector and screen. The two-sided screen actually means that you can watch movies on the pop-up roof while in bed – or on the outside of the roof when sitting outside for a drive-in experience. While the vans are currently only sold in Europe, interest has been picking up because of the cinema function. To read more about it, see here.
4. Airstream’s trailer designed for outdoorsy travellers
The kitchen within Basecamp X. Image by Airstream
Airstream released a compact new trailer in 2018 designed for adventurous travellers who want to navigate rugged roads. The Basecamp X is specifically designed for all-terrain use, with features that help it tackle difficult roads and all-terrain tyres. Inside the 16-foot trailer there is a convertible rear space that can be adapted for eating, sleeping, or storing equipment. Loading and unloading the trailer is also simplified with large rear cargo hatches and flexible storage space with tie downs. To learn more about it, see here.
5. Lume’s trailer with a stargazing roof
The new Lume trailer opens up to a trailer in the back. Image by Lume
The Lume Traveler has a double bed and a solar panel – as well as boasting a roof that opens so you can gaze at the stars from the comfort of your bed. The back of the Dutch-made trailer opens to reveal an outdoor stove with gas burners, a wash basin, a cooler and storage for everything you need to cook outside, providing a little taste of the camping life. Those who want the comfort of a full bed while maintaining a connection to the outdoors will appreciate the roll-back roof, which also features a screen to keep out bugs. For more information, see here.
6. Mink’s trailer for seeing the Northern Lights
The campers have storage in the back and a kitchen area. Image by Mink Campers
The Reykjavík-based Mink Campers launched a mini-trailer equipped with central heating to help overcome the unpredictable elements of camping below the Arctic circle. Co-founder Kolbeinn Bjornsson told Lonely Planet that they had set out to design a mobile home perfectly suited for Iceland, with a sturdy structure and thick tyres for the gravel highlands, and a glass roof for when the Northern Lights show up. The trailers also have Wi-Fi, a sound system and an open-air kitchen, and the inside is really an overbuilt queen-size bed with room for two adults and an optional smart bunk-bed for a child. To learn more about it, see here.
7. Hitch Hotel’s tiny (and very cheap) wheel-less trailer
The sleep space is bigger than a queen-sized bed. Image: Hitch Hotel
Campers don’t come more compact than the new expandable, wheel-less trailer that was introduced to the market by a Californian company in 2018. Called the Hitch Hotel, the box attaches to your hitch (or tow bar) and securely stores mountain bikes, camping gear and other equipment. Once you get to where you want to camp, the box uses telescoping technology to reveal a sleeping cabin of over 135 cubic feet – bigger than a queen-sized bed – saving you accommodation costs. Read more about it here.
8. Volkswagen’s extra-large campervan with a bathroom
The new and larger Volkswagen camper van. Image by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles
Volkswagen is launching its new motorhome design, the Grand California, in early 2019. There are two versions – one is a six-metre-long wheelbase and the other 6.8-metre-long – and one feature that sets them apart is the bathroom. They include a toilet, shower, a fold-out wash basin, shelves with holders for toiletries, towel holders and a skylight for ventilation. The campers can also carry 110 litres of water and have lights that turn on automatically thanks to motion detectors. They will also have a connection at the back for an external shower with adjustable water temperature to make an outdoor shower easy and possible should you want a bit more space. Prices are due to start just under €55,000 (US$64,325), and for more on this camper van, see here.
The post The camper vans we want to drive in 2019 appeared first on Lonely Planet Travel News.