Convert your Tesla Model Y into a micro-home with this utilitarian camper kit

Posted on 22/03/2024 by Gaurav Sood

There are hardcore adventure enthusiasts who like to carry their home on wheels, and then there are ones who like to keep things toned down for the occasional skirmish into the woods for a day. For the former, there are countless options on the market, and for the latter, there’s a niche still left wide open for exploration.

A New Zealand startup wants to give Tesla Model Y owners a reason to head out of the city limits. The company wants to offer a simple yet efficient solution in the form of a sleeper platform that sits snugly behind the rear seats. When it’s time to set up a temporary camp, the make-shift camper platform flings up giving access to the trunk and expands into a two-berth bed. Thus, transforming your Model Y into a micro-home to catch a quick nap in the late afternoon.

Designer: Teraglide

We do love the idea of full-blown camper kits for hatchbacks and crossovers, but for occasional users, this is a practical solution that does what’s needed with maximum conviction and the least hassle. This makes sense for people who like to preserve their rear seat space. Ones who want to take along a camping stove and a compact tent. The extending camping bed is tailor-made for the Tesla’s mid-sized SUV, as it fits perfectly in the rear section with a few interlocking slats.

Once fitted, the lightweight platform (not heavy like the full-blown camper kits that affect range) slides on top of the folded rear seats and extends into a stable base to sleep two adults without breaking a sweat. To add more width, the two detachable front wings attach to both sides. This presents a bed platform measuring 73 x 50 inches that folds back down to a 36-inch platform fitting in the back of your trusted electric SUV.

One feature that instantly resonated with me is the tilting-up hinged design that rises so that one can clear all the mess from the sunken space in the trunk. This also doubles as a two-tier storage system, as the upper shelf can be used to store frequently used cargo and the lower section to stash things that are not used frequently. Another feature other than this useful utility is a couple of slide-out tabletops that double as a bed or outdoor side tables.

The platform bed by Teraglide is crafted out of premium birch plywood with a protective soft-touch film for extra durability. Best of all, the assembly doesn’t rely on any hard mounting and can be easily done with the help of a buddy. The maker is serious about pitching its product worldwide and is looking for manufacturing associates in the US and Europe to bring down shipping costs. Priced at approximately $850 for the base model, the startup has also got a $970 version that comes prefitted with a self-inflating memory foam mattress.

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This 20-foot-long futuristic recreational vehicle has button-activated expandable walls to become a 400 sqft mobile home instantly

Posted on 13/01/2024 by Gaurav Sood

eVTOL aircrafts may be the future of personal aviation but the future of adventures on the road would be an all-encompassing recreational vehicle that transforms from its minimal structure on demand. We have seen a few iterations of travel trailers – such as the Rockwood Roo – that fit the notion, but the smart expanding ability with sustainable features is yet to reach recreational vehicles.

That’s what we thought until going up and personal with the eTH, an Electric Transformer House, doing rounds at CES in its rendered glory. A sublime blend of comfort, smart tech, and sustainability; it is by far the most futuristic mobile living space present in Vegas, at the time of writing. Visioned with the future in mind, eTH is the brainchild of Italian design house Pininfarina and AC Future, a leading inventor of living solutions for the future.

Designer: Pininfarina and AC Future

This mobile living space is a green van that features an all-glass upper body. The developers have a proof of concept at CES, and from how we learn, the prototype could be on the way. The mass production for this ultra-capable, highly functional, and amazingly luxurious mobile home is aligned for the fourth quarter of 2025, that’s if all were to go as planned.

This out-of-the-ordinary electric recreational vehicle is different from the usual market-ready options in two departments: first, its expansion ability and second, the vivid sustainable functions on board. The eTH aligns in the former segment with movable walls, which allows the structure of the modular living space to expand from 20-foot-long, 11-foot-high to a good 400 square feet abode on the push of a button.

While the expanding form factor of the eTH would allow the RV to redefine the concept of living on wheels, it will be the inherent off-grid features that would make it a haven for adventurers. To that end, the modular RV features retractable 25kWh solar panels on the roof and onboard batteries to power it for a week of off-the-grid living. Details on the sleeping facility, washroom, and kitchen are scanty at the moment, but the Electric Transformer House has an Atmospheric Water Generator that produces fresh drinking water from the air every day.

The fascination extends further into the inside of the eTH where folding furniture enthralls with the convenience it renders while driving or when halted for the night. The lux interior allows this RV to be used as a full-time residence or mobile home by nomadic workaholics. For the latter, the inventive cockpit with driver assist technology and entertainment hub has a dashboard that doubles as an office desk. The steering wheel retracts under and the space above becomes a functional workspace while Starlink and Co-Pilot take care of the connectivity requirements.

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This 20-foot-long futuristic recreational vehicle has button-activated expandable walls to become a 400 sqft mobile home instantly

Posted on 13/01/2024 by Gaurav Sood

Designer: Pininfarina and AC Future

The post This 20-foot-long futuristic recreational vehicle has button-activated expandable walls to become a 400 sqft mobile home instantly first appeared on Yanko Design.

Self-hitching electric travel trailer, Pebble Flow can deploy at the camp at the push of a button

Posted on 21/10/2023 by Gaurav Sood

Imagine a travel trailer that’s truly accessible and comfortable for everyone, designed with both beauty and strength in mind. Sunnyvale, California-based Pebble has made this vision a reality with its innovative creation, the Pebble Flow. This travel trailer redefines the RV lifestyle, offering unmatched aerodynamics, eco-friendliness, and technological intricacies not seen before.

Pebble Flow is a stark departure from the ordinary travel trailer; it’s 300 percent more aerodynamic as instead of conforming to the regular rectangular shape, Pebble Flow boasts a flowy and curvy design, akin to a car’s construction. This enhances its aesthetics, provides for a longer towing range, and a safer experience on the road.

Designer: Pebble

Pebble Flow is built using a rigorous automotive manufacturing process, featuring a space-grade aluminum frame construction. The use of lightweight composite and sustainable materials ensures durability and eco-friendliness, making it a trailer build to last.

This robust trailer takes convenience to the next level with its magic hatch, which allows it to sight, align, and hitch itself autonomously. More excitingly, the Pebble App allows the travel trailer to be reversed, parked, or even turned 360 degrees in place, exactly as you desire, without being connected to a tow vehicle.

Pebble Flow runs on solar power generated from its 1kW solar panels, while the onboard 45 kWh LFP battery takes care of the power needs of the appliances so that the trailer can remain off the grid for up to seven days with ease. The travel trailer is even equipped with a 240V AC output that permits it to charge an electric vehicle or another RV, and the regenerative braking system permits the trailer to charge itself while being towed.

The trailer takes automation to the next level with a simple touch mechanism. It can deploy at the camp by unfolding the stairs, turning on the lights, and pitching the awning, and much more at the push of a button. And even fold back up in the same manner when you are ready to move to a new location. All for a starting price of $109,000.

The innovation continues on the inside of the Pebble Flow, which is packed with comfort and versatility. Its panoramic windows offer a breathtaking 270-degree view, and the convertible furniture and clever storage make the most of the available space. The trailer comfortably sleeps four people, with a queen-sized Murphy bed in the rear that converts into an office desk, and a dinette that transforms into a bed when you need it.

The kitchen comes prepped with a removable induction cooktop that can be taken to the outdoors. To keep the inhabitants comfortable indoors, the trailer is provided with a spa-like bathroom and is equipped with a 37-gallon fresh water tank and a combined 50-gallon grey and black tank to cater to extended trips.

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Van Jorn lets you build your dream camper van one module at a time

Posted on 09/10/2023 by Gaurav Sood

Are you an eccentric traveler, yearning for a unique way to explore the world in a capable camper van tailored to your needs? Look no further than Van Jorn, the Dutch company that’s revolutionizing the world of camper vans. With Van Jorn, you can embark on your adventures in a quirky and customizable home on wheels that’s inspired by the beauty of nature and your dream habitat.

Van Jorn is all about putting you in the driver’s seat, literally and figuratively. When you step into one of their campers, you’ll find a stunning interior that you can customize to your heart’s content. The design is influenced by the selection of modules from the company, ensuring that your camper feels like a true home away from home, you have built piece by piece to your heart’s content.

Designer: Van Jorn

Van Jorn offers a plug-and-play ecosystem that combines interior modules you can put together using the company’s configurator on the website. This allows you to drag and drop modules, change colors, and instantly see the costs of the van. At Van Jorn, the power of designing your camper van is in your hands so no two interiors are the same, each interior is made to user requirements without having to reinvent the wheel to create a unique camper van.

With Van Jorn then you can say goodbye to the typical, uninspiring white or gray laminate interiors and have this lively interior built to your personal liking. Each build starts with a camper van base, priced at approximately $12,000). This base package includes flooring, wall paneling, insulation, and 12/220-V li-ion electrical package, and eight tie-down rails, which serve as the foundation for your camper’s transformation. These rails can be installed on the walls and ceiling, allowing you to easily install, rearrange, and remove Van Jorn’s modules.

The interior can be configured to choose with modules (each priced separately) like a kitchen island with sink and water storage, dual burner gas stove, and small fridge cabinet. The seating area is configurable with a single bench seat, a foldaway dining table, and two seats with seat belts in the driving section. Various overhead and floor-mounted cupboards suffice storage, while a pop-up sleeper roof module is an enticing choice for stargazers.

You can fit in a bed on one side and a cleverly designed wet bathroom that is complete with a full setup for shower and toilet use. Since Van Jorn’s idea is all about convenience without compromising on style, you have the option to add modules for outdoor shower, slide-out portable toilet, awning, and bike mounts etc. Thus, with all configurations and possibilities, Van Jorn’s camper vans are meant for agile, comfortable, and long journeys. Whether you’re navigating the bustling city streets or seeking tranquility in nature, these campers with easy-to-assemble modules are the ideal companions.

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This Electric Mercedes-Benz EQV based camper van gives digital nomads one more reason to hit the roads

Posted on 22/07/2023 by Gaurav Sood

The sustainable travel trend has seeped into the motorhome and RV market for good. This has been a living reality as more and more electric vehicles go past the prototype stage and onto the manufacturing lines. For aftermarket customization shops this is the ideal opportunity to turn EVs into motorhomes fitted with every possible feature important to a nomad.

For their latest build, the Dutch RV group chooses the Mercedes-Benz EQV electric van that boasts exceptional performance and comes with luxurious inclusions. The 201hp EV has a 224 miles range, honed by a 100-kWh battery unit that feeds the 150-kW electric motor. Turn it into a motorhome and you have the perfect camper van for all your unplanned adventures.

Designer: Tonke and Mercedes-Benz

Compared to the Adventure model, the new Nomad version drops the gas stove burner and fits an induction cooktop instead. Along with this, a sliding kitchen is an ideal inclusion for outdoor cooking lovers. This section also doubles as a makeshift workstation as one can use the cover for the dual-burner induction cooktop by sliding it inwards behind the front passenger seat. The perfect setup for digital nomads who love to cook.

Their EQV Nomad can seat five people with ease, and even seven but with a few compromises in functionalities. For the nighttime, the rear seats can be folded to turn into a bed to sleep up to two individuals. If need be, the expandable pop-up roof makes way for a sleeping area for two more people. The motorhome’s bed is above the tailgate drawer system that can be used to store an optional 31L fridge, luggage, cargo boxes, or camping equipment.

Compared to the Adventure camper released last year, the Nomad is a better option at the price of €77,019 (approximately $85,684) given its versatile indoor/outdoor kitchen that transforms into a space for you to work amidst nature. The camper comes with other additional options including a pop-up sleeper, EcoFlow power station, compressor refrigerator, rear drawers, and window curtains. If you happen to be in Terheijden, NL, Tonke will offer a demo at its headquarters on August 5.

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The 1970 Volkswagen Beetle gets a retro transformation, converting into a Swiss cabin on wheels

Posted on 18/07/2023 by Gaurav Sood

The Holzhaus Beetle is not your average vintage car or a traditional RV. It started out as a standard 1970 Volkswagen Beetle before a team of Swiss craftsmen put it through a complete transformation in 1995. They turned it into a Swiss wood cabin on wheels complete with a sofa, functional kitchenette with fireplace, and windows filling the cozy space with ample natural light.

“Holzhaus” derives its name from the German word meaning “timber house.” It epitomizes a classic wooden cabin – found in parts of Europe – using a 1970 Beetle 1302 as its base. The chassis, front and rear parts, and the engine of the VW Beetle remain intact, while the central steel body of the car is replaced with a meticulously handcrafted wooden cabin. Forming an ideal home on wheels for a solo traveler.

Available at: Catawiki

The attention to detail in the Holzhaus is awe-inspiring. From the customized wheel covers to the cleverly painted front and rear bumpers to resemble the central wooden construction, every aspect of this cabin exudes charm and craftsmanship. The driver and passenger seats feature sturdy steel frames topped with wooden slats for matching rustic elegance.

Step inside this wooden cabin on wheels, and you’ll be greeted by a warm and inviting interior boasting a wooden sofa with a round table for dining and socializing needs, a kitchenette complete with a fireplace and chimney, and windows you can open for light and fresh air. The walls of the Holzhaus Beetle are adorned with wood paneling and are decorated with paintings that add a touch of whimsy to the interior.

If you’ve fallen in love with this one-of-a-kind log cabin, you’ll be thrilled to know that the Holzhaus Beetle is currently available for sale in Italy. It can be attained for $30,000 odd, but it comes with an Italian license plate. Before hitting the market, the Holzhaus has functioned as an Alpine Club’s base for parties and festivals and as a bar under its previous ownership. Interestingly, Halzhaus has a tow hook for towing small trailers behind, just in case you want to include a few people in your adventures.

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This ultimate pull-out kitchen adds stoves, grills, prep area, and storage to your VW camper van

Posted on 25/04/2023 by Gaurav Sood

Camper vans have come of age with the likes of Volkswagen giving outdoorsy options with its VW California and the Multivan. While these are in themselves capable base camps – offering everything for a self-sufficient stay in the great outdoors – they have scope for more stowable space and a full-functional kitchen.

This is where something like the Calicamp storage drawer with outdoor kitchen, that fits into trunk space under the bed of the VW California and Multivan (other vehicles can be equipped on special request) and pulls outs for functionality comes in as an undeniable addon.

Designer: Calicamp

The pull-out kit adds deep storage space for your gear or wings out on one side to provide a cooking platform with an installable grill, stove, and more; turning the camper van with no or small kitchen into a van with a gourmet-style fold-out kitchen.

Created by a Belgian company called Calicamp, this add-on kitchen cum storage unit can set up in minutes to turn a halt overlooking a picturesque landscape into a destination for a sumptuous meal. The metal-and-wood box is either an organized space to keep your gear, or if choice be, it comes preloaded with a charcoal grill, stove, trash bin, and cutting board to present an expandable kitchen.

Interestingly, Calicamp keeps this add-on a choice-based option. You get to choose from an assortment of gas burners, storage containers, grills, sink, and cutting boards. The company allows clients to dress up their Calicamp according to how and what they want it for.

So, either you can choose a smartly compartmentalized drawer that pulls out from the trunk of your camper van and provides instant access to all your travel gear, or pick the fold-out kitchen option with endless possible configurations. The pull-out can be customized with the required work areas, gas burners, containers, BBQ grills, and more to prepare the day’s menu. Where do you want to go and cook today?

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This futuristic travel trailer pops-up into a luxurious home in the great outdoors

Posted on 28/03/2023 by Gaurav Sood

If you’re looking for an expandable home on wheels to tow behind your EV, you have a few existing options already. However, if you’re not instantly in the market for a towable, and can wait for a couple of years, a ground-breaking travel trailer is in the works. It is solar-powered, furnished with modular furniture, and customizable to user requirements, but that’s not it!

Camping with family, friends or even when you’re in the outdoors all solo, a travel trailer ensures convenience and comfort. A towable with the ideal balance of luxury and convenience maintains unforgettable outdoor adventure, and this is what this Grounded RV’s towable with a unique aerodynamic design guarantees.

Designer: Grounded

Made from advanced composite materials, the expandable towable is designed durable and lightweight. This streamlined layout reduces drag to make sure you get enhanced fuel efficiency, while the RV’s unique hydraulic system ensures smooth transition between towing and living model.

The very compact trailer is easy to store and maneuver. But once you are ready to camp, the trailer’s roof pops-up (in its entirety) to create 6.5 feet of headroom. Furnished with large glass windows for a panoramic view the trailer has a spacious interior equipped with a fully-functional kitchen, modular furniture, customizable queen bed, pull-out table, dry toilet, and spacious sitting area, thereby offering all the comforts of the home in the great outdoors.

The interior is insulated while the rooftop 1,500W solar panels power the remotely controlled electronics and appliances. Based on a modular layout, the travel trailer can be customized to suit each occupant’s requirement, fitting piece by piece according to need.

The Grounded RV’s futuristic towable is expected to ship in 2025 with a weather-resistant exterior and modern aesthetics to leave most RV makers thinking. With all the fancy antics, the interesting concept puts durability, comfort, and sustainability at the forefront, which has left the outdoorsy in me excited.

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This 2021 Ford F-550 inspired all-weather RV will take you places with all the gear you want

Posted on 18/02/2023 by Gaurav Sood

All-weather RVs have become increasingly popular in the last few years. Every other manufacturer is targeting the domain more scrupulously. Latest name to catapult from tiny RVs to the go-anywhere expedition truck is Canada-based Wilderness Vans, which launched the Grid Series.

The tough new off-road vehicle with the comforts of a home onboard is not any ordinary RV you’d plan. It’s meticulously engineered to carry all the possible gear you’d want on a ski adventure, a mountain bike expedition, or perhaps a leisure day fishing by the lake.

Design: Wilderness Vans

The Canadian camper conversion specialist, Wilderness Vans, is not a very old name in the industry. In fact, it has just started building campers – start to finish – in 2017. Yet, in this short time, the company has marked a few milestones. After giving us incredible van homes for everlasting memories, Wilderness Vans Grid Series defines a more formidable change in approach yet offers the same comforting experience on the journey.

Based on a 2021 Ford F-550, the GRID series expedition campers offer premium off-grid capability and comfort. Based on the duty truck chassis is a strong aluminum contraption housing a slide-out and some recognizable compartments for your wet and dry gear.

Unlike most expedition-ready RVs that require you to hang the bike on the back, the Grid Series allows you to store up to mountain bikes within its body. The gear storage on the outside moreover ensures the wet equipment doesn’t travel into the cozy environment inside the camper, yet remains safe from the elements.

In addition to a slide-out compartment to accommodate bikes within the camper body, the Grid can store luggage, camping gear, snowboards, skis, fishing poles, and more. The interesting scheme of things on the outside is nicely complemented on the inside with the lively living area.

Designed for off-road, off-the-grid adventures in the same breath, Grid has a luxury-packed interior with a queen bed and convertible seating that provides for additional sleeping space. The wet bathroom onboard features hot/cold shower and composting toilet, while the kitchen across the bathroom (separated by a sliding door) has a sink, fridge, and cooktop.

To take the occupants off the grid, the Grid is powered by a 400-W solar-powered system connected to 540-Ah lithium battery. A 3,000-W inverter for pairs for additional energy requirement, while water needs are taken care of by large volume water storage. Wilderness Vans has priced this blue-colored 2021 F-550-based Grid for $350,000.