Built by Dutch company FlevoBike, the GoLo GoCamp is a tiny camper built on a recumbent e-bike platform. It offers similar amenities you’d enjoy while car camping but maintains the cycling experience. It’s based on the FlevoBike GoLo, a four-wheel cargo bike capable of carrying a surprisingly heavy load, but it adds a bunch of extra functionality and features for recreational trips. Even cooler is the fact that the camper is a removable module sitting on top of the GoLo cargo bike, so you can always take it off if you want to use the bike for more practical everyday travel.

The camper module is ultra-compact, at least compared to most RVs, but it pops up and extends a foldable canopy to offer additional length when the user is laying down. In bedroom mode, it’s also big enough to seat two at an interior fold-down table. The 33.5 by 86.6-inch mattress is comfy for a single occupant, and in its extended form, the camper features mosquito mesh and a window for ventilation. The side wall pops up to turn into another canopy offering shelter and shade.

An integrated 60W fridge, storage under the sleeping area, and wall shelves give you space to store your food, toiletries, and other items, and there’s a drawer hidden in the base for a spare wheel and bike tools. You’ll also find USB, 12V, and 220V outlets inside. Boosted by 400W solar panels mounted to the outside of the camper, the 250W motor and 1,000Wh battery provide maximum e-assist for 31 miles (50km) per charge. That may not sound like much, but most people usually only use assist when going up hills or when they’re feeling extra tired. Plus, on a sunny day, you’ll be juicing up the battery as you ride.

The camper’s narrow profile may be a snug fit for sleeping, but it’s a pro rather than a con when you’re on the road. It sticks to the width of a typical cycling path for safety. When you want to remove the camper shell to use the bike on its own, it’s fairly easy to do, simply clicking in and out of the bike’s base. Designed with delivery and service fleets in mind, the GoLo e-bike itself is comfortable and easy to ride, even when pulling a load this large, thanks to its recumbent design.

The GoLo GoCamp bike camper is still brand new, and the company has only produced one prototype to show off what it can do. But that prototype has already traveled 500 kilometers (more than 300 miles) across the Netherlands, so it’s looking pretty promising. We know what you’re thinking: how can you get one? Contact the company on their website or Facebook for more information.

The post GoLo Solar-Powered Bike Camper Makes Cycling Trips a Lot Comfier first appeared on Dornob.

“The only company I can think of that could do that is my company,” King told Business Insider. “We’ve got the software developers; we’ve got the AI; and we’re really creative. We wanted it to be a Tesla-like experience even when you were in an RV.”

That means the CyberLandr is more than just a hunk of metal and plastic that fits into the back of Tesla’s controversial pickup. It’s a piece of high-tech machinery that aims to level up the whole camping experience using Stream It’s AI sensors, solar power, and the ability to connect to Elon Musk’s StarLink satellite internet service. In other words, anyone toting this camper around in their Cybertruck definitely won’t be roughing it.

The uniqueness of the CyberLandr’s design starts with its form factor. Since it fits so snugly into the truck bed, it’s only revealed when the tailgate is opened, offering a fold-out set of stairs and a pop top that rises surprisingly high for comfortable standing height inside. This compactness when closed means the pickup’s center of gravity is maintained during travel, its aerodynamic drag is unaffected, and the driver’s rear visibility is unimpaired. The 1,200-pound weight of the camper is estimated to reduce the range of the electric truck by just five percent, and the whole thing can be lifted in and out of the truck using a special dolly.

Capable of holding 40 gallons of fresh water and 20 gallons of gray water, the CyberLandr camper manages to pack a functional bathroom into its tiny footprint, featuring a spa-style shower head, heated one-piece porcelain floor, and a self-cleaning dry flush toilet that eliminates the need for a black water tank. The shower and sink water can be continuously recirculated thanks to an onboard four-stage water filtration system with UV sterilization, which also allows you to safely refill the fresh water tank from a source like a river or stream.

Inside, you’ll also find a built-in kitchen with an intelligent faucet featuring touchless voice control, a built-in colander, wash bin, drying rack, and cutting board, along with a five-square-foot porcelain countertop, an invisible induction cooktop, and a compressor fridge. A set of freestanding chairs and pivoting tables slide out of the walls to offer seating inside the camper or outside, if you want to dine al fresco, and they transform into a queen bed when it’s time to hit the hay. A 32-inch smart TV, dual pane windows with electrochromic dimming, a built-in surround sound system, and voice-activated home automation with a 360-degree-view surveillance system add to the sense of a luxury home on-the-go.

All 20 initial CyberLandr offerings at a discounted price of $39,995 have sold out, but you can still place a preorder at the $43,995 tier for a deposit of just $100. If you prefer to wait until this thing is actually built and on the market, you’ll pay $49,995, which is higher than the base price of the Cybertruck itself. Let’s be real, though – the kind of people who would drop the cash on this high-end, Tesla-specific camper aren’t sweating the price. Production is supposed to start later this year with development and testing beginning after the Cybertruck is available sometime in 2022.

What does Elon Musk think of the CyberLandr camper? One word: “cool.”

The post High Tech CyberLandr Camper Slots into the Back of Tesla’s Cybertruck first appeared on Dornob.

Designed in partnership between the two brands, the Pottery Barn Special Edition Travel Trailer is a 28-foot camper with a classic Airstream look on the outside and full-bore Pottery Barn catalog on the inside, including one of the most overstuffed couches you’ll ever see in an RV. You can choose between either a queen or twin bed floor plan to sleep up to five people, and both plans feature exclusive Pottery Barn bedding.

The design theme takes inspiration from the Pacific Coast Highway in California, featuring a soft palette of neutral textiles, pale plywood, gray cabinetry, Shaker details, and lush textures. The sofa is covered in boucle performance fabric made to stand up to kids, dogs, and the occasional spill, and it also offers a hidden airline-style table. The dining table is solid oak, inspired by Pottery Barn’s best-selling Benchwright Dining Collection. In the kitchen you’ll find a stainless steel apron sink with a walnut cutting board top, a pull-down faucet, a gas range with an oven, and a generously sized refrigerator.

Other features include a bathroom with shower, toilet, and sink made to feel as residential as possible, custom storage solutions like canvas baskets that slide under the bed, blackout curtains that wrap around the panoramic windows, and Airstream Smart Control Technology that lets you monitor and control onboard features like the lights, thermostat, and awning. Roll out that awning, set up the included Indio Outdoor Folding Table and Armchair Set, and hook the outdoor hanging table to the window for a cocktail bar on demand.

“Since launching two co-branded collections of home goods with Airstream, it’s become clear that fans of both brands understand the unique value of coming together,” says Marta Benson, President of Pottery Barn. “We were as excited as our customers to see how we could apply Pottery Barn’s design expertise to Airstream’s live anywhere mentality, and we couldn’t be more excited about the results.”

“It’s a match that makes sense in many ways,” says Airstream President and CEO Bob Wheeler. “Pottery Barn has this kind of magical ability to shape a space. You see it in their home interiors, where there’s a comfortable, functional beauty to even the smallest pieces. They understand how your home is this canvas where real life happens, and we love how they applied that to the Airstream lifestyle.”

The price for the Pottery Barn x Airstream travel trailer is steep, starting at $145,000, but plenty of #vanlifers end up spending that much on their conversions anyway, and this one’s all ready to hit the road. Since most Airstream interiors are built-in, it’s usually not a small project to customize one to your liking, and this one definitely has a feeling of home.

The post The Airstream x Pottery Barn Travel Trailer Makes Camping Comfier Than Ever first appeared on Dornob.

With a pop-up top level and walk-out deck, the second story increases the total square footage of the RV’s usable space by more than half. It features divided glass walls that fold down on themselves when in drive mode. Fully extended, they create a 133-square-foot sunroom, providing beautiful 360-degree vistas of the outside world. The window walls can even switch from clear to opaque as desired to provide more privacy.

While no major furniture can be stored up top, the photo mockups visualize a “Zen tearoom” with streamlined tables and built-in benches. It could also double as additional dining space or a study. And the open-air deck gives RVers a chance to step outside while still enjoying nature’s views.The upper story can be accessed by a one-person elevator, eliminating the need for an indoor staircase.

Thanks to slide-outs on either side, the main floor features 215 square feet of kitchen, living, and bathroom space. The kitchenette includes an oven, cooktop, and sink as well as a fridge hidden away in an entry closet. An L-shaped couch along a side wall marks out the living area with a state-of-the-art transparent TV on the opposite wall. The entertainment package also includes full surround audio and a multi-unit projection setup.

Although there are no pictures of it yet, the main sleeping space is situated in the alcove above the cab. It’s assumed that the living room sofa and upstairs benches could be converted into additional beds.

The tricked-out motorhome also includes a washing machine, air conditioning unit, and a JBL sound system to pump up the entertainment factor. The driver dashboard has not only navigation but an app-controlled infotainment system. Inside the living area, there’s also a touchscreen X-Connect RV smart system control that can be activated by smartphone, voice, or gesture.

When in drive mode the Class C V90 Villa looks fairly compact, although the bulging bulkhead is a bit oversized. The taillights and exterior accent lights incorporate LED lighting, providing added nighttime mood ambience. Additionally, the passenger-side rear wheel section contains a pull-out cooking area for outdoor barbecues.

Although the company website has only released digital renderings of the V90 Villa, SAIC has developed a working prototype, allowing the public to step inside at the Maxus event last fall. A tour of the inside is available on this video (with English subtitles) at about 1:10 minutes in.

This lavish RV is only intended for the Chinese market currently, but with a CN¥2.68-million price tag (roughly $413,000) it may be a while before these vehicles start becoming a common sight even in Asia. In any case, the Maxus Life Home V90 Villa is a prime example of what could be done with high-end customizations in the near future.

The post Chinese Double-Decker RV Goes Next Level (Elevator Included) first appeared on Dornob.

German company Dethleffs came up with the concept vehicle back in 2017, though they still have yet to outline plans for production. Still, early renderings encourage an interesting vision of a future filled with solar-powered RVs traveling highways and parked at campgrounds.

The e.home Solar Motorhome concept is a true beauty. It’s an electric vehicle in its most basic form, though the design also calls for it to be completely wrapped in thin-film solar cells that can be used to top-up the van’s batteries while stationary or traveling down the road.

The motorhome’s cabin is built onto the base frame of an existing Iveco Daily Electric van. It offers a battery pack that can last between 100 and 175 miles on a single charge, depending on the load it’s carrying. The mock-up also includes infrared heating elements in the floor and furniture to keep the space comfortable, as well as latent heat accumulator plates that capture excess heat during the day and allow it to be used after the sun goes down. In addition to a film-wrapped exterior, foil technology is used in the RV’s windows and lighting to reflect heat and provide privacy. All of the major systems including heating, lighting, electrical, and central locking can be controlled via a central smart hub.

Providing power and sustainable features doesn’t mean forfeiting luxury features, of course. This concept vehicle is loaded with all the comforts of home including all-electric appliances, multiple sleeping areas, a kitchen, and a bathroom.

Anyone who currently owns an RV can attest to the fact that they’re really lacking in the way of fuel efficiency, averaging around 10 miles per gallon. And that’s just optimistically speaking if the rig is empty. Load it down or climb a hill, and you can expect a big drop to about four mpg. In addition to the monetary savings of having a big rig without a gas tank, the environment would benefit from the reduction in exhaust fumes.

Of course, there are a host of potential issues with the technology, too. For example, only half the solar film will receive a charge at any given time, begging the question about how efficient it will actually be and what output it can provide. How to charge it, where to charge it, funding the installation of charging stations or charging strips built-in to the road, waste of the solar components, and limitations on the distance traveled are other considerations that will benefit from further R and D. In the end, the company hopes that other businesses will run with the idea to help forge deeper into the electric and solar markets.

“There are also a number of new technologies which will change the comfort, quality of life, plus the safety of future generations of motorhomes. Through this evolving process, systems will be further developed — and we expect rapid progress over the coming years for our e.home concept,” says Alexander Leopold, Dethleffs Managing Director.

The post Are Solar-Powered RVs Part of Our Future? first appeared on Dornob.

In fact, the new directive states NASA will find a way to get American feet on the moon by 2024. Additionally, the V.P. pressed that beyond a landing, NASA should “establish a permanent base there, and develop the technologies to take American astronauts to Mars and beyond. That’s the next giant leap.”

Having received the memo, NASA has already started developing programs that fit within the timeline (and a very tight budget). Of course, it’s not exactly like they’re starting from scratch, so teams have mostly been evaluating the technology that already exists. This includes the Lunar Terrain Vehicles used on previous missions. Unfortunately, the existing models are made for humans protected in space suits and are used mainly to transport those humans from one place to another across the surface of the moon. So when the discussion began about where the astronauts would live while on the moon, plans surfaced to use a similar concept with a novel twist that would allow the vehicles to be enclosed and pressurized.

To meet the short timeline even more quickly, NASA’s also reached out to other space programs who’ve had a jump on the idea. The result is a partnership with Japan’s space agency JAXA, who has already been working on what will become a mobile-home version of the LTV in a partnership with car giant Toyota for around two years now.

The finished rovers, according to a NASA spokesperson, would basically be the moon equivalents of RVs. “This thing is the coolest element I’ve ever seen for people,” says Mark Kirasich, the acting director of NASA’s Advanced Exploration Systems during a Ars Technica interview. “It’s like an RV for the moon.” As far as RVs go, however, the lunar version will be pretty tight on space, with each one likely meant to be shared by just two astronauts.

While the increased pressure from the administration and budgetary limitations ultimately decided the fate of this project, it is a little surprising that NASA went this direction instead of reinvesting in a previous five-year project they themselves started. In the early 2000s, the Lunar Electric Rover was part of the Constellation Program. Meant to house astronauts for a whopping 180 days, the project was eventually scrubbed after falling behind schedule and struggling with cost overruns.

“Our job depends on federal funding, so we have to listen to our constituents who fund us,” Kirasich adds. “It’s very important to our leadership at the moment to involve JAXA in a major surface element. Number two, the Japanese, and their auto industry, have a very strong interest in rover-type things. So there was an idea to, even though we have done a lot of work, to let the Japanese lead development of a pressurized rover. So right now that’s the direction we’re heading in.”

The post NASA, JAXA Developing RV Rover for Future Moon Residents first appeared on Dornob.

Zeltini describes it as a “house-boat-trike” or “tiny amphibious home/camper,” and it’s all of those things. Far more compact than any conventional camper, it’s capable of doing a lot more than just cruising down country roads on the weekends. It also contains far more than meets the eye. But best of all, it can seamlessly transition from land to water and back again, giving its users the kind of adaptability we can usually only dream of.

Designed for two people, the Z-Triton is equipped with two electric motor hubs, an electric outboard engine, and 250 watts worth of solar panels. It has three wheels: one in the front and two in the sides, all of which can fold up when the craft hits the water. When that happens, the “back end” of the bicycle camper becomes the front of the boat. When it’s time to head back home, the bike can easily carry the lightweight body of the camper/boat along the road, with a little electrical assistance, to boot. It’s capable of traveling up to 25 miles on land or 19 miles on water.

One of the not-so-great aspects of camping is the need to lug around a ton of separate gear, unpack it when you reach your destination, and then pack it back up again. If you’re camping in more than one spot, you’re repeating that process multiple times on a single trip, which gets old fast. The Z-Triton offers a sleeping pod for two people, eliminating the need for a tent, as well as an entire fold-up kitchen. Almost everything inside is modular, too, so you can remove things like the benches and tuck them away when you don’t need them.

Its blocky proportions aren’t exactly aerodynamic looking, and the overall aesthetic is reminiscent of retro Soviet design, but in a fun way. There’s even a live plant sticking out of the roof, which… sure, why not?

Is it kind of goofy? Absolutely. It sort of looks like it belongs in Wes Anderson’s The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. It’s easy to imagine Bill Murray piloting it while wearing that little orange beanie. But unlike a lot of other oddball creations, this is a real product with a working prototype, and its creators hope to make it available for rent to the public in 2021.

Latvia-based Zeltini is known for its unusual designs. Previously, they unveiled their “Temple of Poop,” a modern outhouse made of wood that’s elevated above the landscape with a giant pane of glass offering beautiful views to enjoy while doing your business. Built on the designer’s property, it composts human waste into fertilizer for its own rooftop garden.

The post Zeltini’s Z-Triton is an Amphibious Boat, Tricycle, and Camper in One first appeared on Dornob.

Of course, industrious #vanlifers and people who convert other vehicles (like city buses) into campers also took note. The Class 8 heavy-duty semi-trailer truck boasts an impressive range of 300 to 500 miles, and it charges in less than 30 minutes using a solar-powered “Tesla Megacharger” charging station so drivers can “fuel” up virtually anywhere. That’s not just a big perk for truckers, either — it would also make road trips a lot more convenient.

They might not have their hands on an actual Tesla Semi just yet, but the folks at Vanlifer, who produce products and information for camper van owners, are already chomping at the bit to convert one. They’ve even produced “The Case for a Tesla Semi-Home,” which is really just an illustration of how it could be adapted for use as a tiny vacation home on wheels.

“So far this is a concept, but we are working on creating an accurate 3D model which will be used for quoting to see if this is a viable project,” says Vanlifer founder Jason Hablous. “Of course, we’ll only know for sure once the Tesla Semi is launched whether it’s something that could ever go ahead — but we’re hopeful.”

Hablous laid out the reasons why the Tesla Semi would be such a great base for a camper conversion in a recent blog post. Based on the mileage of a freight truck, the Tesla Semi promises a fuel savings of $200,000 over two years, and its range means you could get through long driving days without worrying about how much fuel you’re burning or whether you’ll be able to find gas stations in remote places.

The Tesla Semi is also capable of running on just two of its four motors, so if something goes wrong with one or even two, you won’t find yourself stuck on the side of the road. Indeed, the company guarantees “a million miles” of driving before it ever breaks down. The cab is also very spacious. Vanlifer notes that at $180,000, the Semi would come in at the low end of the price scale for luxury high-end motorhomes even after conversion, and especially when you take fuel savings into account.

When the concept was first announced, experts were quick to point out that converting trucks like the Tesla Semi wouldn’t be feasible until electrical grids around the world got a major upgrade, and that connecting to them to charge vehicles still uses significant amounts of fossil fuels. But if Tesla can really pull off the kind of powerful solar charger it says it’s producing for the Semi, they might not need to connect to the grid at all.

In July, a seemingly driverless Tesla Semi was spotted on a highway in California, prompting speculation that the energy and automotive company might actually be on track to get this thing on the market by next year. Be sure to check back with us for updates on this exciting new technology.

The post Van Enthusiasts Turn the Tesla Semi-Truck Into a Camper first appeared on Dornob.

If you’re ever torn between purchasing a boat or an RV and you’ve got roughly $1.2 million dollars in the bank, here’s a solution that gives you the best of both worlds: a luxury RV that can be driven straight into water. The Terra Wind Amphibious Motorcoach looks like an ordinary recreational vehicle to the point that passersby often panic when they watch the owners prepare to plunge it into a river or lake. What they don’t know is that this thing doesn’t just float, it cruises effortlessly along at up to 7 knots.

The 42.5-foot RV-yacht combo features an aluminum hull, a porch that doubles as a swim deck, a padded leather dashboard resembling an aircraft cockpit, an onboard computer docking system with internet access, GPS, moving maps and navigational charts.

The interior of this amphibious vehicle is fully customizable in terms of floor plan, floor coverings, cabinetry, electronics, entertainment systems and built-in furniture, and includes a fully-loaded kitchen and home theater. You can even have a mirrored ceiling, if so desired.

All of the vehicle’s heaviest components, including the diesel engine and fuel tanks, were installed in the lowest part of the hull to prevent it from capsizing, and the three-section hull is specially designed to make it stable in the water. You might imagine that all of that extra weight would make this thing crawl on highways, but it can reach speeds of up to 80 mph. The most basic model starts at $850,000.

Despite all reassurances, you’d probably have to put a lot of trust into the manufacturer that this thing isn’t going to tip over or sink in the water, given how rare vehicles like this are. Plus, you can really only enjoy the water from one narrow doorway on the back end, unless you climb up onto the roof. One also has to wonder just how poor the gas mileage is on a vehicle this cumbersome. But obviously, there are some folks out there that want  to purchase the Terra Wind Amphibious RV and vehicles like it. Would you?

The post Amphibious RV Goes from Land to Sea first appeared on Dornob.

With the image of a hobbit treehouse at the core of its blueprint, the Griswald is topped by a masterpiece of Canadian red cedar, with rope lighting and hand-cut maple leaf shingles that create a tree-like canopy around the perimeter. Below that, the exterior walls are covered in cedar tongue and groove planking for even more natural appeal. Unique cutouts in these walls give the home’s wood-covered door and six louvre windows pop-out appearances. Another small window sits Dormer style, peeking out from the roof like a tiny birdhouse. The entire camper sits on a 1977 Ford Camper Special chassis.

Even with character oozing from its exterior, one might not expect the many extraordinary touches that await them once they enter the Griswald. Starting again at the top, the ceiling and walls are lined with pine tongue and groove planking, brightened by LED lights running down a central beam. Wooden arches appear to support the roof while adding visual appeal to the space.

Including the sleeping loft, the entire space only takes up 160 square feet, yet it offers all the comforts of home. The bathtub was designed using a steel trough large enough for two people to share. Surrounded by opulent butternut wood with rustic edging, this tub invites you to relax in water heated from a nearby custom wood-burning stove. This stove is also a heat source for the entire home on cold nights.

A fully-stocked kitchen not only provides a space to cook and eat in, but also commands attention all throughout the interior. After all, it’s hard not to be drawn towards its one-of-a-kind wheelbarrow kitchen sink, which appears to go straight through the wall (the part protruding from the exterior can actually be used as a planter, too). Elsewhere in the kitchen, you’ll find a backsplash of multicolored glass tiles and an LED worklight. Appliances include a propane gas range and oven along with a two-door not-so-mini fridge, while eye-catching blue pine cabinetry ties the room together.

When the food’s ready, it can be enjoyed outside or at the table, which itself has been carved into a corner with a creative nook bench that incorporates lumber from old cabinet doors.

The Griswald sleeps five people in total, with a double mattress in the loft, a futon that doubles as a couch, and a hammock that stows away for more space. If you plan on staying in it for longer than a few days, you’ll be happy to know that the van’s cab has been converted into an outhouse for use while parked. And don’t worry, there is a closing door that separates the composting toilet in here from the main living space. Even better, that toilet can be broken down and be removed altogether during transport.

The Griswold is currently for sale at an asking price of $45,000 and is located in Marshall, North Carolina.

The post This Hobbit Treehouse on Wheels Offers Unique Tiny Home Design first appeared on Dornob.

“It is a house with only 40 m2 (when the box is unfolded). It has been designed for living long times that overcomes its target of occasional stays and invites to be lived by a lot of time. A-cero has cared a lot the furniture details in the interior space and has gotten practical solutions to take the most of space.

“The furniture has been designed by A-cero. It is made in Corian: a light and hard material that supports the usual vibrations and movements of driving. The whole truck is decorated in white in order to create a bright, comfortable and modern space for living.”

The post Luxury RV for Design Snobs by A-Cero first appeared on Dornob.

The post Amphibious RV Explores Land and Water first appeared on Dornob.

Cutting a dramatic silhouette with its angled ends and corrugated black metal exterior, Drake is a 357-square-foot trailer capable of sleeping up to six people, complete with two lofts and a “flex room” that converts from a living area to a bedroom. The trailer measures 30 feet in length, eight and a half feet in width, and 13.4 feet in height. At 13,000 pounds, its weight is actually in the same ballpark as those of similar-sized commercial RVs. But instead of plastic paneling and flimsy surfaces inside, you’ll find the kind of solid wood finishes you’d expect to see in a cabin. Blurring the line between RVs and tiny houses, Drake aims to provide all the comforts of home in a portable package.

It boasts a full-size entry door, 14 double-paned windows, highly efficient insulation, and a roof strong enough to withstand snow loads of ski resort caliber. Ten-foot-high ceilings give it a spacious feel, and all of its built-in furniture — including a sofa covered in custom Sunbrella cushions, hidden storage drawers, a double-duty work/eat bar, and plenty of shelving — saves precious floor area. The master loft can fit a king-sized mattress, while the secondary loft accommodates a queen. Closets, dimmable LED lighting, custom cellular blinds, standard electrical outlets, a washer/dryer combo, and full-sized modern kitchen and bathroom furnishings make it as comfortable as any hotel room. The Drake can be placed anywhere you can put a traditional RV, and it has all the standard inlets and outlets required for use at an RV park.

Self-described “guinea pigs” Brian and Joni Buzarde knew just what would make Drake livable for long periods on the road, mostly because they’ve been living in an earlier model they built themselves since 2012. They designed, constructed, and tested their own handmade RV (which they named “Woody”) in exchange for the freedom to follow jobs from Austin, Texas to Aspen, Colorado while living in all sorts of beautiful locales along the way. When certain small things didn’t work out (think storage ideas and plumbing setups), they learned from the experiences and refined their designs. Drake is the result of all that trial and error.

Land Ark currently has one Drake model in stock and ready to ship at $139,000, and future orders will have a three-to-four-month lead time. That may be more than the $15,000-$50,000 average for a new fifth wheel RV measuring the same length, but for some discerning buyers, beautiful design makes the trade-off worthwhile. Anyone who wants to take a tour of the completed model should stop by Compass Mountain in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, a former RV park in the process of converting to a 42-unit tiny home community.

The post Modern Goes Mobile: The Land Ark RV is a Sleek Getaway on Wheels first appeared on Dornob.

The Escape One XL is a two-story micro-home that measures just under 400 square feet, which is at least twice as large as the average tiny house on wheels. Mobile, street-legal, and capable of sleeping up to eight people, the Escape One XL features a boxy RV-inspired silhouette and a wood-clad interior recalling the aesthetics of modern minimalist cabins. Its proportions, and the fact that it’s built on a trailer, enable it to be legally classified as a vehicle instead of a permanent structure. That means there’s no need for foundations, building permits, or property taxes.

On the bottom floor, you’ll find a surprisingly spacious kitchen area with a full-sized oven range and refrigerator, as well as counters, a microwave, and a sink, but you can customize the space according to your needs. This area also enjoys a double-height ceiling, while lofts on either end of the home host sleeping platforms with their own five-foot ceilings. One is reached via a narrow ladder, while the other offers a staircase for enhanced accessibility.

The bathroom, which is tucked beneath one of the lofts, boasts a toilet, vanity unit, and 60-inch bath/shower combo, while the stairs conceal storage and a closet. Translucent doors lead to a space that can be closed off for privacy, perfect for use as a living area, office, or studio.

The home is outfitted with baseboard heating and LED lighting. All those beautiful low-E windows come standard, and many of them are operable. Optional features in the Escape One XL include air conditioning, French doors, built-in beds, stone countertops, flat-screen TVs, USB outlets, and even a soaking or jet tub. The interior is clad in raw lodgepole pine and laminate or oak hardwood flooring, and the outside features beautiful Shou Sugi Ban-style charred wood siding.

This mobile micro-home can go anywhere an RV can, with standard RV hookups like a 30-amp electric plug, 3/4” water connection, and 3” quick-couple septic connection. You can store water in tanks, too. The sturdy steel trailer boasts 7,000-pound tandem axles, radial tires, and electric brakes. All in all, the Escape One XL measures about 35 feet long (including the hitch), eight-and-a-half feet wide, and 13-and-a-half feet high. It also weighs 11,000 pounds, which means you’ll need a vehicle with an appropriate towing capacity to pull it along.

The Escape One XL is an expansion of the Escape company’s standard “Escape” model, which is smaller and lighter. Escape offers a number of other towable tiny house models and larger park model houses, too. The company’s based in Wisconsin, but it delivers to almost anywhere in America with its own trucking company. The Escape One XL starts at about $69, 800, but it can be financed. It takes as little as 60 days to receive your unit after ordering.

The post Escape One XL: The Two-Story Micro-Home on Wheels first appeared on Dornob.

Conceived of by the international advertising company Anomaly in collaboration with Fabian Mazzola of Bitlens Studio, this project, which was surprisingly not commissioned by MINI, takes the British automaker’s signature style and adapts it to create an unusual trailer with Airstream-like proportions and a 21st century aesthetic. Inside the pod, you won’t find any of the faux wood or plastic interiors you’d expect to see in traditional RVs. Instead, you’ll be greeted by a spacious living environment and a set of modern amenities that were designed make your travels as luxurious as possible. Mazzola says, “This idea came up as I wanted to create an idea, an illusion of a futuristic pod that came with all the accommodations a home has.”

For starters, the MINI-inspired camping pod features panoramic windows that open its interior up to picturesque views of the surrounding landscapes. For added privacy and protection from the sun, the windows have all been tinted, but you’ll be happy to hear that they still let plenty of daylight in. These glass panes even stretch up over the pod’s cozy full-sized bed for some breathtaking views of the sky. A second skylight rests above the camper’s minimalist kitchen area.

The interior has been designed to mimic a hotel suite, boasting wooden floors and sleek lighting fixtures. Since you can use the pod’s extra space however you like, you’ll easily be able to throw some additional chairs and accessories into the mix, too. What other camper comes with its own full-sized bathroom? This modern back room features a tub that’s big enough to stretch out in and, in keeping with the rest of the pod, a sizable window that allows you to look out at the ocean, forest, or any other preferred climate while enjoying a comfortable bath. Not bad at all. While rugged campers who prefer the gritty feel of the outdoors might turn their noses up at this kind of luxury, the pod is perfect for any travelers who are accustomed to staying in high-end hotels but want to spend some time in a more natural setting.

Of course, no design comes without a few flaws. For instance, it’s not clear whether the mobile home would provide an option for covering those big windows up at night, something most people would find pretty crucial to their personal comfort. The kitchen could stand to be a little more functional, too, and more accessible storage space is always convenient when packing for a road trip. Of course, this is still more of a speculative concept than a concrete design, and there’s no reason those details couldn’t be amended later on.

If it were ever manufactured, this MINI-inspired camping pod would undoubtedly come at a hefty cost and be out of a lot of would-be adventurers’ budgets. Still, if there’s one great thing that can come from renderings like these, it’s their potential to inspire companies to think outside the box, take risks, and begin incorporating some of these luxurious features into their own vehicles.

The post Mini Cooper Inspires Luxury Camping Pod Design first appeared on Dornob.

Once the war was over, Volkswagen managed to open a few factories in Britain and America. In 1959, an ad campaign still considered to be among the best in history urged car buyers to “Think Small.” The idea—and the Beetle’s unusual design—quickly caught on. The hippies were able to turn a machine built for combat into a vision of peace and love. The Beetle made it easy for young people to take long road trips, but its small size made it hard for larger groups to travel together.

By the 1970s, a few hippies with deeper than average pockets attempted to build a hybrid: a car that kept the Beetle’s design but provided the comfort and space of a Volkswagen Microbus. The result of this converted camper experiment was the “Super Bugger,” a hilarious Bug-turned-RV creation that sold for roughly $6,000 in 1975. Also known as the Lil’ Bugger or MiniHome, the original Super Bugger required a Microbus engine to be installed under the Beetle’s hood to sustain highway speeds of 50-55 mph. Inside, the car featured a pull-out bed tucked into a space above the cab, along with faux wood paneling and a ton of shag carpet. It also housed a stove, sink, ice box, water tank, cupboards, drawers, and a storage closet. Most contemporary Super Bugger owners have chosen to ditch the bed in favor of a simple outdoor tent.

Only a handful of people tried to make Super Buggers at first, but those who were successful in creating them still take great pride in their cars. Some owners have kept theirs in mint condition, while others have upgraded theirs to include modern amenities. One couple brought their turquoise Super Bugger to an auto show in 2016, along with a 1977 issue of Mechanix Illustrated that contained a cover story on Super Buggers. They might not be the world’s best campers, though the couple says they do make for great ice breakers and are sure to attract curious Volkswagen and RV enthusiasts everywhere.

Dying to get your hands on a Super Bugger for your own summertime adventures? Try checking eBay and Craigslist. Listings appear on these sites every now and then but tend to sell fast. If you’re handy, you can order DIY plans from Robert Q. Riley and build your own version for roughly $2,000 plus the cost of a Volkswagen Beetle.

“Driving a MiniHome is an addictive experience,” says Riley. “Acceleration and cornering are much like the original VW. But one does have to negotiate a few trial turns in order to gain confidence in its roll stability. MiniHome is much more stable than it looks. After a few minutes behind the wheel, the pleasure of driving such a small vehicle, in comparison to other RVs, begins to take effect.”

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