The trend towards compact camping vehicles continues. Even more. The innovations presented at the digital CMT fair concentrate on camper vans in California format and even below.
Although the Stuttgart leisure fair CMT had to be canceled early due to Corona, some manufacturers from the caravanning industry still used the digital offer of the fair management to present their innovations. It is not surprising that compact motorhomes are at the forefront, as they are driving the ongoing growth of camping vehicles more than any other category. However, some debutants show that it can be even more minimalist and that small vans like the Citroen Berlingo are also suitable as full-fledged campers.
Vanderer
Such as the new Kempten company Vanderer, which describes itself as "a specialist team of outdoor athletes, nature lovers, campers and globetrotters" and has put all its know-how into developing a minivan extension based on the Berlingo. The people of Allgäu see their product as an everyday vehicle that fits into every garage and offers maximum flexibility so that you are always ready for a short trip for biking, surfing, hiking, fishing or even for a camping weekend for four. The basis of the Vanderer Urban Campers is the 4,75 meter long five-seater Citroen Berlingo XL (alternatively Peugeot Rifter, Opel Combo or Toyota Proace City are also possible) with the 110 hp turbo gasoline engine and always with a rear-opening pop-up roof. Firstly, to allow two double beds above (1,85 × 1,10 meters) and below (2,05 × 1,20 meters) for four people, and secondly, so that there is enough freedom of movement under the raised loft in the day configuration Has. Three stylish, modular furniture boxes behind the front seats always require some renovation work as required, but transform the Berlingo into a rolling three-room apartment. The two longitudinal blocks at the back become a pull-out outdoor kitchen with an induction hob and portable gas cooker, as well as a sink opposite. If the left box is converted into a table thanks to the height adjustment, the whole thing is transformed into a living-dining room with a corner bench. And with a little upholstery origami, you can create a double bed for a good night's sleep.
The base price is 29.000 euros. With the more powerful 131 hp diesel, electric, comfort, style and assistant packages as well as awning and two additional seats for a seven-person configuration, the price can still go up by around 12.000 euros.
Cross camp
One class above is the Opel Zafira, which has also been available as a camping bus from the still young Crosscamp brand, which is part of the Erwin-Hymer Group at Dethleffs, since last year. The camper with the lightning bolt on the radiator grille, as well as the identical Toyota Proace Verso model, is now also available in a lite version, which completely dispenses with the kitchen block and the rear cupboard and is therefore 1.500 euros cheaper. From 42.500 euros, the Toyota variant is exactly 2.000 euros cheaper in the price list than the somewhat better equipped Opel. Advantage of the slimmed-down camper: Without the built-in furniture, the lower double bed grows to an impressive width of 1,40 meters. And a pull-out, single-burner gas cooker in the rear also guarantees approval as a mobile home.
Flowcamper
The Mercedes Vito is also becoming increasingly popular as a base vehicle and is opening up new expansion partners. After Pössl, as number one among the panel van manufacturers, added the Stuttgart Transporter to its range for the first time, the Van Tourer Urban from the Koblenz company Eurocaravaning with the star on the radiator grille is starting again. And in full equipment, convertible from 6-seater to mobile office to camping vehicle for four people. The highlight of the Vito Van Tourer, as opposed to in-house use as a Marco Polo entry-level model, is a removable kitchen block, which can also be used as an outdoor kitchen thanks to external connections for gas, water and electricity. With a height of less than two meters, multi-storey car parks are not taboo and at prices from 50.000 euros it is significantly cheaper than a comparable Marco Polo.
The manufacturer Flowcamper from Hagen, known for their mostly very colorful models, whose interior consists of wooden furniture and other natural materials, relies on a much more minimalist version of the Vito. The "Frieda Stern" with sofa bed, single-flame cooker, 21-liter cool box and a pop-up roof that can be opened all around and thus mutates into a sun terrace, is available from 45.000 euros.
Those who want it a little more comfortable opt for the new Casper, optionally available as a VW T6.1 or Vito variant. The two sliding and removable individual seats in the second row create flexible storage space. The fixed kitchen unit made of Nordic spruce includes a two-burner stove, storage compartments with sliding door, a 30-liter compressor cooler and the fresh and waste water tanks (20 and 17 liters). Prices: from 59.100 euros.
rocket one
With the Rocket One on a Fiat Ducato chassis, we have already reached the panel van class, but the issue of doing without also plays a role here. Because even if a small camping toilet is on board, you won't find a sanitary room here - in favor of a generous feeling of space and a wide transverse bed (1,93 × 1,40 meters) in the stern. The previous six-meter version is now being supplemented by a 6,36-meter-long XL version with longitudinal single beds in the rear. But here, too, the still young company from Stuttgart is assembling three individual seats in the second row, all with Isofix fastenings, and behind them a spacious transverse kitchen across the entire width of the car. A 5,40 meter short S version for two people without the row of three in the middle, but otherwise with the same furniture modules and transverse bed in the back is planned for the middle of the year.
Also unusual: the Rocket Moto with a large fold-down bed at the rear, under which a 2,20-meter-deep garage can be built that even fits a motorcycle, and the all-wheel drive based on a MAN TGE that was promised for the end of the year. The Rocket Ocean, which is also new, is the conversion of a Van Tourer 600 D with a transverse bed in the rear, which has a particularly stylish exterior and elegant furniture flaps in matt white in the interior. As a special model at a price from 64.790 euros, it offers a price advantage of almost 7.500 euros. Otherwise, entry into the rocket camper world is just under 60.000 euros.