by Ben Wilby
Caravanning is the fastest growing tourism sector in Australia and New Zealand – a popularity that has seen designers from down under come up with some truly weird and wacky designs.
However a new concept from New Zealand based W2 Design Company may take the biscuit.
The ‘Romotow‘, a combination of the words ‘room to move’, is an innovative design that folds out like a Swiss Army Knife to ensure that the tourer offers roughly 70% more living space than an average caravan.
The living area swivels out from an exterior shell – which looks like a simple process in the concept and if it works well will offer a lot of extra room.
The tourer will work using a balancing system that W2 is confident will prevent the tourer from falling over when unfolded.
Origins
The company began designing the innovative caravan by discussing how useful and cost effective a flat-pack caravan would be.
They took the idea and ran with it – the Romotow had been in development for three years before the company released the first images of it recently.
Aiming to make trailers “cool” the designers are confident that they are onto a winner and have described their tourer as “the next frontier in mobile living” as well as claiming that it was the first dramatic reinvention since the 1960s.
While this is a very bold claim, it is not the first caravan to work using a fold-out method. However with good support and a reasonable price it could be the first to achieve mainstream success, as well as being one of the most stylish caravans designed.
The tourer is “architecturally designed” (W2 started out as an architecture firm) and has a completely curved look that sets it apart from the blocky style of some caravans.
It also has a modern feel – clear white and in a simplistic style, it features a huge bay window as well as slats that can be opened to let in light and air, and then be closed for when you want privacy.
Although, still three years away from the planned launch W2 has three different models already designed – measuring 4.5, 6.5 and nine metres long.
These sizes will allow the tourer to fit onto standard pitches – although they did not explain how this would work when they were unfolded.
Features
The tourer has been designed to be as aerodynamic as possible and will, in theory, be less wobbly on the road – allowing owners to keep better control of the caravan they are towing.
With its large design and extra room, concerns about weight are only natural and W2 have thought of this as well – deciding to use lightweight materials that will allow it to maintain a low tow-weight.
Should the caravan reach production level it will come with power-assisted braking, pneumatic shocks, gyroscope-assisted self-levelling pads and struts, and a rear-mounted camera for reversing safely.
Inside, there is all you would expect from a touring caravan – a kitchenette, bathroom and a decent sized living area – while the fold-out area allows owners to have a sheltered outside section as well.
The plan is to allow owners to use the extra outdoor space as a sheltered BBQ deck area, with a fold-down barbeque, sliding doors, and furniture adding to this design.
This represents W2’s first caravan design and they are currently meeting with caravan manufacturers to make the concept a reality – firstly with prototypes and then full production.
Although they have stated that they are aiming for American manufacturers we at CaravanTimes think they should give Swift or Bailey a call and bring this idea to the UK.
They also have patents registered for the product – which proves that they are serious about developing this concept into a full-blown design.
However with the technology required, stylish design and lightweight materials – do not expect these to be budget caravans by any stretch.
To get an early look at the tourer and how it works, watch the video below:
