One challenge that comes with RV and camper ownership is dealing with the size of your rig. You’ll have to store your camper somewhere, and parking is not for the faint of heart. One French manufacturer thinks it has a solution with just a tiny pod that you carry around the back of a car that nearly triples its size at the touch of a button. And yes, you can get it in the United States.
Beauer is a new face in the RV world. It all started in 2009 when engineer Eric Beau wanted a bigger camping trailer that looked like something from the 1960s. He couldn’t find any that fit the bill, so he had to make up his own. The result is a far cry.
Photo: Beauer
In 2011, Beauer hit the trade show with the 3X camping trailer. It’s a can-shaped camper that takes up a small footprint of space while on the road but expands with the touch of a button.
The sleek design and trick feature of the 3X has been making headlines for years. But until recently, they were a forbidden fruit here in the United States. Beauer has announced that the company has set up shop here in North America, so let’s see what you can get with this oddball camper.
Photo: Beauer
Let’s get to the best part of the way right now. It’s a fully equipped travel trailer that expands from the size of a small car to 129-square-feet of living space for four.
It does this through a design similar to a telescope. All the internal parts are located in such a way that they can expand and retract without getting in the way of each other. The 3.66-metre-long camper goes from six feet wide to 15 feet wide with the press of a button in 60 seconds. Electric cylinders extend the camper, and the interior automatically slides into place.
The interior is modern, in stark contrast to the vintage exteriors. The central module is your kitchen, and it has enough room for a refrigerator, stove, sink, and microwave.
Photo: Beauer
The port-side module is a living room with wraparound benches and a table for five. It can be converted into a bed for two.
Photo: Beauer
On the starboard-side module is a bedroom. It also has a bed for two people, a toilet and a place to take a shower. There’s a dividing wall between the bedroom and the rest of the trailer, so you can sleep in and have some privacy for those mornings on the toilet.
Photo: Beauer
Options include the aforementioned shower with a heater, air-conditioner, cycle carrier, and more. It also comes in a lightweight 950kg, so anything can pull it. I love the fact that it’s perfect to fit inside a parking space or garage. This is a camper that won’t require many people to rent storage space.
Beauer says it has a United States distributor for these and sales should have started already, so over time you might see one of these on the street. You can buy one for $34,600 ($48,032) at current exchange rates before shipping.
