Japanese extremely small campers Not Fiberglass, but very neat!

[Adrian W]

Not fiberglass, but interesting video:

‪Japanese Campers, MUST SEE!!‬‏ - YouTube

Interesting seeing RVs from a different culture.

[floyd]

Originally Posted by Adrian W

Not fiberglass, but interesting video:

Interesting seeing RVs from a different culture.

I love the little "C" class motorhomes! that was fun thanks!

[Tim Wood]

Neat video.

[Donna D.]

Interesting, but I'm really not enthusiastic if I have to laydown to put on my pants!

[Karen M]

Lot's of quirky and clever ideas to maximize space and usefulness though.

Karen

[Terry G]

I believe that there would be a huge market for the VW Westfalia camper van, if it was still available. In 1999, Westfalia was purchased by Mercedes-Benz, which stopped VW from getting conversions. And now the company is independent but bankrupt. A lot of those vans seen on the Japanese video are interesting but the little wheels and poor ground clearance would make them a bad choice for the US. With expensive gas, I'm surprised that someone hasn't started importing some sort of camper vans again. They're still big in Australia.

[Karen M]

The Pleasure Way Ford Traverse (at about 54K) has nearly an identical floorplan with good ground clearance and good (reported) reliability. No doubt the Westfalia got better gas mileage. Several Class B RV's are based on the Mercedes Sprinter vans but are very expensive.

Karen

[Lizbeth]

Fiberglass trailer at the 50 second mark?

[Karen M]

Lizbeth,

Yes! I think it's a Casita. I know they did, or maybe they still do, export them to Japan. You have a quick eye. I sure didn't see that the first time.

Karen

[rleete]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

Interesting, but I'm really not enthusiastic if I have to laydown to put on my pants!

Agreed. I'd rather be in a tent, where at least I can stand up.

[Adrian W]

Originally Posted by Lizbeth

Fiberglass trailer at the 50 second mark?

I though I got a glimpse of what looked like fiberglass, but did not watch it a second time until now. Yep, Looks like a Casita without decals behind a fairly large dark van in a pan shot.

I assume, these small RVs fill a niche on a small island with a large population which we do not really have. From what I have seen, housing is much smaller and what is placed in them are more basic than what we have grown to expect. More sparse in our eyes, but functional. Not all of them where the very small ones. But none of the behemoths, we find roaming the roads here.

I would think there are bathhouses for them to use as well as toilets, making carrying there own not a priority. Perhaps long stays camping are not as common. But tent campers normally do not take bathrooms with them.

As for rather being in a tent, I tried that last summer. Things got wet when a thunder storm camp by with some strong wind and rain & hail. I believe I would rather sleep in the back of my pickup in the shell (which I did finally) and have an awning of some kind to stand up in outside the vehicle. Not that I'm giving up the Scamp. I do like the head room, the shower and the toilet, large fridge, etc.

Smaller tires equate better fuel milage, I believe. But I prefer large ones, too.

We have a similar niche here with those wishing to travel/camp in or having to live in vans and cars.

Not the best way to go perhaps, but a way to go. "Going" - being the objective. Might make the going more fun.

No answers, just suggestions to answers. IMHO!

As I said, I find it interesting seeing RVs for a different culture.

[mike_bc]

Originally Posted by Karen M

Lizbeth,

Yes! I think it's a Casita. I know they did, or maybe they still do, export them to Japan. You have a quick eye. I sure didn't see that the first time.

Karen

We have / had a member here from Japan.