How do you re-invent the caravan and create something new and different? Many would say it is impossible – but in France, that is exactly what has happened. A new style of caravan has been born, and it is attracting massive attention.
It all began when an inventor and vintage car enthusiast named Eric Beau realized he needed a bigger caravan. His preference was the lovely sixties caravans such as the Sologne, Georges et Jacques, Baillou and Escargot, but there was nothing on the market that could give him the style and size that he wanted. Undaunted, he set about building one in his father’s backyard.
The result was astounding. Eric’s concept was simple: a small but expandable caravan based on a telescopic concept thus allowing a small unit no wider than a normal car to expand horizontally by tripling in size in less than a couple of minutes. The hardest part was developing the modeling; once that was complete there were no major technical issues to overcome. Pleased with the result, he took it away on vacation. It immediately attracted attention at every campsite, with people commenting on his brilliant idea, and wanting to know where they could get one.
What started as a personal interest quickly became a business, named BeauER. Having patented the concept worldwide, the BeauER won the highly prestigious Concours de Lepine innovation prize in 2016. An artisanal workshop involving local craftsmen was set up at Cholet, near Nantes and the concept began to be marketed to the general public in early 2017. Orders began to flood in via the company’s website from as far afield as Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the Netherlands, China, Korea, Spain and the USA. The Hymer Museum in Germany has already added one to its displays of caravan memorabilia.
So how exactly does the BeauER comprise? Fully extended, it contains a living area, a kitchen/diner complete with hob, oven, refrigerator, shower, wash basin & toilet, and bedroom providing sufficient space for a family of four. Two people can sleep in the bedroom, while the seating in the living area can adjust to provide another large bed. There is extensive storage sited around the kitchen, with units reaching from floor to roofline, which also act as a divider between the kitchen and the toilet, shower area and bedroom.
Expanding or contracting the caravan operates just like a telescope, with sections slipping inside each other. It takes just one person to adjust the size of the caravan. This can be done electronically via remote control or a key, and is powered from the car battery, or from the mains electric hook up. So for parking, you just place the van in position and attach to the electrical source. Turn the key or press the remote and the van simply expands outwards at front and back, a process that takes about 20 seconds. Place the retractable legs in position, open the door and you are ready to enjoy your holiday. All the furniture and contents are already in place and ready for use. Technically, you can actually use the camper without the legs, but the floor does become a little bouncy as a result.
Inside The Hymer [RV] Museum in Germany, which already added a BeauER camper to its displays of caravan memorabilia. [Photo/BeauER]
Closing the caravan simply involves moving the legs and pressing the remote once again. The units effortlessly slide back into place, creating an extremely secure vehicle. Open the door and you are faced with a wall. Try to break through the windows at either end and you are faced with walls created by the bed or the seating. It is also very safe – anyone caught accidentally inside is able to wait for rescue within the kitchen area.
Tristram Congreave of International Agencies who is working with Eric Bauer to develop the international market for the caravan comments, “Some journalists have deliberately stayed inside the caravan when it was closing up, with a GoPro camera, and came out unscathed! The other security feature is that if there is a weight on a bed or a sofa (like a sleeping child), the weight triggers an automatic halt of the closing mechanism.”
The whole vehicle is compact, easy to maneuver and takes up very little space on the road. It meets the targets set by Eric when he started the innovation process:
Once folded, the width does not exceed that of a conventional car.
Not surprisingly, given its Gallic heritage; the BeauER is also extremely stylish. It is best described as a combination of fifties/sixties vintage retro with modern contemporary. Unlike any other caravan on the market, the design is not built around a square or rectangular box. Instead it has an almost teardrop shape, with smooth curved sides that allow the wind to pass effortlessly around as you drive, increasing its fuel efficiency. Even inside, the stress is placed on curves rather than straight lines. Even the edges of the dining area have slight curves at the corners. In some ways, the BeauER almost seems like a Hobbit hole on wheels. Frodo and Bilbo Baggins would certainly feel at home in one.
White shade with a band of color (usually black, red, yellow or blue) about a foot and a half wide around the window area is proving to be the most popular option. But all color options are possible including gold, abstract pinks, and marine blue. Within reason, it is possible to create a bespoke version. Buyers have the option of choosing from a variety of colors for the seating and storage, or adding in extras like an awning, solar panels or a bicycle rack.
The BeauER is also environmentally friendly. As already mentioned, it has a fuel efficient design. It makes use of composite materials such as polyester and aluminum to ensure a perfect balance of strength and low weight. Recyclable materials such as hemp are used for the wall insulation. It is definitely lightweight. Although the 12 sq meter interior of the standard BeauER is much larger than many traditional four berth caravans, it has a weight of about 2,650 lbs (1,203 kg), making it much lighter than other slide-out styles.
Prices for the Classic BeauER 3x start at $31,660 (27,900 Euros) while the 3XPlus starts at roughly $56,625 (49,900 Euros). Final prices depend entirely on options chosen, and any bespoke extras such as solar panels, shipping, delivery and taxes.
It is not just vacationers seeking a vehicle for recreational use that are expressing an interest in the BeauER. Campsites have been expressing interest, especially for use on uneven ground or land prone to waterlogging. Businesses, too, have been quick to recognize its potential. French company Bouygues Construction has purchased one to use as a mobile office, likewise Bridgestone Tires. An education company is using one to provide training facilities, while French local authorities are expressing interest as it provides a convenient way to take town hall facilities into rural areas.
As Eric Beau points out, “It is an ideal mobile workspace for mobile offices, training rooms, showrooms, mobile shops, relaxation centers, escape games, hairdressing salons, fablab and much more.”
There can be little doubt that this revolutionary idea is attracting attention worldwide. Eric Beau has already been approached by keen campers from Canada, Australia, Japan, China and the United Arab Emirates. Work is underway on a BeauER destined for an American family.
And Eric’s inventiveness is continuing to make an impact on the caravan market. Not content with developing this unique caravan, he is now seeking ways to make it even more flexible. In 2019, the company plans to launch a VW Transporter truck mounted pod version based on the same principle as the classic BeauER models, which will be deployable on the truck or on the ground. This will allow the pod to be used as a camper van when required. As a result, the new concept will provide considerable flexibility to the owner, as it becomes possible to use the truck separately for other purposes when necessary.
Overseas expansion to meet the overwhelming demand for BeauER caravans is on the cards – which is good news for the 3,000 prospective US owners who have already inquired via the BeauER website. BeauER has announced that it is exploring ways of setting up a manufacturing site within the US as shipping lots of empty caravans across the Atlantic would be too expensive. There are already plans to expand into the UK and Germany during 2019. It is anticipated that the concept will also appeal to most of the Nordic Scandinavian countries where most people prefer a traditional caravan rather than an RV. Elsewhere the intention is to build online sales and ship the caravans across national borders, although ultimately BeauER would like to set up another manufacturing site within the UK as well.