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Tiny Motorhomes


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Tiny motorhomes are awesome because they do great on gas, are inexpensive to buy, and can fit just about anywhere (parking space-wise). But we don’t have any THIS SMALL being made in the United States… But *soon* I think we will.

Check these out, they are perfect for simple traveling (not really much room) but enough to get you from place to place efficiently while giving you a place to sleep. More than one person in here? I’m not sure?? The Toyota one definitely looks big enough for two but not sure about the other… particularly that little gray one… it’s TINY. Another downfall is that these engines may not be able to handle going uphill too well but I could be wrong on some models. Anyways this will make up for it in fuel costs. Would you consider an RV this small?? These three photos are thanks to Geno’s blog who traveled to Japan to get these photos. Check out his blog here.

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A tiny motorhome…

Tiny Motorhome

This one seems to have more space, but is still pretty compact…

Tiny Motorhome

Which is your favorite?

Tiny Motorhome

Photos by Geno

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Alex

Alex is a contributor and editor for TinyHouseTalk.com and the always free Tiny House Newsletter. He has a passion for exploring and sharing tiny homes (from yurts and RVs to tiny cabins and cottages) and inspiring simple living stories. We invite you to send in your story and tiny home photos too so we can re-share and inspire others towards a simple life too. Thank you!
{ 26 comments… add one }
  • Teresa
    December 1, 2011, 11:03 pm

    I would love something that small. My sister has a family of 7 living in a 3 bedroom house with one bathroom in nowhere TX. I plan on visiting in a few months and I’m seriously thinking of purchasing a couple decade old small RV to hook up at her place so I can have a decent place to sleep and shower. That way,no air matress or competing for bathroom time. This here would be perfect, as I just basicly need a bed and bathroom on wheels. Same for camping. I’d spend most time enjoying nature, but would have my own facility when needed.

    • December 3, 2011, 8:46 am

      Hey Teresa yeah 7 people can keep one bathroom pretty busy.. I like your idea for your own place. Glad you liked the ones here. I am sure you will find something that works out great. Keep us updated and best of luck! Alex

      • Susan
        July 28, 2021, 4:31 am

        It would be great if we could see the insides!! Hard to decide otherwise!

    • Scott
      July 6, 2022, 7:04 pm

      You go girl I’m homeless but get $1400 month. Know any drivable connected campers only?

  • Ed
    July 15, 2013, 12:44 am

    I want a tiny RV like one of these! I wish they were available here in the U.S:(

    • carrie adams
      August 1, 2013, 9:54 pm

      ditto!

    • carole293
      March 31, 2014, 9:31 pm

      you can build your own, I build a bed and storage and a shelf/kitchen area in my ford transit connect van. super tiny and fun.

      • Korena Vukobrat
        March 19, 2021, 1:49 am

        What web site please

  • Glema
    April 14, 2014, 8:31 pm

    it’s a fansy teardrop to me. modern kithchen though. w/o a toilet or indoor shower you still have to via for the restroom w the seven others. i think a little house is better. has it all. 🙂

  • Greg Burns
    April 15, 2014, 2:00 pm

    As far as “tiny” motorhomes? Well, I’ve owned several, a couple being “new” and one a bit used. There was a 1992 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck-based “Itasca Micro Spirit” (also sold as the “Winnebago Micro Warrior”…) that had an overhead bunk for 2, a fold-down sofa for 2 and a dinette that converted for 2. Plus once I slept across both front seats to squeeze another person in. OUCH! There was a 1986 Renault CitiVan (sp?)-based “Winnebago LeSharo” (also sold as the ”
    Itasca Phazer” & later called the “Winnebago Rialta” when they used the VW Eurovan chassis…). Had 4 “captains chairs” up front, 2 of which folded down into a double bed, and a dinette in the rear which did the same. Surprisingly, I had little trouble getting parts for it, even though the van itself was never sold in the U.S. Lastly, was the 2006 “Airstream Parkway” (upscale model was called the “Interstate”…) built on the Mercedes/Dodge/Freightliner “Sprinter” van. Its double folding sofas converted into a king-sized bed! And the turbo diesel engine achieved between 18 & 25mpg! Their prices? Well, the “Micro Spirit”, new, was listed at $32,000, but I got it for $25,000 “year end”. The “LeSharo” was $3,600 used (i.e. I bought it in 1999…), and needed a power steering unit installed at several hundred dollars. The “Parkway”? WOW! Almost $90,000!!! Each was good in its own way, although the “Airstream” was pretty much out of my league, price wise. YIKES!!! :-O I DO like the thought of using the new Ford “Transit Connect” van or the Nissan “NV200” to convert to a “stealth camper”. This way, nobody knows it when you drive on a non-RV parkway (wink-WINK!), or gets nosey if you pull off to sleep somewhere for a bit. Thanks for the GREAT postings!

  • Saint Phlip
    April 15, 2014, 10:37 pm

    I actually saw a tiny RV like these, quite a number of years ago, in someone’s yard in Ohio. I was always surprised that I had never seen more of them as the years went by. They had given me a tour of it, and I thought it was quite impressive,

    Myself, I’m quite interested in the Tiny House movement, not because I particularly want a Tiny House- at least, not without a large barn/workshop/storage area (I need room for my tools and books)- but because I want one to take to my Medieval camping events, and regular campers just look too modern. That being the case, I’m working on a design similar to the one by the travelling carpenter, so I don’t need to set up a bunch of outside stuff for an overnight or a weekend, but can expand as needed for week long or longer events, and still look reasonably non-modern.

  • Wsune and Neita Carver
    April 7, 2015, 8:44 am

    Would love to see the inside of dkme of these if possible .We are very interested in owningbone. Thankyou.o

  • February 3, 2017, 3:58 pm

    Wish we could get the small RV’s here. Those are pretty cool.

  • kenny heggem
    February 8, 2017, 12:19 pm

    You might be able to get one of these classic Subaru or Suzuki versions. Canada tends to import tiny Japanese Kei cars and mini vans. They have been legal for some time, and since they are over 25(?) yrs old, they can be imported to the USA.
    I have seen several little late 80’s and early 90’s Honda and Subaru ones come up for sale with under 45k miles and about $3000. They were brought over from Canada. I consider them. Only issue is some of the parts might be harder to get, will need to be shipped from suppliers in Japan. Being a simple 3 cylinder Japanese design, they should be cheap to fix. Crashworthiness? None. That is the only real down side. But efficient RVing with over 25 mpg? Sign. Me. Up.

    • Natalie C. McKee
      February 9, 2017, 7:14 am

      That’s true! Good MPG rocks.

  • Randy
    February 13, 2017, 9:32 am

    I had a little truck and it was a sanfu Nissan bought them out. That little would haul a pallet of sod better than a chev 1/2 ton pick-up.it got 40+ mpg the only draw back was you can not buy parts for it. I found a set of points that fit and I sold it while it was running lol but I wish I had another one

  • Laura Blanchette
    March 12, 2017, 5:04 pm

    Every time I find an RV that makes sense (efficient use of space and light weight materials) it turns out to be from Europe and sold only in Europe. They are light years ahead of us. I mean do we really want to use up our MPG on heavy oak cabinets and granite, yes granite, (RoadTrek) counters? Even things like microwaves should be optional. I’ve also read of more than a few people who removed their flush toilets and holding tanks and replaced them with composting toilets. They report less water useage and wt. (with no smell that RVers often complain of with regular RV toilets.

    • Natalie C. McKee
      March 13, 2017, 9:35 am

      It’s true! Europe, having less space than the US, tends to get the “tiny” life much better than we do!

  • Dug
    March 23, 2017, 7:41 pm

    The only think the UK has led the way In
    In so much as we have the Bambi and such models based on Bedford Suzuki and Dihatshi models of van, I also had one similar to the rear pod area that was a dismountable on the rear of a mk2 VW Caddy 1 to one pick-up and then VWs own Trekker model on the older Mk1 Caddy so there have been a few on that and these chassis.
    It’s a crying shame that their is not likes of a Transit Connect Pickup that could then have a dismount able attached as this route makes the vehicle pay for itself as you use it all week as your driver/work and come the weekend you reverse back pick-up the dismount able pod and take off having it sitting ready to go always as we had.
    A real shame these types of vehicle are almost extinct in the UK now also.

  • Dug
    March 23, 2017, 7:48 pm

    Btw
    Any Transit Connect camper owners if you have any images or details of your build or any other on that size of van I.e. Caddy, Belingo, Kangoo and the likes whether your design or a kit/conversion I would love to see/read your data.
    As I am seriously thinking about building one so any help/advice etc links to such assistance, support etc would be of great assistance.
    Looking forward to your assistance
    E-mail me direct @ [email protected] (anything no matter how small it will all assist me)
    Thanks in advance 🙂

  • Evening Iris
    October 20, 2017, 1:49 pm

    I’m with Greg Burns (above). I like stealth tiny motorhomes for the reasons he said: you can pull off anywhere and not attract attention, and not get rousted if the only road available is non-RV. I don’t like “noisy” paint jobs or any paint job that is going to attract attention; this may be great advertising for the manufacturer but it’s a problem creator for owners off the dealer’s lot. Invisible and on the down-low is the way to go for me. Also, you don’t attract anyone who might think you need breaking into if you look too fancy. I have to join the ranks of those bemoaning the fact that great things are made in Europe and only for European markets; just more or American “austerity” and a government bent on doing bad by us any way it can. I love the first one/picture above. It is so cute. I’m sorry we don’t have full pictures of the insides of all of these. They are truly interesting and seem great for traveling. Wonder what the gas mileage is…

  • Laura
    October 25, 2017, 1:03 pm

    It’s almost 2018. Any updates on European models coming to the US? They are the only models that make sense functionally and mpg wise. And I have been looking for quite a while.

  • LZ
    August 7, 2019, 7:25 pm

    So why isn’t any one putting together an rd like the Vixen? Good milage, low profile, and only 21 feet long!!

  • Kenny heggem
    August 8, 2019, 12:34 pm

    I’ve learned to embrace the Tent. I figured out the reality of plumbing, maintenance imvolved in owning pretty any RV. It’s sbother car to take care of. But RVs have a lot of extra needs.

    Hi f I wanted to constantly camp, had that type of option, I think the best bet is buying a straight 6 mid to late 90’s van (cargo or conversion) and making it your regular use car that so happens to allow you to sleep in back. Many come with seats that make into beds. You can buy them dirt cheap.

    Fuel economy? Yeah, that isn’t great. But consider that a nice 88 Ford Econolime won’t set you back more than a couple grand, over $5000 or more for a decent Toyota? I should mention that the Toyota also gets only 20 mpg on a good day.

    A van could be versatile. Gotta Move a lot? Pick up Home Depot Wood? Maybe want to start a side delivery business? All options.

    Throw in your Coleman stove, use water at the camp Grounds, yiu don’t want to have a bathroom to maintain. They get smelly. You got plumbing to maintain. Adds weight. Cool molicatuon. You need to dump the Stank.

    Nope.

  • David
    May 25, 2020, 4:25 pm

    These would do well in my country. I would consider buying one of these. Where as I have no interest in buying a typical size rv that is equivalent to a second house payment and would only use one in a blue moon. Hope they become available here.

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