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Honda’s Micro RV/Camper: N-Truck/N-CAMP


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This is a Honda N-Truck with an N-CAMP package to tow behind.

It’s a concept Honda is toying with that could be a great affordable solution if you want to travel with less impact (financially and environmentally).

It’s based on a Honda Kei car which is a Japanese sub compact car with about 63 horsepower and a 660 cc engine. Inside the tow-behind travel trailer you’ll find a table, loft bed for two, a pair of armchairs, and not much more. Unfortunately, for now, this is just a concept but it did debut at the 2015 Japan Camper Show. What do you think? Would you ever buy something like this?

Related: Woman Turns her Honda Element into DIY Micro Camper/RV

Honda’s Micro RV: N-Truck/N-CAMP

Honda Micro RV Concept 02

Images © Honda

Honda Micro RV Concept 01

Images © Honda

Learn more: http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2015/02/09/honda-teeeny-tiny-rv/

Our big thanks to George (and Honda) for sharing!

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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!
{ 14 comments… add one }
  • Theo
    July 9, 2015, 3:44 pm

    My first thought, looks like a horse trailer. Might be fine in Japan, but I can’t see safely getting out in traffic any place with a speed limit higher than 35mph in such a low powered vehicle.

  • Deadrock
    July 9, 2015, 3:48 pm

    Dang, that’s cute. I mean, Tonka-cute. Oh, the headz I’d turn tooling down the street in this little beauty.

    No price listed (even a potential one), so I can’t say for SURE that I wouldn’t ever buy something like this, but…pretty sure I’d never buy something like this. I mean, with so many affordable (ish) options already available for comfy traveling, what does this one offer that would make it so attractive? Possibly it will be so inexpensive compared to RVs or trailers that it will give a few more people the ability to hit the road without too big a hit to the wallet, but with no way to cook food the vacation budget starts climbing back up again.

    Still, if only for the kitsch factor, it’s not off the table.

  • zenLoki
    July 9, 2015, 3:51 pm

    Its better finished than any RV I’ve seen to date but I’d like to see more opening windows and outside storage compartments for carrying the kitchen. An exterior awning would be a handy accessory and could be built right into the body.

  • Greg Burns
    July 9, 2015, 3:53 pm

    Depending on how MUCH this nifty, little “rig” co$t, I think it’s GREAT! Have owned several different kinds, sizes & prices of RV’s, and would LOVE something THIS “COZY” to remain somewhat “incognito” when parked to camp or sleep. It doesn’t SCREAM “cheap-ass camper”/”beware of poor, white trash!” And it would likely be VERY easy to maneuver, set-up on site, and park, both at home and on the road. Many municipalities now have ordinances AGAINST parking LARGER RV’s on one’s OWN property, so unless it can be squeezed into a taller garage or hidden by a tasteful “tarp”, you MUST rent space in a storage yard, where, obviously, it can always be broken into or vandalized. This seems like it might be small enough to bypass those shifty laws! YIPPEE! ;-D Thanks for the GREAT story & photos! Greg

  • Mary Henss
    July 9, 2015, 4:18 pm

    I need a bathroom at least a toilet! I also want a sink..space for a mini fridge and a hot plate. As for size..so cute! I love the Truck..that’s the perfect size for me! Now add some get up and go to the truck so you can get off the back roads on a long haul and you can sign me up!!!

  • Michelle
    July 9, 2015, 4:19 pm

    If that hooked up to my Honda Element I definitely give it a look!

  • Dean
    July 9, 2015, 11:31 pm

    If they’re smart, they’ll redesign that as a 5th wheel.
    Trailers easier and the whole setup is more maneuverable.

  • annette
    July 10, 2015, 12:11 am

    I have a problem with illustrated articles like this.
    The pix are little more than cartoons – can’t possibly show details nor convey the actual physical problems incurred during the build.

  • Michael
    July 10, 2015, 1:07 pm

    Looks great! My wife would definitely let me buy one. However, we live in mountains and I would want a higher powered version. Hope they sell that one.

  • Eric Williams
    July 10, 2015, 4:20 pm

    I’d love one. Affordable fuel consumption would allow me actually afford to use it.

  • Mark
    July 11, 2015, 7:52 pm

    .. A tiny 3rd wheel camper .. looks great for quick and economic short breaks .. Great for commuting and traveling workers too ..

  • MadelineTheWriter
    October 16, 2016, 4:23 pm

    Ok – I’ve got to get to my thoughts on this vehicle camper combination by going through my small vehicle camping experience and then I can segue into how that effects my thoughts on Honda’s go at creating a towing vehicle with matching camper.

    HOW I CAMP IN A TINY VEHICLE
    I currently camp with my “first generation Scion Xb” – the Xb’s made in 2004/05/06 before having the entire look and experience ruined in the remodeling of 2008. (They thought they were making it look hipper – they actually just made it look like everything else.) But anyway.

    ~ I camp by adding a screened in porch (the camping kind) over the top of the car. The perks are:
    • The screen tent part can be left up in the site when I drive away and of course that means the stuff I don’t need in the car while out and about stays secure and covered as well.
    • My hatch goes up and the head room in my vehicle with the seats down beats about everything out there. That of course is where the sleeping happens.
    • The screen porch is big enough to include chairs – table – even a traditional picnic table.
    • My wish for this current arrangement would be that I’d love to have a screened porch that goes up easy (mine does) and looks like something out of a circus, fairy village, or a Renaissance fair feeling. Something with whimsy. Right now I use a vintage one with vertical blue and white stripes on the non -screened parts which isn’t bad – but I basically I’d like it to go further away from the sterile camping gear that is out there right now.

    • My biggest problem is: all years of the Scion Xb is just not made to tow anything safely. A general problem with tiny cars. Tiny tow vehicles are super friendly to that issue as well. Small doesn’t mean anyone cane tow it.

    HONDA – YOU’RE ON TO SOMETHING
    I’d love to tow a little camper like this – or even some more storage – to pop things out of once in place.

    BUT – THE “TRUCK” DESIGN HAS ISSUES
    Having the “truck” be a pickup style removes so much function from what is happening behind the first seats of the vehicle. What if I have a third person? Or a pet? What if someone wanted to drive Uber ? (Can’t do that with a 2 seater)
    I love my “baby” car – because it’s so large inside it is always the choice when going somewhere with friends. Don’t lose sight of the fact that the vehicle will probably be used every day and pulling the camper is a secondary function. Just build it strong enough to pull the weight and drive well – don’t make the vehicle’s design be dictated by the camper.
    – So Honda – make a roomy 4 door- with a real two rows of seats fitting 4 LARGE men easily (I’m thinking start with generally “big people” to really have room – like my Xb has) and give it the structure it takes to pull something as big as this camper you’ve come up with.
    Oh and why not include:
    A) a second battery to handle some of the power commonly used when camping?
    B) A slightly larger gas tank – I mean I assume we are “going somewhere.” Even 3 extra gallons can make a difference traveling from one camping destination to another.

    THE CAMPER? NEEDS WORK
    – Like why does the main door open into the bed? And uh, the “furniture” is as if the folks at Honda said “Oh we are going to the show and we’ve got the frame made – but maybe we should have included a place to sit and maybe some kind of table?”

    Suuuuuch an afterthought. Like what happens to those chairs when traveling? And what if you want to take them out and use the space differently?
    ::::shaking my head:::::
    The door – why does it open to the bed? Couldn’t you put the door or the bed in a place that avoids this issue? When I am out camping that bed will come down once and stay down I am guessing. I don’t go camping to be fussing with making a sleeping space every day.

    Honda – you absolutely shouldn’t have the design of the towing vehicle affected by the bed portion on the camper coming out. The bed doesn’t need to have the head come out and over all the time. You see, today, trailers do all kinds of radically cool smart things with pop outs. That would solve your bed problem.
    – And heck while we’re working this out – put a little pop out on one side and you could seriously increase your interior space.
    – I realize Honda, you are a car and truck company – but let me suggest touring some companies that design travel trailers and RVs for a living. Your camper won’t exist in a vacuum of moving and compact design ideas. It may be the only one made by a “car” company – but there are a lot of elements that have already been worked out by people that make other things or have been being practical about moving spaces for a long time already. Your bed? Yeah, people have been doing that in VW buses since the 60s. Honda, take a look at traditional Gypsy caravans – another example of small moving spaces that have worked for at least a few centuries. And Gyspy caravans are light enough to be pulled by one (small) horse’s actual horse power.*
    – I suggest looking at boats – boats have included everything people need in a moving object for centuries. Even small boats can hold all kinds of functionality.

    FYI – where do I get these ideas. Besides being a “Tiny Camper”. I have a Master’s in Design from Pratt Institute and have taught a course at the college level called “Moving Spaces.” I look at the world around me and include things from the past while thinking about the future. I like things practical, inexpensive, and pleasant to use and be around.
    I am currently available for designing truly functional, simple, attractive, livable, fun tiny spaces. My ideas draw on everything I can find that someone has already tried – in every kind of venue I can come across – and then moves on to an organic approach towards meeting the users’ needs – including the “je ne sais quoi” of happy living.
    I’d love to work with a someone(s) who would do the builds. (btw)
    I am glad that Honda is at least considering this – and have put together something that has some charm.
    @MadelineHere

  • fm
    December 15, 2017, 2:39 pm

    NO CONFORMATION EMAIL WAS SENT.
    No way to retry.
    Thanks: fm

    • Alex
      December 18, 2017, 2:19 pm

      Sent you another confirmation email. see if you have it!

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