Outdoors

Kuckoo tiny camping trailer blows open big panorama with glass doors

View 10 Images
Kuckoo plans to launch the Emma micro-camper in 2024
Kuckoo Camper
Overhead of the Kuckoo Emma's indoor/outdoor kitchen slide, a feature derived from the larger Bruno trailer
Kuckoo Camper
With the optional second glass door entry, the Emma trailer becomes a breezy base camp with views in nearly every direction
Kuckoo Camper
The Kuckoo Emma squaredrop trailer peeks out to show one of its large, glass-doored entries
Kuckoo Camper
Kuckoo Camper
The Emma's wide rear windshield adds to the panorama
Kuckoo Camper
Kuckoo Camper has a little fun with its name
Kuckoo Camper
The Emma could have been just a smaller, lighter Bruno, but with its large entries and glass doors, it's a unique camper with a big personality all its own
Kuckoo Camper
Kuckoo's Emma galley design is an empty slide that buyers can fill with their own gear
Kuckoo Camper
Towing the Emma glass to a properly scenic campsite
Kuckoo Camper
Kuckoo plans to launch the Emma micro-camper in 2024
Kuckoo Camper
View gallery - 10 images

Germany's Kuckoo Camper shook up the European small camping trailer market two years ago when it introduced the Bruno squaredrop, an innovative all-roader with rooftop deck and indoor/outdoor kitchen. Now it's back with a second model, shedding some of the size and ruggedness of the Bruno in favor of a lighter, breezier build that binds inseparably with nature. The Kuckoo Emma benefits from the same type of thoughtful innovation, living larger than its small size thanks to a panoramic interior driven by oversized glass doors and windows.

Kuckoo showed the Emma prototype at last month's CMT show in Stuttgart. Conceived as a little sister to the Bruno, the trailer is still in development so details remain few and non-finalized. But given that the idea is to keep things streamlined and lightweight, there might not be many additional details to follow.

The Emma takes on a slightly different shape than the larger, ruggeder Bruno and sizes in 3 feet (90 cm) shorter at a very compact 11.4 feet (3.5 m). With a base weight below 882 lb (400 kg), it's quite light and ready to hitch up to a large variety of tow vehicles.

With the optional second glass door entry, the Emma trailer becomes a breezy base camp with views in nearly every direction
Kuckoo Camper

What really sets the Emma apart and gives it a distinctive personality quite unlike any trailer we've seen is its glass door design. Kuckoo's plans call for the camper to come standard with a pair of counter-opening glass doors on the passenger side and the option for the same setup on the driver's side. When flung open, the doors give the trailer a more spacious, airy feel, erasing the divide between indoor and out. Once closed, they ensure the view is not lost from inside.

The large glass entries team with a large rear window and overhead skylight to further increase viewing opportunities. This generous allotment of glass gives the Emma one of the most impressive panoramic designs on the global RV market — right up there with last year's Lagom pickup camper or 2021's fittingly named Kip Panorama Shelter trailer.

The Emma's wide rear windshield adds to the panorama
Kuckoo Camper

The Emma's light wood interior paneling complements all that glass in creating a bright living space. Kuckoo keeps the layout fairly simple, using a folding mattress as both the 58 x 79-in (147 x 200-cm) near-queen-size double bed and as a sofa. The front cabinet offers a shelf and plenty of cubby space, with more storage wrapping its way around the overhead space near the ceiling.

The rear of the interior houses a larger shelf with removable tops that provide access to the kitchen slide below. The indoor/outdoor kitchen design features a 37-in-long (95-cm) slide for housing a portable stove, dishes, and other cooking and serving provisions. On the front, a separate slide-out creates a worktop for prep and storage.

Overhead of the Kuckoo Emma's indoor/outdoor kitchen slide, a feature derived from the larger Bruno trailer
Kuckoo Camper

The Emma trades out the all-terrain tires included on the Bruno for smaller, smoother rubber and looks to be much better suited to pavement, and maybe the occasional smooth, flat dirt road, than full overlanding or gritty off-road primitive camping. Unlike the Bruno, it doesn't have a roof rack and the chances of being able to use the aluminum roof as a deck seem slim. But since the cabin itself offers nearly as much scenic, fresh-air design as an actual deck, it really doesn't need a separate deck space.

The preliminary Emma spec also includes a Dometic vent and optional electrical hardware. While sparsely equipped, the open design saves weight (and presumably price) and encourages campers to bring their own gear.

The Kuckoo Emma squaredrop trailer peeks out to show one of its large, glass-doored entries
Kuckoo Camper

Kuckoo will continue developing and testing the Emma this year and plans to launch it for order in early 2024. It has not listed pricing yet, but as a reference, the larger Bruno trailer starts at €17,490 (approx. US$18,675).

Source: Kuckoo Camper (German)

View gallery - 10 images
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Flipboard
  • LinkedIn
3 comments
michael_dowling
Yet another example of streamlining being ignored,which is important for fuel economy,especially if the towing vehicle is electric. A fiberglass covered foam prow would add little to the cost and would materially improve towing vehicle range.
Craig Sharp
I can't see any suspension on that trailer, it just sits on a box frame. Man that will toss everything around inside like a tossed salad.
Not only that all openings have no screens on them, good luck in keeping bugs out.
Also the cooking area is in the wrong place as you can't open one of the doors and cook at the same time. Genius!
What no LED lighting system, no retractble awning to cover the doors, no lithium battery, no fridge, what the hell.
jerryd
I'd hinge the doors on top so they can be part way open when it rains hard and left up in light rain. And throw a cloth over it to make shade to sit outside.
And I agree with Michael it is time to make these aero, wider, with the wheels under it.