Outdoors

RV gear-maker glampifies box trailer into stealthy Swiss Army camper

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Tetravan's one-off camping trailer
Tetravan
Tetravan's one-off camping trailer
Tetravan
Tetravan's dual-purpose cook/workstation makes use of what might otherwise be an inefficient, space-wasting part of the trailer
Tetravan
Of course, Tetravan showcases its primary product in the trailer build – the foldaway compartment saves space without giving up the comfort of a warm indoor shower
Tetravan
The Camp Chef Ranger brings plenty of cooking power – just watch those flames!
Tetravan
The Tetravan trailer brews coffee via a Breville Nespresso pod machine
Tetravan
The custom Baltic birch bed platform maintains plenty of ventilation
Tetravan
The trailer includes the attachable bed ladder on the front of the shower
Tetravan
Folding the Tetravan shower floor pan down
Tetravan
Tetravan gives dishes a clean, secure storage space
Tetravan
Kitchen sink
Tetravan
The toilet hides away below the dining bench
Tetravan
The dinette folds into a single bed
Tetravan
Below the bed, Tetravan installs appliances and open garage space
Tetravan
Tetravan trailer layout
Tetravan
Dinette folding action
Tetravan
A look inside one of ATC's latest cargo trailers
ATC
The Tetravan trailer includes a Fiamma awning, powder-coated aluminum roof rack and solar panels on its exterior
Tetravan
View gallery - 17 images

Setting out with the goal of turning a humble storage box-on-wheels into the most luxurious live-in cargo trailer ever made, Salt Lake City camper equipment builder Tetravan has created a clean, modern caravan loaded with space-optimizing transformable components. The dual-axle towable features a split kitchen that doubles as a mobile office, bedding for three people, a stowaway shower, and warm glamping furnishings and accents throughout.

With a background building furniture for everything from private jets to camper vans, Julian Secomb founded Tetravan in 2022 to solve an issue he saw around the camper industry: lack of a truly functional shower solution. He ultimately looked to combine the interior space-saving capability of an outdoor shower with the comfort and user-friendliness of an indoor shower.

Other manufacturers have used pop-up shower rooms that stow away in floor boxes, but Tetravan cuts the footprint even further with a fold-out shower basin that disappears away below the raised rear bed or inside a cabinet unit. The company even offers the option of a hook-on ladder that steps up to the mattress.

The trailer includes the attachable bed ladder on the front of the shower
Tetravan

With the Tetravan Trailer, Secomb explored how he could springboard that smart, space-saving approach into an entire camper floor plan meant to answer the question: "How artistic, comfortable and beautiful could a humble cargo trailer get?"

The project started off with a basic dual-axle ATC Raven aluminum cargo trailer with 12 x 7-ft (3.7 x 2.1-m) floor area. Secomb chose that particular trailer for its stout, industrial-grade build, and it certainly didn't hurt that the trailer offered 6.5 feet (2 m) of interior headroom. Turning a cold, rough cargo cave like the one pictured below into a warm, welcoming camper cabin racked up hundreds of man-hours worth of planning and execution.

A look inside one of ATC's latest cargo trailers
ATC

Secomb turned weakness into advantage by using the wedge-shaped nose – probably the least camper-friendly part of the Raven cargo interior – to house a convertible cook/workstation. Instead of using the usual above-counter burners or a stove with integrated folding lid, it stowed a portable Camp Chef Ranger dual-burner in a compartment below a hinged cut-out in the Paperstone slate counter. The stove controls are readily accessible through an opening in the face of the unit.

We'd honestly be a little worried about charring the woodwork when cooking, but the design allows the space to transform from kitchen to desk in the milliseconds it takes for the hinged counter panel to fold back down over top the stove. Tetravan moved the rest of the kitchen equipment – sink and under-counter 85-L Isotherm refrigerator – over to a block next to the doorway, making the cooktop counter area a hovering unit that lets one slide their legs underneath when sitting and working on it like a desk.

Tetravan's dual-purpose cook/workstation makes use of what might otherwise be an inefficient, space-wasting part of the trailer
Tetravan

At the other end of the trailer, Tetravan has demonstrated the value of its folding shower by building a private rear bedroom around a raised queen-size bed. Similar travel trailers, like the Cortes 17 and Airstream Basecamp 16, often rely on a convertible dinette bed, dedicating a chunk of interior space to a full-time wet bath.

With its hideaway shower room serving in place of a hard-walled bathroom, Tetravan was able to allot space to the permanent rear bedroom, similar to those in camper vans. Also like a camper van, the Tetra-trailer includes under-bed garage space for luggage and sports gear, easily accessible via the rear double load doors.

Below the bed, Tetravan installs appliances and open garage space
Tetravan

The Tetravan Folding Shower 2.0 is neatly integrated into the under-bed wall that separates the garage from the main trailer, easily folding out when needed to clear access to the shower controls and serve as a stand-in shower basin. The design sets up in under a minute and includes a magnetic shower curtain. The trailer also includes a Dometic portable toilet stowed below one of its dining seats.

Of course, Tetravan showcases its primary product in the trailer build – the foldaway compartment saves space without giving up the comfort of a warm indoor shower
Tetravan

On the downside, the shower's location prevents any type of pass-through loading or interior garage access. But since the aim behind the project was to create a luxe, comfortable travel trailer, not so much an adventure gear-hauler, the shower definitely serves its purpose.

Tetravan added the final piece of the interior puzzle by way of the small two-seat dinette against the far wall. The rear seat back folds flat into the cabinet just behind it to create a single bed measuring 76-inches (193-cm) long.

Dinette folding action
Tetravan

To give the space a warm, upmarket feel, Secomb used a combination of teak-veneered cabinetry and solid teak trim. Many of the furnishings have smooth, rounded corners for a modern look and softer feel. Lighting overhead and under the cabinetry provides a warm, ambient glow throughout.

The trailer comes powered by a 200-Ah Renogy lithium 12V battery, 2,000-W inverter and 600-W rooftop solar array. There's also racking space for a second 200-Ah battery. Features include a tankless gas water heater, 12V Nomadic Cooling air conditioner, diesel heater and 1-in rigid foam insulation package. Water is split into 113-L fresh and 94-L gray tanks.

The Tetravan trailer brews coffee via a Breville Nespresso pod machine
Tetravan

Tetravan debuted its trailer as an experimental one-off design study in 2023 and is now offering the original model for a price of US$85,000. It says the 3,800-lb (1,724-kg) trailer is still in new condition, with minimal mileage from a few test trips. The company has no current plans of introducing a standard production trailer, so this one is it.

Take a three-minute video tour through the Tetravan trailer below and decide if it is indeed the nicest camper conversion you've seen inside a cargo trailer.

Source: Tetravan

View gallery - 17 images
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3 comments
Dipster
I have to point out that if you're going to have a stove "indoors", a exhaust vent directly above the space is very much needed, and they don't have one in this version. Exhausting out the cooking smoke goes a long way to keeping the inside clean!
philippeholthuizen
But… but… how do I fit my horse in there?!
ljaques
Wow, only $85k for a used cargo trailer? Sucha deal! (nice, but...)