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Photo gallery – Bruno, the off-road camper in the van life look

Camping yes, but please not with the yoghurt cup look of classic caravans and motorhomes. Kuckoo Camper, a company from Löchgau in Baden-Württemberg, is now offering an all-terrain mini trailer in Germany.

“Bruno” is much smaller than a classic caravan. It is typical for this class that camper life essentially takes place outside of the trailer. In a sense, it is just a base station and not a rolling mini-apartment. The idea has been around for a long time, but Kuckoo Camper has said goodbye to the classic streamlined teardrop shape and opted for a square box structure. Also, the kitchen is not housed in the rear as usual, but is pulled out to the side.

Angular and practical

The advantage of the angular construction is the better use of the space with the same area. In addition, Bruno has a flat roof, which can be used as a terrace or as a loading area for a roof box or a surfboard. The straight shapes make it possible to manufacture the camper out of the natural material wood and still call for relatively low prices, as the components can be manufactured from panels with millimeter precision by a normal computer-controlled milling machine.

Basically, a mini trailer is more for sunny weather. With Bruno, the kitchen module is also accessible from the inside if the weather doesn’t cooperate. A big advantage is the low curb weight of 530 kilograms. The permitted total weight is 750 kilograms, but the trailer can also be loaded up to 1300 kilograms. This weight class means that every driver can take Bruno on the hook. A special driver’s license for trailers is not necessary as long as the total weight of the combination does not exceed 3.5 tons. With such a small camper, the towing vehicle doesn’t have to be overly motorized. At least as long as you are on a closed road. If the martial military tires are exhausted on a damp meadow, a powerful all-wheel drive would be an advantage.

Real wood instead of plastic

Bruno’s interior is made of oiled real wood and not of foils with wood decor. This ensures a cozy atmosphere from the factory that is otherwise only known from individual extensions. The construction made of wood also makes it easy to change the interior design according to your own wishes. Cleverly placed shelves and three mini cupboards offer space for the essentials. The generous windows are made of real glass and lead to a light interior.

With the drawbar, the vehicle is 4.45 meters long, 1.85 meters high and 1.94 meters wide. With Bruno only real “adventure” camping is possible, it is no substitute for an apartment. Life takes place around the camper. Either outdoors or under an awning and awning. The interior only serves as a place to sleep and cuddle, because it has no standing height. The outer shell is covered with epoxy resin and fiberglass, with a PU coating applied over it. That means: Bruno should be able to put up with a lot and should easily withstand grazing branches.

Travel instead of living

Models like Bruno are aimed at campers who see themselves as travelers. This is nothing for permanent campers with a fenced-in plot. The mini trailers are an inexpensive alternative to motorized campers based on a bus or a van.

Many camping enthusiasts swear by building an old bus themselves. But here you always have to struggle with rust and aging technology. Over the years, those who cannot screw or weld anything themselves often invest more money in repairs than they paid for the treasure when it was bought. Bruno, on the other hand, fits in every garage. Apart from brakes and lights, there is no TÜV-relevant technology.

Inexpensive alternative to van life

The only requirement: the car must have a trailer coupling. Of course, a Defender looks better as a towing vehicle, but you can also pull Bruno behind a Golf or Zafira. Due to the small dimensions compared to a classic caravan, the team can be moved much more relaxed.

A mini like the Bruno also has the classic advantage of a trailer. Once a mobile home has made itself comfortable on the site with chairs and awning, it can no longer be moved that easily. Bruno, on the other hand, is disconnected and you continue to be mobile with the towing vehicle. The only problem in Germany is likely to be the parking space. Because a camper like Bruno calls for standing in the great outdoors or for very spacious campsites with lots of space. Something like this is rare in this country.

The prices start at a fair 14,990 euros. Additional modules can be ordered for this. A solar system with inverter, an awning and a bicycle rack on the drawbar and an outdoor shower are on offer.

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