There’s not much in the travel trailer industry that surprises us anymore. From luxurious, Manhattan-studio-style towables to ultra-compact hitch model trailers to Dutch campers with panoramic roofs for stargazing, we’ve seen it all — almost. New-Zealand-based W2 Architecture is hoping to up the ante with Romotow, the world’s first travel trailer with a retractable “party deck.”
The exterior is immediately recognizable as something different. With a sleek, sharply curved tail, panoramic, ski-goggle-style windscreen and large circular windows framing the bedroom, this is clearly no ordinary travel trailer. Inside, passengers will find all the trappings of a typical luxury RV spread throughout a 30-foot by 8.5-foot living area. The spacious dining area, modern kitchen, and cozy bedroom are all outfitted with upmarket materials like leather trim, teak surfaces, and high-end kitchen and bath fixtures.
What sets Romotow apart is hidden behind a simple electric button. Once depressed, the interior living space rotates 90 degrees within the exterior shell to reveal a large outdoor deck. It’s a clever trick that we’re surprised no one thought of before. Synthetic teak, the same material found in high-end yacht construction, lines the deck, and a fold-down electric barbecue completes the “party” setup. An optional enclosure kit including screens and an awning can transform the outdoor space into a breezy guest bedroom to sleep an additional four passengers. The entire travel trailer can function off-grid thanks to a 1KW solar panels that charge a 400Ah battery. Diesel cooking and heating round out the entire package.
It’s one thing, of course, to sketch a revolutionary travel trailer idea on paper. It’s another matter entirely to realize it. The outer shell is a first-of-its-kind design and one that requires extraordinary engineering to ensure that it’s both functional and towable. For the latter, W2 is utilizing a lightweight (and presumably very expensive) composite for the body which rests on a carbon composite frame with one-quarter the weight of traditional steel. The inner-workings behind such a design are complicated, which is why the concept had been just that — a concept — since 2012. After years of planning, a working version is now being built in Christchurch, New Zealand. Their team of boat builders is scheduled to release the first road-ready model by early 2019.
W2 Architecture has been hush about the finer details, but the company announced pricing will start at $350,000. This is clearly an upscale travel trailer for a discerning brand of traveler for whom money is not an object. Follow along with the concept’s progress on the official Romotow Facebook page.
