At under twenty feet in length, the Nest Caravan packs a lot into a small space, with a queen sized bed, flush toilet and full shower. That’s far from the only thing that sets the Nest apart, and for a relative newcomer that was only in prototype status a year ago, they show a lot of promise.
The Nest, parked with the rear door open.
Many of the latest small caravans from the Pacific Northwest have featured the same, traditional RV construction techniques. Most start with a utility trailer frame with a box built on top. The Nest is frame-less for all practical purposes, a monocoque design were the chassis is integral with the body.
Rear view, showing a near full height door.
Built to order, the Nest’s monocoque construction features a one piece, molded fiberglass body with the frame structure integrated into the molded body. Up front, the tow bar has added steel reinforcement. In addition, the small trailer makes use of full 16 inch tires for a smoother tow.
The kitchen, with the bed area taking up the nose of the trailer.
The stout molded exterior is neatly matched with carefully selected interior elements that work hard to avoid the “RV” look. They are sourced from the marine, aeronautical and home building industries to create a unique, livable space with a high quality feel.
A closeup of the Queen sized bed area.
The Nest is built for two, with the Queen mattress providing plenty of room for two adults to sleep comfortably. The kitchen has some surprises built in as well, placing the stove on the opposite side from the sink. There’s also a fridge and freezer combo for a bigger feel, versus the typical built-in all-in-one unit common to trailers in this class.
A front view of the Nest in tow.
Mechanical systems have not been overlooked. The electrical features a full 45 amp, three circuit system, with a converter that steps up from standard 30 amp shore power on the outside. LED lighting keeps the electric demands low, while 3 120 V outlets provide plenty of power for all of your small appliances, digital devices and entertainment demands.
A view from the bed toward the rear door.
Tiny doesn’t have to feel cramped and although it only provides 40 cubic feet of space, the Nest features nice overhead room for all but the tallest campers, with a low height of 75 inches, going up to 81 inches. The camper door is positioned in the rear, for easy access during towing. There’s a tiltable moonroof and windows at the front and sides for cross ventilation during nice weather.
This counter doubles as prep area and dining table.
The Nest in camp, looks warm and inviting.
With all of these features coming standard and a base price of just under $30,000, the nest looks to be a good value in the small, modern trailer category. Perhaps it will compete for the buyer of Airstream trailers? Nest says there’s a 12 week lead time for new unit construction, so you’ll need to place your order well before the camping season hits.
Source: Nest Caravans
