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The number of registrations for motorhomes rose again in 2020.

Also due to the corona restrictions, more and more people are longing for the outdoor experience.

Only mobile homes are expensive to buy and some of them are already fully booked on rental platforms for the next few months.

If you want more independence in the future and don't want to spend that much money, you can rely on hybrid solutions.

Two German start-ups show what is possible.

The Berlin start-up Plugvan, for example, builds retrofittable residential modules with which vans can be converted into campers.

The capsules then contain sleeping and storage options, a kitchenette and, if required, additional equipment such as electricity and water connections.

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The idea: if you already have a box van, you can convert it for trips and vacations with little effort.

Camping module for standard box vans

The module fits into standard box vans and costs upwards of 12,999 euros, depending on the equipment.

"Our customers are currently mainly craftsmen and tradespeople who want to use their vehicle multiple times," says Plugvan co-founder Florian Fey in an interview with "Gründerszene".

Production takes place in Germany, customers can put together their module online in the configurator.

Current waiting period: three to four months.

This year, 100 modules are to be manufactured and delivered, says Fey.

That would result in annual sales in the six-digit range.

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The module is also to be offered as a kit in the near future.

It is then delivered on a pallet and can be assembled like an Ikea piece of furniture.

Plugvan (left) offers completely finished modules for retrofitting, while the start-up Vanderer sells vehicles with a pop-up roof and camping equipment

Source: Plugvan / Vanderer

"In the next step, we will also expand our website into a sharing platform and offer customers the opportunity to rent out their modules and vans," says the founder.

The 12-person team from Berlin recently concluded six-figure financing for their expansion plans.

Among others, the proptech incubator High Rise Ventures and Schaeffer Holding, the investment vehicle of the metal housing manufacturer of the same name, got on board.

The new car with sleeping option

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If you like things to be even more compact, you can opt for a hybrid solution when purchasing a new van.

The Allgäu start-up Vanderer, for example, offers a converted Citroën Berlingo.

Similar car models from the Toyota and Peugeot brands can also be purchased as motorhome hybrids.

The vehicle has an integrated pop-up roof and thus additional sleeping places.

Base price: 29,390 euros.

The idea is not new.

However, Vanderer offers other installation options for camping, such as cabinets, auxiliary heating or water tanks.

There are additional costs for the extras.

The advantage of having a van: You don't need a camper space.

The bootstrapped start-up Vanderer only started at the beginning of this year and will soon be delivering the first 15 vehicles.

Customers have to be prepared for delivery times of around nine months.

Camping boom in Germany

Many campsites are fully booked by the end of summer.

If you arrive spontaneously, you need a lot of luck to find a parking space.

Because of the corona pandemic, Germans prefer to spend their holidays at home.

Source: WORLD / Peter Haentjes