With growth in e-cars, building lighter caravans makes sense
Lightweighting caravans is a tradition that goes back nearly 150 years. Today, the growth of electric cars has reinforced this tradition, which is why Easy Caravanning’s newcomer, the GetAway, has become an intriguing and popular addition to the world of the caravanner.
Caravans, or camper trailers, have been around longer than automobiles, with manufacturing starting already in 1880. Back then, they were towed by horses. Now they are being towed by electric cars.
They have always faced the same challenge, however, which is keeping weight low. The Dutch company Easy Caravanning understands the challenges faced by modern caravanners, and is therefore consistently looking ahead and embracing innovation. By designing a caravan that is exceptionally compact and lightweight, they have crafted a solution that meets the needs of today’s adventurers.
Indeed, through the smart use of aluminium, combined with other lightweight materials, they have created a cleverly engineered caravan that is both practical and forward thinking.
Lightweighting for a relatively easy tow
Easy Caravanning’s GetAway model is a modern looking caravan that has been designed with the electric or hybrid tow car in mind, according to managing director Maarten de Roos. He says the caravan “should be a relatively easy tow for even quite lightweight cars.”
“With a traditional caravan, an electric car might be able to drive 150 kilometers, but that's it. Towing heavy caravans quickly drains the battery of electric and hybrid cars,” says de Roos. “This is an important point, considering the European Union’s vote to ban new internal combustion engine car sales by 2035.”
He explains that the GetAway is more compact and streamlined – it is only 185 cm wide – than many of the other caravans on the market, and that the high-quality foam used for the core and furniture of the caravan has resulted in 30-40 percent weight savings.
Aluminium has also lightened the GetAway, says de Roos, who credits Hydro Extrusions in nearby Hoogezand in the Netherlands for its contribution.
Aluminium extruding, bending and anodizing at one stop
In January 2024, Hydro began working with an engineering company that had been designing the aluminium profiles Easy Caravanning was considering for use. The company wanted aluminium because of its light weight and durability, says key account manager Dennis Bakkers of Hydro.
“They were looking for standard caravan profiles. We offered them interesting models to start producing from their own designs, and once we agreed, Easy Carvanning put in an order for the profiles,” says Bakkers. “They chose Hydro for our technical support and because we could serve as a one stop shop, with anodizing and bending services included.”
Hydro is delivering four profiles from its Hoogezand plant, for the foldable roof and the sides of the caravan. The tent frame of GetAway is an aluminium arch with fiberglass roof beams.