The Happier Camper Traveler is a Bundle of Joy
The retro-inspired trailers are small, but sprightly.
Image Caption: Photo Credit: Happier Camper
How do you turn a happy camper into an even happier one? Give them a lightweight travel trailer that deftly blends retro styling with thoroughly modern materials and components. Add in a cozy, customizable interior, along with high-tech features. Then sell it at a relatively affordable price. Yeah, that ought to do it.
That’s exactly what you’ll get with the Happier Camper Traveler, a towable that looks like something from a bygone era, but performs like an RV built and designed in the 21st century. Founded in 2009, Happier Camper started as a vintage RV restoration and rental company that specialized in fiberglass trailers. As the business grew, founder Derek Michael branched out by designing his own travel trailers, using fiberglass shells and seamless construction to prevent leaks and maintain structural integrity. The towables Michael created turned out to be relatively easy to keep clean and maintain, often requiring just regular washing and waxing to stay looking new. This greatly extends the RV’s lifespan and leads to potentially higher resale values, too.
Photo Credit: Happier Camper
With three models to choose from, the HC Traveler has an option for a variety of buyers and budgets. The entry-level Essentials trailer is the lightest and most affordable version, while the Adventure edition steps things up with the addition of an onboard bathroom and kitchenette. The Summit is the top trim, and includes everything the Adventure has to offer, plus a full-size fridge, a microwave, a built-in closet, solar panels and more. All three models have a GVWR of under 3,500 pounds, making them easily towable behind a small truck, SUV or even some cars.
Using Happier Camper’s Adaptiv system, owners can customize interiors. Each of the company’s trailers comes with a specially designed fiberglass floor that includes a grid-like pattern and a series of frame-mounted D-rings. Modular components—like tables, benches, and beds—securely lock into place along the grid, creating an environment that is unique to each individual. The modules can be quickly and easily removed or rearranged, changing up the cabin in a matter of minutes.
Because the HC Traveler includes an integrated bathroom and kitchenette, owners leverage the Adaptiv system primarily in its dynamic living space and for upgrading the sleeping arrangements, the Happier Camper team says. That versatility is a major draw, allowing owners to easily customize their space for other uses, such as a mobile office, a comfortable lounge or for efficient gear transport
Photo Credit: Happier Camper
One of the more popular Adaptiv modules is the bunkbed option, which, when paired with Happier Camper’s standard bed/lounge components, allows the Traveler to comfortably sleep up to six. That’s not bad for a compact travel trailer that also somehow manages to include two separate living spaces, along with a bathroom and kitchenette on the higher-end models. As many as five panoramic windows provide plenty of natural light.
While there’s no question the Traveler is an innovative rig, it is the RV’s distinctive looks that garner much of the attention. The travel trailer’s retro-inspired design definitely generates nostalgic vibes that turn heads at the campground. An elegant two-tone paint job lends credence to the idea that this could have originally been built in the 1950s and painstakingly and lovingly restored by hand. That timeless look should allow the towable to age gracefully. Something owners will appreciate when they pass it along to the next generation of happy campers.
Pricing for the Happier Camper Traveler starts at $39,950. happiercamper.com
Dimensions
| GVWR: 3,500 lbs. | Hitch Weight: 250-325 lbs. | Overall Length: 17′ | Exterior Height: 8′ 5″ |
Illustration by Dee Duncan
1. The Traveler is built with a double-hull fiberglass shell.
2. 14” tires and a torsion axle with independent suspension ensure a smooth ride.
3. The entry door includes a nautical-inspired porthole window
4. Windows on both sides and the rear of the trailer provide plenty of natural light.
5. 17-gallon fresh water and gray water tanks enable off -grid camping.
6. An easy crank-out awning fi ts neatly with the retro-inspired design.
7. An outdoor porch light illuminates the slide-out steps.
8. Rear stabilizing jacks keep things level and secure at the campsite.
Illustration by Dee Duncan
This article originally appeared in Wildsam magazine. For more Wildsam content, sign up for our newsletter.
Kraig Becker is a writer in the RV, outdoors, and adventure travel space. Over the course of his career he has contributed to such outlets as Popular Mechanics, Outside Online, Business Insider, TripSavvy, Digital Trends, GearJunkie, The Adventure Blog, and countless others. An avid runner and cyclist, he enjoys camping, hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, and just about any other outdoor activity. His travels have taken him to seven continents and on many amazing adventures.
