Bike-towable camping trailers have their fan base. Such living on the move facilities are redefining adventures for cyclists, especially in Europe, with their versatility and sustainability. BeTriton’s camper, trailer and boat in one, is the best bike camping alternative I have seen. That doesn’t mean the wooden e-bike-towable trailer designed by Fahrrad-Campen is any less of a wonder. Talking of which, now we have come across another very similar (yet different) bicycle-towable teardrop, which is perhaps the first hard-walled camper with a slide-out component to increase the compact living space.
This is the Eco Slide Out. It is designed as a modular alternative to fixed body campers. Cyclists desirous of more space, when they are out with their partner, can opt for the Eco Slide Out, which instantly spreads out to increase the living space when needed. Along with the expansion, the lightweight form factor of the camper really positions it as one of the finest bike-camping options on the market.
Designer: Alpencamper
Before you start pooling up the finances to pick one, be informed that the Eco Slide Out is the brainchild of Switzerland-based Alpencamper. The bicycle camping trailer is currently available in the home country and can be shipped to other parts of Europe. We have no word on its global availability at the time of writing.
The camping trailer weighs 115 lb (52 kg) when empty and measures a little over 7 feet in length. It is 4 feet 2 inches high and almost 3 feet wide. On the inside, the camper has a 4-foot ceiling height, which may not be the most comfortable. But almost 7 feet long and slightly under 5 feet wide living space inside, makes the Eco Slide Out a fitting companion for solo trips. Even if you like sleeping like a starfish, you have enough space in there. And when you are traveling with another person and you need more space, this flexible camper can slide out 50 cm to increase the interior space.
It’s notable here that the entire length of the camper does not slide out. The slide-out is centered within the sidewall. The middle section protrudes out, leaving some space on the sides. It will be less space than you could expect if the entire length of the camper slid out, but what you get with the enhanced space is pretty comfortable for a couple of campers. Ventilation and light are maintained by a plastic window featuring an integrated blind and insect screen.
Alpencamper Eco is made from lightweight aluminum and features 3 cm thick composite panels for insulation, making it livable in summer and transitional seasons. It is not off-grid compatible like the GoCamp, but the high-quality materials ensure the Eco is a stable ride despite the minimal weight. To that end, it is designed for long-distance travel.
The camper features a sleeping area slightly raised from the floor to create 270 liters of storage space below. It can carry 32 kg of payload and features a compartment dedicated to a composting toilet. Eco allows the camper to separate from the two-wheel trailer to function as a cargo trailer in city confines. Alpencamper is selling the Eco Slide Out for CHF 8,350 (roughly $10,000).
