5 Compact RV Models that Will Fit in Your Garage
One of the challenges of RV life is what to do with the RV when you’re not on the road. Not everyone loves having a big trailer in their driveway — and some home owner associations (HOAs) won’t even allow it. But for the weekend warriors out there, who want the freedom to head outdoors on a whim, there is another option: stealth mode. That is, if you have an RV that’s small enough (and low enough) to tidily stash in your garage.
If this this thought has occurred to you, you’re not alone. More and more RVers are trending toward garageable campers. There’s a lot of reasons for this, but one is that these lower-height RVs are much easier to tow than a full-height RV. Nicely, this makes them compatible with more types of vehicles.
So, let’s look at five legitimate RV models with lots of great features that will fit into you garage.
Models to Go RV Stealth Mode in Your Garage
Ember RV E-Series Spark LE 12RK
You may be familiar with teardrop-style trailers, but one of the newer categories is deemed a squaredrop. Essentially, these use the same floorplan as a teardrop but with a squared-off design. The Ember RV E-Series Spark LE 12RK is a fantastic example.
Recently, we had a chance to visit with Ember RV and check out one in person. The company’s goal was to create a simple platform where owners could add pieces as needed since many people buying something like this have plenty of camping gear such as portable cooler-style refrigerators, portable cook tops and the like.
The floorplan of this is a front bedroom space and then an open rear space intended to be the kitchen. That means you’re standing outside, albeit under the rear door that acts as a canopy. (So, these are not meant for those who don’t love the great outdoors.)
There is also no bathroom, per se, but many campers with teardrops use a toilet tent with a portable toilet. And there is a shower built into the side of this trailer that could be used with such a tent, providing you are in the right place to do so.
There is a rack system available so you could load gear or bicycles onto the roof of this trailer to help bring more adventure possibilities. The fact that Ember RV starts simple with the equipment aboard and lets you build on or add in what you may already have also means that these are very affordable.
Exterior length: 15 feet 9 inches • Height: 7 feet • MSRP: $17,991
Bean Trailer Squared
Bean Trailer is a company that specializes in teardrop trailers and recently introduced something much more elaborate in the form of the Bean Squared. This is closer to what you might expect in a travel trailer but is garageable. There is standing space inside with a pop-up roof much like an old VW camper.
The kitchen on this is interesting with a drawer-style kitchen on the outside that incorporates a “dog-bowl” sink, cutting board, two-burner propane stove top and a cooler. Then there’s a second counter inside with a large drawer that can serve as your pantry. This drawer, and the second 12-volt cooler underneath it, are accessible from inside the trailer or out.
The Bean Squared has a gaucho inside that can become a second bed or is a place to sit. There’s also a proper bed at the back and a decent amount of closet space given the small size of the trailer. These RV models are available with an air suspension that can make them squat down to more easily fit into a garage or gain height for more challenging roads.
Exterior length: 12 feet 6.5 inches • Height: 7 feet 7 inches • MSRP: $74,995
Forest River Rockwood A213HS
Pop-up trailers have come a long way with newer models being very easy to deploy and featuring nice interiors that come close to more traditional trailers. But they also have the advantage of being easily towable and garageable as well.
Rockwood’s A213HW features hard sidewalls and a gabled roof that can be easily raised and lowered by one person. If that proves challenging, the company even offers a power-operated function for this. Once the roof has been raised, the interior features two twin beds that can be converted to a single king-size bed with an included insert. There’s also a front dinette that can also be a bed making for sleeping for four.
There is a proper kitchen with fridge, stove, microwave and plumbed sink — and there’s even a cartridge toilet so you have all the functionality of a travel trailer in a compact RV package that can easily slip in a garage. (Assuming yours isn’t full of things that aren’t a vehicle that is. )
Exterior length: 20 feet 4 inches • Height: 5 feet 8 inches • MSRP: $25,940
Taxa Outdoors Mantis
When your heritage includes being founded by a former NASA designer, you know things are going to be different. And the Taxa Outdoors Mantis is just that. The company calls their travel trailers “habitats” rather than using more traditional names but the flexibility and unique features of this design absolutely are stand-out. The Mantis was specifically designed to optimize functionality and be stored in a typical American garage.
There is a pop-top but also a large back door, like a hatchback, that allows access to cargo space. Inside, there’s all the functionality you would want from an RV kitchen. Convertible spaces and features also enable a shower and portable cartridge toilet.
By day, there are three couches in this trailer. By night, four beds. Rather than traditional drawers and cabinets bungee-style restraints keep portable crate storage at bay which means loading and unloading the trailer are made easier. Exposed metal structural elements with holes in them provide hanging space for everything from your water bottles to a hammock. These models are unusual enough that they need to be seen in person.
Taxa also makes smaller trailers, er, habitats as well but the Mantis is the most fully featured and spacious model that will still fit into most garages.
Exterior length: 19 feet • Height: 6 feet 9 inches • MSRP: $53,450
SylvanSport GO
The final model is the SylvanSport GO. I included it because of what it is — and what it’s not. It is, technically, an RV with a tent that expands from the small base platform that is the SylvanSport GO and creates a rather spacious off-the-ground experience. But you can also easily remove the tent and now the GO can be used as a small cargo hauler. ( A perfect solution for people who may not have a pickup but still want to pick up new appliances or make dump runs.) You could also use the GO to haul bicycles and motorcycles, kayaks, or other adventure gear.
The SylvanSport GO was dubbed “Coolest. Camper. Ever.” by National Geographic Adventure. Admittedly, the description is apt for all the things it can be.
Exterior length: 12 feet 8 inches • Height: 4 feet 7 inches • MSRP: $13,995
Marketplace Inventory
Tony Barthel
You might also like
