Fiberglass Mini-teardrop from Germany

[angib]

The Maximus looks to be a fiberglass-bodied teardrop based fairly closely on the Piccolo or Ailette mini-teardrop from the 1950s - so no galley and access through the rear hatch only:





I hope Heikki admires the way they've built those nice fin-lets to house the compulsory Yurpeen triangle reflectors! Prices start at €3800 which is about $5700 - but then this is all built in Germany and that's an expensive place to build things.

Here is:
- a news article about the Maximus (in German);
- an album of photos ('nächste Seite' is 'next page').

Andrew

[Classic Finn]

Very Nice Indeed. It just gives me an idea what to do on them finlets for the ugly, mandatory triangles..

But I even like that tow vehicle better... Cool..

Heikki

[Ira]

I don't get it, especially at that price:

If it's just to sleep in, what's the point of towing the thing? Especially since you can only enter through the hatch? Totally impractical on a hundred levels.

All that is is a glorified hard-bodied tent--not even any STORAGE space.

A DVD? Stereo? Is there ANYTHING there but a shell?

So much for fine German engineering.

[tonyj]

I would agree about the lack of options we all build into our campers. According to their website, it is built to also act as a hauling trailer which probably explains the lack of galley and rear door entrance.

My main concern would be ventilation. I know that Germany is a colder climate, but they have spring and summer, too, and it gets hot occasionally. With the one big door and the high mounted windows, ventilation would be horrible. And camping in the cold with it all shut tight is an accident waiting to happen.

I'm just glad I didn't have to spend 5700 just to get mine to resemble a camping "shell." But its light weight puts my earth deforming creation to shame . . .

[07rascal]

A bit sparse, but I guess not everybody is looking for a rolling home theater and gormet kitchen. I know those "amenities" don't do a lot for us.

Ventilation and windows would also be a concern of ours, but with a nice mattress. a couple of large side windows and a roof vent, it would be first class sleeping quarters when compared to a nylon tent in a puddle when its 35 degrees outside! There is a lot to be said for towing a place to sleep thats off the ground and out of the weather.

T & L

[H@nk]

A lot of you saying there is not much inside, but remember, this tear has to be moved or towed by very small cars like the Citroen 2cv, the renault 4, the Smart, the Mini Classic or even the DAF or the old FIAT 500.
This are old antiq cars with very low towcapacity. Here in Europe they have the intensions to stick out the eyes of the neighbours with the trailer they have and for some people this is just the way to show they go their own way.
I could also live with that.

[angib]

But its light weight puts my earth deforming creation to shame . . .

Though at 220kg, it's more than twice as heavy as the (aluminium) Piccolo design which it copies.

Andrew

[doug hodder]

Is it possible that some of the use is intended for the trips to the DIY, to make it a dual purpose trailer? My cousins in the UK were amazed at the number of pickups we have over here, and I saw very few when over there in comparison. It would double as a utility hauler as well as a caravan/camper. Doug

[Classic Finn]

Is it possible that some of the use is intended for the trips to the DIY, to make it a dual purpose trailer? My cousins in the UK were amazed at the number of pickups we have over here, and I saw very few when over there in comparison. It would double as a utility hauler as well as a caravan/camper. Doug

Doug
The trailers are most commonly used here for hauling. Hardly any pickup trucks around. Here in Finland anyway.

Everyone used to have the full size pick ups but at over 8 USD a gallon they got rid of them. We see some Jap mini trucks around with a a few Korean Made Ford Rangers but there isnt many.

Its the price of a basic pickup here at 29 or 30,000 Euro that scares people off. And it is a "basic stripped down version" and if you want some goodies with it the price is 40,000 Euro plus. So here they are considered as impractical. Now if I had the possiblity Id have me a pickem up truck for sure . I reckon it would be a Ranger.

So thats the reason for all the trailers. But still cant figure out why these trailers arent used as dual purpose here.

Ohhh well we,ll see if I ever get mine done.. Here is a price example of one..

42 500 EUR= 42 500 EUR Base price
ALV 9 350 EUR= 9 350 EUR Tax
Verollinen hinta 51 850 EUR= 51 850 EUR total
Vuosimalli 2007 Year

mittarilukema 5700 km Mileage
Malli Ranger Model

Ohh it does have electric windows and heaters on the seat..

Price - 51,850.00 EUR = 76,621.28 USD Euro United States Dollars
1 EUR = 1.47775 USD 1 USD = 0.676705 EUR

So much for the pickem up trucks in these parts.



Classic Finn

[H@nk]

Overhere in Holland its the same as in Finland, not much usa pick up trucks.
at the moment the € is worth more than the $, so there are more usa cars than ever on the road. My american dream ride should be the El Camino, so nice, but I don't know how to get this in my car budget these days.