The Tipoon Travel Machine reimagines camping w/ room for four on-the-road

Last week we told you about the latest release from Airstream, which dropped the iconic aluminum build for a more budget-friendly price point. Airstream is largely reacting to a market that has seen prices continue to drop as younger generations, mainly millenials, have taken a keen interest in camping and the freedom associated with it.

Today, we’ve spotted a new creation from French startup Tipoon that takes the same stance on a compact design but does it in a way we’ve not seen before. The new Travel Machine leans heavy on a telescoping design that creates an all-in-one living space that’s pretty intriguing. More below.

At its core, the Tipoon Travel Machine is a traditional fifth-wheel camper similar to what you’ve probably seen cruising down the highway across America. But that’s about all its has in common with other tow-behinds on the road today.

One of the things that first struck me about the Travel Machine is its compact design. To scale, it appears to be no taller than your typical SUV. But once you see it expand, it’s easy to understand why this could be a hit with campers of all ages. Check out the video below to see it in action.

As you can see in the video, there’s quite a bit happening here once the Travel Machine is full expanded. Tipoon rates as a four-person camping solution. Now, I’d say that better be four of your favorite people, because despite all the tricks happening here, there still isn’t a lot of room.

Overall, the Travel machine comes in at around 15-feet in length with a total height of around 8.5-feet when fully expanded. Clearly one of the biggest strengths here is the creative use of space. Beneath the bed, shown on the right above, is a dining area which also converts to a sleep space when fully expanded. That area sits opposite of the pop-out kitchen that includes a sink and stovetop.

The shell itself comes in a handful of colors and is made from a poly-composite material. Tipoon has wisely included a built-in motor that lifts and expands the Travel Machine, versus the old school way of cranking (although you can do that too).

So let’s talk price. Tipoon is currently expecting the base price of the Travel Machine to come in at around €24,000. That works out to $30,000, which is about what you’d expect to pay for this size of camper in the United States.

Tipoon is currently accepting pre-orders at this time for those interested. Ship dates vary by model, but deliveries are expected to begin later this year.