SpaceCamper | Maiden voyage | From Darmstadt northwards

Once we finally have our license plates in our hands, we set off early the next morning towards Darmstadt and SpaceCamper. We meet Moritz, Moritz Heß, here at 9:00 am. Moritz, who we already know from the Caravan Fair, does the handovers at SpaceCamper. He himself drives a SpaceCamper Light. As the official handover won't take place for a few weeks, things are moving quickly today. Nevertheless, it takes just under two hours before we leave the yard again. Two hours full of information. And then the first miles with BUTCH. Not only does everything smell so new, it also feels so new. - What a leap. Although Hector, our previous T5, was only seven years old, a lot has changed. The entire cockpit is much more reminiscent of a car. But the seating position and the classic bus feeling remain the same. And that's a good thing! - Now it's time to head back to Cologne. - We still have plans. Once we arrive home, we pack the essentials in a flash.

An hour later, we are already back on the train. Now we're heading for northern Germany. To be more precise, we're going to Norderstedt, a few miles north of Hamburg. Here we have an appointment with Stüven Kfz Alarm the next morning. But first of all, we have to take the A1 freeway. - As long as I've known this route to Hamburg, I can't remember experiencing this highway without a string of roadworks. It was like that yesterday, today and I'm sure it will be tomorrow too. Nevertheless, we have fun on board and have time to spend a little time with Butch (that's our new boy's name). Butch sells his best side in the traffic jam. It has GRA, a cruise control system. In contrast to Hector's cruise control, it not only maintains the speed, it also pays attention to the safety distance and brakes or accelerates automatically. Technology that inspires, I know, not new, but it didn't exist in the SMART. 😉

Despite the many roadworks, we make good progress. Shortly before the Elbe Canal, we look out over the container port with enthusiasm, as always. From here, it's only a stone's throw. We arrive relaxed in Norderstedt. We use park4night to find a quiet forest parking lot. Shortly afterwards, the roof is folded up and we make ourselves comfortable. We have arrived. Not only north of Hamburg, but also in our SpaceCamper. We are particularly impressed by our sleeping area, which measures 130 cm x 250 cm. It may not sound like much, but in the California we had 115cm x 198cm. We sleep wonderfully and, unlike in the past, nobody feels the need to move upstairs. Very cool! - We'll be writing about further details in more detail soon.

Why drive all the way north of Hamburg to have an alarm system installed? Kai Stüven, boss and face of the brand, has his workshop here. He himself describes his company as the number one when it comes to vehicle security. Not because they are the coolest, but because they have done it hundreds of times. Competence and security are not what you expect when you have an alarm system installed. Kai Stüven himself exudes both. Rarely have I seen someone with such "big balls". And this is by no means meant in a negative way. The man clearly seems to know what he's talking about. Ultimately, I don't have the expertise to check it. But there must be a reason why his customers come from all over Germany. - I will report separately on alarm systems and immobilizers in the near future.

In any case, it takes a few hours to install all the technology. - We use the time for a short walk. - Stüven doesn't seem to be the only pragmatist here in Norderstedt. A few meters further on, we come across a couple of mobile chicken coops for free-range farming. A very cool solution.

While we are still waiting for our vehicle, our next destination turns up by chance. It turns out that there is another SpaceCamper nearby. Kai, whose SpaceCamper has given us a few ideas for our equipment, visits the prefabricated house company woodee a few kilometers to the north. They build mobile modular or tiny houses. - Half an hour later, we are at the production site. Everything smells so nice here, like wood. - After leading a shadowy existence for years, tiny house manufacturers are now very much in vogue. There is still a lot to come here. "Reduce to the max" is not just a concern for us, but for more and more people. Thanks to coronavirus, German basements and attics have been cleared out and bookcases and garbage cans are overflowing. Perhaps we are just at the forefront of a wave? - We shall see. - But I also find the designs of one or two manufacturers in this segment very exciting. - I'm curious to see whether it will ultimately be traditional brands like Schwörer with its Flying Spaces or manufacturers like woodee that open up this market. I could also well imagine a newcomer. Because a product like this needs lateral thinkers. - When I see the innovative power that arises from increased demand in sectors where no major innovations were expected, I also believe in a coming evolutionary push in the tiny house.

The woodee show homes are not bad. But is that enough? They don't really knock my socks off either. But maybe I'm being too critical. - Because the saleswoman reports a significant increase in demand. - That's what I say 😉

Torgit and I could also imagine such a concept in the "distant" future. For now, we have our Tiny House on wheels.

Am I missing something? - No! - Or do you? Maybe the sea air?!