Adria's Aviva Lite Shows the World That a Serious Camper Is Possible Even for Under $20K

Ladies and gents, couples of all ages, before us, lies nothing more than the Aviva Lite, one of Adria's newest additions to their ever-growing lineup of mobile habitats. Suppose you don't know who Adria Mobil is. In that case, all you really need to know is that they've been active in this industry since 1965, a time in which they've grown to be a sort of Airstream or Winnebago of Europe.

As for why I chose to bring to light the Aviva Lite, it's because this thing breaks down the notion that an equipped and capable camper needs to cost tens of thousands of dollars. Heck, you already picked up on the fact that these babies start off at around $17K (€15,700 at current exchange rates), and that alone is reason enough to dive deeper into all that is an Aviva Lite.

Do you still need a tad of incentive? How about the fact that a standard unit is equipped with an indoor galley, a fully stocked bathroom, and even sleeping space for up to four guests? Honestly, what more could we ever need? Sure, there are a couple of setbacks, which we'll also discuss, but other than that, grab a pair of portable solar panels, and let's hit the road.

As we do, we'll be hauling a unit that's 5,5 m (18 ft) long and 2.1 m (6.9 ft) wide, and while it may sound big, its MRO comes in between 660 kg and 710 kg (1,565 lbs), which is damn good for a unit that can sleep four people and offers the essentials. It can also be loaded up to a max of 1,000 kg (2,204 lbs), so you've got 290 kg (639 lbs) to work with, which, if you ask me, is more than enough for one heck of an extended weekend. Did I mention that there's up to 29 mm (1.1 in) of insulation in that shell?

While on the road, we'll also discover one minor setback in this camper's abilities. For this price, don't expect to be able to just veer off any old road and go romping to some forgotten destination in the middle of nowhere; you'll need to plan your travels accordingly. But this doesn't mean you won't see one of these on a beach somewhere.

With that in mind, we finally arrive at the place you'll call home for the next few days; maybe it's a beach, a trailer park, or even some private vineyard. It's your daydream; picture yourself anywhere you'd like. Time to get out, stretch those bones, and stabilize your unit. Once all that's sorted, let's swing open that side door, unload your gear, and set up your campsite.

Now, the Lite's exterior isn't the most equipped around, so don't expect countless storage lockers all over the shell. Instead, Adria paid special attention to the interior, so let's head inside this unit and really get comfortable.

As we enter the Lite, the front of the unit houses a large dinette that also takes the shape of a bed during nighttime. It's also here that we find all the storage we'd need for essentials on the open road. There are bins underneath the seating, but there are fabric bins overhead, too, the latter of which is crafted from recycled materials.

Toward the rear of the Lite, Adria adds a galley block along the right side of the camper, and along the left, a wet bath is in place with a toilet, shower, and sink. This space is beautifully hidden behind a cabinet-like enclosure and doesn't stick out like a sore thumb, either. Finally, the rear of the unit is reserved for those two bunk beds we see in the images, but if you're traveling as a couple or alone, use this area for more goodies like some inflatable kayaks, SUPs, or fishing gear; it's up to you.

As we near the end of this exploration of the Aviva Lite, we arrive at the all-important off-grid features. It's here, too, that this travel trailer begins to show off some of its other downsides. Overall, the electrical setup includes LEDs, power sockets, and preinstallation for a charger/inverter and battery box. So you'll have to look into dropping some extra cash if you want to go wild. Just 40 l (10.5 gals) of fresh water is also all we have at our disposal with this one.

At the end of the day, there are some clear limits to how much a $17K camper can achieve. Nonetheless, it's not often that we have a turn-key setup for this sort of price. Heck, it almost makes you feel good knowing that with just a few thousand dollars more, you can even break away from the trailer park. Not bad, Adria, not bad at all.