What's small enough to be pulled with a compact sedan or even an electric vehicle but big enough to accommodate a family comfortably? If the first thought that popped into your mind was "an expanding trailer," Smitveld would probably send over their congrats.
Smitveld is a Netherlands-based trailer and awning specialist that recently launched a new brand of expanding trailers called Aero Cabin.
Aero Cabin One is the flagship model, and the only one launched so far. It was recently on display at the 2023 edition of the Camping and Caravan Fair in Utrecht, Netherlands. It's the kind of towable that answers the half-joking question in the first paragraph, "the little big caravan,"ideal for the entire family.
Expanding trailers are generally considered the all-in-one solution for a frequent problem with travelers: the need for space for the entire family and all the creature comforts, but within a compact, preferably lightweight package. With the increased adoption rate of electric vehicles, drain on the battery from towing remains a pressing concern, so a lightweight trailer is a must.
Photo: Smitveld/Aero Cabin
The Aero Cabin One wants to be a viable option for those looking for the closest thing to a mobile home in a small and light package. It's a single-axle trailer with an AL-KO chassis, riding on 15-inch wheels and measuring no more than 5.3 meters (17.3 feet) in length and 1.9 meters (6.2 feet) in width. Maximum payload is 1,300 kg (2,870 lbs) – the trailer itself is just 900 kg (1.984 lbs).
At first glance, the One is neither tall enough to offer standing height nor spacious as to be completely comfortable, but that's only because you're looking at it in travel mode. In camp mode, though, it opens up: the roof pops up to create more headroom, and the front slides forward at the touch of a button, creating an entire bedroom area.
It's the latter expansion that allows this small trailer to offer two distinct spaces for eating and sleeping. In other words, the bedroom is not the dinette converted into a bed but a separate king-size bed with a spring mattress. The dinette sits in front of it and can be moved out of the way by simply swinging the table to a different location, so you get a comfy lounge with two comfy seats.
Photo: Smitveld/Aero Cabin
The kitchen is at the front, with an L-shaped design that allows you to access it and use some features from the outside. With all the popping out and sliding forward, the One is still compact, so designers worked to allow expansion to the exterior, as well.
The kitchen features a 3-burner gas cooker ("luxurious" is how the makers describe it), a large sink with a tap, and a 70-liter (2.5 cu-ft) fridge with freezer whose door hinges both ways, so you can use it from within and from outside of the trailer. You also get some cabinets and a small section of countertop for prep. This is more of a galley than a proper kitchen, but it'll do just fine for a couple of travelers out on a short vacation.
Standard equipment includes an outdoor table, which forms the basis of the outdoor kitchen – with assistance from the movable stove and cutlery drawer. When not in use, the table for the outdoor kitchen stows inside one of the storage compartments under the bed, accessible from the outside.
Photo: Smitveld/Aero Cabin
The Aero Cabin One can be further fitted with a range of awnings to further expand available space. Promo materials available online show it with a curved awning, but the makers say future add-ons will include awnings with walls and screens, virtually creating a new room on the outside of the cabin.
Standard features also include a 13-liter (3.4-gallon) water tank, windows with privacy curtains and insect screens, LED lights and USB connections, all the furniture (with soft-close drawers) and the spring mattress in the bedroom, shock absorbers, and the hail-resistant roof and walls. The roof pop-up has durable canvas walls, by the way.
Extras range from a drawbar adapter for a bike rack to a screen door in the front wall, walls for the awning, and personalized stickers. Also here, you should probably add one option for a toilet because there isn't one onboard – and by the looks of things, Smitveld has no plans to offer alternatives for the most basic of human needs, so grossly overlooked in this case. Upgrade the water tank, while you're on it.
Photo: Smitveld/Aero Cabin
The expanding Aero Cabin One comes with an introductory sticker price of €39,000 ($41,300 at the current exchange rate), with availability limited locally for the time being. If your upcoming vacation plans include a trip to the Old Continent or the Netherlands, in particular, Smitveld has a showroom in Westerweg, where the Aero Cabin One is also on display.
Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends. Full profile
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