Rotating Romotow RV Is Now Cheaper, But There’s a Catch

The Romotow RV has been around since 2012, but it spent nearly a decade in the digital realm. Earlier this year, New Zealand-based design and architecture firm W2 announced that the model was finally heading into production, with help from partner AMC Motorhomes and with a starting price of NZ$429,000, which was US$268,000 back then.

This week, W2 has announced the immediate availability of three models for the Romotow. That sounds like the budding company is already looking to expand to capitalize on the insane buzz its initial concept generated. In reality, the announcement is for three different trims for the T8 flagship trailer, which is the official name of the Romotow. Pricing depends on the spec, so you get a base variant and the fully-specced model, offered fully furnished and capped off with some optionals that were before available only as extras.

The "catch" mentioned in the headline is that even the base variant, aptly named Shell because that's what it is, is still very expensive, though the cheapest of the bunch. Still, W2 is convinced that this is one way to attract more customers, so let's see what this is all about.

The highest selling point of the Romotow trailer is – and has always been – the fact that it features an automated mechanism that swings out a sheltered deck area, expanding living space by as much as 70%. Once at camp, you press a button, and out comes the deck, which can be offered with patio furniture, a fold-out integrated grill, and netting and canvas walls for protection against the elements and extra privacy. The fold-out mechanism of the trailer is inspired by the design of a USB flash drive, and it presents a set of obvious advantages over any other trailer with awnings or pop-outs.

For years, Romotow struggled to make the transition from concept to mass-produced product, and there was a point when it seemed that the events of 2020 put that dream to sleep for good. It was great news to hear that W2 was finally taking orders for the units and that it had built the first showcase trailer. At the same time, the interior was revealed – and it was on par with the built-up hype, with quality finishes, a range of possible layouts, and plenty of space and comfort for a party as large as six.

There was still the issue of pricing, though. The novelty factor aside, $270,000 is a lot of money to pay for an RV, even if it can sleep six and despite the large footprint made possible through that swing-out deck. Here's where the three different trims should come into play.

The Shell variant of the Romotow T8 retails for NZ$295,000 (US$180,500 at the current exchange rate) and is a "blank canvas" for whatever you have in mind. That's an elegant way of saying that you get only what the name says: the shell of the 9-meter (29.5-foot) dual-axle trailer with the patented swing-out automated mechanism. W2 says that this variant is ideal for "a promotional vehicle, mobile office, cafe, gallery… you decide." Or, if you love the idea of the rotating deck and are into DIY, you can try your hand at converting it into a home with your own interior design and finishes.

The middle way is the Pure trim, which is very close to what W2 included in the official T8 presentation from earlier this year. It's a fully-specced RV with an interior and standard features, which you could drive out the next day after delivery to your next vacation destination. The Pure starts at NZ$375,000 (US$237,200), which is still less than the proposed price for the earlier version of the T8, and includes a solar package and a base Fusion multi-zone audio system.

The Ultimate is the best, fanciest, and most tech-packed Romotow T8 possible. It's basically W2’s way of taking every feature available and putting it onboard to save you the trouble of scrolling through the list of options and having to decide for yourself. The Ultimate is priced accordingly, and in keeping with its moniker, at NZ$475,000 (US$300,500), offering premium options for all the features: upgrades solar system, tandem Cruisemaster air suspension, smart TVs as part of the standard spec, and premium multi-zone audio system. You can still upgrade it, though, adding more beds in the dinette if you plan on traveling with the entire family.

The Romotow T8 is marketed as "the ultimate caravan," one that brings extra space in camp mode, extra comfort and convenience, and the pride of living in an RV unlike any other on the market. It also offers the basic creature comforts: a large kitchen and dining area, sleeping for as many as six people, a full dry bathroom, and finishes of the highest quality, including a carbon fiber sink or dining table if you're in the mood for some hard flexing.

Without a doubt, it's one of the most creative solutions on the RV market, with excellent potential and decent off-grid capabilities. Whether that will translate into good sales, given its price, remains to be seen. But this one sure is a looker!