Full review
MEET the first of a new generation of micro-campers: the Romahome R10 Solo, which is a tiny single-berth van conversion aimed at the truly independent traveller.
Based on Citroën’s minute Nemo microvan, the R10 is just 12ft 7in long, less than six feet wide and at around 6ft tall.
The rising roof gives headroom of 6ft 6in and Romahome has managed to cram in a single bed, sink with running water, two-burner hob, Porta-Potti and coolbag.
Power comes from a frugal 1.4HDi engine which returns around 50mpg under real world driving conditions – and almost 60mpg on a longer run.
According to Romahome boss Brian Bailey, the R10 is proving especially popular with the angling fraternity, who regard its modest accommodation as a five-star alternative to shivering away in a damp bivouac on an all-night fishing session.
On a fishing trip and with two fully charged batteries on board, I decided to dispense with the hook-up as the R10 makes few electrical demands and although there are a couple of halogen spots, the LED lighting alone is sufficient to illuminate the interior.
There are also three 12V sockets and the truly independently inclined can specify a roof-mounted 40-Watt solar panel which will charge both the leisure and main batteries. If a hook-up is available the Romahome also has a single 230V power point.
The kitchen has a two-burner hob and small sink with the 3.9kg gas cylinder located in a dedicated lined locker underneath – next to this is a polythene 5-litre water tank from which the compact electric pump pipes water to a single tap. A Porta-Potti 335 sits next to the sink.
The optional ‘fridge’ is a rather funky 12-litre soft coolbag which plugs into the rear 12V socket, but is also removable and, as well as keeping essentials like milk and beer cold, also proved very handy for keeping trout nice and fresh!
Although with the roof up, there’s ample headroom in the habitation area to stand, you quickly get into the habit of doing just about everything sitting down – primarily because everything you need is within arms-length of the settee.
After a cup of tea and a bowl of soup heated up on the hob, I packed the free-standing table away and worked out how to make up the bed. It’s a pretty low-tech sleeping solution, involving an extension which pulls out from the settee base to bridge the gap between it and the passenger seat and a couple of extra cushions, one of which sits atop said extension and the other on top of the folded passenger seat – all held in place by Velcro strips.
At 6ft 4in by a maximum of 2ft, it’s a long way from an orthopaedic mattress with memory foam top, but it’s a step up from an airbed. Insulated curtains cover the habitation windows while the cab and rear windows are covered by pieces of insulated fabric which attach to Velcro strips around the window frames.
Before bed, I thought I’d watch a bit of TV, but the only channel the system could pick up was showing ‘Jaws’. I switched off the light and turned in for the night. Five minutes’ later, I had to swap ends, opting to sleep with my head in the cab as the gentle buzz of the coolbag right under my pillow threatened to stop me from dozing off.
I slept reasonably well until the wee small hours, when I had to get up again to close the rising roof as a cold draft was blowing into the vehicle and the early April night time temperatures were hovering only just above zero. The R10’s compact proportions mean it doesn’t need a lot of heating, but we’d recommend the optional Propex gas-fired blown-air heater for serious year-round use.
Trundling homewards after a day’s fishing, I pondered the pros and cons of such a tiny camper.
Using the traditional benchmarks, the R10’s single berth, cramped space and shortage of storage means it doesn’t really stack up. But to think along conventional lines is to miss the point.
Vehicles like the R10 appeal to folk who wouldn’t identify themselves as motorhomers. If you’re passionate about fishing, wind-surfing, hiking or whatever, but hate paying through the nose for tatty hotel rooms, this is worth considering.
The initial investment isn’t much higher than the price of a saloon car and it won’t depreciate as quickly. There’s also a return on that investment in accommodation savings and the freedom it affords you to pursue your passion.
A full version of this review was published in the June 2009 issue of Which Motorcaravan. To order a road test reprint ring 01778 391187. To subscribe to the magazine, click here.Content continues after advertisements
Based on the Citroen Nemo, this is one of the smallest motorhome's around at just 12ft 7in long and it can go anywhere a car can go