Who says a high-end product has to be costly?
Camper vans and RV vacations have become a hot item, especially with the northern hemisphere moving through the summer months. Although some of these campers can be quite expensive, we found one of the most affordable new campers in Russia. It’s called Lada Niva Autodom, and was developed by Lux Form in Moscow.
This company specializes in custom projects on Russian cars and has transformed Russia’s legendary off-road vehicle into an motorhome that offers enough creature comforts to go several days without civilization.
It measures 4.76m ( 15.4ft) in length, width 1.74m (5.6ft) and height 2.77 (9.1ft) total. The vehicle has a 110-inch wheelbase which makes it compact and all-inclusive. It has a seating area that can be used for two and a folding table. There is also a full-equipped kitchen with both a stovetop and refrigerator. Yes, there is also a full bathroom with a shower and toilet. The upper berth can be used to sleep two people, while the seating area can be converted into additional sleeping space.
The Niva RV can hold 70 liters (15.4 gal) of fresh water, and 40 liters (8.8 gal) of graywater. The stove can be operated by gas and has a 5-kilogram (11.1-pound) tank. It also has a heating system that can be used in four seasons. A 12V 70Ah gel-battery is available for external power when it isn’t possible to.
Everything is the same standard Lada Niva as it appears under the skin. This means that the gasoline engine of 1.7-liters produces 84 horsepower (63 megawatts), and is connected to a manual five-speed transmission. It isn’t fast or even very slow. Its four-wheel drive system with reduction gear allows it to crawl to places that a two-wheeler RV can’t.
The price of the tiny RV is 1.6 million Russian rubles. This is equivalent to around EUR18,250 for European campers and $21,400 for Americans. Ladas are not sold in the USA, and there are strict emissions regulations in Europe that prevent you from getting it. This little Russian gem will be a forbidden fruit for many RV owners around the world, but we think some do it yourself camping enthusiasts might take a few lessons from this compact design.