Teardrop trailer
Off-road caravan Raptor XC – extendable space miracle for every terrain
Here you can easily see the rising stern for a good angle of departure.
© Hunter Nature Caravan / PR
Independent suspension, stable aluminum skin and as much space as in a normal caravan. The Raptor XC achieves this feat with a pull-out bedroom.
Off-road campers are in demand. Despite the prices, all-wheel-drive motorhomes are very popular. An alternative are off-road caravans, which you can simply hook onto a hook behind a car like the Defender. Only problem. Most of the models in Europe are quite small, which makes them more manageable, but also hardly offers space for two people – for example the “Bruno”. Terrain monsters such as the brother EXP-6 GT from Australia are not offered in this country, if only because there are hardly any suitable tractors for them in Europe.
Robust and different
The Turkish manufacturer Hunter Nature Caravan is now filling the gap with an extendable teardrop trailer, the Raptor XC. The Hunter Nature Caravan models are also exported to Germany. They are comparatively cheap and have a fresh look that is more reminiscent of Instagram than permanent campers. Instead of a tailgate, the Raptor XC has a long pull-out, adding another room. Despite the small dimensions, there is now a bedroom, a dining area, an indoor kitchen and a wet room. As much space is packed into the dimension of a teardrop as in a “real caravan”.
Hunter Nature actually comes from mechanical engineering. In 2019, the construction of mobile homes began. In addition to the modern design, the models are particularly robust. The Turkish company took the developments from Australia and the USA for off-road trailers and brought them to Europe. In this country the big manufacturers build solely for the campsite. Their models are large and sensitive and can ultimately only be moved on well-developed roads. Turkish manufacturers such as Hunter Nature Caravan see their opportunities here to set themselves apart with steel chassis, independent wheel suspension, metal rivets and the aluminum sandwich construction. And of course the ongoing weakness of the Turkish lira is helping exports. The model in anthracite looks very martial with the rivets, with a different color the “predator” should look tamer. Incidentally, Raptor is not a reference to the U-Pol Raptor coating, which is popular in the off-road sector. The outer walls of the Turkish raptor are made of aluminum, with XPS insulation underneath. The Raptor moves on light alloy rims and BFGoodrich off-road tires, instead of a rigid axle there is an independent suspension. With air suspension on request.
Almost seven meters in length
The extension extends the car from 4.8 to 6.9 meters. It is extended manually as standard, but there is an extra motor. With this size you can also spend a few rainy days in the Raptor XC. Usually a teardrop trailer is only suitable for outdoor camping. As an island around which life takes place. The Raptor XC weighs 1260 kilograms. Ultimately, you can move the Raptor with any mid-range car. In order to take advantage of its capabilities, an all-wheel-drive SUV should already be available. The Raptor should feel right at home behind a Defender or a heavy pick-up.
The bedroom is in the shallower pull-out, two skylights and a long side window allow a view of nature. The camper is gloomy from the outside and looks very bright and translucent from the inside. This is also a sign that it was not developed for use on a crowded campsite. The main room houses a kitchenette and the dining area. A 90 x 190 cm single bed can also be set up there. The kitchen is equipped with a two-burner gas stove and a sink under a glass cover, a 75-liter refrigerator and an L-shaped stainless steel counter. Next to the kitchen there is a wet room with a fixed door with a toilet, sink and shower. The Raptor XC is supplied by a 120 Ah gel battery that is connected to a 160 watt solar module. There is a 120-liter stainless steel tank for fresh water and a 100-liter aluminum tank for waste water. A Truma combi heater provides hot water and the heating of the cabin. In Germany, the Raptor XC costs around 39,000 euros, a good price.
Source: H.under Nature Caravan