Probably one of many world’s most underrated camper conversion firms, British store Wheelhome has lengthy been designing some really distinctive mini-camper vans and trailers, together with cool little solo campers which may encourage you to go it alone into the wild. This time round, it is actually outdone itself, constructing a hybrid rooftop tent/pop-up camper specifically developed to hug the arched roofline of the Tesla Mannequin 3. After an intensive shakedown round Iceland, the rooftop pod is evolving right into a extra sensible micro-camping trailer that may be towed by just about any automobile.
The brand new Wheelhome Dashaway eCT (electrical tenting trailer) began life because the Dashaway eRC (electrical roof camper), a novel pop-up tenting field purpose-built to suit the Mannequin 3 like a tailor-made vest. Having owned a number of Mannequin 3s himself, Wheelhome founder and proprietor Stephen Wheeler was struck by how the standard rooftop tents he noticed aboard Tesla’s small sedan labored instantly towards the pure curves and aerodynamics of the automobile, losing area and denigrating aerodynamics. He felt he might do higher.
What Wheeler in the end crafted nudges its method someplace between the rooftop tent and camper markets. Like a non-truck pickup-style camper, the eRC attaches by way of a mix of two rooftop crossbars and a hitch-mounted tow bar. Not like extra make/model-agnostic designs, this one was specifically ready to comply with the contours of the Mannequin 3 and mitigate damaging results on aerodynamics with a swept-back, streamlined roof design of its personal.
Wheelhome
Out of necessity, Wheeler labored to maintain weight down throughout the Tesla’s capacities. He began with a compact fiberglass pop-top development and went as far as to switch heavier gelcoat with a two-layer mattress liner-style paint software to avoid wasting weight. The eRC in the end weighs in at an estimated 330 lb (150 kg), nicely heavier than a standard rooftop tent and extra consistent with floor-less pickup camping toppers or hard-sided rooftop tents.
As spectacular because the eRC is exterior, it is much more so inside. The roof lifts up further excessive to create a standing-height dwelling out of the Mannequin 3’s arched again, opening up a surprisingly roomy RV cabin that steps nicely past a rooftop tent. Constructed for each day and night time use, it features a two-seat rear-facing couch that converts over right into a 75 x 47-in (190 x 120-cm) double mattress at night time.
The eRC flooring plan additionally has a collection of cabinets and consoles for holding home equipment, laptops, and many others.; a transportable energy station that rides and expenses contained in the automobile earlier than being moved to the camper upon arrival to energy cooking home equipment like a microwave, induction cooker and/or air fryer; and a sink basin with a shelf above it for holding a water canister with spout. There’s even a transportable rest room hidden inside a facet cubby.
Wheelhome
The eRC is really a micro-camper constructed to suit aboard a extremely unlikely camper base automobile within the Mannequin 3, not merely a elaborate rooftop tent. It even features a pass-through shore energy setup by which the camper plugs right into a campground electrical hookup for powering its onboard electrical gear, then plugs into the Mannequin 3’s charging level to move cost by way of to the Tesla traction battery throughout the keep.
Wheeler in the end took a 3,500-mile (5,630-km) highway journey this round Iceland, by the use of Germany, Denmark and Holland, as a correct shakedown for the eRC prototype. To maintain from overweighing the camper, he carried provides just like the water canister, small electrical fridge and transportable energy station within the rear footwell of the Mannequin 3, transporting baggage and extra gear within the trunk, which he was in a position to entry from contained in the automobile by way of the fold-down rear seats.
Wheelhome
Wheeler deliberate to launch the Dashaway eRC after his journey for a beginning value of £23,400 (approx. US$31,000), together with VAT and the body for mounting and demounting the unit. He took his prototype to a few main RV reveals, the place it completely knocked it out of the park by way of producing the form of buzz you would possibly count on from such a novel design for a preferred EV. Sadly, no orders adopted.
Good factor Wheeler developed the brand new camper to be a dual-purpose design from the start. Recognizing that constructing a camper for a small subset of homeowners of 1 particular automobile mannequin can be an uphill battle, he baked the concept of a flexible, ultralight micro-trailer proper into the unique idea. Since he had a Mannequin 3 that he beloved anyway, constructing it to suit Tesla’s small sedan was a ardour challenge, however after receiving a chilly response by way of exhausting orders, he shifted gears to the trailer variant.
Wheelhome
The Dashaway eCT is definitely the second Dashaway camper in Wheelhome’s historical past, following the unique all-electric tumble-expanding Dashaway pop-up trailer the corporate launched final decade. With a base weight of 1,420 lb (644 kg), the unique 13.2-ft (4-m) Dashaway e-caravan was designed particularly to be towed by hybrids and electrics, in addition to all kinds of small petrol vehicles. And it earned its “all electrical” e-caravan designation by abandoning the LPG tank to run on pure electrical energy.
The Dashaway eCT takes the unique Dashaway idea to an excellent higher excessive. It is about half a foot shorter at 12.5 ft (3.8 m) lengthy, however its rooftop-optimized design cuts base weight almost in half, down to simply 750 lb (340 kg). Because of its high-lifting pop-up roof system, it additionally sits a lot decrease for journey, measuring 3.8 ft (1.1 m) excessive, over 2 ft (61 cm) decrease than the taller-bodied Dashaway e-caravan.
The Dashaway eCT’s further weight as in comparison with the eRC prototype is a consequence not solely of the trailer chassis that it now rides atop but in addition of the under-floor storage and extra options Wheelhome was in a position to combine now that the camper is off the roof and on a 1,650-lb (750-kg, gross automobile weight score) trailer. Customary and elective options to be supplied for the trailer construct will embrace a lithium battery, inverter, 18-L compressor fridge and water system with 10-L canister and electrical pump.
Wheelhome
Wheelhome remains to be working to finalize the eCT forward of a deliberate world premiere on the UK’s Caravan, Tenting and Motorhome Present in February 2026. In a uncommon twist, whereas we’ll have to attend till nearer to launch for the finalized particulars, preliminary pricing info is accessible proper now. Wheelhome plans to start out the Dashaway eCT at a base value of £26,225 ($34,800), which incorporates VAT and supply wherever on the UK mainland.
As for the Tesla Dashaway eRC, Wheeler notes that one ought to by no means say by no means however he appears assured it’ll stay a one-off prototype. The broader enchantment and usefulness of the Dashaway eCT are simply too dramatic to dedicate extra time pigeonholing himself right into a restrictive area of interest.
