It’s not uncommon for automakers to team up with proven RV specialists on trailer or camper designs to go along with their vehicles. But with its latest project, Honda has taken it upon themselves to craft a purpose-built towable travel trailer intended for production. While they’ve certainly made their versions of camper vans, the new Base Station Camper is a step beyond, giving you apartment-style living amenities for remote adventure, all wrapped in a futuristic-looking package.
Breaking the RV Mold
Honda has built its reputation on that “Man Maximum/Machine Minimum” philosophy, and the Base Station embodies this better than most of their recent work. Coming in under 1,500lbs, it can be pulled by a CR-V or RAV4, which are vehicles many families already own. The same California and Ohio R&D teams behind the Motocompacto folding scooter handled this project, which explains the forward-thinking mentality. Rather than mimicking age-old RV designs, they borrowed styling cues from Honda’s upcoming 0 Series EVs, which explains the rounded corners and customizable ambient light rings around the windows.
Honda’s RV History
Honda hasn’t traditionally sold factory trailers like Airstream, but they’ve spent decades building camper-friendly platforms in Japan. The Vamos Hobio microvan, Acty kei truck conversions, and StepWgn with camping kits all showing Honda’s grasp of outdoor lifestyle products. Base Station marks the first time they’re branding their own travel trailer hardware for the American market.
Modular by Design
The Base Station’s party trick is modularity. Five large side windows can be removed and swapped for add-on accessories like an air conditioner, external shower, or outdoor kitchenette with running water and induction cooktop. Pop the roof and you get 7ft of headroom. Inside, a futon-style couch folds out to a queen bed, with space for an optional kids’ bunk. The trailer’s power comes from a lithium battery recharged by roof-integrated solar panels, though you can hook up to campsite electricity or a Honda generator for longer periods if you need to.
Spec Sheet
Model: Base Station Prototype
Weight: Under 1,500 lbs
Headroom: 7ft (with pop-up roof)
Sleeping Capacity: 4 (queen bed + optional bunk)
Power: Lithium battery + inverter, roof-integrated solar panels
Accessories: Modular external kitchen, shower, A/C, awning, power bank
Compatible Vehicles: Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Honda Prologue, upcoming 0 Series EVs
Price: Targeting $20,000-$40,000 range
Pricing & Availability
Honda hasn’t locked down final pricing but is aiming for the middle of the lightweight travel trailer segment, somewhere between $20,000 and $40,000. The Base Station will be sold through Honda dealerships, though a specific launch date hasn’t been announced yet.
Recap
Honda Base Station Travel Trailer
Honda’s finally building their own travel trailer, the Base Station, and at under 1,500 pounds, it’s light enough for a CR-V to tow while packing modular accessories like an external kitchen and shower. Designed by the same team behind the Motocompacto, it ditches traditional RV aesthetics for a futuristic look borrowed from their upcoming 0 Series EVs.
