A small Japanese camper that sleeps four

When we think of a camper, we picture a large vehicle with every comfort and plenty of space to travel in comfort and spend the night anywhere. But a camper doesn’t need to be very big; it can offer functional equipment that’s ready to enjoy. With this philosophy, the Dune Rover, also known as the Katana Mini, was created on a kei truck base.

Kei trucks are small trucks with an urban spirit that are very popular in Japan and, together with kei cars, make up part of city traffic. On one of them, the Daihatsu Hijet, the company Direct Cars has built a small-sized camper capable of sleeping four people.

Ready for adventure

This vehicle was designed with outdoor getaways and nature in mind. The bodywork has been finished in a scratch-resistant Raptor coating and combined with black elements on the bumper, alloy wheels and reinforced metal panels. A LED light bar has also been fitted to the roof to offer better visibility on open terrain.

The rear cabin has steps that deploy thanks to an electric motor and has a look similar to larger campers, without forgetting that this is a kei truck. We see a central table and two sofas, which convert into a comfortable double bed for two people. A second double bed has been placed above the cabin, so there is space for four people.

That said, the Hijet is a two-seater van, so the other two passengers will have to travel in another vehicle. As for equipment, there is a 35-litre fridge, a television, generous storage space under the bed, ambient lighting and air conditioning for a more comfortable sleep. A control panel makes everything easy to operate, and there are USB ports to keep all devices connected and charged.

What it doesn’t have is a shower or a bathroom, which will have to be found elsewhere. This is normal, since the space is limited and these facilities don’t fit. Everything runs on a 100 Ah battery, although it can optionally be replaced with a 200 Ah one. To gain more charge, a 100 W solar panel kit can be installed.

There is another version built on the Hijet, called PLAT, designed for more urban use and moving away from the more adventurous bodywork. In this case, it includes a side door, an awning and a slightly larger kitchen. As for the engine, it keeps the one offered in the Hijet, so not much can be expected from it.

The engine is 660 cc and produces up to 63 CV. There is a rear-wheel-drive version and a four-wheel-drive one, which is more practical. It comes with manual or automatic transmission, so each driver can choose the one that suits them best. For now, these vehicles do not reach the European market, but it would be good news if they did one day, offering small, manageable and, as we have seen, very versatile vehicles.