The World’s First Self-Hitching Camper Trailer Is Coming

Pebble is ready to get its futuristic smart trailer out on the road.

The California-based startup has finally begun production of its first model, the Flow. The fully electric caravan is packed with a number of forward-thinking features, including, most intriguingly of all, the ability to hitch itself.

The announcement comes two years after we got our first glimpse at the Flow. The company has refined the trailer somewhat in that time, but its main selling points remain the same: the ability to hitch itself to a towing vehicle and set itself up at the campground.

The Flow was designed to make camping as easy as possible. Magic Hitch, which is available via the Pebble smartphone app, utilizes the vehicle’s electric motors and camera array to attach and secure itself to the towing vehicle without you having to do a thing. Then, when you reach your destination, you can trigger the InstaCamp feature from the same app. With a simple tap of the screen, the vehicle will locate level ground, park itself, deploy its stairs, unlock its doors, and even adjust the interior temperature.

Those smart features may remain unchanged, but the rest of the trailer has been subtly reworked. The 25-foot-long Flow still sports the same minimalistic design it did in concept form, but its shape and lines have been tweaked to improve aerodynamic efficiency. Its ground clearance has also been increased, something sure to come in handy should you encounter any rough roads on the way to your campground. The hitch receiver has also been redesigned so that it has room for accessories, like a bike rack.

Inside, the clean, airy layout has been left relatively untouched. The cabin features has room for a full kitchen, an entertainment area that doubles as a workspace, and enough room to sleep four adults. Storage has been redesigned to be more intuitive—cabinets now flip up rather than down—the side and rear windows now open up, and a skylight has been installed above the dinette.

The electric drivetrain has also been modified to allow for better maneuverability. A single-motor system comes standard, but the dual-motor setup found on the early prototypes is also available. A 45-kWh battery keeps the drivetrain and everything else running, and roof-mounted solar panels are available if you need more juice.

With production underway, Pebble expects to begin deliveries by late spring. The base model starts at $109,500, but if you want a dual-motor powertrain and the full array of smart features, you’ll want the Magic Pack trim pack, which starts at $135,500. A Founders Edition, which adds a motorized awning, privacy glass, and premium bedding, starts at $175,000.

Click here for more photos of the Pebble Flow.

Credit: robbreport.com