For fans of the stylish Cricket trailer and the cult television show, the new FireFly prototype camping trailer by designer Garret Finney brings together aerospace technology and the desire to be sustainable while off-roading. According to the NASA designer the FireFly is actually a habitation module designed to fit into the bed of a pickup truck or towed by a small car.
The 600 lb. trailer is minimal and includes folding bench tops for sleeping and lounging surfaces with room for storage underneath. The FireFly is supported by four legs and can be moved easily to various locations. In fact, it was originally designed to be used for disaster relief or as a temporary basecamp. The lightweight camper has welded square tube sections, highly insulative composite panels made of aluminum and Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) foam.
The protoype was created in only three weeks after several months of sketching and design work.
Photos by TaxaFireFly
By Christina Nellemann for the [Tiny House Blog]
Beyond Ugly!! Give me my old Boler any day!!! Sorry!!!
How is this a “tiny home”? Why not just put a camper shell on your truck and throw a mattress in the back? It would provide the same “amenities” at far less cost.
That is new and different and needed !
Not too much comes across any more that catches my attention AND my wallet.
I will be researching this more and looking into the price. The pictures show strong rivets in the corner sections and it appears lightweight. The outrigger leg systems make it more valuable to do double duty.
I can use this and could put this to work asap and stack lumber on the roof instead of surfboards and use it at job sites.
Even cheaper, as functional in normal weather would be a simple canopy on the truck with HD foam pads and pillows in the bed. Luggage and storage can be in the back seat. Not sure the advantage of this except it can be left behind while you use the truck for something else.
This may not be what you want, but it should make you think of what you could have for short money, or better yet, what you could make from an idea. I started RVing with a VW bus, no raised roof. I took out the middle seat and made the middle into a sitting, eating area. I purchased a piece of foam rubber which went into the back. Loved it, and it was cheap in that the VW bus was my car also.
So look at this idea from a view that it could open up other ideas on small living.
Would like more info, is there a site link? Such as, water & related facilities, any storage for sleeping bag & related items, ventilation, insulation, solar panel? etc. Cost?
Sounds like the type of tiny house I would like for myself during temporary travel and visits to other family & friends.
This reminds me of some of the custom set ups that 4×4 enthusiasts build for themselves. But I dont’ understand the functionality. It’s an aluminum box. Too small to stand up in. I can’t imagine many people paying what I assume is a substantial amount of money for an sleeping box like this. For camping you’d be better off buying something like the aluminum pickup camper from Livin Lite
http://www.livinlite.com/5_7-overview.php
Just plain ugly.
I’ve been keeping my eye open for a retro style canned ham trailer (new) to pull behind my 50s vintage car, but the ones I’ve found all spoil the look with modern windows. Anyone know if there’s something out there more true to the era? I’ve found some tear drops but I need to stand up and shower.
I think we should look at it on the bright side: it would give alien seekers an alien ship to photograph!!!!!!!!!lol
The best use for this was stated in the prologue to the article – Emergency shelter in disaster areas, or for military/ civil defence & rescue teams where you have a pod per each 2 person team, plus a kitchen & mobile latrine unit. Wet season, desert heat, winter S&R or storm shelter can all be a good use for these trailer-able or para-dropped units, complete with bedding & ration packs already aboard them.
not sure I understand it’s advantage? more info might be good but from what I see, can’t imagine it being any more useful than a tent or like others have said, an aluminum box. sorry
cool!!
What were these people thinking . . . there are much better tents than this structure. A yurt is much more functional and doesn’t take long to assemble . . . the rescue workers would be so cranky from “living” in one of these that they wouldn’t be very good after only a couple of days.
Seriously? I think The mattress in the back of my pickup that I used to go camping in looked a lot more comfortable and functional than this!
Love the look of this. Looks like a Mars Hab Module. Wouldnt change a thing looks wise.
I would build a second module that can bolt onto the first. That would be a kitchen module.
So one could make two trips or take two trucks or one in the pickup bed and one on a trailer. Make the roof solar panel for electric burner and lights. Optional propane tank perhaps designed to look like that red gas can but say in yellow so not to be confused with gas or water etc.
For a first prototype wow.
It’s experimental, it looks like. Better designs to come. Points for unique and modern for a change.
I’ve seen much nicer designs of similar size & weight. Can’t see much to get excited about, unless it’s dirt cheap, which I doubt. Then it might be worth tricking out… might.
Well, the advantage over a tent or yurt in bear country is obvious. I could see using it in combination with a tent for lounging (next to a can of bear spray) during the day. Whether it’s better than the back of a pickup depends on details of the ventilation and insulation. So, I’d like to know more.
Um…..’eww’ comes to mind… :p
Designed for FEMA camps? Punishment for the stricken, I suppose. The creative could make something cute and clever out of this little box. My grandkids would love it.
This particular simple unit serves its purpose. Emergency, short term shelter. But you can take those specs for that unit and modify them to meet your own crazy tricked out needs.
I’ll be looking into the tech they used to build this; it sounds fascinating and useful. Thank you for posting this.