Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Auto

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

We really wish these compact, Korea-exclusive RVs and campervans were available stateside

Lightweight, compact, and tidy, these three campers are everything we'd want in a road-ready rig

By
Hyundai Staria Lounge Camper parked in a field.
Hyundai

Here in the U.S., RV’ing feels like an exclusively American pastime. But Europeans, Asians, and Australians have enjoyed caravanning and campervanning since, well, almost as long as caravans and campers have existed. Much of the world, however, eschews the “bigger is better” design ethos of most luxurious ‘Merican-made motorhomes. They instead like to keep things lightweight, compact, and tidy, traveling with everything they need and nothing they don’t. Korea, in particular, knows what’s up when it comes to minimalist RVs and campervans. Case in point: These three camper models we really wish were available stateside.

Man sitting atop a campervan with a headlamp at night.
Tommy Lisbin / Unsplash

Three Korean-built campers we really wish they’d sell stateside

Kia’s Bongo is a cab-over pickup that’s been a ubiquitous workhorse truck in South Korea for more than 20 years. It serves as the perfect base for this compact custom camper build. At roughly 21 feet long, it would classify as a Class B camper here in the U.S., with exactly enough living space to fit a wet bath, sleeping quarters, and a compact kitchen setup. It’s remarkably similar to many mid-size campers we’ve seen stateside. But we appreciate a few thoughtful design touches that help it stand out, including a heated shoe storage area, an insect-repellent sliding screen “door,” and a toilet that swivels to provide a little extra legroom in the very tight bathroom. There’s also a large cabinet that opens to the outside for quick indoor/outdoor access to gear and small kitchen appliances.

Custom Class B camper based on the Korean-made Kia Bongo cab-over truck.
Asian Petrolhead / YouTube

For something altogether different, South Korean RV customizer Daon TNT (Korean language) rebooted a stock Kia Ray as a modern, ultra-compact urban campervan. Dubbed the Daon Ravy, it features just about everything modern nomads could need for life on the road — a convertible, two-person bed/sofa, a slide-away galley with a sink and single-burner camp stove, and a tech-forward 100Ah battery setup that’s good enough for powering all your gadgets — in a ridiculously small space that’s about a foot smaller than a Kia Soul at the front and sides (seriously). Plus, the optional pop-top tent adds sleeping space for two more. About the only things missing are a bathroom and fridge.

Daon Ravy custom urban campervan based on the compact Kia Ray.
Daon Tnt

If you’re looking for a more showroom-ready option without the hassle of dealing with a third-party customizer, Hyundai’s Staria Lounge Camper is a ready-to-roll campervan that’s swankier than almost any vanlife rig. This factory-built van sports an electric pop-top tent with room for two adults, while the interior seats fold flat to sleep two more. Inside, you’ll find all the essentials of home, including a TV, surprisingly decent storage, and a cook space with a sink and refrigerator that connects to a portable power station. We especially love the sleek, modern look of the Staria’s interior.

Modern interior of Hyundai's Staria Lounge Camper.
Hyundai

How to score your own Korea-exclusive RV or camper

The Kia Bongo-based Class B camper conversion retails for around $80,000, while the Ray-based Ravy stickers for a modest €19,000 (around $20,000 at the time of this writing). Hyundai’s Staria Lounge Camper will set you back at least $40,000, with fully optioned versions pushing $55,000. Sadly, none of these RVs is available stateside. But, if you know a guy who knows a guy who works in “imports,” there’s nothing stopping you from buying one overseas and having it shipped home.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Mike Richard
Mike Richard
Contributor
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…
Take a break at one of these U.S. National Parks this winter
From snowy vistas to winter sun and everything in-between, winter is a great time to explore U.S. National Parks

There's never really a bad time to visit one of the U.S. National Parks. At any time of the year, they have plenty to offer, but some parks can be inhospitable during the height of summer thanks to massive crowds and sky-high temperatures. Winter is an especially unique time of year to explore, with landscapes and wildlife changing and adapting to the season. With fewer vehicles on the road and fewer hikers on the trail, you can feel as though the whole park is yours when you visit during what most people — wrongly — call the off-season.

National Parks have something on offer for everyone, too. Whether you're looking for wildlife or hiking trails, opportunities for winter camping, or a sightseeing break to mix up your journey to or from a ski resort. There are over 60 national parks to choose from in the U.S. and reducing it down to just a few for winter has been no easy task, but these — we think — are the best national parks to visit in winter.

Read more
Yellowstone National Park tip: Don’t dangle your baby near an elk like the guy in this video
It's not a tip we thought we'd have to say out loud
Elk at Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park is one of our most beautiful national treasures, and for good reason. The park sees about three million visitors every year, every one of them aching to see the breathtaking sights. But what happens when visitors make alarming choices that put themselves and wildlife at risk? Recently, visitors witnessed yet another alarming incident that shed light on the disregard some visitors have for park safety guidelines. This man's reckless act of dangling his baby in front of an elk for a photo op has sparked outrage and concern among park enthusiasts and conservationists alike.
Stay at least 25 yards away from elk
The incident unfolded when a visitor, oblivious to the inherent dangers and proper etiquette around wildlife, approached a grazing elk. Disregarding the National Park Service's recommended safety distance of 25 yards, the individual turned his back to the elk and extended his baby towards the animal, presumably for a snapshot. The heart-stopping moment was captured by another park visitor. The content was then reposted via Instagram on the account TouronsOfYellowstone—a platform dedicated to highlighting irresponsible behavior within US National Parks. See the video below.

While the man in the video calls this animal a moose, it's an elk. While typically docile, elk are wild animals with unpredictable behavior. Encroaching upon their space can provoke defensive responses, potentially leading to attacks and severe injuries. The National Park Service has emphasized the importance of maintaining a safe distance from wildlife to ensure both human safety and the well-being of the animals themselves.

Read more
Why you need to be just as wary of moose as bear attacks (and what to do when you encounter one)
You know what to do when you encounter a bear, but how do you handle a moose?
Moose sitting in a field in an open clearing during the day

Moose are majestic and peaceful-looking animals that we're lucky to see in wild spaces. But are moose dangerous? Like bears, they are unpredictable creatures that may not take kindly to our presence. And if you're taking a long-distance hike or are in a remote area, you're likely to see one. So what do you do when a moose comes your way? Here are our thoughts, as well as some helpful tips to stay safe during a moose encounter.

Unforeseen moose attack in Colorado Springs
On September 12, two hikers alongside their three dogs encountered a distressed cow moose on the Craigs Trail in Colorado Springs. According to the report, they spotted the moose about 1 mile into their hike in a scenic opening. Although the three dogs were leashed and the hikers did their best to move along the trail at a safe distance, the moose began to close in on them. As the moose neared, the dogs barked in response to the moose’s presence. This didn't deter the moose, and the animal then trampled a hiker. Despite their efforts to escape the moose and flee, the persistent creature pursued them relentlessly along the trail.
After some time, they outran the moose and made it safely to their car. The injured individual was able to walk and the two then immediately headed to the hospital. Thankfully, their injuries were minor. The bull moose reportedly attacked because it was accompanied by a young calf. It's well understood that when a moose is threatened by a predator, such as the barking dogs, it will defend its young at all costs.
This story serves as a stern reminder that it's important to be aware of our surroundings when heading into wild spaces. Colorado Parks & Wildlife has responded to the incident by posting warning signs in areas with known moose activity, including the Craigs Trail.
But a moose encounter can happen anywhere, with their populations increasing by over one-third over the past decade. Here are a few tips for how to safely deal with a moose sighting if one of these creatures gets too close for comfort.

Read more