This Is the Romini Caravan: The Ultimate in Tiny Camping, Towable Even by a MINI

That teeny-tiny travel trailer is called the Romini, a towable designed to be towed with even the smallest passenger car, including a MINI. The Romini was designed and built by boatbuilders Island Plastics Ltd, based in Ryde, Isle of Wight, most famous for the Romahome, a GRP attachment that turned Kei trucks into mini-homes.

Production of the Romini briefly overlapped with the Romahome, but the former marked a period in the company's history where they were open to experiment with size and finishes, though it wasn't their first time dipping the toe into RV-making waters. It was in production between 1985 and 1990, and then briefly as a different iteration after Collier Designs bought the molds from the bankrupt Island Plastics in 1990.

That second iteration is known as the Romini LXS, and it brought a longer form factor, which, in turn, allowed for the inclusion of a proper wet bathroom inside the living space. The original Romini was made in just 200 units, offered either as a standard model or slightly customizable thanks to an array of optionals.

Being designed a "truly all year round family home" and "the ultimate in tiny camping," the Romini had the impossible task of being lightweight and small while packing in as many features as possible. It had to be compact and lightweight, but it also had to offer plenty of creature comforts, so that it could double as a mobile vacation home.

As luck would have it, Island Plastics was a boatbuilder specializing in fiberglass hulls, and that was an excellent starting point. For this tiny towable, "impossible" proved to be just a word, if you'll allow one more cliché.

The Romini was as small as the MINI that would be towing it. With an overall length of just 3 meters (9.8 feet) and an overall width of 1.88 meters (6.16 feet), it offered standing height inside and an empty weight of just 375 kg (827 lbs). Maximum weight allowed was 650 kg (1,433 lbs), according to the official brochure, though you'll find sources claiming it was actually 750 kg (1,653 lbs).

In the standard interior, you'd get double benches with a dining table and a galley kitchen with a three-burner stove, a sink with a hand pump, and space for a small fridge that wasn't included in the standard spec.

Storage options were impressive for the trailer's size, including inside the benches, under the table, and in overhead cubbies over the dinette and in the kitchen. A lockable storage compartment for two gas canisters was available outside.

At night, the dinette converted into a bed by simply lowering the table and rearranging the cushions. It was a standard layout for a travel trailer but a surprising one, considering it was inside such a compact towable. Fitted carpeting, upholstered seats, and the mandatory curtains at the windows (all acrylic and openable on the sides) added to that homey vibe.

All pieces of furniture were molded out of GRP and used fake teak for accents, thus keeping the weight low and enhancing durability. They also bespoke on the maker's experience in boatbuilding.

Optionals included an oven, a porta-potty tucked into a secret compartment, a fridge, a heater, a fire extinguisher, a third bunk bed, and an awning that expanded available space outside. That last one was ideal for more sleeping room or to host larger dinner parties, as the maker put it.

The Romini sat on a single-axle galvanized trailer that was encased within the shell for further rust protection. The fully insulated foam sandwich reinforced plastic construction made it suitable for travels in colder weather.

The trailer also came with rubber suspension and hand brakes, and a jockey wheel that allowed you to bring it into the desired position by hand. Optionally, you could choose to have it roll on 10", 12" or 13" wheels.

The cute but quite capable Romini sold for prices starting at £1,695, which would be equivalent to £5,100 or $6,500 in today's money, adjusted for inflation. The fact that it could be towed with a daily driver, its garageability, and heightened maneuverability were highlights appropriately stressed in marketing brochures.

That's also the kind of money a used unit is changing hands for these days in the UK, but given the 200-unit production, it's rare when that happens. A Romini trailer emerged for sale in the U.S. in May 2024, asking $17,900, so we're assuming the appeal of retro towables is stronger across the pond. Or maybe its one-off status in America helped seal the deal faster.