Back in 2015, recreational vehicle startup Happier Camper flipped the script when it released its HC1 travel trailer. On the outside, the fiberglass camper looked like a nod to the classic Boler. On the inside, the trailer was decked out with a totally modular floor, allowing owners to change their layout on the fly like an adult set of Lego. If there was a problem, it was that the HC1 carried a hefty price for the modular system. Now, Happier Camper has figured out how to trim the fat and lower the price. The new Happier Camper HC1 Breeze has the same modular floor, but now for $24,950.

It can be said that there isn’t a ton of innovation in the RV world right now. Indeed, most manufacturers will sell you the same boring boxes filled with the same equipment. Sure, maybe you could get the couch in a different corner, maybe you can get the exterior painted black, or maybe you’ll find some thrill in a faulty emergency brake cable, but it seems hard to find something truly innovative.

That’s what makes smaller firms so much fun. Where the big guys are all chasing each other and building the same thing, startups and independents often stand out by doing something different. Happier Camper doesn’t just build stylish vintage-style fiberglass campers, but those trailers come with the neat trick of having a modular floorplan that you can change on the fly.

Back in 2009, Happier Camper founder Derek Michael made it big when his iBallz iPad case went viral. He bought a 1960 Boler fiberglass camper to travel to conventions and shows with. Michael loved the camper so much that he started collecting and restoring more of the fiberglass rigs. Eventually, this led to a rental fleet of restored vintage fiberglass campers. Then, Michael decided to build his own fiberglass camper, but with a modern twist.

Happier Camper launched in 2015 and its debut product was the 13-foot HC1 travel trailer. The Happier Camper HC1 has a lot going for it from the vintage style and 1,100-pound empty weight to the hatch on the back. It’s a stylish trailer towable by just about any car with a tow rating! That isn’t even the best part. Pop open the hatch and you’re presented with a modular layout. Just place down your Lego-like cubes to make the trailer you need for that moment. Or, take all of the cubes out and have a cargo trailer. Happier Camper sells modular cubes that consist of benches, countertop cubes, kitchenette cubes, bunk bed cubes, and even toilet cubes.

The HC1 was cool enough, but then Happier Camper started coming out with different variations on its concept. The Traveler is 17 feet long and adds a fixed wet bath and kitchen to a larger modular floorplan.

Then there’s the HC1 Studio, which tosses the bathroom and kitchen into the smaller HC1. Along the way, Happier Camper also added the HC1 Venture, a fiberglass trailer perfect for a mobile business.

All of these trailers are awesome, but I’ve noticed a common complaint about all of them: They’re just too expensive. The HC1 used to cost $34,950, now it’s $29,950. Meanwhile, the Traveler will set you back $49,950, down from its initial price of $69,950. Splitting the difference is the HC1 Studio, which is $39,950 after a price reduction from $49,950.

Now, these prices are still pretty steep. A Scamp 13, one of the cheapest fiberglass campers on the market, is about $19,921 before you start tacking on options. This summer, Happier Camper has unveiled its latest camper, and this one is the cheapest Happier Camper Yet.

The Happier Camper HC1 Breeze

In mid-August, Derek Michael unveiled his latest creation. The HC1 Breeze is at its core the same Happier Camper HC1 that people love, but it’s now more affordable so more people can access the trailer’s modular goodness. From Happier Camper:

We wanted something that made our brand accessible to more of our fans. We’re calling it the “Breeze” to represent its lightness and simplicity, while also nodding to the unique color it will launch with called, “Venice breeze,” said Derek Michael, Happier Camper.

The HC1 Breeze is similar to the regular HC1, but it has fewer features. In the above picture, you’ll find the HC1 Breeze between two regular HC1s.

Happier Camper says the frame has been simplified and boasts increased rigidity while the double-wall insulated 1.5-inch fiberglass shell has also gotten a mild makeover. There are new marker lights and the front window has also been deleted. Another notable change is the lack of two-tone paint like the regular HC1.

Pop open the hatch of the HC1 Breeze and you’ll find a familiar HC1 interior with a modular floor that includes drains. More price-slashing methods are found here.

You get just four of the Adaptiv modular cubes as opposed to the five you’ll get in a standard HC1. There are also four floor panels as opposed to five, two floor panels with table leg supports instead of three, and you also miss out entirely on the nightstand kit. Outside, the trailer doesn’t get front stabilizers, a porch light, or a pouch for the side door. Otherwise, you get the same set of cushions and half cubes as the HC1. One thing the HC1 Breeze gets standard that the HC1 doesn’t get is a stowable toilet.

Another departure from the HC1 is the HC1 Breeze’s option list. For $5,000, you can get the Breeze Family Package, which adds a convertible bunk bed and couch plus a kitchenette with a sink, meal prep surfaces, and refrigerator.

Meanwhile, options for the regular HC1 include an awning, a stereo system, solar panels, a device docking station, privacy screens, and more. Happier Camper can even outfit your HC1 with a low-wattage air-conditioner. It’s unclear if you can do the same with the HC1 Breeze. The roof vent is still there, so in the worst case, you could add your own air-conditioner. Interior height is noted to be 6 feet, 1 inch. It’s not the greatest camper for tall people, but that’s still enough room for many to walk through.

You get all of this in a camper that weighs just 1,000 pounds with a tongue weight as low as 100 pounds. I bet a Smart Fortwo could tow this trailer without breaking a sweat!

I think Happier Camper is finally beginning to hit the spot. At $24,950, the HC1 Breeze is still more expensive than something like a Scamp, but cheaper than the $29,950 Relic Trailer, cheaper than the $29,970 MeerKat trailer, and far cheaper than the roughly $50,000 NuCamp Barefoot. Not even a used Airstream Nest can beat that price.

This is another trailer I hope to test out one day. On paper, the Happier Camper HC1 variants seem like great ideas. There aren’t many super compact campers out there that could haul your dirt bike one day and be your weekend camper the next. And now, these trailers have a price that many people might be able to afford.

(Images: Happier Camper)

Support our mission of championing car culture by becoming an Official Autopian Member.