BeTriton Is an Amphibious E-Bike Camper Trailer for Adventures That Go Beyond Dry Land

Bike campers, towed behind a traditional pedal-powered two-wheeler or an e-bike, are a great way to enjoy the great outdoors while slowing down and admiring the scenery more up close and personal.

But what if your search for nature and inspiration goes beyond dry land? In that case, you would need a versatile solution like BeTriton - an innovative bike-boat-camper hybrid contraption that allows you to bike through the countryside one minute, then seamlessly glide onto a lake the other, and then set up camp for the night, all with the same vehicle.

Designed and built by a Latvian startup, BeTriton combines the prowess of an electric bicycle with the versatility of a boat and the comfort of a micro-camper. The towable amphibious trailer is not a new product but a new version of the company's Z-Triton, a wildly creative design project that was initially unveiled in prototype form in 2020. The unconventional miniature RV that could be ridden both on land and in the water was eventually launched in 2022 as the BeTriton.

This versatile and ingenious product, which combines an electric boat and a tiny camper in one, is the brainchild of Aigars Lauzis, a keen innovator, designer, and entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience in urban design. Lauzis is the CEO and co-founder of BeTriton, and he says the inspiration for the hybrid vehicle came from his 18,600-mile journey on a touring bike from London to Tokyo to Latvia between 2013 and 2017.

During that experience, he discovered the limitations of conventional touring bikes, like the limited cargo-carrying capacity and the inability to cross waterways, so he set out to develop a hybrid vehicle that goes beyond the limits of traditional transportation by doubling as a watercraft.

While the original BeTriton was a standalone vehicle with an integrated bike, the new model simplifies the design, promising equally exciting adventures. It takes the form of an easily attachable trailer that is compatible with any e-bike out there. The new version was created after carrying out extensive testing and gathering valuable feedback from the product's rental during the previous summer. One of the most appreciated features of the hybrid vehicle was its boating function, so the company decided to hone it.

The new BeTriton Trailer version retains the cabin that can accommodate two people and a dog and still offers the core functionalities of boating, camping, and biking, but it no longer comes with an integrated bike. Instead, it uses a seatpost attachment to be hitched to any standard e-bike, thus offering a more flexible and more affordable option.

"The main thing that people like is boating, and we realized that maybe you already have a €5000 bike and you don't want to have an integrated one. That's why we decided to strip it down, making it more affordable and practical," it is said in the YouTube video showcasing the new product (you can find it attached below).

At 4.5 meters (14.8 feet) long, the BeTriton trailer is longer than some auto camping trailers, but it's significantly lighter thanks to its steel and aluminum frame and carbon fiber and glass body construction. It only weighs 140 kg (309 pounds) without the marine drive batteries. However, it measures 1.4 meters (about 4.5 feet) in width, so users need to ride carefully on tighter bike paths.

In terms of payload, the company says the trailer can carry 160 kg (352 pounds). So, besides the marine-drive batteries, adventurers can also haul their camping gear, clothes, pets, and other essentials inside.

The trailer is easy to assemble/disassemble using simple tools. Owners can remove the wheels and get into electric boating mode by unbolting four bolts. For those who don't want to take the wheels off when on the water, they can also fold them up on the inflatable side pontoons, which are designed to add stability.

Designed to be used in inland waters and shallow coastal waters, the amphibious camper measures 2.4 meters by 4.5 meters (7.9 feet by 14.7 feet), providing ample space for up to two adults. It cruises around by means of an electric motor producing a maximum output of 2,150 watts. Fed by a lithium battery with 1.4 kWh of capacity, the boat offers an estimated range of up to 12.5 km (7.8 miles). The company offers a dual-battery layout, promising double the range. With a modest maximum speed of five miles per hour (8 kph), the BeTriton is perfect for leisurely explorations.

The boat's hauling capacity is 260 kg (573 pounds), including the batteries, meaning it can carry the e-bike, two adults, and some luggage.

A highlight of the BeTriton amphibious e-bike trailer is its multifunctional cabin, which can be used as a decent sleeping space for two people. It offers a 97 x 210 cm (38 x 83 in) floor plan and an aluminum-framed PVC weather cover for protection from the elements. It can be equipped with one or two seats for sitting room in camper and boat mode, and a sleeping mat is offered as an extra.

The company has started taking orders for the BeTriton Trailer, with a starting price of €10,550 (approx. US $11,630 at current exchange rates) for the single-battery base model and €12,950 (US $14,275) for the dual-battery model with upgrades like exterior navigation lights, a sleeping mat, and interior storage organizers. It's certainly an investment, but it might be worth it considering this is an innovative vehicle that promises to open up new ways to explore the world.