For as long as Estefano could remember, travel had been one of his greatest passions. Whether backpacking or driving a van, his journeys were always about more than just reaching a destination. Estefano sought out new experiences, explored different cultures, and, most importantly, indulged in the local cuisine. But despite his love for adventure, long-distance cycling had never seemed like a viable option—until a chance discovery changed everything. What started as a simple idea soon turned into an ambitious project: building a bike camper to attach to the back of his ICE Full Fat. Little did he know, this decision would redefine the way he traveled, leading to a journey unlike any before.

"I stumbled across a crazy idea on the internet. Some crazy dude had built a camper trailer attached to a bike using very simple means. A house on wheels: small, light, minimalist, and most importantly: mobile!
My mind was racing. It was clear to me what needed to be done: Roll up the sleeves, lets build a bike camper!

My affinity for complex DIY projects with special tools I usually didn’t have, kicked in once again. It was clear that I would have to spend quite a bit of time and money to match my enthusiasm. My plan was to build an aluminum frame with a lightweight panel structure as a mobile sleeping cabin. It should also be equipped with brakes so that I wouldn’t turn into a human torpedo when I crossed the first hill.

It was mainly the local hardware store that was very pleased with my regular visits in the following weeks. Since I was also working at my regular job on the side, the camper’s construction would take almost 5
months. The funny, rolling camper that emerged in the end was primarily one thing: a fantastic eye-catcher. I quickly realized that subtlety was not achievable with this setup on our future trips." Says Estefano.

"The first milestone for the camper would be our twelve-day trip to Northern Italy, where we cycled nearly 600 km. Besides our son, we also had two dogs on board, a dog trailer, and our luggage, including a tent for my girlfriend and the dogs. The rolling house bumped from 40 kg up to a 80 kg total weight. If the trailer survived this journey, some things in my future travel planning would fundamentally change. The hassle of finding accommodations and the high vacation expenses would be a thing of the past. During the building process, I equipped the Velocamper with various gadgets. A 200-watt solar panel was installed on the roof, which was supposed to cover our power needs for charging the e-bikes and other electronic devices. Also we needed enough sleeping space for my son and me, so I installed several storage compartments in the trailer. The trip itself was a dream! We reached places where no car had ever been, and the Italians treated us with great kindness and were very interested about our trip.

With the first trip, I used my regular bike but was begining to struggle with a heavy neck pain, so I decided to complete longer journeys only with the trike in the future. A few months later I purchased a simple KMX, a fast and agile trike. Later I figured out, that it was almost impossible for this vehicle to pull the trailer up the hill. I had to admit that I needed to look for another vehicle. During my research, I came across the models of ICE. One trike in particular stayed in my mind and I was already imagining my future travel vehicle. At that time, I couldn’t afford a new Full Fat, but by chance, I found a dealer who had a used model avaliable. The price was good, and I didn’t hesitate for long. Soon after, I was the proud owner of a Full Fat." Says Estefano

"The first ride with the new setup was promising. The trike pulled the trailer effortlessly up every hill with motor assistance, at least on asphalt. Things have gone pretty well, I often travel with my son and the unusual vehicle so I am quite visible in public. It didn’t take long before I sold my first bike camper. I decided to build a second and a third trailer; after all, my fleet needed to be restocked, and I was curious to see how people’s interest would develop. In the meantime, my girlfriend had also built her first bike camper. The concept of being able to travel anywhere for little money, independent of cars and CO2 emissions, while being so close to nature, appealed to her as well.

For my new trailers, I was able to incorporate my own ideas into the construction process. For example, I installed a custom-designed wireless parking brake with a 12-volt motor on the camper. This allowed the trailer to be braked at the press of a button in any situation. The design had also evolved from the quirky, rolling shoebox to a sleek, unique piece. Thanks to many different real-life situations with the camper, I was able to incorporate several improvements for future builds.

Traveling with the trailer had to be as relaxing as possible to allow the rider to fully enjoy the surrounding view. By now, it was even possible to take trips in winter, thanks to an installed parking heater. With the first customer order, everything changed. Until then, I had always built the trailers according to my needs, but now I would be necessary to include the ideas and requests of customers in the planning process, which mostly worked well. Currently, the trend is developing, similar to the camper van market,towards extendable models. This makes it possible for several people to sleep in a Velocamper.

Meanwhile I travel practically every week with my son and the bike camper. I easily strike up conversations with all kinds of people, and when I see their curious faces and smiles, I know the effort has been worth it!
I’m proud to have created something with my work that attracts so much attention and perhaps motivates someone to think about an alternative and sustainable way of traveling." Says Estefano.

Looking back, what began as a personal challenge had grown into something much more. From Estefano's first experimental build to designing custom bike campers for others, his passion for sustainable travel has taken on a life of its own. Now with the frequent adventures his family find themselves on, they find joy not only in the journeys themselves but also in the connections he makes along the way. More than just a mode of transport, the Velocamper has become a symbol of independence, creativity, and a more sustainable way to explore the world.