Dashaway – Wheelhome

Dashaway to the
French Alps with electric car

Dashaway with VW Golf GTE (Hybrid)

Making the journey as
important as the destination

French Alps

Dashaway to back garden using mover

The best things come in small packages, start your adventure tomorrow!

See the world from the comfort of your own home on wheels.

Sorry, no longer in production

The standard Dashaway was circa £32,000 in 2019. No longer in production so if you want one it will have to be a used one, if and when available.

The Dashaway e caravan is believed to be the first two berth caravan in the world designed specifically to be towed by not only most little cars, old and new, petrol or diesel, such as Ford Fiesta, Suzuki Swift, VW Polo, but also Hybrid, Plug-In Hybrid and pure electric cars with a towing capacity of 720kgs or more.

“Towing? its got to be dead easy, regardless of what you’re towing with”
(Caravan and Motorhome Club, August 2019)

Designed specifically to meet the challenges and demands of the latest and forthcoming vehicle legislation and technology to allow you to enjoy your leisure time, not just today but for the future too.

Dimensions

External height, roof lowered; 1.83m (6’0″)
Shipping length (overall length); 4.0m (13’2”)
Width, overall on road; 1.72m (5’8”)
M.I.R.O. (mass in running order) 644kgs
M.T.P.L.M. (maximum technically permitted laden mass) 720gs – 1,000kgs
User payload: 76kgs to 356kgs

Width, main body only; 1.24m (4’1”)
Width, on site with Podrant deployed; 2.34m (7’8”)
Internal height at kitchen, roof raised; 2.13m (7’0”)
Internal height ‘mid-ships’, roof raised; 1.8m (5’11”)
Internal height, roof lowered (enough to sit) 1.37m (4’6”)
Double bed; 1.96m (6’5”) x 1.34m (4’5”)
Single bed 1.96m (6’5”) x 0.84m (2’9”)
Floor space remaining with double bed in place; 1.10m (3’7”) x 0.68 (2’3”)
Floor space remaining with single bed in place 1.10m ( 3’7”) x 0.95m (3’1″)

Towing with a small / electric car

This is due to Dashaway’s lightweight, streamlined dimensions and de minimus electrical drain on the tow car means it can be towed by some current Hybrid cars, such as the Toyota Prius and Toyota C-HR, also Plug-In Hybrids (PHEVs) such as Volkswagen Golf GTE, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Pure electric cars too such as Tesla model 3, Jaguar I-Pace plus there are plenty more coming soon.

Dashaway e caravan (‘e’ being for electric) is super-stable – awarded a 99% score or towing by the Caravan and Motorhome Club August 2019, compact and light-weight on the road, making minimal demands upon the tow car. Therefore, we feel “Future-proof caravanning” has arrived!

Micro touring caravan at its best

On the road, the Dashaway interior accommodates the retracted ‘Podrant’. The Podrant houses the fridge, part of the bed and your bedding, both whilst travelling and on-site. This is in stark contrast to a ‘normal’ caravan where you’re lugging around a large and mostly empty box of air.

“The secret to the internal space is found in the pop-top roof and clever Podrant folding side”
(Camping and Caravanning Club August 2019).

“there’s a lot of really intense engineering gone into this one”
(Caravan and Motorhome Club, August 2019)

Dashaway; makes sense then, doesn’t it? Once on site, or in a lay-by for a snack, the space enhancing, counterbalanced Podrant is easily deployed with just one hand, in a few seconds.

One or two berth options

Double bed: The Dashaway has a class-leading double bed 6’5″ x 4’5″. What’s more, it is made up by repositioning just a single cushion in about 5 seconds! Can any others offer that? “double bed that takes literally seconds to make up” “beds are really comfy”
(Caravan and Motorhome Club, August 2019).

Two single beds: The Dashaway can have two single beds – again created by repositioning just one cushion.

Single berth: The Dashaway can be made up as a really large single bed, almost 3′ wide, giving even more floor space.

It is important to note that all facilities remain accessible at night time regardless of which bed configuration you chose with decent floor-space for using the Porta Potti.

Electric induction hob & microwave - No gas!

Dashaway has a unique to Wheelhome, independent all electrical cooking set-up which includes an Induction hob (a fast and efficient cooking system with instant heat control) and microwave (plus you can have an oven/grill too), which run from the built-in Inverter and Lithium batteries, or campsite hook up. Therefore, many mains voltage appliances can be used including sandwich makers or a kettle. What is an Inverter? A device that cleverly changes 12 volts from the very high capacity auxiliary battery into 230 volts.

“The secret to the internal space is found in the pop-top roof and clever Podrant folding side”
(Camping and Caravanning Club August 2019).

If there's no gas, how long can you last on electric?

How long will the battery last and what about recharging? A couple of days in inclement weather, far more in clement weather. In fact, in reasonably bright weather, Dashaway can actually be self sufficient thanks to the bespoke solar panel. When connected to campsite hook-up the battery can be kept ‘topped up’ additionally by a battery charger so you can use the inverter as well as hook up. Fresh water storage is a 23 litre portable tank (on wheels). The water is electrically pumped to the stainless steel sink and drainer. A 23 litre waste (grey) tank is also provided.

“…created a solution that’s practical and fun”.
(Camping and Caravanning Club August 2019).

Photographic representation showing general interior layout.

Seen here with front un-zipped. It fully closes up if you wish. Note VW Golf plug-in hybrid (PHEV) charging up from campsite electric hook-up, via Dashaway. The U.K.'s two largest clubs permit this.

Dashaway towed here with a Suzuki Swift with a 1 litre petrol engine and automatic gearbox. We achieved over 33 mpg and that was whilst carrying one electric bike to Shetland.

Width restrictions are not a problem, if the car fits through, so will Dashaway.

Dashaway in Shetland

Shirt length wardrobe hanging space behind backrest cushion. Can accommodate about 8 items on hangers. Outdoor coats hang high up from hooks above the kitchen.

Great kitchen with induction hob, microwave and electric oven/grill. What more could you wish for? Remember this caravan fits in your garage! Tables stow neatly on top of sink and induction hob when travelling. Fridge on right in Podrant.

Double bed with sleeping bag on top. At 6'5" x 4'5" we believe this is the largest double bed in it's class. You can both sit up in bed to read, or have that morning cuppa! Head end to the right, feet in the Podrant. Drop-down shelf in Podrant is particularly usefull for clothes, glasses (cup of tea).

Get up in the morning and roll your sleeping bag back into the Podrant. All your bedding (inc pillows) stows right-away in the Podrant during the day and when travelling. Simply unrolls at night time.

Double bed is formed with only three large cushions: To create this just reposition the backrest cushion in front of the squab and you've made the huge double bed, that's it - one cushion! Sleep with your feet into the Podrant.

Dashaway has two tables. The one on the left rotates (complete with plate!) into the Podrant to allow access through to kitchen.

Hand-crafted leather and suede luxury. Other colours or cloth available.

Compressor fridge is seen on the left, it pulls out for access.

Storage locker in the roof, rather like a suitcase. Another unique Wheelhome design innovation.

Lowers down for convenient access. Ideal for smaller clothes items.

Here the versatile Dashaway cushions have been rearranged to make a very decent single bed, ideal for a solo traveller. Simply pull the squab forwards 8" then drop the backrest down. Like the double, it is huge at 6'5" long x almost 3' wide. This gives even more floorspace at night time.

Rear camera took the guessing out of reversing into this small space. "Eyes in the back of your head?" well Dashaway!

On route to the Alps, Dover to Calais ferry (DFDS), in with the cars as so low.

Plentiful kitchen storage

Top-loading 36 litre compressor fridge sits within the Podrant, virtually silent, very efficient and conveniently slides out of the Podrant for top-loading access. Fridge pivots on a gimbal (ensuring it remains horizontal) when Podrant is retracted.

Dashaway kitchen, at a decent height and so convenient. Note round discs at front, these are built-in litter bin and laundry "chutes"! Just lift the lid and drop inside! Conveniently serviced through external front locker. Note also, handy removable shelf above.

Porta Potti in its dedicated cupboard, easily accessible with bed in place and conveniently located beside the habitation door.

Dashaway behind Suzuki Swift, you can just about see it in the top left of driver's door mirror.

Want to take your bikes with you? The innovative Dashaway can transport two bikes along it's sides, including electric bikes. Not only an economical means of carrying them but also being low to the ground, stable and very easy to load. Weight distribution/nose weight is uneffected as the weight is directly over the axle.

This is how one customer stores their Dashaway - through the garage, into the back garden and up the garden path, nestled in beside the Bramley apple tree! All made possible by using the optional motor mover.

Kampa do a great inflatable awning for the Dashaway, providing full headroom; Kampa Pop 260 AIR Pro with part number: CE7072.

Charging Tesla

French aire

Annecy

If you would like to know more then please give us a call or come and visit. We would love to talk you over the in’s and out’s of all our models and answer any questions you might have.