"Like Putin": the caravan market in Russia shows steady growth

According to Avtostat, 156.7 thousand light trailers were registered in the first six months of 2025. This represents an increase of one percent compared to the same period last year, which cannot be said about the new car market, which fell by a catastrophic 28 percent over the year. At the same time, more and more trailers are registered with the State Automobile Inspectorate every year:

🔹2010 — 91.6 thousand units.

🔹2015 — 164.2 thousand units.

🔹2020 — 216.2 thousand units.

🔹2024 — 318.4 thousand units.

It is worth recalling that Russian President Vladimir Putin also has a two-wheeled vehicle, but without a steering wheel or motor. He has owned a Skif tent trailer since 1987 and is required to list this “movable property” in his annual declarations.

President Putin has owned a Skif trailer since 1987. Photo: Maxim

"Skif" is a car trailer, a unique example of Soviet engineering thought, essentially a mobile tent. In the 60-70s, automobile tourism in the USSR was booming, and it was then that mass production of "Skif" began - a folding trailer-tent, developed by the Ural plant "Iskra". But the trailer was not cheap - from 800 to 2000 rubles (with an average salary of about 120 rubles).

"Skif" was actually a whole house in a compact format. The main tent, when unfolded, had an area of ​​six square meters and could accommodate up to four people. The set included boxes for things, folding chairs and a table, as well as a small veranda of 3 square meters, which could be used as a kitchen.

History is silent about the last time Vladimir Vladimirovich harnessed the Skif. After all, it is not at all easy to do, considering that the presidential Aurus does not have a towbar to which a trailer can be attached.

In general, there are very few fans of car tents and motorhomes in modern Russia.

— Motorhome trailers make up only 1% of the total number of registrations (1,456 units). Compared to last year, there is a 19% decline. Perhaps, car travel enthusiasts prefer more comfortable accommodation in hotels, — notes the head of Avtostat, Sergey Tselikov.

However, the main reason is that in Russian regions there are very few normal campsites where travelers with motorhomes and car tents could park. And the prices for houses with wheels and amenities are off the charts beyond reasonable limits. For example, a mobile off-road module without a name, but made to order, costs about 10 million rubles.

For that kind of money, however, the buyer gets a smart home with air suspension, controlled from a tablet, as well as:

•Galvanized frame + two-layer paint

• Electro-hydraulic disc brakes

• 20-inch wheels with 35-inch mud tires (including spare)

• Independent air suspension

•Auto level, track/off-road modes

• Eight shock absorbers with adjustable stiffness

• Hydraulic parking brake

• Double bed (1600×2000 mm)

•Folding sofa (upper shelf with trap net)

• Sleeping places: 2+3 or 2+2+2

• Refrigerator with freezer

• High-class acoustics (4 pcs), subwoofer, tube amplifier

• Heating and hot water on diesel fuel

• Drinking water tank with a capacity of 300 l

• All water pipes are installed inside to prevent heating and freezing

•Water pump for pumping

• Shower room with toilet (cassette or macerator)

• Induction hob with two burners

• UHD TV with smart set-top box

• Battery capacity 30 kWh

• Solar panel 1500 W

With such a trailer you can go to Sochi or to the taiga. Photo: Avito.ru

However, there are a lot of offers on marketplaces for both new and used trailers. There are imported ones, but there are also many from Russian manufacturers. In Penza, for example, they make these dachas on wheels, which have a sleeping place for two adults and two children, a kitchen area equipped with everything you need, an awning for outdoor recreation, a solar panel for independence from electricity, a heater for bad weather. The price is 475 thousand rubles.

Not a car, but a dacha!. Photo: Avito.ru

The car trailer market is growing by 95 percent due to sales of simple boxes on wheels. Almost all models are made of aluminum alloys and equipped with rear LED lights. Prices start from 50 thousand rubles and tend to increase sharply, up to 500 thousand rubles, when ordering plastic roofs and awnings, reinforced suspension for transporting heavy loads and cars and the presence of a second axle.

— It makes sense to buy trailers when you use them regularly, — advises NI auto expert Igor Lemeshev. — They pay for themselves when building a house or having a business that requires delivery of small batches of goods or raw materials. But if we are talking about using them “just in case”, then it is much more profitable to order a cargo taxi. There will be more free space in your garage…

According to traffic regulations, to drive a vehicle with a towing device, the driver must have a driver's license of the appropriate category, documents on the registration of the trailer, as well as an OSAGO insurance policy for the car, which indicates the presence of a trailer (this requirement applies to cargo trailers and legal entities). A car connected to a trailer is considered a single unit - a road train. In the event of exceeding the speed limit by a road train, penalties are applied in the same way as for speeding by a regular car and amount to from 500 rubles, depending on the degree of excess (according to Article 12.9 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation).

The following speed limits are set for road trains:

Outside populated areas — no more than 70 km/h; On motorways — no more than 90 km/h. Within populated areas and in areas adjacent to residential buildings, designated by the “Residential Area” sign, speed limits for road trains coincide with those for regular cars: 20 km/h — in areas adjacent to residential buildings, 60 km/h — in populated areas.

It should be remembered that transporting people in a cargo trailer is strictly prohibited (according to Part 2 of Article 12.23 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation). Violation of this rule entails a fine of 1,000 rubles.

A mandatory condition is the proper operation of the side lights on the trailer. They must be turned on at night, in conditions of poor visibility, and when driving in tunnels. In case of malfunction of the side lights, a fine of 500 rubles is provided (according to Part 1 of Article 12.5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation).