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Our story · since 2011

How a lightweight revolution began

It all started in 2011 with a handcrafted wooden prototype built in six weeks. Fifteen years later, Igloo Caravane designs and builds ultralight, insulated, 100% rot-proof mini-trailers in Mirabel, Quebec.

Igloo Caravane T42 mini-trailer parked on the grass by a lake, surrounded by trees

15years of adventures

  • 2011

    First handcrafted prototype

  • −40%

    Weight reduction targeted in 2012

  • 100% rot-proof

    No exposed wood

  • Mirabel

    New factory since 2025

Louis Croteau and Denis Rioux, co-founders of Igloo Caravane, in the Mirabel workshop

2011 · The first prototype

A mini-trailer born from a real need

In 2011, Louis Croteau, an outdoor enthusiast, had to rethink the way he travelled because arthritis kept him from sleeping in a tent. Just six weeks before his vacation, he came across plans for a teardrop mini-trailer that his four-cylinder vehicle could tow. He built a handcrafted wooden prototype, fitted with salvaged windows and a door. The experiment was a success.

When he got back, he shared his idea with Denis Rioux. Together, they set out to improve the concept using rot-proof composite materials to reduce weight and increase durability.

Key milestones

Key milestones in our growth

From a wooden prototype to the new Mirabel factory: fifteen years of trials, improvements and mini-trailers built in Quebec.

  1. Igloo Caravane mini-trailer prototype made of wooden panels in the workshop

    2012

    Defining the project

    Louis and Denis drew up an ambitious plan: cut weight by 40% to get under 500 lb, use rot-proof materials and set exceptionally high quality standards.

  2. White shell of a T42 mini-trailer under construction on a stand

    2013

    First trials

    Construction of the first prototypes began, various materials were tested and the first version of the T42 was created.

  3. First version of the T42 mini-trailer, white and green, with its hatch open at a campsite

    2014

    First sales

    Limited production of the first mini-trailers, while research continued to optimize the design.

  4. Igloo Caravane’s first production workshop with a T42 being finished

    2018

    Expansion and development

    The first production workshop was set up, version 2 of the T42 was launched and sales opened up to the wider market.

  5. Igloo Caravane team member cutting a part with a saw in the new workshop

    2023

    First move

    A move to a larger space and upgraded facilities for more efficient production.

  6. New Igloo Caravane S42 mini-trailer, front three-quarter view

    2025

    A new era

    A new ownership team, a brand refresh and the launch of the new S42 model, a major turning point for Igloo Caravane.

  7. Empty interior of Igloo Caravane’s new factory in Mirabel before it was fitted out

    2025

    A major move

    A move to a new factory in Mirabel to increase production capacity and support growth.

Today

Igloo Caravane today

Thanks to constant innovation and unwavering passion, Igloo Caravane has become a benchmark for ultralight mini-trailers. Our models give adventurers a practical, durable and high-performing way to explore the world freely.

Row of T42 and S42 mini-trailers in production at the Igloo Caravane factory in Mirabel
S42 mini-trailer hitched to an SUV carrying a kayak, on a forest road in autumn

Come see us

Visit our Mirabel factory

Want to see our mini-trailers up close? Book a visit to our factory or write to us: the team that builds them will answer you directly.