Camping options for the overland enthusiast have been dramatically increasing over the last few years. There used to be only a handful of innovative manufacturers building a true off road camping trailer that can handle serious back country terrain. However today, there’s a multitude of cool options and styles available. Here’s a list of some of the popular brands available:
Ruger Off Road Trailers
Ruger Trailers located in Colorado and pictured at the top of this article, offers two models: the 5’ Sport and the 6’ Off Road. These are small, expedition style trailers – a cargo trailer, with off road suspension, a mounted roof top tent and a host of options including off grid power. The 6’ Off Road model Ruger trailer styling is modeled after the famous m416 jeep trailer.
Both base trailers are affordably priced roughly $5,500 – $6,900 and come with leaf springs & shocks, reinforced lid frame & lid with locking draw latches, an expedition style frame, LED travel & brake lights, and more. Of course, there’s a whole host of upgrades and options…powder coating, tongue box storage, off grid power systems, electric brakes, roof top tent options, Timbren axle-less suspension and a lot more. They really offer a broad array of options in a clear manner, and I like how the base trailers are uniform what’s offered as part of the package. The options for Ruger Trailers seem affordably priced.
Overkill Campers 5×10 Off Road Trailer
Within the niche of true off road trailers, you often see teardrop and expedition style trailers, but rarely do you see a full size camper trailer. This is one of my personal favorite trailers on the market, the 5×10 by Overkill Campers.
This is the biggest trailer I’ve seen in-person that utilizes Timbren’s 3500 HD axle-less suspension which you see on many of the most serious off road trailers. And this is all mounted to a stout 2”x3”x.120” box frame. It has a nice departure angle in the rear, and the camper has trail armor.
- Lock-N-Roll articulating hitch standard
- electric brakes standard
- Full bearing slide pop-out almost doubles the interior space
- Tons of storage
- Off grid solar power
- A few additional specs for the camper include:
- Slide-out stainless kitchen
- 2,600 lb dry weight
- 240 lb tongue weight
- Water capacity: 35 gallons
Off Grid Trailers Expedition 2.0
Having seen these in person along with many of the other trailers on the list, the Expedition 2.0 built by Off Grid Trailers is a top quality camper that is squaredrop in basic design. From the design to construction and performance on the trail. The trailers are fully metal and composite construction, and feature 3,500 Timbren axle-less suspension.
A beautiful fold-out stainless kitchen with on-demand hot water for the sink and an outdoor shower. The trailer contains 2 marine grade batteries, a 1,000 Watt inverter, and it comes wired solar-ready with a genius solar charge controller along with a solar panel array port plug. Lots of other goodies to this trailer.
VMI Off Road Trailer
Hand built and made in the USA, VMI Off Road offers multiple models called the Xtender series of lightweight, all welded aluminum (aerospace and marine grade off road camping trailers. Trailer configurations range from their basic Xtender Explorer model, which starts at $7,995 to their high-end Xtender Compass off road yacht.
Tentrax Trailers
The Tentrax Trailer, lightweight and extremely rugged with a fiberglass tub and ¼” thick walled, mig welded square tube frame, offers an ample 30 cubic feet of storage, and the option of a fold-out tent and bed which sets up in just a few minutes, so you don’t have to bother finding a spot on hard ground to prepare and set up a tent from scratch.
The Tentrax trailer is available in 3 models, each fully customizable:
- Ascend
- Overlook
Turtleback Trailers
Note: It’s a bummer, but it appears Turtleback Trailers has halted production. You’re best bet is to check the used market.
Made in the USA, these are impressively feature-rich and well-built expedition style trailers with a ton of options and add-ons. Some of the standard features with a Turtleback Trailer include:
- A sturdy, steel frame sealed with military grade epoxy and process to prevent corrosion. CNC machined chassis.
- ICON adjustable independent trailing arm suspension unique to Turtleback Trailers
- Full rear galley kitchen with a stainless steel stove and sink with a Delta faucet. The cabinetry is made from gap-less Baltic birch plywood and crafted by a custom cabinet maker with 20 years experience. Up to 50 cubic feet of birch lined storage including the interior and the kitchen.
- Includes a 42 gallon fresh water storage tank (160 liters) and an on-demand flow-jet water pump with commercial grade, PRO-PEX plumbing. Tanks are made in USA, with BPA free food grade material.
- Marine grade electrical components throughout from Blue Sea Systems includes a 12V DC socket and dual USB charge socket. Also includes a Deka AGM Battery
- LED lighting using KC HiLights
There are a ton of Turtleback Trailer configurations and options to choose from, including:
- Storage boxes
- Custom colors
- Electrical system upgrades (including solar panels)
- Custom roof racks (tent, boat, table)
- Awnings and tents
- Water Heater
- Many other options
XVENTURE XV-2 Trailer
With a capacity of up to 2740 lbs and a Huck-bolted all aluminum structure which eliminates potential cracking and weld fatique, the XVENTURE XV-2 by Schutt Industries was designed to exceed the stringent performance standards of the military.
Rockbox Offroad Trailers
NOTE: It appears that Rockbox Trailers is temporarily closed, so the used market is the only current option.
Rockbox Offroad Trailers (RBX) is family operated business out of the Salinas Valley in California. RBX sells an Offroad Adventure Trailer Parts Kit, a Steel Series Adventure Trailer, and an Aluminum Series Adventure Trailer also in the style of a M416 Jeep Trailer.
Common additions to any RBX trailer include: a steel lid with pin hinges, top rack and load bar system, fuel holder, stainless steel water tank with included pump, generator box, tailgate, and a carpet kit. Check out Rockbox Offroad Trailers for more information.
FYI, Moby1 trailers is no longer in business.
We would appreciate consideration to be included in the off-road-camping-trailers section.
Blue Ridge Expedition Trailers
http://www.brxtrailers.com