My favorite type of camping is in the middle of nowhere, away from everyone else. This often means travel over hundreds of miles off road. I'm not talking a dirt road you could take a prius on, but a road that requires some clearance. Think rocks the size of footballs.Our Australian friends have some fantastic offerings. They're extremely well built (supposedly), have aluminum frames, and have independent coil suspension with shocks. We don't have anything like that here in the US, but I'd like to chat about the closest things we have.Ideally, I'd like to find something capable of handling thousands of miles off pavement on a bumpy road without falling apart. Something similar to a Kedron or even the Jayco Outback models. This thread is to list all the options of what we have in the US that even comes close to what they have.

Here's what I've found so far...Adak Trailers - Seem to be the closest thing we have. They appear to have independent suspension and some great armor. They look tough. I'd love to see one in person. They seem suited best for weekend hunting trips or short camping trips. I doubt it'd work well for full-time living.Moby 1 XTR - Off road teardrop. These are built with independent coil suspension. Best for short weekend trips. No toilet or shower.VMI Off Road - Now we're talking. This is getting closer to the trailers in OZ, but still no bathroom or shower.

themoreweexplore wrote:Ideally, I'd like to find something capable of handling thousands of miles off pavement on a bumpy road without falling apart.I'd be happy with one that didn't fall apart on perfect roads.Northwoods products appear to have a real frame, others not so much.

The Nash 17K is really appealing to me.

You need to be real careful or you might end up leaving your trailer where you stick it. Most are relatively heavy and not well suited for off road. If you want to be that far out consider instead a light pickup camper.

If you are willing to drive under ten miles an hour, you can upgrade an ordinary trailer and take it on rocky roads -- that is what I have done -- see my link below. Heavy leaf springs, shocks, axle flip, careful maintenance, etc. But the longest road of that type I have ever taken it on was about 25 miles -- more than two hours of careful driving.And if you want to go on really tricky roads with big ledges and so forth, a truck camper is the only way to go.It does seem odd that the Australian market, which is so much smaller than the US, has so many more firms building truly off road capable trailers.

Offroad Travel Trailers in the US? | Good Sam Community

59 Replies

opnspaces
Navigator II
Jun 28, 2016
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SoCalDesertRid1
Explorer II
Jun 27, 2016
LenSatic wrote:
That right there, is completely awesome! :b

I'd love to find another International 4x4 and put a 13' Casita trailer on top of it.
Slowmover
Explorer
Jun 26, 2016
themoreweexplore wrote:
gmw photos wrote:

Be careful with that idea. Really do some serious homework on the idea, because A/S are built with a rather light main frame, because the riveted skin becomes part of the structure itself. It's possible to damage the body structure if you flex the main frame too much.

Would rollers put more stress on the trailer than drag bars? I figured the less it's dragging the best, but I suppose wheels may encourage it to lift up rather than dig down.

I do wish the airstream frames were beefier like the old Avions.

Andy at his dealership Inland RV in CA has fifty years experience with AS trailers. He first worked for the corporation before setting out on his own. Bars wear off, meant to. Rollers, not on AS. Too much stress.

On my Silver Streak (and I think on Avion) rollers are factory installed. But the key is a TT with a relatively shorter rear overhang.

Going off-road, you may as well buy one of the disposable trailers (where the finance note last longer than the RV) versus the lifetime aircraft aluminum trailers.

But, there are those who drag them thru Mexico and Central America. Short ones.
canoe_on_top
Explorer
Feb 20, 2016
I remember that narrow section. I have some off road driving experience, a bit over 50 years. I agree, being able to get through is one thing, potential damage to your rig is another. I could take my truck through Beef Basin if I wanted to go back there or, as you say, rent a Jeep.
gmw_photos
Explorer
Feb 19, 2016
themoreweexplore wrote:
gmw photos wrote:

Be careful with that idea. Really do some serious homework on the idea, because A/S are built with a rather light main frame, because the riveted skin becomes part of the structure itself. It's possible to damage the body structure if you flex the main frame too much.

Would rollers put more stress on the trailer than drag bars? I figured the less it's dragging the best, but I suppose wheels may encourage it to lift up rather than dig down.

I do wish the airstream frames were beefier like the old Avions.

Well Steve, at least in my opinion ( I was trying to gently allude to it in my first post on it ) I would not want to drag the back end of an A/S at all. Rollers or drag bars. Too much potential to damage a structure that is already known as rather fragile, and very labor intensive to fix if it is damaged. Since this is your full time home, taking it out of service for major repairs would be a bit of a pain.

PS. I sure enjoy following your blog. You're a better mechanic that you admit to being :)
themoreweexplor
Explorer
Feb 19, 2016
canoe on top wrote:
How long is your van? I have a Ram CTD quadcab that I fear is just too long for Elephant Hill or the Maze. Clearance, because of the wheelbase, would be a potential problem as well. It's stock height. I have been to the Dollhouse a couple of times, years ago in the Jimmy. Also, Beef Basin. Last time I went over Elephant Hill, (in jeep), there was a pretty stock looking Suburban at the Confluence Overlook. Still, I have real doubts about taking my truck in there. I've been there enough times I can live without it but, curiosity can be a dangerous thing.

It's not the length that worries me, but the width. There is that squeeze area on Elephant Hill. It's a 1-way only section, and it's mandatory. I imagine I could get the van through without damage, but the potential for damage is just too high. I'll have to drive around via beef basin.

In my experience, driver experience trumps everything. Ground clearance will never hurt, but a fantastic off-road driver can get some stock vehicles in some insane places. So perhaps it'd be better to compare drivers' experience rather than the rig. At this point in my life I'm like you: better safe than sorry. I can always rent a jeep if I decide I want to do hard trails again.
themoreweexplor
Explorer
Feb 19, 2016
gmw photos wrote:

Be careful with that idea. Really do some serious homework on the idea, because A/S are built with a rather light main frame, because the riveted skin becomes part of the structure itself. It's possible to damage the body structure if you flex the main frame too much.

Would rollers put more stress on the trailer than drag bars? I figured the less it's dragging the best, but I suppose wheels may encourage it to lift up rather than dig down.

I do wish the airstream frames were beefier like the old Avions.
gmw_photos
Explorer
Feb 18, 2016
themoreweexplore wrote:
....snip.....

It's got little drag bars in the back, but I may contemplate putting rollers on it.

....snip....

Be careful with that idea. Really do some serious homework on the idea, because A/S are built with a rather light main frame, because the riveted skin becomes part of the structure itself. It's possible to damage the body structure if you flex the main frame too much.
canoe_on_top
Explorer
Feb 18, 2016
How long is your van? I have a Ram CTD quadcab that I fear is just too long for Elephant Hill or the Maze. Clearance, because of the wheelbase, would be a potential problem as well. It's stock height. I have been to the Dollhouse a couple of times, years ago in the Jimmy. Also, Beef Basin. Last time I went over Elephant Hill, (in jeep), there was a pretty stock looking Suburban at the Confluence Overlook. Still, I have real doubts about taking my truck in there. I've been there enough times I can live without it but, curiosity can be a dangerous thing.
themoreweexplor
Explorer
Feb 15, 2016
canoe on top wrote:
I think you've come to realize that anything big enough to full time in comfortably is not going to be an off road trailer. I realize that, "big enough to live in comfortably" is subjective. The 22GQ was 24 ft. That's a lot of overhang for off road but works pretty well for, "off the pavement". Living in Utah, you know that even your van is too big for a lot of serious, "off roading". There again, that is a subjective term. I had a pop up camper built on a '76 GMC Jimmy years ago that was very good off road but, I wouldn't want to try to live in it. It went over Elephant Hill in Canyonlands a number of times.

Elephant Hill is one of my favorite trails, I've done it many times. What a beautiful area. Apart from the squeeze, my van would have no issues on that trail. That being said, my hardcore offroad days are behind me, and I don't plan on doing anything tougher than Elephant Hill. The van will get me into the Maze to Dollhouse, and Beef Basin and other rough roads, which is fine for me. I have a mountain bike and hiking boots any time I really need to get back in there.