I'm debating buying a small trailer to take to Alaska. Am wondering if it's ok to boondock along the road like motorhomes. I can see the ease of parking with a MH for the night. But, I like having a smaller vehicle to roam around. I also love my 04 Santa Fe.If I use my Santa Fe, I know I'm limited to a very small trailer, like the Riverside Retro 155. I really like the R-Pod 177, but it's pushing the weight for my Santa Fe.Thanks for any input.Don

Absolutely. We boondock en route and we have a fifth wheel. The size of your rig doesn't make a difference. What the motorhomers like is that they don't have to leave their vehicle when they stop, those of us with towables, do.

I probably would stick with something with hard sides just to make feel alittle safer from both four legged and two legged animals.My 2010 F150 pulls my 2008 Starcraft 14RT Off-Road POPUP trailer just fine. It weighs in around 4200lbs for us...A POPUP with fabric windows and sides is probably not a good idea on the road to Alaska...

RoyB wrote:I probably would stick with something with hard sides just to make feel alittle safer from both four legged and two legged animals.My 2010 F150 pulls my 2008 Starcraft 14RT Off-Road POPUP trailer just fine. It weighs in around 4200lbs for us...A POPUP with fabric windows and sides is probably not a good idea on the road to Alaska...The make and model he mentions is hard-sided.

People tent across Yukon and Alaska without issue. Softside trailer or pop-up isn't an issue. Our first camping trip north was in a tent, we also tented the two weeks during our river rafting trip on the Alsek River in Yukon (Tatshenshini River flows INTO the Alsek).Regardless of what you're sleeping in, keeping a clean campsite is important.Bears don't have much issue breaking into houses, garages or vehicles if they're tempted. Previous owner of the cabin we live in left some candy on the kitchen table when he was away during the spring. He came home to a broken window, empty candy dish, and the bear claw marks are still on the drywall in the bedroom.A bear also broke into a garage when the homeowner thought aging moose meat in the garage was a good idea. Bear enjoyed the hanging carcass after tearing through the garage wall.

Boondocking with small trailer | Good Sam Community

colliehauler
Explorer III
Mar 08, 2014
bob_nestor wrote:
rexlion wrote:
You might enjoy towing a Scamp or Casita, if you find one you like. The rounded shape will tow easily and cost you less fuel on your long trip vs a boxy trailer (or even an R-Pod).

The small 13' Casita is about the same weight as the Riverside Retro 155. A friend of mine has one and really loves it. There are quite a few used listed for sale on the Casita Club website.

Casitas for sale
I would agree a Scamp or Casita would be worth considering.
Kidoo
Explorer
Mar 08, 2014
Boonduck everywhere, whatever you have does not matter, enyoy.
Veebyes
Explorer II
Mar 06, 2014
Francesca Knowles wrote:
Veebyes wrote:
Whatever you save on fuel buying & taking a small trailer you are going to more than lose on the resale.

:h

If ever a statement deserved elaboration, this is it.

Well it appears the OP is thinking of buy the small dtrailer to save on costs for the Alaskan trip. At some point, maybe soon after, he will want to sell it. Never seen a RV appreciate in value. The OP does not mention any thoughts of selling the existing class A so there are the costs of keeping 2. Can't use both at the same time.

Going to Alaska is not like going to the dark side of the moon. The roads for the most part, are decent. On the stretches that are not, slow down. If you already have something big & comphy & perfectly capable of dry camping, use it.
bob_nestor
Explorer III
Mar 06, 2014
rexlion wrote:
You might enjoy towing a Scamp or Casita, if you find one you like. The rounded shape will tow easily and cost you less fuel on your long trip vs a boxy trailer (or even an R-Pod).

The small 13' Casita is about the same weight as the Riverside Retro 155. A friend of mine has one and really loves it. There are quite a few used listed for sale on the Casita Club website.

Casitas for sale
Francesca_Knowl
Explorer
Mar 06, 2014
Veebyes wrote:
Whatever you save on fuel buying & taking a small trailer you are going to more than lose on the resale.

:h

If ever a statement deserved elaboration, this is it.
Veebyes
Explorer II
Mar 06, 2014
Whatever you save on fuel buying & taking a small trailer you are going to more than lose on the resale.

Might as well run what you have. It is bigger, more comfortable & already loaded ready to go.

There is a real mixed bag of RVs roaming the North in the summer but little ones are a bit of an exception. For a long trip you want to be comphy. Most of what there is to see is seen right from the roadside. There are loads of class Cs, TTs midsized, midsized to largish 5ers, mid sized Class As & a fair number of Bs.
hokeypokey
Explorer
Mar 06, 2014
We took an A-frame to Alaska & twice we boon docked, but it was in small towns, not roadside.
crabbin_cabin
Explorer II
Mar 06, 2014
Just be aware that boondocking is NOT allowed in the canadian national Parks but lots of unserviced cgs for your small trailer all along the highways as you head north.
donrebyct
Explorer
Mar 05, 2014
Thanks for the replies. It's good to know that boondocking with a trailer is ok almost anyplace.

I had forgotten that a friend took his family to Alaska several years ago with a big pop-up. He didn't have problems.

For my wife and me, it will have to be solid side camper. My wife want's the presumed security, and at my age, I don't want the work and time to set up a pop-up.
rexlion
Explorer
Mar 05, 2014
You might enjoy towing a Scamp or Casita, if you find one you like. The rounded shape will tow easily and cost you less fuel on your long trip vs a boxy trailer (or even an R-Pod).