I'm hoping someone can give me an idea if something like this exists. What I'm looking for is a small off-road travel trailer (under 3500lbs), with a single queen bed, an indoor bathroom with shower, and a slide-out outdoor kitchen. I only have found the Black series Classic-12. While this checks most of my boxes, it is a tad bit heavy for my Jeep Wrangler with a max towing capacity of 3500 lbs. I also don't need something quite as heavy duty with the suspension. I most likely won't be going on trails or serious off-roading with it, but want something with a bit more capability than the mass produced offerings like the No-Bo or Geo-Pro by Forest River and the like. Maybe something with Timbren axle-less suspension and large 33" tires. The Classic-12 would be perfect but with a dry weight of 3300 lbs, it doesn't leave much capacity for gear. Any other options, or am I looking for a unicorn?Thanks,Flip

Good luck ! I think you are searching for a unicorn !!First, very few travel trailers are TRULY built for "off road". They require extra bracing in the walls and the connection to the floor and roof.Is it possible ? Yes, but it would be expensive.

Sadly, you are searching for a unicorn, and so am I. Check out the little rig in my signature -- it almost fills the bill, but they don't make it anymore. We take it offroad a lot (carefully), but it is really not designed for that kind of treatment. (It's a Fun Finder X-139 -- if you can find one used, grab it.)The other issue is your tow vehicle. Do some reading on Wranglers as tow vehicles, and you will want to cut back on your trailer weight.Good luck!!

Winnebago has TTs in that weight range that they claim are for light duty off road adventures.

Look at these. https://www.intechrv.com/models/sol/horizon/The Sol Horizon Rover comes in at 4k GVWR but has a dedicated bed. The Eclipse Rover comes in at 3500 GVWR and the dining area converts to the bed. Both have wet baths. Neither has outdoor kitchens. I'm on the hunt for a Terra.

Wolf pup has a little 16 footer. Not sure of the weight but it would be close. On edit. It is a 16 FB. There is an off road version (Raised). Around 3000 pounds dry. 330 pound hitch weight. Front bed. Check it out.

Small (non-teardrop) Off-road travel trailer | Good Sam Community

deltabravo
Nomad
May 11, 2021
profdant139 wrote:
Vangard looks very interesting ...But their website lacks floorplans and detailed specs, as far as I can tell. I've already written to them to ask for more details.

The Patrol is the one I'd want. I saw it in person a few years ago at the NW Overland Rally.

If you study the photos enough, you can figure out how it's laid out (floorplan).
The nice thing about the Patrol is the bathroom and shower in the back. It was a lot of cabinet / closet storage space too.
Grit_dog
Navigator
May 09, 2021
mr_andyj wrote:
I had a 14 footer with tandem axles.... go figure.
The guy that bought it had an old-school Nissan Hardbody with 4 banger and he towed it off uphill just fine.

I’m sure anyone can come up with any one off example to “refute” something for the sake of refuting it.
Fact remains, little campers generally don’t come with tandem axles and they don’t need them. And the OP would be s ucking sidewalk with his rig and any tandem axle TT I’ve seen.
That said,someone will refute that too, so I’ll go first. I used to tow our approx 6000lb wake boat with my 1974 CJ5 with a straight 6.
(Out of the garage because it was too tight for the truck. And once, down the road a couple miles to the local ski club lake).
But thanks for sharing your unique experience...
profdant139
Explorer II
May 09, 2021
Vangard looks very interesting -- well done, DB! But their website lacks floorplans and detailed specs, as far as I can tell. I've already written to them to ask for more details.
deltabravo
Nomad
May 08, 2021
vangard4x4.com/
Edd505
Explorer
May 08, 2021
KZ Sportsman with the off road package.
KZ Sportsman
mr_andyj
Explorer
May 08, 2021
I had a 14 footer with tandem axles.... go figure.
The guy that bought it had an old-school Nissan Hardbody with 4 banger and he towed it off uphill just fine.
ISBRAM
Explorer
May 07, 2021
A couple that we camp with bought an Airstream Basecamp 16x last year and they love it. Small size and good ground clearance, they tow it with a 2020 Toyota Tacoma with a V6 engine no problem. I was surprised how much room it has inside for such a small trailer.
Grit_dog
Navigator
May 07, 2021
You guys are talking tandem axle trailers and the OP is trying to find, at most, a 16-17' trailer and that will be a challenge for any stock-ish Wrangler, both from a power standpoint as they're pretty anemic under the hood and don't handle loads well.

I'll tow about anything with anything and got the pleasure of hooking my ultralight aluminum single axle enclosed V nose snomachine trailer to a 4 door JK.
Had 2 4 wheelers and hunting gear for 2 in it. So 3klbs or less and loaded with appropriate tongue weight.
It was a total pooch flat footed to run 65mph on basically flat roads (at altitude though) and wouldn't have wonted to go any faster anyway from a stability standpoint.

20' + and tandem axles is out of a Wrangler's league, period.
Kavoom
Explorer
May 07, 2021
There are actually some very short dual axle trailers out there. You will have to go 25 feet minimum with a Murphy bed but if it is only two people that might work. Or you can get them even with a sideways trailer queen with a slide out dinette and bunks at around 23 to 25 feet about minimum.
mr_andyj
Explorer
May 04, 2021
You say, no serious off-road or trails, just dirt roads...
Then, what is wrong with the No Bo trailer, seems it would be overkill for regular dirt roads?
Unless you plan some serious real off-roading, then most any small trailer will work I would think. Small trailers will not have a lot of blank walls to flex, all the walls are built with cabinets or something on the inside that will support it.
Any of the Teardrop style trailers should work for you and if n any way are intended for any off-road use then should hold up, but I have no experience with any.
No shower so you would have to do an external shower and research the van life people who have learned that small spaces and bathrooms do not go well together.
There is no perfect camper, always compromises and longings for unicorns.