The pandemic had many unforeseen consequences and changes to the US Economy. Some good and some bad. One big difference was the outdoor activity increased substantially. There were an estimated 7.2 million first time campers in 2022 and over the last 2 years an estimated 15.5 million more added to that number. One of the results of this surge of campers was that finding a campsite was reported to be 5x harder than it was in 2019. Making 2022 the most booked year for campsites on record across the United states.
Simple math would suggest that unless we are adding exponentially more campsites each year, it will continue to grow harder and harder to get a campsite as time goes on. For this reason and many others, people are opting to move over to the off road market where space is in abundance and no reservations are needed.
In an amazon next day shipping world we have grown accustomed to getting what we want, when we want. This level of freedom has become hard to do with on road campers, where off road campers has opened a new world of possibility and spontaneity.
I have a good friend who is an owner of an off road trailer, one day he came into our experience center one day and told me about a recent experience. He was overjoyed to report that at the last minute he decided he wanted to go camping with his wife during one of the busiest times of the year. Shocked that he would want to do that, knowing what a crazy time of year that is to try and go last minute camping, he went on to explain that they packed up their off road trailer and drove to the san Rafael swell in Utah. With a huge smile on his face he shared that they were gone for a week and in 6 or 7 days they only saw one other person. They found a beautiful spot at the edge of a cliff they camped by and he told me ‘ I have stayed in the nicest hotels across america and none of them could offer us the kind of view or experience we were able to have with our trailer’.
His experience has always stuck out to me because those kinds of things are just not possible in a trailer that's designed to be at a campsite. Off road trailers are designed to be off grid and off road without hookups to water or electricity. Capable of handling rough terrain and extended stretches of washboard roads give you access to traditionally inaccessible camping destinations providing unforgettable views.
( Jim exploring remote Alaska with his off road trailer)
So how are off road campers different from traditional on road campers?
Construction-
The way off road trailers are built is significantly more robust than traditional trailers. Massive all aluminum frames, thick powder coated steel, or hot dip galvanized steel frames are most commonly used in off road trailers. Compared to standard American trailers you will see a huge difference when you see an off road trailer frame vs a traditional trailer.
The walls are stronger, usually made out of fiberglass, composite materials, high density foam for insulation, and aluminum. The materials used in the walls vary from manufacturer to manufacturer but the best manufacturers build walls that will last a lifetime. In addition to that the cabinets are often talked about because they have locking cabinets that don't swing open when you go down bumpy roads.
When you buy an off road trailer you want something that can handle a beating. So you anticipate that and build for it.
Suspension
The suspension is one of the most distinguishing and commonly looked for features on an off road trailer.
For hundreds of years we have been using leaf springs and axles. It was the invention of independent suspension that started to open a new world of possibilities. It gave the ability to traverse uneven terrain while maintaining balance and stability. In addition to that, properly designed suspension will actually prolong the life of your trailer by reducing the stress put on the chassis and body of the trailer. Its purpose is to take the stress so your trailer doesn't. So having a capable strong suspension is an integral part of a proper off road suspension.
Clearance
One of the big reasons many trailers are not taken off road is because there are boulders, dips, and terrain that make it impossible to pass without appropriate clearance. Off road trailers typically have much more clearance than a standard on road trailer.
Traditional on road trailers will often have black and gray release vales hanging low and other things likely to get caught and ripped off if you were doing anything other than on road travel. Which is why underneath off road trailers it will usually be very clean with nothing hanging down that can get caught and damaged.
Off grid power
Another of the more prominent features of an off road trailers are is off grid capabilities with power. In the past it was out of the question to be able to run the AC on your battery or camp without a generator off grid. Well now you can. Off road trailers will vary in capabilities but recently you can get trailers with over 1000 amp hours of lithium allowing you to run a 120v 13,000 BTU ac unit for 10 hours completely off grid without a generator. If used sparingly or at a temperature that the ac can reach temperature and turn off, I have personally gone for a week using the AC and never connected a generator. My batteries never dropped below 70%! Good solar, great construction with proper insulation, strong inverter, and powerful battery capacity is make this possible. What you can do while never being connected to any water or power source was simply not possible in the past. This is what is so special about off gird camping is the ability to disconnect and be one with nature and the outside world.
Cost
Lastly, something to keep in mind is that because of the increased cost of construction materials and build quality. Off road trailers are more expensive. Plain and simple. No way around it. You could buy a trailer 2x the size and probably still pay less than what you might pay for an off road trailer. But they are made to do different things and technically an off road trailer can go everywhere an on road trailer can go, but an on road trailer can't go everywhere an off road trailer can go.
Off road trailers will continue to become increasingly more and more popular in the USA for the reasons listed above and many more. I will never forget the first time I went on an off road camping trip. My family were able to experience nature and the beauty of Colorado in ways we couldn't have experienced in any other way. After that trip 4 years ago we will never look at camping and experiencing the great outdoors the same. If you are interested in learning more about off road trailers please reach out to ROAoffroad.com to learn more.
