If you are overlanding deep into the wilderness, what do you need to know before buying the right trailer? For safety, preparedness, and just plain convenience. We interviewed two recent buyers, here are the 5 things you need to know before buying an overlanding trailer.
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1. Warranty and Reliability
So first, things first, if you are buying a new off-road trailer, look for a strong and durable design with a warranty to back it up. Keep in mind that the trailer will need to take the abuse you throw at it, and still work properly each time you get out to where you're going.
Before buying our trailer, we took dozens of camping trips where we noticed trailers on the highway that were blown apart. Whether it was a weak wood construction, or poor build quality. For us, when we started looking for a trailer that could handle overlanding, we knew that going off-road meant getting a metal construction for durability and also things like moisture build up.
Also, consider that with purpose built trailers like these, they are usually custom made. It's not always easy to pop in at a store or dealership to get immediate service or parts. So pick a manufacturer that is reputable and try to get a sense of how they treat existing customers. When or if you ever need any support, you'll be glad you picked a brand with good customer service. This was one of the main reasons above all else that we chose Off Grid.
2. Towing on and off-road
While you need your overlanding trailer to be durable, you also have to consider the weight for towing. At 1,300 lbs, our Switchback R was perfect behind the Jeep for highway. Going off-road, ground clearance is also very important, and this trailer has 21" which, if you have seen what we've gone through, gets through pretty easily.
An articulating trailer hitch is a must! If you think about the rock crawling or steep terrain you might be going up against on extreme backcountry trails, like Moab or Whipsaw, these unique trailer hitches can rotate appropriately and stay connected.
3. Equipment
The awesome thing about overlanding trailers is that you get to pick and choose how they are configured. However, if you aren't 100% sure on what you need, try to break it down by what experience you want and how long you will be typically going for. For example on longer trips, you need more fresh water, so opt for a larger water tank, we did a 31 gallon tank, and that is plenty for us for a 1 week trip. For cooking, we liked the idea of a dual burner cooktop with slide out sink, as well as a fridge that has quick access. What about a hot shower? Sooooo worth it. Even getting the soft shell tops to provide shade or shelter, it's just the little things that make the experience more enjoyable.
You might even want to spec solar panels to help charge the batteries. The nice thing with our trailer is that is comes ready for many of the additional accessories, so if we change our minds and decide we want to add something later, its easy and cost effective to do.
4. Storage
One of the best things about our trailer is the size. Simply put, it fits in our garage with the same footprint as our Jeep. We don't need to keep it outside on the lawn or in our driveway. Even for privacy, if we decide to go away for a week, our neighbors won't know we are gone by simply looking at our driveway to see if the trailer is gone.
The other benefit to these unique trailers is the prep time it takes to get out and go. For example, we keep our trailer stocked up and ready so that if we decide to go camping, we can quickly connect our Jeep and drive away. It's easy to do when you keep everything you'd normally take with you stored inside the trailer. Often times, we decide the night before or that morning to go, and we can.
5. Price and Configurations
We are strongly of the belief that you get what you pay for! The list of options goes on and on for these trailers, but you need to consider the what the build quality is like at it's core. You can ultimately buy new or different accessories as you need them, but the chassis and structure need to be rock solid.
For us, we simply used the "Build Your Trailer" visualizer on Off-Grid's website. It makes it easy to spec the trailer you want and help budget for the trailer you want. You literally see your trailer come to life.
Summary
Here's how we specified our trailer through the "Build Your Trailer" visualizer on Off-Grid's website.
- Articulating tow hitch (360 degree max coupler hitch)
- Rear kitchen water package
- 75L fridge
- 5x5 bolt pattern wheel and tire option
- Spare tire 5x5 bolt pattern option with rim and nuts
- Luggage rack mounted on roof
- Sink drain
- Peregrine 270 awning
- The 23Zero Walkabout 62 rooftop tent (RTT) because there is just so much space (California King)
- Dual burner cooktop with slide out sink, optional BBQ
- Water tank - 31 gallons
- Hot shower with attached shower enclosure
- Stereo system
- 1000W battery
- Fire extinguisher
Bonus note: Order Timing
The last thing to keep in mind is the turnaround time for building your trailer. We found that most overlanding trailer manufacturers commence production once you place your order; they do not have a a stocked warehouse or dealership. And this makes sense, they are building your custom trailer!
So, if you are planning on getting one soon, just remember that these are custom built and that takes time. Think about securing one sooner than later; if a production time is 2 months, you would want to order by April so you don't miss out on having it for your summer!
Again, there are many overlanding trailer companies out there. We went with Off Grid. If you haven't yet, definitely make sure you check out their trailers, especially the Switchback, when picking which one you will buy!
See the full video review of the Off Grid SwitchbackR here!
AND For even more information on the SwitchbackR, check out the full review on WhyBuy here!