My Perfect Overlanding Trailer

And how did we get here.

Everyone's perfect overlanding outfit is different. There are HUGE expedition vehicles like the Global Expedition Vehicles, EarthRoamers, or MAN Overlanders. Medium sized rigs such as the sprinter van conversions have become immensely popular. There are all manner of cab-over designs built for pickup trucks. Our preference is a pull behind trailer. And, of course, some adventures traverse the world with only their rig and a rooftop tent. Each style has its pros and cons, and every adventurer traveler has their own set of specific needs.

An article outlining the merits of each style would not be an article at all, but a book! Come to think of it, that would make a mighty cool coffee table accessory. For this report, I'm going to focus on what we are looking for, why, and how we got to this place. To keep things organized, I'll proceed chronologically.

Go straight to "What we are looking for."

Like so many, we started in a tent. Specifically, a 6-man Coleman tent that weighed as much as a sack of concrete and was only "mostly" water-repellant. But it was what we had, and it continues to serve us (albeit under limited circumstances) today. In 2009 we spent an exceptionally soggy week around Pitkin, Colorado and our little Coleman became saturated to the point of failure. We were miserable and I swore that I would upgrade as soon as finances allowed. I actually swore a lot more than that, but you get the gist.

Since our family had also grown, we graduated to an 8-man Northface tent. That was a fantastic 3-season tent... until the wind caught it on the starboard beam and threatened to flatten it. I actually returned it (God bless you REI) and purchased a Big Agnes Flying Diamond 8-man tent. Brother, THAT tent has been through some crazy storms and stayed the course. We still have it, used it just this month, and it is bomb-proof. As a side note, Big Agnes has AMAZING customer service, and I could not recommend a company or their products higher.

If, however, there are two HUGE down-sides to tent camping and we learned them first-hand as we overlanded the Enchanted Rockies Trail in 2021 with some friends. First, finding flat ground after a long day of exploring is not fun. In fact, it can be downright maddening. Second, putting up a tent every afternoon and taking it down every morning is a chore. It's never fun to start the day's drive dripping with sweat.

Therefore, in 2018, we bought a two-year-old Moby1 XTR. What a beast! With the roof top tent, it easily slept 4, has slept 6, and is quick to set up, quick to get trail-ready, and built like a tank. With a width of 84 inches, a tongue to tail length of 13 feet, and a dry weight of 2200 lbs, that little trailer will go ANYWHERE the Jeep Wrangler could. The Moby1 has taken us through 8 states, over countless mountain passes, kept us warm when it was in the teens and cool when it was in the 100s. The kids have loved having their own "treehouse" to sleep in, and Terri and I loved having our own little bubble to stretch out in. The kitchen keeps everything organized and a 36-gallon water tank with on-demand hot water and an external shower is a gift from heaven! This trailer was one of the best purchases we have ever made, allowed us to go places and do things we would not have otherwise been able to see and do, and we have LOVED traveling with it.

But now we are looking at a year on the road. Our journey will take us from Death Valley to the Arctic Ocean, across the country of Canada to Newfoundland and Labrador, and then all the way down to Key West. We want to be even more agile, with even less setup and takedown time, and we want our whole family in a single space. So, the Moby is up for sale and we are on the hunt for our new Shangri-La on wheels.

What we are looking for

We are not yet sure if we are going to build or buy, but we do know what we need. In order to access the trails we want to traverse, We need a maximum width of 7 1/2 feet, a total length of 22 feet or less, and a dry weight around 55oo lbs. It has to sleep 4 , have excellent storage, and we are REALLY looking for something with an indoor toilet (although we have considered options that will still fit our purposes). I want 50 gallons of fresh water, heat and a/c, AND it has to be trail worthy. Seriously, it has to be real trail worthy with independent suspension, good departure angles, a frame that can handle the torsional stresses of off-roading, and a build that will not shake loose or come apart. Finally, because it will have to endure extreme temperatures, it has to have excellent insulating qualities.

Things I'm watching out for, and that I would strongly encourage you to watch our for as well include trailers built to "look" like off-road trailers. I'm extremely wary of anything built by one of the traditional big manufacturers but marketed towards the overlanding crowd. Just because you have bright red "rock rails" and a plastic diamond plated "skid plates", does not mean you are built to handle the rigors of consistently being off the beaten path. If I look underneath one of these "off-road" trailers and all the plumbing and water tanks are hanging off the bottom, that's a clue. Rocks are mighty clever buggers and will always find new and creative ways to dimple, gouge, and pierce anything that hangs down from the undercarriage of a vehicle traveling off-road. Lastly, as I pull from my blue-water sailing days, the "habitat" or living-space of the trailer SHOULD FEEL TIGHT! If it does not and there is lots of open floor space to stretch out, that is WASTED space. One of my favorite sailboats to work aboard was the 34-foot Beneteau Oceanis. That tight little sloop could handle any sea, was made for whatever journey you could dream up, and EVERY SINGLE USABLE SPACE HAD A PURPOSE! Floor space beyond that needed for moving from area to area is just dead real estate that could have been used for storage. It looks beautiful on the showroom floor, but you will be cussing all of the plastic storage tubs you have to stash in those spacious walkways once on the trail and in camp.

Whatever direction you choose, be it the monster Global Expedition Vehicle, the sprinter van, a pull behind, or just a Jeep and a rooftop tent, you can't go wrong. Overlanding is about self-supported adventure and no matter what your style is, make it your own and make it work for you. For Life in the Dash, it's a pull-behind with the moxie to go anywhere and handle any climate.

Ummm, that being said, if MDC Campers wants to loan us one of their AUSRVX15 Trailers for a year, we swear we will make you VERY PROUD!

Until next time, never stop living, loving, learning, and serving in the Dash. We will see you on the trail!