Buying a trailer isn’t just something you do for fun on a weekend. It’s an investment into the kind of lifestyle and adventure you want, even more so with an off road camper trailer. You want to choose your camper trailer carefully to make sure that it lasts you years of fun trips to come, instead of gathering dust in your garage. This guide to buying an off road camper trailer gives you everything you need to make an informed, confident choice before heading out to the great unknown and making lasting memories with your family. Whether you’re upgrading from a trusty tent, camping for the first time, or sizing down from a large RV, this guide will help prepare you and excite you for the thrilling adventure that is off road camping. Keep reading for the information you need to know when buying an off road camper trailer, because the freedom of the open road awaits.
- Figure Out Your Budget
Your budget should be the top, determining factor towards what off road camper trailer you purchase. Campers are definitely a long-term investment, but you should definitely buy within your means and upgrade later if necessary. Camper trailers can vary significantly in price, so setting a firm budget will help you save time and keep focused. You’ll also have to decide if you want to purchase new or used, and your budget might affect this. If you can spring for new, it’s always preferable, for a number of reasons. There will more likely be a warranty and customer support should anything go wrong, you can customize it right from the start, and you can head off on your off-road adventure feeling more confident than you would in a used, untested camper. Plus, if you ever decide to sell, it’ll be easier if you were the only previous owner of your camper trailer, so there’s quite a bit of planning that goes into setting your budget.
- Determine Your Towing Limitations
You also need to determine your vehicle’s towing limitations to figure out exactly what size and weight you should be bringing along. Always underestimate your vehicle’s towing capacity rather than overestimate, especially if you’re planning a ton of off roading. The towing limitation will be in your vehicle manual, but keep in mind that once you start adding features, appliances, and packing it, more weight will be added so leave yourself a safe buffer. You also want to know whether your camper trailer is specifically designed for off roading or not; if it isn’t, you can still go off the beaten path, but you’ll have to be much more careful and it could limit the terrain you can safely cross. If you choose a specific off road camper trailer, you have complete freedom to explore.
- Think About Size and Storage
Another factor you’ll want to think about before you choose an off road camper trailer is the size and storage capacity you’d ideally want. This is going to come down to what type of trips you’re going to be taking, where you’ll be headed, how many people are going, and how long you’re going to be typically going for. If you’re looking for quick weekend getaways, you’ll want a smaller trailer with quick set up and take down to maximize your vacation time. But if your family is heading to the outback for weeks at a time with little access to stores, you’ll need something much hardier that can shelter you and store enough for this type of vacation. If you don’t have an opportunity to restock, you’ll need to strategically pack enough non-perishables and water to get you through it, which can take up a significant amount of space.
- Customize with Add-Ons
Whether you’re buying new or used, there are ways to modify your off road camper trailer to make it perfect for your needs. There’s of course much more flexibility when buying new but used camper trailers can also be upgraded. Things like electric brakes (definitely a necessity when off roading), extra internal and external lights, upgraded mattress and appliances, a larger and better battery, added utility rack, a second water tank, and more can be added after the fact to customize your off road camper trailers to your exact type of trips. These upgrades can be done through your local Cub dealer.
