Off-road travel trailers offer the best of both worlds—all of the camping amenities of a typical RV with heavy-duty materials, higher suspensions, all-terrain tires, and a rugged disposition fused with metal, rubber, and fiberglass.
The aesthetic is fantastic as well. There’s just something about an off-road RV that exudes the raw power of a tank on tires. The Black Series exemplifies that aesthetic appeal well but it isn’t the only one.
From the panoramic silver of the Airstream Basecamp to the stealth-like, boxy bulldog exterior of the Bruder EXP-7, we have some serious outdoor bruisers lined up for the rugged adventurer in all of us.
What Is An Off-Road Travel Trailer?
An off-road travel trailer is essentially a battle-hardened travel trailer. From within, it looks like any other RV, with beds, kitchens, bathrooms, dinettes, TVs, control boards, and everything else you expect in an RV.
That doesn’t mean there aren’t rugged features within, however, just that they’re more subtle. The outside is where the real outdoor magic separates these angular, craggy, rough terrain vehicles from the soft, temperate travel trailers that spend most of their lifecycles hooked to shore power.
Off-road travel trailers also feature beefier tires, tow hooks, heavy-duty construction materials, and higher suspensions with tougher chassis construction and shocks. They’re made to power through the wilderness in ways that traditional travel trailers just can’t handle.
12 Best Off-Road Travel Trailers
All 12 of the off-road travel trailers on this list stand out in a massive crowd of travel trailers. Their exterior aesthetics represent power. They almost market themselves, especially for those of us who enjoy detouring onto the untrod path, rather than taking the easy route.
1. Black Series HQ21
Our Pros and Cons
✅ There’s almost nowhere this thing won’t go
⛔ You have to hand-crank the awning – otherwise, it’s a technological masterpiece
- UVW: 7,187 lbs lbs
- GVWR: 8,200 lbs
- Tongue/Hitch Weight: 718 lbs
- CCC: 1,013 lbs
- Length: 27′
- Sleep: 4
Black Series is relatively new in America, previously being a company exclusive to Australia. We’re glad they arrived on our shoreline because these beasts are incredible Overlanding RVs, capable of going just about anywhere your vehicle can tow it.
The hot-dipped galvanized frame is married to coil springs and the off-road tires make the most monstrous ATVs jealous. The polyblock hitch allows for a 360° range of movement, a rarity for towables but a welcome addition for an off-road travel trailer.
The Black Series HQ21 is built to last, well away from the grid, with quadruple, 100A-hour batteries, a 2,000-watt sine-wave inverter, and two solar panels to continuously feed the beast. Raw power is juxtaposed against interior finesse, with large windows and a comfortable interior.
2. Conqueror UEV-25
Our Pros and Cons
✅ Exterior, fold-down hatch work surface
⛔ CCC is a little low for this compact monster
- UVW: 4,122 lbs
- GVWR: 4,850 lbs
- Tongue/Hitch Weight: 412 lbs
- CCC: 485 lbs
- Length: 23.9′
- Sleep: 2 to 5
The Conqueror UEV-25 is otherwise known as an “Urban Escape Vehicle” and boy does it ever. If you’re looking for a tank on wheels, you found it. This bad boy features a D-Arm with coil and double shock absorbers, along with a boxed A-frame manufactured in hot-dipped, galvanized steel.
Even the cabin pressure fan is designed for the wilderness, with dust-limiting capabilities. The smart charger is integrated into the control box for simple and efficient charging from the solar panels and the entire trailer is also equipped with a varying concentration of LED lights.
The interior is comfy, with a wet bath, three foldout beds, low-current interior fans, and an entertainment center (optional). Like the Black Series HQ series, this puppy will go anywhere and do anything.
3. Airstream Basecamp 16X
Our Pros and Cons
✅ Massive panoramic window
⛔ Pricey for its size
- UVW: 3,500 lbs
- GVWR: 4,350 lbs
- Tongue/Hitch Weight: 410 lbs
- CCC: 850 lbs
- Length: 16.2′
- Sleep: 2
Sure, it’s a little on the pricey side for a welterweight that’s only a shade over 16′ and weighs under 3,500 lbs. However, this is an Airstream that’s not your prototypical Airstream. Apparently, Airstream decided that their silver stallion needed an off-road brute and thus, the Basecamp was born.
The interior aesthetic is just as stunning as the exterior if you like the feel of some alien spacecraft sitting in a wilderness setting. It’s one of those rare RVs where everything seems to be in the perfect place at nothing more than a glance.
Dual-9.4-gallon propane tanks, dual-deep cycle batteries, solar panels, a three-inch lift kit, and all-terrain Goodyear tires, will keep you off the grid for a long time. And, you’ll look good doing it, even if only the birds and a curious deer or two can see you.
4. Taxa Cricket Overland
Our Pros and Cons
✅ Flip-up windows for a bizarre but very handy pass-through storage option
⛔ No real bathroom, just the handy-dandy portable toilet
- UVW: 1,978 lbs
- GVWR: 3,000 lbs
- Tongue/Hitch Weight: 264 lbs
- CCC: 1,022 lbs
- Length: 15′
- Sleep: 4
When something like the Taxa Cricket Overland comes tooling down the road, you can’t help but smile. It’s a cute little thing. But hidden beneath the compact veneer is a veritable animal that’s ready to climb Mount Everest. All it needs is the rope.
It’s unusual-looking, with a pop-up tent on the roof and a small, angular body. But it boasts a load of off-roading favorites, including a tiny aerodynamic profile, a powder-coated steel chassis, Kynar aluminum composite walls, and tons of exterior and interior attachment brackets.
What are all those brackets for? Anything you can imagine in the great outdoors. This camper was built to hang onto a cliff beneath a massive waterfall. Don’t really try that, but hopefully, the point is well-received.
5. Opus Offroad OP15
Our Pros and Cons
✅ Diamond plate shielding on the underside (protects the tanks)
⛔ Some RVers might prefer the cartridge toilet over the black tank
- UVW: 5,159 lbs
- GVWR: 6,393 lbs
- Tongue/Hitch Weight: 515 lbs
- CCC: 1,234 lbs
- Length: 21.4′
- Sleep: 4
Opus enjoys a little more spotlight and recognition than some of the previous entries (and some that come after as well) on this list. It’s similar to the Taxa with its pop-up roof, except the Opus Offroad OP15’s pop-up encompasses the entire roof.
Opus travel trailers are manufactured in the United States and they are absolutely loaded with every off-road amenity you can imagine. The company’s semi-motto is “tough luxury” and the OP15 does not disappoint.
It features massive, oversized tires, a large solar and battery configuration, over half a ton of cargo-carrying capacity, a magnetic crank handle, and diamond plating on the underbelly. You’ll have to put serious effort into damaging this thing, to say the least.
6. Bruder EXP-7
Our Pros and Cons
✅ Includes a dedicated mud room
⛔ One of the priciest options on the list
- UVW: 5,291 lbs
- GVWR: 7,716 lbs
- Tongue/Hitch Weight: 529 lbs
- CCC: 2,425 lbs
- Length: 23′
- Sleep: 6
The Bruder EXP-7 is synonymous with survivalist. Not because you need one to survive but because, if the apocalypse begins tomorrow, Bruder Exp owners will be just fine. Its the all-in-one prepper machine of the 21st century.
Three, large roof panels channel 1,245 watts of power to a 10.8kWh lithium battery with a 3,000-watt inverter playing go-between. Despite its small frame, the Bruder packs a 139-L, internal fridge and a 280-liter external fridge.
The massive CCC just shy of 1.5 tons allows you to pack just about any additional equipment you can imagine. The interior features enough sleeping room for 6, with a pop-up second story and plenty of lounging/bed conversion options as well.
7. BRS Pursuit
Our Pros and Cons
✅ Aluminum stone guard and Raptor coating on the underside
⛔ Awning requires manual attachment every setup
- UVW: 3,395 lbs
- GVWR: 5,511 lbs
- Tongue/Hitch Weight: 308 lbs
- CCC: 2,116 lbs
- Length: 13′
- Sleep: 2
The BRS Pursuit is technically our second hybrid offering, including the Taxa, and both share several things in common. The BRS is a tight, compact behemoth that packs a punch.
You can tell that its design concept is based on an “everything you need in a slide-out drawer” approach. The grill, fridge, fold-over shelves, shower, and sink all slide out, which helps keep the interior large and spacious, despite the compact design.
This is also a powerful lightweight camper option, with Aluminum Stone front guards and a Raptor undercoating.
The off-grid capabilities are far too numerous to fully list but include a Truma Saphir cellular signal booster, a 200aH lithium battery, an Enerdrive 12V system, an inverter/charger, and a 40A DC-DC charger for transport.
8. Hive EX-X
Our Pros and Cons
✅ A 2,200-lb rated, long-travel suspension system
⛔ A/C, rooftop tent, and cabin heater are all options that have to be added
- UVW: 1,680 lbs
- GVWR: 3,200 lbs
- Tongue/Hitch Weight: 160 lbs
- CCC: 1,520 lbs
- Length: 14.7′
- Sleep: 2
Hive took the idea of a cargo trailer with a pop-up tent and expanded on it exponentially. Like some of the other off-road travel trailers on this list, most of the things you need are equipped with slide-outs.
The cabin itself is essentially a sleeping area, with a large bed, interior lighting, some cabinetry, and also a place to mount a small TV. But the idea behind the Hive EX-X is all outdoors.
The exterior is highly durable and includes a CRS2 independent arm suspension and Fifteen52 wheels.
A 270° electric awning will keep the sun off all day and two, 11-lb propane tanks, 200Ah lithium batteries, a 200W folding solar panel, and a 2,000-Watt inverter will keep you powered up.
9. Winnebago Hike 1316SB
Our Pros and Cons
✅ The cargo functionality is exceptional
⛔ No propane cooking option
- UVW: 3,284 lbs
- GVWR: 4,200 lbs
- Tongue/Hitch Weight: 462 lbs
- CCC: 916 lbs
- Length: 15.9′
- Sleep: 4
Winnebago is dipping its fingers into the off-road travel trailer industry as well and the Winnebago Hike 1316SB is part of a series of RVs with a focus purely on the great outdoors.
The exterior features a “roll-cage-like” outline that’s fantastic for immobile storage. The underbelly is enclosed and the tanks feature 12V heating pads. The walls are super thick and well-insulated for foul weather.
Inside is traditional Winnebago, with a dash of luxury and refinement along with a lot of customizable, shifting furniture for sleeping, lounging, or dining. The bathroom is a wet bath with a cartridge toilet that rotates 90° for alternative storage options.
10. Forest River No Boundaries 16.6
Our Pros and Cons
✅ More storage options than any other off-road travel trailer on the list
⛔ Sleeping for 4 but only dining for 2
- UVW: 3,439 lbs
- GVWR: 4,760 lbs
- Tongue/Hitch Weight: 360 lbs
- CCC: 1,321 lbs
- Length: 21.8′
- Sleep: 5
The Forest River No Boundaries 16.6 is cut from the same cloth as the Winnebago Hike. In fact, without the brand label on the outside, we struggle to tell the difference. That’s not a negative either, as both have a lot to offer.
If you like storage, you’ll love this RV. There are storage options everywhere, including holding racks for kayaks, SUPs, and bikes. Everywhere you look on this RV, there’s a storage compartment.
The exterior bush kitchen is nice and the batteries stay topped off thanks to the interchangeable solar/roof system. If you opt for the cold weather package, you could also travel to Alaska in the middle of February and keep everything fully functional and warm.
11. Imperial Outdoors Xplore 195
Our Pros and Cons
✅ Provides incredible insulation with thick, composite fiberglass walls
⛔ All of the best essentials for outdoor camping are add-on options at a higher price
- UVW: 5,500 lbs
- GVWR: 9,920 lbs
- Tongue/Hitch Weight: 560 lbs
- CCC: 4,420 lbs
- Length: 26.1′
- Sleep: 3
This little bulldog is a go-anywhere, do-anything rig, so long as you outfit it right prior to purchase. Eleven glass solar panels generate 1240-watts if you upgrade the base, 240W system.
It also comes with a 360Ah lithium battery with the option of adding two more. Imperial managed to cram two 60-gallon tanks in there as well (Fresh and Grey).
The interior looks like a traditional camper and, standing in the kitchen area, it’s hard to imagine you’re surrounded by a battle-worthy, rugged shell of outdoors excellence. That’s because the reinforced, coated steel frame is engineered for additional rigidity and staying power.
12. MDCUSA XT17HRT
Our Pros and Cons
✅ Features a rear slide-out with a fold-down spare tire
⛔ Every lock requires a different key
- UVW: 6,446 lbs
- GVWR: 7,716 lbs
- Tongue/Hitch Weight: 507 lbs
- CCC: 1,270 lbs
- Length: 23.5′
- Sleep: 3
Last but not least is the MDC USA XT17HRT, one of the rare off-road travel trailers of this size class with a slide-out. It helps enormously, especially if you want a hardened, off-road-worthy camper with more space.
If you appreciate luxury in an off-road travel trailer, the XT17HRT features leather foam cushions, which look and feel as good as it sounds. You also get a rare, upright fridge with a freezer.
The exterior features a full kitchen, a second fridge, and a sink with hot and cold water. It also comes with 2 x 150W solar panels and dual lithium batteries.
The X-TRACK independent suspension system, coil springs, and Tough Trax shocks will take this puppy anywhere you want to go.
Can I Take My Regular Travel Trailer Off Road?
You can take your regular travel trailer off-road, but you have to be very careful about how you do it. Plus, there’s the question of what “off-road” means to you.
For some, off-roading is nothing more than traveling across orange dirt, compacted by rollers and well into rural territory.
For others, it’s plowing through the underbrush and crawling over rocky hills in the shadows of mountains. If you want to follow the latter group, a traditional travel trailer may not come back from such a journey.
Remember, regular travel trailers lack clearance, feature a softer chassis, and have tires that are meant for cruising down the interstate, not churning through mudholes and powering through shallow creek beds and mountainous terrain.
It also pays to remember the underside of a traditional RV is not prepared for the grief you’re about to give it. It’s better to play it safe and remain on the hot-top or, at the very most, compacted dirt side roads.
How Much Do Off-Road Travel Trailers Cost?
Off-road trailers cost anywhere between $7k and $50k, depending on what you want. Yes, that’s a huge disparity. However, as you can see in the above list of 12, there’s a huge variety in terms of sizes, amenities, fully or partly customizable builds, and brands.
The latter goes a long way in terms of cost but it certainly isn’t everything. Some of the brands on here are relatively unheard of in the mainstream RV lifestyle, such as MDCUSA, Bruder, Hive, BRS, and Opus. Regardless, these lesser-known brand RVs go for a pretty penny.
As per usual, what you want in an off-road travel trailer dictates price more than anything else.
Do Off-Road Travel Trailers Have Bathrooms?
Many off-road travel trailers have bathrooms and many do not. When it comes to the more rugged, outdoor RVs, whether or not it has a bathroom has little to do with the RV’s use and more to do with the RV’s space.
For instance, you’re just as likely to find no bathroom on a tiny Opus as you are on a small, traditional teardrop. One can off-road and the other shouldn’t, yet the bathroom result is the same.
Of course, if you’re planning on going off-grid with one of these off-road RVs, your bathroom options are a little more, shall we say, “open.” Boondocking in a Walmart parking lot is very different from boondocking on the side of a mountain, 50 miles from the first sign of civilization.
Fortunately, most of the off-road travel trailers on our list come with bathrooms. However, if not having a bathroom is a deal breaker, avoid the smallest variations and opt for something bigger. Some of the brands above offer other off-road RVs in their lineups as well.
Can You Get An Extended Warranty On Off-Road Travel Trailers?
Yes, you can get an extended warranty on off-road travel trailers. Warranties aren’t like insurance, where gambling for and against the situational use of an RV is prevalent. These are just extended warranties and the only adjective they are concerned with is the type of travel trailer.
In other words, fifth-wheel, teardrop, etc are perfectly fine, whether it’s an off-road variation or not. Wholesale Warranties is one of the standout extended warranty services available. They offer everything you expect in a traditional extended warranty, including tire and wheel protection and roadside assistance.
Final Thoughts About Off-Road Travel Trailers
While the RV life is a fantastic adventure on its own, the addition of off-roading, riding off into the sunset over some barren desert, or into the long-forgotten backroads surrounding a snow-capped mountain is so much more invigorating.
At least that’s true for the outdoor enthusiast and those who seek out new sights and sounds that you just can’t find in traditional campground settings.
These off-road travel trailers offer a unique experience in the RV lifestyle that’s hard to fathom in the hustle and bustle of our daily lives.
If you’ve never seen a new moon sky, miles away from synthetic light, listened to the waves crash in on some faraway shoreline, or fallen asleep to the steady drone of cicadas deep in an Alaskan wilderness, you just don’t know what you’re missing. These travel trailers will take you there.
Related Reading:
1. 10 Best Teardrop Campers with Bathrooms
2. 8 Best Pop-Up Campers with Slide-Outs
3. 11 Best Small Toy Hauler Travel Trailers
4. 10 Best DIY Teardrop Camper Build Kits
About the Author:
Thomas Godwin is a full-time freelance writer with a BFA in Creative Writing, a U.S. Marine, and an avid outdoorsman.
When he’s not writing, he’s raising chickens and Appleyard ducks. Thomas also constructs teardrop campers (attempting to anyway) and kayaks the Blackwater River with his wife, two daughters, and his Dobermans.
