What No One Tells You About Buying an Off-Road Trailer 

I've done a lot of overlanding. The "wear and tear" of pulling a trailer is FAR less than having all that extra weight in the tow vehicle. Especially for a Jeep or Bronco. The biggest plus of a trailer is that everything except fresh food is always loaded up and ready to go. When you get home all you do is unhook and put the perishable supplies away.

Speaking of building it yourself, any thoughts about bringing back viewer's rigs videos that you did during the dark days? Maybe add a short segment during Coffee one take. I'm sure we could all gain inspiration this great community you've built Brad.

Ive got the patriot X1 and I love love it. Your pros are right on and the bonus is my family all fits in the tent. The only con i have is it takes a little longer to move daily. Pack up and pack down. But really it becomes the hub when I’m camping and i love that.

I came very near buying a trailer a few years ago. They do offer many advantages. Being retired and solo I decided to stay with my 6' truck bed and softopper. If I had a partner I would have a trailer. Great job on this video.

Perfect timing with this video. I have been trying to decide just in the last couple of weeks whether to get an overland trailer with rooftop tent or a small camper. We don't do any serious off roading in our stock Sahara, just forest service roads, but some of those are pretty rough. The trailers with a rooftop tent seem to weigh considerably less than a camper.

Hey Brad, always appreciative of the videos, but just wanted to say I'm extra appreciative that you've started uploading in 4K the last few. Thanks!

Patriot campers are in a class of their own. They think of everything. I’ve visited Exploration Outfitters and have seen several models. Unfortunately they beyond my budget. I opted for a custom made square drop and equipped it myself and love the convenience of having everything right there. I learned a lot from Patriot and other brands to build into my trailer. Rigging it out has been a blast and very satisfying but I keep getting new ideas. Thanks for the video. I did have my builder at TriedNTrue Off-road Customs use the Cruisemaster CRS2 suspension which worked out great. We can learn a lot from our Australian brothers.

Brad, in CA, you can register a utility trailer like that and get a permanent trailer plate with no annual registration fees. You do need to pay a service fee every five years though; however, that is only $10. I am guessing that trailer is still owned by Patriot though, based on that plate. But for others in CA, it is a good deal to go that route. And... adding a tent to the trailer doesn't change that fact that it is a utility trailer.

I am LOVING your channel and am so glad I discovered it.

What you say about gross vehicle weight is SO true. When you account for the weight of passengers, it is very surprising how little weight is left for gear. I also like how you keep your points objective. You give the facts and let the viewer form their own opinion. Great video!!

Awesome video, Brad! Thanks to you and Regina for sharing your experience and opinions on this topic. 👍🏼

Great points! If I may, I'd like to add that fuel consumption is very similar if you decide to outfit your vehicle. A rooftop tent, water storage,kitchen, gear etc. Will affect consumption just as much as towing a trailer

Just another thought on fuel… yes you lose a little mileage when you’re towing, but once you drop the trailer you regain the difference… having the tents/roof racks etc always attached the fuel mileage you lose is a constant lost

Great video. I have a 4Runner with a 6x8 offroad teardrop. I think it really comes down to the type of driving. I'm mainly on moderate 4x4 trails at most so it works for me. But yes, turning radius and switchbacks can be a problem. The biggest problem is heading down roads you're not sure about then having no way to back out...But for me, it's well worth it. I can always unhitch and leave it when need be. Plus I can leave all my gear in there. Comfort and convenience.

Thanks for that... I went through the whole gamut and decided to build my own... I am able to load the trailer and not the truck... Love it...!!! I made a list of all amenities I wanted and built a trailer around them... In this project I had to consider many factors... I think you hit all the relevant points... Thanks again for sharing your experience and insight... Hope to see you on the trail sometime...

Not to throw water on the idea of a Patriot trailer, but am I the only one who thinks that forking over $35+K to $60+K(T&L included) is more than a tad ludicrous? I understand that they are well designed and built but for less than a quarter of the low end units, I had an off-road trailer built (7.5' x 4.7' box - 10.7' tongue to tailgate, custom wheels / 3 BFG KO2's with electric brakes) that will follow along any where I can go with the diesel Colorado 4x4 pulling it. Parked in the garage , it stores 99% of my gear that used to sit on 2, 4 tier, 5' x 2.3' storage shelfs. Just say'n!

Excellent video. I built my own rig from a quality cargo trailer. Has served us well since 2003. I have $5200 in it, including the purchase price of $3800. Possibilities are endless. Rooftop a/c is quite necessary in Texas for sure.

15:10 I had a cool little trailer that was an old motel T box on a solid frame with leaf springs on a solid axel, that I towed behind my modified '83 Toyota pickup. I had an 8' aluminum punt and all my camping gear in the trailer. I was out by myself. I was trying to turn around in a small logging landing. I was running the drivers side tire of the trailer up on a root that had a mild slope to it, I did not realize the passenger side tire was going into the hole the root/stump came out of. I flipped the trailer over upside down. I had the regular ball hitch and it popped off. Here I am in the middle of no-where by myself with a flipped trailer. With some rope and recovery gear including a Hi-Lift jack I was able to right the trailer and set up camp. I had to do some trail maintenance to get the hitch on the trailer straightened out but after that I swore I would set up a better hitch and suspension.

The Patriots are awesome. I went the build-it-yourself route and kept it simple. Basically a rolling cargo box to get all my gear out of the Jeep and an RTT on top. I went fully enclosed to keep the dust off my gear. It works great for my needs. After using it now for a couple years, I agree with 100% of the video. Lots of good info here if you’re on the fence or trying to decide what is right for you.

Great post, and I think you hit the biggies, especially Timbren independent axles and overall width. One of the things I tend to see often is overlooking the hitch height, especially on lifted rigs. Shoot for level.

I love this video. Your info is great.👍 I just bought a free solo camper that my jeep wrangler unlimited can tow. The smallest tear drop camper that we can walk into. The DIN model. A little big for off road trail camping but great for logging road adventure camping. Keeping the wife happy for adventure is key. Love it😃😁

Hey Brad, all excellent points. If I may add, in addition to annual insurance cost and registration etc. Consider sales taxes and personal property taxes (at least here where we are in SC). Happy to share our patriot campers trailer finally went into production after waiting a year, hopefully we'll have it late August. Sales taxes for us is 7%, and personal property taxes (paid up front before they issues tags), is 10.5% of trailer value...or 6% if your trailer can be lived in. They determine that by if it has an inside area, running water, toilet and kitchen/refrigerator. Hope that helps with all the other considerations when shopping for a trailer. GREAT VIDEO

Finally we get relax with Brad. We got popcorn and hot chocolate today. Hi Brad

Hey, first time I see your content. Seems good, keep it up. Two things I'd like to comment on...1) more important than the width of the trailer is the width of the tire track. It is important the the tow vehicle and trailer have the same track width (hope that makes sense). 2) Independent suspension...we all have our own opinions here. Axle with leaf springs and shocks is cheaper, stronger, and could still get you out safe if you had shock failure. Independent, not so much....

We have the OffGrid expedition trailer and won't go back to just the jeep. So much better! This video was perfect!

Love this video, I have been looking at trailers lately and this was helpful, the way my family and I experience the outdoors I think the X1-N would be a good fit.

I love every single video you make! Thanks again.

Great running into you at this location and your recommendation for a different location nearby worked out well. Safe travels!

Love my turtleback getaway trailer. These points are all spot on. In my opinion, the pros far outweigh the cons. Also, the redarc brake controller is amazing. Highly recommend.

Biggest reason I want one. It’s ready to go, id be more prone to go adventure if i didn’t need to pack out every time. #2 setup is as easy as opening a door

Excellent analysis. Great job summarizing pros and cons. Trailer seems like a go for those who want the many conveniences it offers and expect to use it a lot. New sub.

Nice video. I have a made in USA Xventure XV3 w/Maggiolina RTT. Tow it with a Willys Ecodiesel Wrangler. Mileage is 1-2 less towing. I got it to add another axle and carry enough gear to make sure my wife is comfortable. It has surpassed all my expectations. Trailer has proved itself when I got in over my head on trails. XVENTURE also builds military trailers, they are all aluminum, no welds. The Dexter Solid Axle has proved to off-road impeccably and parts are available everywhere but you probably won’t ever need any if you lube the bearings. The Xventure has opened up so many avenues to adventure, it’s just incredible.

You bring up some good points but I have a couple of corrections: 1. registration in CA is cheap, it’s just over $40 and that’s for a Permanent Trailer which only needs re-registration every 5 years. 2. insurance- if you add to an existing home/auto policy, it’s super cheap. For a $30k trailer, it was only $100 a year.

Thanks for always sharing knowledge. I enjoy it always when you upload.

Absolutely fantastic. I'm working on a 6x12 DIY build based off the Bruder EXP-4. . You helped me out so much.

Great video, we've been looking at teardrop trailers and small trailers, nice reminder of things people don't think about

Brad, you make a lot information!!! Lots of people don't think about things like that!

We use an Opus OP2 trailer for our adventures now. Gas mileage with a V8 4 Runner is about 11-12 highway, 6-8 off road. But the reduced gas mileage is worth it as set up and tear down of camp is a breeze. I also agree about lunch breaks is super simple. We carry 50 gallons of water, two propane tanks and bonus. Has heater for winter camping in comfort. Just like was stated, it fits in my garage as well. Here is a negative not mentioned. Makes exploring unknown trails for possible camps sites more difficult as turning around ability is reduced.

Just ran into your channel. That how I see things, when they randomly pop up. Love your trailer set up. I don’t 4 wheel or have a 4 wheel drive truck, so wouldn’t get one Thanks for you and your wife Regina for sharing your experience with having and what to consider if you do. 🤙😎

This is something I'd like to work towards once my kids are older and can handle more than a couple days on the go. I definitely echo your thoughts on not permanently installing things to a vehicle that also has to be a daily driver.

Great trailer video 100% agree on the brake controller! We added a Tekonsha P3 to our JLUR for our custom off-road tear-drop. While relatively lightweight, the added security of having brakes on or off-road is the best feeling.

For me I just wanted to go back to sleeping inside, away from the roof top tent or ground camping. So far I really like my SoCal teardrop, despite the few downsides. Great video.

Really helpful, thanks for sharing your thoughts!

If you have a daily driver/ weekend adventure vehicle and kids, I think a trailer seems like a great option. You can keep your vehicle relatively stock and increase your carrying capacity by sharing the payload with the trailer. Trailers also make for a great basecamp. For a family I think going lightweight with ground tents and backpacking gear and one streamlined vehicle is great, or using a trailer. I honestly don’t think that a rooftop tent and full buildout works well with a family unless you’re willing to go with a 3/4 ton truck and a camper. I personally think lightweight and streamlined is better. The gear is more modular, can be used in more situations, it’s lighter and more packable and cheaper overall so you can stay at the occasional hotel, Airbnb, guest house, etc to shower, do laundry, get internet, etc.

Awesome video, thank you Brad. I have been on the fence about this and have my eye on the Opus OP4 trailer, this would defiantly fit in my garage but I didn't know about the extra cost of insurance so that will be something I look into as well. Thanks again, I have been following you and Macro for a few years now.

Happy Mother's Day Regina!!!!

I have to say we love seeing the Oklahoma plates on your trailer. lol Thanks for inspiring people to get out and enjoy all that God has blessed us with.

Thank you for sharing your experience I greatly appreciate it 😎👍

Some distinctions may be in order. If the goal is to add 2,500 to 3,000 pounds of travel rig and gear to what you already have, then wear, fuel economy and all the rest matter. If you build a very light trailer as I did, add a few things, and offload hundreds of pounds from the tow vehicle, you have a whole different animal. My trailer is light enough to unhook and move around by hand easily. I also have a UTV winch on the rear of the trailer which is super useful to get your tail out of a ditch or hang-up. Most of these offroad trailers are incredibly heavy IMO. I pulled a 16ft Scamp trailer for years for very light offroad use, but that whole thing weighed only 2,600 lbs. I realize offroad trailers have to be built heavier, but a big part of that is the weight they are required to carry. My trailer capacities are 60 liter fridge, 25 gallons of gas, 20 gallons of water, 20lbs of propane, 480 watts of solar panel, 400 A/Hrs of lithium battery, an onboard welder, and is designed around a 4' x 6.5' box. It is purely a support trailer to increase the range and capability of the tow vehicle, with extra room for gear like my inflatable kayak. The dry weight is about 700lbs, and the loaded weight is around 1,500 lbs. The swing arm axles are rated for 3,500, but I will never even reach half of that. I designed in an extendable bar to the tongue, with sturdy handles to give me huge leverage for hand maneuvering. I'm only lifting about 50 lbs of tongue weight. I've never seen this feature on any trailer, but it is a game changer in tight spots. I ended up building my own because all the manufactured trailers were too heavy, loaded with things I didn't need or want, and lacking critical features. I also saved myself at least $25,000 dollars, while using top grade components and knowing that everything was done meticulously. Trailers are always a pain, but the pain doesn't have to be SO bad, and the advantages can be big. I can take on the longest offroad trails with no worry about fuel, food, water, or any other supply, and my truck drives a lot better and easier unloaded. I use a drone to scout really sketchy trails to avoid getting trapped. That is my biggest worry.

Awesome video with much sensible advice. Thank you both.

My wife and I recently purchased a Bantam T3C trailer and mounted a roof top tent on it. When towing it with my 3 speed TJ, I actually get higher milage at 55 than I normally would at 65 not towing. Vehicle size, like a TJ, played heavily into our decision to build a trailer.

You know I'll bet a trailer like that would be a great place to store a Trail Recon cook book. 😁

A lot of great points and advice.

Excellent review! I’ve been camping and doing light off-roading with an M416 trailer for about 25 years now. I think you hit just about every key consideration. One area in which I’m constantly revising my approach is deciding what gear goes in/on the trailer vs. in the truck. For example, I typically park the trailer and then drive trails; but some of my recovery gear is in/on the trailer.

Love your videos. I just picked up an Expedition 2.0 from Off Grid Trailers and it's awesome. I noticed in this video that your hitch with the 360-degree yolk might be installed upside down. If it was the other way around the trailer will be level on the road.

Great review. Thank you.

Love the independent suspension.

13:37 Best advice, Brad!

Great video. Also depending on the level of trails you run, you can opt for a “less trail capable” but more flexible trailer. Mine doubles as an equipment and gear hauler, but I still get all the off road capacity I need.

Great video. Wish I had it when I was trying to decide on a trailer last year. Backing up and turning on tight trails is what killed the deal for me. I'd have to unhitch the trailer to maneuver on many of the trails considering my 2500 Sierra HD Diesel "overland" pickup is 22' long.

Great Video! Thanks so much for putting this together. I know it takes a lot of time just to do 1 minute of video! TY

great video, one of these days I'll get me one of these. Wish they were not so expensive, but the quality seems top and yes, you get what you pay for.

such nice way to explain. Thank you very much..

Thanks for the awesome video as always. We are looking into getting into overland. Love your Jeep set ups.

Very informative video!! That’s a beautiful Bronco and trailer combo you have going. Also kudos to your wife for the homemade sloppy joes. Maybe you guys could do a video or two on your favorite, most convenient camping meals. That would be fun!

Excellent video. Thank you.

Excellent video. Thank you

Very interesting. We have a Land Rover with a matching Army trailer, its about the same size as an overland trailer and its rated for off road. A big rotating hitch is a must, a standard ball hitch will bind up and put a huge twisting load on the rear attachment point. Here in the UK we tend to mix countryside with going into the local town, and there the trailer is a real problem. We have to find oversize spaces and reversing overland trailers is hard; they are short and not easy to see as they are low and narrow. It is great to carry all that extra stuff, but we found we were bringing most of it home un-used, we found with more disciplined packing we could leave the trailer at home for most trips and save quite a bit on fuel. So, yes its great, but it doesn't get much use.

Thank you, very clear and complete information. As we are travelling in South Africa, we just got a new off-road trailer... hope we did the good choice. Friendly Michael

i diy built a m416 trailer into an offroad camping rig. nothing fancy, had a top made for it strong enough to support a RTT. the inside of the 416 just holds storage totes and is divided out by 2x4 to keep them from sliding around too much. works awesome, but would love to have built in fridges and cooking areas. for now, i just carry the gear in the tub and setup camp old school. but it's great!

Hey Brad, check out my M1102 military trailer. It’s pretty much ready to go off-roading out the box and relatively cheap compared to custom builds. Still has lots You can add, but it’s got all the off-road hardware and doesn’t need to be insured.

Great Video, as I am debating on a trailer or truck rack and RTT. Look forward to seeing more of your videos. Scribed!!

I’ve been eyeballing those X3’s for a minute. Ever since I seen them on Expedition Overland I’ve been hooked and seeing they have a US dealer now I’m thinking about it more and more.

I agree with the trailer brakes. I am a proponent of trailer brakes on all trailers. Something else to think about. If you are on the trail, you may have to back the trailer up for quite a ways. We’ve been on the trail and met a line of people coming the other way and had to back up for 1/4-1/2 mile. Not fun and that was without a trailer. We do like the Patriot campers trailers.

Thanks for your time.

Great explanation detail! 💪🏻 followed!

Brad, could you do a video sometime about setting up for base camp (setup, safety, security, special considerations)? You’ve mentioned base camping in other videos on occasion, and while I know it’s not your thing, any tips and tricks would be great.

If you live in, or visit South Dakota you can rent trailers like this one in Custer! The business is called Overland America. You can also rent Jeeps and Broncos!

It’s nice to see an Oklahoma tag, trailer is a life saver for us. We’re too big for a truck, and the explorer holds no cargo.

Wow great video 💯👍😊

You guys must come to Southern Africa! You will LOVE it!

Great info!! Would love to add a trailer for my sprinter. Also love your trail rating system. Could you add a category or note to reviews? Whether a tall vehicle (sprinter or truck camper) could do the trail. 😃 cheers.

Amazing video. What extension brackets you have on your 270 awning? Love the fact that it can be set higher

I sure like those Patriot Camper trailer. Not that I've really priced trailers in the past but the cost stops me in my tracks no matter how much I want one. I have some things to consider after watching this. I had ruled trailers out for several reasons until recently.

Brad, Great video, as usual. I am currently a full time RVer with a 40' class "A" and I pull a 2019 JLU Rubicon. The RV is going to be sold in the near future and I want to buy an off road trailer. I have seen many of your videos as well as EPIC Family Road trip. My goal is to continue exploring this great country but do more off road exploration. I will probably stay out for a few weeks at a time and come back to a home base. Any suggestions as to videos to get me set up to do this? Love your channel. Don

Great video Brad, how do you find it with the trailer running 35’s while your rig is running 37’s? I like the idea of running the rig and trailer with the same tires and wheel sizes for extra spares on long trips. Thinking my next rig will be a Gladiator to carry the family and dogs, and I love the X1-H trailer, but will be a very long road rig for trailers and overland trips, so not 100% sure yet.

You helped me make up my mind about getting a trailer. I’ll just stick with my Jeep and a ground tent.

Great video very informative. You didn't mention if you ever had any tense backing up situations. Just wondering it is something to consider.

Great video! 🙂

Brad, you should have touched on the cost to purchase and long lead times to actually take delivery. A basic trailer can run $40k and take a year to manufacturer.

Brad, great video! What hitch receiver is that you’re running and how long is it and where did you find it? I need a long one like that to help my X1 clear my tire carrier. Keep up the great work!

see living in hurricane alley, having 4 dogs and a family, when you need to evac, you cant always find a hotel due to the number of people on the move. the way i was thinking is that if we have to we could easily pull over to a rest stop, or service station, or almost anywhere that you could safely find that gives a bit of security and set up. its really meant for me is extra storage for the things my family wold need for at least 2 weeks. so since Hurricane Ida last year, ive been trying to find one on the cheap side

Appreciate your videos

Great info 👍

I am close to getting myself a camper trailer. Now days you can get a brake controller that mounts to the trailer so you can tow with any vehicle.

Great video. Hey what tires did you put on your Bronco? Did I miss that video?

Sorry if I missed it elsewhere in the comments. What awning is that? I like that it allows you to keep it and the tent low, but pop up to standing height!

Exzellent advice. What is this lifted sunshed? I could nee one for my Gladiator

Great video! I love your content! What trailer do you recommend for a jeep wrangler and which one is this ?

Hi Brad and everyone else in the off-roading community, Thanks for all of the great content you bring us. It’s all really helpful and appreciated. I’m relatively novice when it comes to off-roading and I’m still trying to decide how to setup my rig. I’ll be taking delivery of a 3.6L gladiator rubicon in about a month, also I have an order placed and will be picking up a Boreas XT off-road trailer in early August. I will be adding a 3” lift and 37” Mickey Thompson Baja Boss AT tires to the JT, my question is, should I be considering re-gearing my JT? If so, what would be a good option? The trailer weighs right around 2000lbs dry. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks!