Sporting Trailers
Several examples in this segment are hearty pop-top trailers ready to carry your gear and your home away from home off the beaten path, while a few others are built for much more. Would-be buyers of these rigs are not just weekend campers, they are outdoorsmen.
Is a 4x4 tow vehicle and a bowie knife on your hip a prerequisite for owning one of these rigs? Certainly not, but they are not the kind of trailer typically attached to a Toyota Prius.
While some are tough, others are extreme. Which is best for your camping needs depends on whether you plan on striking camp along the backroads of the Mojave Desert or on the high plains of Patagonia.
Adventure Trailers
Notables - Make no mistake, this tent trailer-emphasis on tent-is built for the most adventurous camper. Does it need a 4x4 vehicle to pull it? No, but this rig is certainly designed for that treacherous overland expedition you've been dreaming of.
The stove is an exterior two-burner unit. The fridge is a top-loading unit tucked in the trailer's main storage box. With its airbag/shock absorber suspension, the luxury of this rig is having a trailer that can follow your 4x4 vehicle wherever you dare drive it.
Specifications
Vehicle Type: Folding/pop-up camping trailer
Model: Horizon
Price: Starting at $8,566
Sleeping Capacity: Two to four
GVWR (pounds): 2,700
Dry Weight (UVW) (pounds): 1,100
Hitch Weight (pounds): 100
Net Carrying Capacity (pounds): 1,600
Total Storage Capacity (cubic feet): 54
Traveling Length: 102"
Campsite Length: 102"
Travel Height: 71.5"
Campsite Height: 119.5" on 35-inch tires
Exterior Width: 68"
Fresh Water Capacity (gallons): 19
LPG Tank (gallons): 11
Jumping Jack Trailers
Notables - This rugged rig is based on a high-wall utility trailer, which when not being used for camping can be used for...well, utility. But for backwoods excursions, the trailer carries a heavy marine canvas tent designed with seven large windows, extra long beds and a swing-up table.
It can be assembled in less than five minutes. With the tent stored, the trailer can carry two ATVs or an array of other wilderness toys for your expedition.
Specifications
Vehicle Type: Folding/pop-up camping trailer
Model: 6x8
Price: Starting at $4,995
Sleeping Capacity: Three to five
GVWR (pounds): 2,995
Dry Weight (UVW) (pounds): 1,245
Hitch Weight (pounds): 180
Net Carrying Capacity (pounds): 1,750
Traveling Length: 12'
Campsite Length: 12'
Travel Height: 38"
Campsite Height: 7'
Exterior Width: 92"
Jayco
Notables - Jayco's adventure-oriented camping trailer makes room for your toys with an open storage deck up-front. With a 1,200-pound load capacity, it is perfect for an array of dirt bikes or an ATV.
To ease your outback travels, the Baja comes standard with 15-inch off-road Dunlop Mud Rover tires, mud flaps and diamond-plate walls front and rear. Options include heated beds, furnace and an outside grill.
Specifications
Vehicle Type: Folding/pop-up camping trailer
Model: Baja 10Y
Price: Starting at $10,000
Sleeping Capacity: Four to six
GVWR (pounds): 4,550
Dry Weight (UVW) (pounds): 2,320
Hitch Weight (pounds): 220
Net Carrying Capacity (pounds): 2,230
Traveling Length: 19'8"
Campsite Length: 20'10"
Travel Height: 66"
Campsite Height: 114"
Exterior Width: 85"
Fresh Water Capacity (gallons): 23
LPG Tank (gallons): 20
Coachmen RV
Notables - With its extra ground clearance, the Clipper Off-Road trailer allows the sportsman camper to head farther afield than most folding tent trailers. Equipped with a forward storage deck, this trailer has the ability to carry a pair of dirt bikes or an ATV to your favorite outpost.
Standard features include an external utility shelf, three-burner range and a cleverly designed swing galley that easily shifts from a travel- to campsite-ready position. Options include a cassette toilet, rooftop power lift and mattress heaters.
Specifications
Vehicle Type: Folding/pop-up camping trailer Model: Clipper Off-Road 1175SC
Price: Starting at $11,960
Sleeping Capacity: Six
GVWR (pounds): 5,458
Dry Weight (UVW) (pounds): 2,779
Hitch Weight (pounds): 378
Net Carrying Capacity (pounds): 2,679
Traveling Length: 21'4"
Campsite Length: 22'2"
Travel Height: 60"
Campsite Height: 6'10"
Exterior Width: 85"
Front Deck Area: 60"x83"
Fresh Water Capacity (gallons): 16
LPG Tank (gallons): 2x20
SylvanSport
Notables - The SylvanSport GO is for the active camper, as its design revolves around the accessories we take to explore, experience and enjoy the outdoors. The upper rack system can be incorporated with Thule, Yakima or other rack manufacturers to hold mountain bikes, kayaks, skis or a multitude of other adventure gear.
A Control-Tilt cargo bed with hydraulic dampening system allows for transport of an ATV or two dirt motorcycles without the use of a ramp. Up-front, a 9-cubic-foot cargo pod offers weatherproof and lockable storage for gear and accessories. Sleeping arrangements come in the form of a quick-deploying Kelty tent system.
Specifications
Vehicle Type: Folding/pop-up camping trailer Model: GO
Price: Starting at $7,995
Sleeping Capacity: Two to four
GVWR (pounds): 1,600
Dry Weight (UVW) (pounds): 840
Hitch Weight (pounds): 70
Net Carrying Capacity (pounds): 800
Traveling Length: 11'6"
Campsite Length: 14'
Travel Height: 51"-79" (depending on setup)
Campsite Height: 106"
Traveling Exterior Width: 74"
Campsite: 124"