How to Choose the Perfect Overland Camper Trailer for Your Needs

Due to their rugged construction and off-grid capabilities, overlanding camper trailers enable first-timers and 4WD enthusiasts alike to find their own adventures off the beaten path. Whether you’re looking to level-up your skills or get off the grid completely for a weekend or a few years, off-road overland campers are the perfect home away from home for the curious, brave, and the bold.

But, how do you choose the perfect overland camper trailer for your needs? The industry has exploded with options, so it can be a chore to sort through the many different models to find what’s really right for you.

There are a few overland camper categories to choose from and XGRID has options available in each of them.

• Roof Top Tent Campers - AOR Sierra ZR, Patriot, Turtleback
• Teardrop Campers - AOR Sierra, Boreas XT, Mission Overland, Taxa Cricket, Teton X, Xpedition Trailers 
• Pop-Up Campers - Opus OP4, Taxa Cricket
• Hybrid Campers and Caravans - Boreas EOS 12, Opus OP15, RKS Off Road, Taxa Mantis

If you’re ready to leave civilization in the dust and venture into the wilderness, here’s how to find the right camper to become your off-the-grid sanctuary.

Understand Your Goals and Lifestyle

Are you a sustainable pioneer who can live off the land? A RTT or Teardrop might be perfect.  Or do you prefer a Hybrid or Caravan that provides a few creature comforts for the family?  Before you land on that perfect set-up and air down for the trails, it’s important to prioritize your true lifestyle and off-road camping/overlanding goals. 

Maybe one person in the family can rough it for weeks, but what features will inspire the entire family to pack up and go? Is a wet bath with a flushing toilet a prerequisite or can everyone settle with digging a hole? How important is that AC and can you power it up where you plan to camp?   

Are you a solo hunter or a full-timer homeschooling kids and working remotely?  Both are done every day with any of these rigs, but it makes a difference for the size, amount of storage, and capabilities you may be looking for.

Finding the right balance between what you really need and what the entire family wants will ensure that the first trip is just the beginning of the family adventures ahead.

Realistic Terrain Goals

Off-grid campers have a wide array of capabilities. While everyone loves watching the extreme videos of trucks and campers showing off their skills and gear in technical terrain, that’s not for everyone and it doesn’t need to be. There are enough camper options out there, you can find the right fit for the terrain you plan to traverse.   

For those looking to push the limits on more aggressive terrain, you’ll want to really hone in on the chassis, type of suspension, ground clearance, weight, type of articulating hitch, departure angle, and overall length. The RTT and Teardrops often fit in this class. Towing a rig down narrow trails with tight turns without an escape route is a totally different experience than exploring in a Jeep with nothing behind you.

Alternatively, if most of your trips are down dirt and gravel roads and maybe a few class 2-3 trails, then you have many more options. While the Hybrids and Caravans can take a beating, still, they are wider, heavier, and require more planning for the trails. Loose gravel or sandy terrain on an incline can create challenges for the inexperienced driver or underpowered vehicle. Stay on terrain suitable for both your camper and tow vehicle, and well within your off-road experience comfort zone.

Off-Grid Time Requirements

How far off-grid will your adventures take you? Do you plan to set up basecamp and stay for several days or pack up and go to a new spot every day? Does waking up in the morning mean flipping on a switch for a coffee pot or powering up gear like laptops and wifi boosters?   

Answers to these questions will help you to choose properly when outfitting the rig with the right solar, power, and water capacity needed. Also, they will help define the other essential gear that you’ll need for the weekend or multi-week adventure.

For those looking to camp in one spot for several days, having a more robust set up with multiple awnings, sleeping annex, and outdoor living gear may be appealing. But, for those on the go, simplicity and speed is often the priority.

Tow Vehicle Considerations

While most people will just look at a vehicle's towing capacity and a trailer's listed weight and call it good, you should do a little more math than that. Remember that the listed trailer weight is for a dry camper with no add-on options and without all your gear, food, and water. You'll want to add in the weight of these things when figuring out if your tow vehicle can handle the overland trailer you're considering.

Also, consider the terrain you'll be adventuring in when deciding on an appropriate tow vehicle. Steep mountains and/or rough and soft terrain will require more power from your vehicle than flat wide open spaces.

Other Overland Trailer Buying Considerations

Here are some other important things to consider when purchasing an off-road adventure camper:

• Seasons: What typical weather conditions will you be traveling in? If you’re in freezing temperatures, are you ok with dumping tanks and winterizing the rig, or do you need running water and for how long? During inclement weather, can the camper provide some protection for eating, changing clothes, showering, and cooking outside?
• Storage: Does it need to fit in a garage or can you park it outside your house? HOA’s are not always friendly when it comes to camper storage. Understanding what your storage options are, including the possible costs associated, will help you choose the right type of camper for you.
• Expandability: While you can always upgrade or downgrade in size and amenities, consider what the next couple of years will bring. Will the family increase in size or shrink as kids move away? Will you want to bring friends or other family? Will ease of setup, a bathroom, or other amenities become more important in the coming years?  How about those furry family members?
• Budget: Let’s be honest, the leading off-road and overlanding campers can get pricey. They are well designed, use better materials, and are constructed to take a beating and last for generations. Be realistic about what you want and need and you’ll find good solutions to fit nearly any budget. 

There is a Right Camper For You

The overlanding and off-road camping craze is here to stay. Those who embark on overland adventures have realized the conventional RV lifestyle doesn’t suit their needs anymore, or maybe never did.

Whatever your reason is for hitting the trail, find a camper that inspires you to get off the grid. It’s a big investment. Fall in love with it and fall in love with the lifestyle. You’ll grow more confident with every trip you take. You’ll find yourself going farther and deeper into the wilderness.  And, as a result, building long lasting and more meaningful memories.   

If you need help choosing the best off road or overlanding camper for your family, the team at XGRiD Campers can help.  Whether it’s renting or buying, call us today to help find your next adventure basecamp.