OK, so.. .back ground:
I did 3 complete laps of the US in 2020 all while pulling and camping in my Opus trailer both on and off the grid. From the swamps of Florida to the beach in Texas, AZ and UT deserts, the Enchanted Rockies Trail in NM, SW Colorado and all the way up the Pacific Coast. . .I learned a LOT. The Opus was and is GREAT at what it was designed for. However, our needs have changed and a couple of things have to happen moving forward:
1. Zero minutes minimum set up time. In the new world, we often find ourselves pulling into an impromptu site late at night. . .we just wanna go to bed and/or chow down. We need to be able to just stop, get in some proximity of level and go to bed.
2. Sometimes we are very much ON the grid and mama needs to use the facilities. nuff said.
3. Having the option to shower and/or cook inside when you are parked at a hot spring in 10 degree weather would be sweet. Coffee without stepping outside is REQUIRED.
4. Speaking of that, we'd LOVE to use the water system at that very same spot.
5. No Propane. After trying to help the attendant find the key to the machine in rural Mississippi. . .I'm out on PPX.
6. Still gotta be able to tow it with the Jeep (2018 JLUR on 37s). So <3500lb GVW.
Things we want to keep from our current trailer:
1. Outside cooking, outside shower
2. Off Road capability (and on road capability)
3. Same basic overall length (17 feet or less from tip to tail with a 12 foot box)
4. Home theater. Didn't seem important until we started traveling in the pandemic.
Buy v. Build:
Buy: It doesn't exist. Don't you dare tell me to look at anything built in Indiana. I worked in the RV industry for years. Staples have NO place in anything that moves, let alone goes off highway.
Build: I have build trailers before. In fact, my off highway trailer was built in my driveway about 5 years ago. I removed the RTT and still use it to haul building materials and such that don't fit in the Jeep. Since BUY won't work, I really had no choice unless I wanted to change my parameters. Ginger the Jeep just works TOO WELL to give up. . .well. . . it is what it is.
So, here we go.
The design:
12'x5.5'. Steel. 3x2 with some other stuff (3x3 for the tongue and 2" Angle for the floor joists/xmembers. Overall Length is right at 16' with the tongue and bumper. Jeep tailgate still opens.
Lock and Roll Hitch
Ark jockey wheel
Composite panels
Arctic Tern doors/windows/cargo doors
I did 3 complete laps of the US in 2020 all while pulling and camping in my Opus trailer both on and off the grid. From the swamps of Florida to the beach in Texas, AZ and UT deserts, the Enchanted Rockies Trail in NM, SW Colorado and all the way up the Pacific Coast. . .I learned a LOT. The Opus was and is GREAT at what it was designed for. However, our needs have changed and a couple of things have to happen moving forward:
1. Zero minutes minimum set up time. In the new world, we often find ourselves pulling into an impromptu site late at night. . .we just wanna go to bed and/or chow down. We need to be able to just stop, get in some proximity of level and go to bed.
2. Sometimes we are very much ON the grid and mama needs to use the facilities. nuff said.
3. Having the option to shower and/or cook inside when you are parked at a hot spring in 10 degree weather would be sweet. Coffee without stepping outside is REQUIRED.
4. Speaking of that, we'd LOVE to use the water system at that very same spot.
5. No Propane. After trying to help the attendant find the key to the machine in rural Mississippi. . .I'm out on PPX.
6. Still gotta be able to tow it with the Jeep (2018 JLUR on 37s). So <3500lb GVW.
Things we want to keep from our current trailer:
1. Outside cooking, outside shower
2. Off Road capability (and on road capability)
3. Same basic overall length (17 feet or less from tip to tail with a 12 foot box)
4. Home theater. Didn't seem important until we started traveling in the pandemic.
Buy v. Build:
Buy: It doesn't exist. Don't you dare tell me to look at anything built in Indiana. I worked in the RV industry for years. Staples have NO place in anything that moves, let alone goes off highway.
Build: I have build trailers before. In fact, my off highway trailer was built in my driveway about 5 years ago. I removed the RTT and still use it to haul building materials and such that don't fit in the Jeep. Since BUY won't work, I really had no choice unless I wanted to change my parameters. Ginger the Jeep just works TOO WELL to give up. . .well. . . it is what it is.
So, here we go.
The design:
12'x5.5'. Steel. 3x2 with some other stuff (3x3 for the tongue and 2" Angle for the floor joists/xmembers. Overall Length is right at 16' with the tongue and bumper. Jeep tailgate still opens.
Lock and Roll Hitch
Ark jockey wheel
Composite panels
Arctic Tern doors/windows/cargo doors
