I began looking for storage/ sleeping options for my upcoming Baja and Arctic Ocean trips about 10 months ago. My wife and two children are usually minimalists and have been camping/ hiking out of backpacks for years but this option simply would not work for the upcoming expeditions and harsh environments. Having to carry supplies for weeks and driving through places where fuel and water will be scarce we opted for a RTT mounted on top of an off-road trailer. Through months of research and interviewing individuals with similar set ups, it became more and more clear that we wanted to give our business to Tepui Tents in Santa Cruz, CA and Ruger Trailers in Denver, CO.
Steve Siler and his wife, owners of Ruger Trailers, were a pleasure to deal with every step of the way. From discussing size, options, and potential use of the trailer, they offer virtually every option one could want or need. Many of these options are not even offered on the web page and amount to a truly custom build. Customer service was second to none. We received frequent emails with photos of the build, correspondence with Steve via telephone and email were quickly handled. His pricing is in black and white, fair, and there was absolutely no guessing what the final product was going to cost. For our budget, we received one of the most rugged trailers off the road. The final product is a 6' tub expertly welded, use of stainless steel hinges and fasteners, robust assist shocks to open the top lid, all LED lighting, painted to order on a powder coated frame with, brakes, leaf springs, and gas shocks. We chose 33" tires to match our vehicles but again, the options are virtually endless. This set up comes in at around 800 pounds empty and 1000 pounds with the RTT giving it a " barely there" feel. The trailer handles like a dream: turns on a dime, does not bounce around excessively, and had zero issues towing it back home to Las Vegas at highway speeds. There are many brands out there and all of them have pros and cons. For me, it all comes down to a quality product and solid customer service. Although I haven't put the trailer through much abuse yet, I know a few people that have and love the product. If I do encounter an issue I have no doubt that Steve will be there; he has been in the trailer business for quite some time. If you are in the market, I encourage you to give Ruger a closer look.