Roaddude
Long time off-grid vanlife adventurist
Hey gang -
I'm surprised I haven't seen this thread before. I'm usually out wandering North America; often back-country and way out of range for cell service, so am not always checking in with adventure forums.
I've had my 2017 XVenture XV-2 going on four years. I've had it out well over 600 nights; mostly pre-pandemic and in all sorts of environments and weather. When I go out I'm usually gone for months. Last big trip before the pandemic was eight months long.
I've used my XV-2 lakeside and forest camping in New England and up in the mountains of east Tennessee, in the bayous & swamps of southern Louisiana and on Gulf of Mexico beaches, and all over the southwest and Chihuahuan Desert borderlands.
Packed up and ready to roll.
I've been up to Schutt Industries in Clintonville WI a couple times, have met with Tim and crew there and on the road at shows. Tim is great and Schutt is an impressive operation. From what I hear they're wicked slammed right now; backed up with orders and inquiries from all the historic interest in outdoor recreation and the material shortages and logistics problems brought on by the pandemic.
In reading through this thread, I see several questions I may be able to help answer, with what I've learned about my trailer. I don't pretend to have all the answers, though you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who has used their XVenture Severe-Duty trailer more than I have used mine.
Small problems you may encounter with your trailer's options are not always the fault of Schutt Industries. Accessories and different packages are sometimes assembled/installed by individual dealers after a customer orders which options they prefer.
=================
ELECTRICAL:
@harryx46: The switch labeled EXP is for the optional Expansion lighting package. On mine, that means the Ridgid LED rack lights at rear passenger and tailgate.
All rack lights on mine, whether basic or expansion, are connected via the weatherproof connections at the rear of my rack; one on each side. They connect to the extensions available in the cargo bed inside each side of the tailgate. I only connect them when camped, not underway. When underway, I coil the extensions and tuck them into the loom at each side, and use the male plug to seal the rack connector as shown below.
I love these connectors; German in origin, I believe. One of these days I'm going to make a small pocket for each side inside the tailgate area to keep both the extension and male plugs.
Connection for rack lights, passenger side, XV-2. This is the male plug you keep in place when not connected to keep it clean.
...
Expansion light wiring plug, inside right rear of the tailgate, with plenty extension length to go up to the rack. Same thing driver's side for the galley lights on the rack. I don't travel with these extensions plugged in, unless only going a short way. I unplug and stow them when on the highway, and put the male travel plug in.
To be honest, I don't really use my rack lights much, preferring to use the pods from my Ready Lights for whichever area I'm working. I don't like that both the EXP and Bed/Galley switches turn on more lights than I need. I may add an inline switch to each of my rack lights at some point, though, so I can use whichever ones I want without wasting power to the others.
TIP: Even when I have my canoe strapped to the tonneau cover and nose box as seen above and can't open the nose box lid, I can reach in through the side port on the box and turn on/off the EXP switch, air comp, rock lights, etc.
When camping in a particularly buggy area, using primarily the rock lights will keep the bugs low. I've also put a yellow gel over the rack lights or my pod lights to reduce bugs being attracted.
Brake Controller: Yeah, absolutely, I can't see towing a trailer equipped with electric brakes without a good brake controller. I hooked up a Tekonsha 90195 P3 and have been very happy with it. I like that I can adjust the boost level, and that I can reach down while on a trail and apply just the trailer brakes if I want, like going over a rise if I want the trailer to hold me back a bit.
=================
NOSE BOX:
@TxTyphoon: mine has a rugged rubber seal all the way around on the upper edge of the nose box. Even with all the in-&-out of my various cases and containers and leaving the lid open a lot when in camp even under desert sun, the seal still works and looks like new. I've never had any water get in from the lid, even when I run a cord from the nose box 12v outlet to my van for the fridge, etc.
....
Rubber seal around upper edge of XV-2 nose box.
I don't remember now if it was you or someone else who asked about the lock/latch on the nose box. I have not had any problem latching/locking mine, or with the front wall of the nose box being at all flexible. Though, if you have something in the way of the latch hook on the inside, it may make it difficult to latch and lock.
TIP: FRO Cub Packs and Flat Packs on end work really well in the XV-2 nose box
(cont'd. . . )
I'm surprised I haven't seen this thread before. I'm usually out wandering North America; often back-country and way out of range for cell service, so am not always checking in with adventure forums.
I've had my 2017 XVenture XV-2 going on four years. I've had it out well over 600 nights; mostly pre-pandemic and in all sorts of environments and weather. When I go out I'm usually gone for months. Last big trip before the pandemic was eight months long.
I've used my XV-2 lakeside and forest camping in New England and up in the mountains of east Tennessee, in the bayous & swamps of southern Louisiana and on Gulf of Mexico beaches, and all over the southwest and Chihuahuan Desert borderlands.
Packed up and ready to roll.
I've been up to Schutt Industries in Clintonville WI a couple times, have met with Tim and crew there and on the road at shows. Tim is great and Schutt is an impressive operation. From what I hear they're wicked slammed right now; backed up with orders and inquiries from all the historic interest in outdoor recreation and the material shortages and logistics problems brought on by the pandemic.
In reading through this thread, I see several questions I may be able to help answer, with what I've learned about my trailer. I don't pretend to have all the answers, though you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who has used their XVenture Severe-Duty trailer more than I have used mine.
Small problems you may encounter with your trailer's options are not always the fault of Schutt Industries. Accessories and different packages are sometimes assembled/installed by individual dealers after a customer orders which options they prefer.
=================
ELECTRICAL:
@harryx46: The switch labeled EXP is for the optional Expansion lighting package. On mine, that means the Ridgid LED rack lights at rear passenger and tailgate.
All rack lights on mine, whether basic or expansion, are connected via the weatherproof connections at the rear of my rack; one on each side. They connect to the extensions available in the cargo bed inside each side of the tailgate. I only connect them when camped, not underway. When underway, I coil the extensions and tuck them into the loom at each side, and use the male plug to seal the rack connector as shown below.
I love these connectors; German in origin, I believe. One of these days I'm going to make a small pocket for each side inside the tailgate area to keep both the extension and male plugs.
Connection for rack lights, passenger side, XV-2. This is the male plug you keep in place when not connected to keep it clean.
...
Expansion light wiring plug, inside right rear of the tailgate, with plenty extension length to go up to the rack. Same thing driver's side for the galley lights on the rack. I don't travel with these extensions plugged in, unless only going a short way. I unplug and stow them when on the highway, and put the male travel plug in.
To be honest, I don't really use my rack lights much, preferring to use the pods from my Ready Lights for whichever area I'm working. I don't like that both the EXP and Bed/Galley switches turn on more lights than I need. I may add an inline switch to each of my rack lights at some point, though, so I can use whichever ones I want without wasting power to the others.
TIP: Even when I have my canoe strapped to the tonneau cover and nose box as seen above and can't open the nose box lid, I can reach in through the side port on the box and turn on/off the EXP switch, air comp, rock lights, etc.
When camping in a particularly buggy area, using primarily the rock lights will keep the bugs low. I've also put a yellow gel over the rack lights or my pod lights to reduce bugs being attracted.
Brake Controller: Yeah, absolutely, I can't see towing a trailer equipped with electric brakes without a good brake controller. I hooked up a Tekonsha 90195 P3 and have been very happy with it. I like that I can adjust the boost level, and that I can reach down while on a trail and apply just the trailer brakes if I want, like going over a rise if I want the trailer to hold me back a bit.
=================
NOSE BOX:
@TxTyphoon: mine has a rugged rubber seal all the way around on the upper edge of the nose box. Even with all the in-&-out of my various cases and containers and leaving the lid open a lot when in camp even under desert sun, the seal still works and looks like new. I've never had any water get in from the lid, even when I run a cord from the nose box 12v outlet to my van for the fridge, etc.
....Rubber seal around upper edge of XV-2 nose box.
I don't remember now if it was you or someone else who asked about the lock/latch on the nose box. I have not had any problem latching/locking mine, or with the front wall of the nose box being at all flexible. Though, if you have something in the way of the latch hook on the inside, it may make it difficult to latch and lock.
TIP: FRO Cub Packs and Flat Packs on end work really well in the XV-2 nose box
(cont'd. . . )
Last edited:
