Set Me Straight

[chuckburt28]

I have been looking at trailers for years now, it's kind of a hobby. That leads me many times to see trailers built in other countries that aren't available here. This is where I'm hoping someone with some experience can set me straight, maybe someone happens to have seen one of these or similar. It seems like, from an unexperienced perspective, that they have it figured out better than we do, in a lot of areas. It just seems like for a lot less weight, you can get a lot more features and in many cases a better and more rugged vibe. For example, the 3 trailers below are under 3,000 lbs and you get an interior bathroom and can sleep 4. Are they using cheaper materials, are they not built as well? I have been wondering this for a long time. Admittedly, I have spoken with someone named Ferrit with Crawler Caravans, and he apparently has been trying to get their trailers in the U.S. for years. Even to the point of living in Chicago trying to make it work. ROA Offroad told me one time they spoke with Crawler but that they couldn't get them registered in the US. I imagine there are some regulations here in the US not allowing these trailers for some reason. Overall, I just wish we saw more similar to these. I will say I think I'm seeing more and more get closer, the Arkto C10 for example (which is actually built in Canada). I am just hoping someone on here may have walked through one of these foreign built trailers and knows what the difference is.

Crawler TRC 458i - CRAWLER

More Iconic, More Innovative, More Insulated! 2024 Model Year New TRC 458iWith CRAWLER TRC 458i's unique off-road capability and functional features, you have a brand new opportunity to escape from city life and get back to nature.The renewed TRC 458i's lightweight and durable aluminium body, double

www.crawlercaravans.com

Caravane DECAMP Trekking X3 - DECAMP CARAVAN

DECAMP Trekking X3 - Découvrez notre caravane Offroad tout terrain X3. Caravane compacte toute équipée, qui allie confort et légereté pour vos sorties nature - 850 kg - jusqu'à 5 personnes

decampcaravan.com

Hunter Karavan - Safir

Hunter Karavan

www.huntercaravan.com

I'm sure there are more. What's the difference, and why do the closest trailers here in the US weigh 3500-4,000+ lbs?

 

[eatSleepWoof]

It just seems like for a lot less weight, you can get a lot more features and in many cases a better and more rugged vibe. For example, the 3 trailers below are under 3,000 lbs and you get an interior bathroom and can sleep 4. Are they using cheaper materials, are they not built as well?

What's the difference, and why do the closest trailers here in the US weigh 3500-4,000+ lbs?

There's a single answer to both of these...

Consumers in Europe demand decent (or better) build quality, well-designed, space-efficient interiors, and economical, yet quality appliances. They tow with smaller vehicles, at slower speed limits, on narrower streets.

Consumers in North American demand more room, larger TVs, kitchen islands and fireplaces. They tow with F350s on 4-lane interstates.

Consumers in Europe go camping to enjoy nature and get away from civilization. Consumers in North America go to RV parking lots parks that have WiFi reception, so they can watch Netflix.

The garbage that's built here simply wouldn't sell in Europe, but flies off the shelves here. Why would the manufacturers put in more effort to do something better, when they can enjoy good margins on the trash they've already developed, which keeps selling year after year after year? Why attempt to build clever, efficient interiors, when Bubba wants to "downsize" to a 35ft long trailer with three slide outs? Why use more expensive, but lighter materials, when Bubba will be towing with a F350, and doesn't give a hoot about the weight?

Money talks. When people stop buying the garbage which has been the norm for the last several decades, then manufacturers will be forced to innovate. But until then, nothing will change in any significant fashion.

 

[eatSleepWoof]

On another note, the 3 trailers you shared are almost certainly all manufactured in China, and can likely be found on AliExpress for a fraction of their "retail" price. Much like the NJ Star trailer, for which there are a few threads already going on this forum... There's a good chance you can order one and import it yourself, although the current tariffs situation will make that option much less attractive than it was a year ago.

 

[Obsessed2findARuggedHybid]

Also keep in mind they all list dry weight way lower then it actually is.

 

[Obsessed2findARuggedHybid]

My Trailer Marker is 2,900 dry (3,800 gwr) full stand up with wet bath. It has a 12 foot box plus a 2 foot tongue box. It is 18.5 feet long. It is all aluminum and 3/4 inch frp panels to achieve this light weight. It is not insulated very well. Most US trailer have thicker walls, metal skeleton and carbon steel chassis. Which all weight a lot more.

 

[ThundahBeagle]

...Consumers in Europe go camping to enjoy nature and get away from civilization. Consumers in North America go to RV parking lots parks that have WiFi reception, so they can watch Netflix...

I'm 100% 'Murican but I guess I'm Euro, too. I camp to be with nature and leave civilization behind. Sorry. I've no experience with any of these but was compelled to say:

Guy I used to work with bought his first truck - a Ram 1500 - so he could tow "up to 13,000 lbs!" and he went out and bought something like a 35 footer to go "camping" in.

Made absolutely no sense to me at all. For starters, he got a 1500 series, crew cab short bed 4x4 (it really was a nice truck) to tow a 35 footer...well, no, sir. That dog wont hunt. Or it will. But not for long and not well. They mean a 1500 series, 8single cab 8 foot bed 4x2 with the best engine and tow package will pull that 13*k pounds. Anyway. He eventually traded up for a 2500 series as soon as he could instead of white-knuckling through the Adirondacks. Better fit.

But the other part was that he was "camping" in an RV park. Few feet away from the next trailer and the next.

Maybe a good fit for him, I dont know. I was surprised, because I knew he liked hiking.

So. Not all Muricans want to buy crap and park next to each other and get wifi and tv when camping. Just thought I'd throw that in there.

 

[Tex68w]

I camp in RV parks when it fits the agenda of my trip. Quick overnights where I need to stay close to the interstate for an early start, spots where I am doing a 2-4 day trip in a stationary place and I'll really only use the RV to sleep at night, that kind of thing. They have their place but sadly a lot of Americans use them exclusively and consider a few nights a RV spot in a National Park as "boon docking" lol.

I am not here to judge but it's the American way. I won't apologize for using them when necessary as they have their place for many but I much prefer to be off grid.

 

[chuckburt28]

I appreciate all of your responses. I think you all have some great points and I appreciate your thoughts. I think it is true that the market here is different, and camping is seen as something different than it is elsewhere. I am of course speaking broadly, and not for everyone. Obviously the overlanding world is getting bigger, and that's why this site exists. It's concerning that even when someone does get it right, like Obsessed2findARuggedHybrid's Trail Marker, the business faces challenges and sometimes they don't make it, or if they do, they're not seeing the income they need to innovate as quickly as everyone else. I totally admit I was way into Overkill's design even after Epik took over. Really amazing idea to fit a lot into a small space. My wife and I were somewhat seriously discussing them for a month or 2, but the business issues...well I won't say any more. Admittedly it also didn't have a bathroom and my wife needed that. I feel bad for them and any company in this tough industry. Most people still don't want to camp this way. My family doesn't, I only got the go ahead on a stick and tin, it was ultimately a no to an overlanding trailer, mostly because we found a Jayco under 3,000 lbs that had a bathroom and slept all 4 of us, for cheap. I could say yes to dozens of small overlanding trailers out there right now, but the family would hate it. So, we buy what everyone else buys, and I'll make memories with my family. It's just too bad that there isn't more of those kinds of trailers here, as I think I could have sold one of those to them, and we could be seeing nature, not other RV's.

 

[Obsessed2findARuggedHybid]

I appreciate all of your responses. I think you all have some great points and I appreciate your thoughts. I think it is true that the market here is different, and camping is seen as something different than it is elsewhere. I am of course speaking broadly, and not for everyone. Obviously the overlanding world is getting bigger, and that's why this site exists. It's concerning that even when someone does get it right, like Obsessed2findARuggedHybrid's Trail Marker, the business faces challenges and sometimes they don't make it, or if they do, they're not seeing the income they need to innovate as quickly as everyone else. I totally admit I was way into Overkill's design even after Epik took over. Really amazing idea to fit a lot into a small space. My wife and I were somewhat seriously discussing them for a month or 2, but the business issues...well I won't say any more. Admittedly it also didn't have a bathroom and my wife needed that. I feel bad for them and any company in this tough industry. Most people still don't want to camp this way. My family doesn't, I only got the go ahead on a stick and tin, it was ultimately a no to an overlanding trailer, mostly because we found a Jayco under 3,000 lbs that had a bathroom and slept all 4 of us, for cheap. I could say yes to dozens of small overlanding trailers out there right now, but the family would hate it. So, we buy what everyone else buys, and I'll make memories with my family. It's just too bad that there isn't more of those kinds of trailers here, as I think I could have sold one of those to them, and we could be seeing nature, not other RV's.

Just to be clear Rollingstar the company that makes Trail Marker is alive and kicking making commercial unit like the following. Some day I believe they will start making Trail Markers again.

 

[Obsessed2findARuggedHybid]

Rollingstar

 

[chuckburt28]

I do think it would be wrong for me to not make mention that there are quite a few excellent manufacturers making excellent products, and admitting that perhaps there are some factors here that have placed me more on the picky side. More people in the US have larger pickups allowing for more payload and tow capacity, I have a Colorado that can only handle maybe up to 500 lbs tongue weight (on a good day) all loaded up with my family and camping gear. More overlanding people don't care about an inside bathroom, the rest of my family does. I commend more companies than I can name here for their quality products and countless hours/years on engineering. I would buy them. I am simply noticing a difference in some available trailers elsewhere and the ones generally available here. I also need to make sure I mention Jamin from Kingdom Camping who was willing to build a custom trailer similar to this that I believe would have met my family's needs. I still wish we could have gone that direction.

 

[Gravelette]

The molded fiberglass/egg trailers like Scamp, Casita, Escape, Oliver and Bigfoot have very good quality construction but share the same marginal appliances as the stick and tin brands. The shells seem to last forever. Stock, they are fine for most Forest Service maintained roads but people have lifted them and come up with various suspension mods for rough stuff.

 

[Obsessed2findARuggedHybid]

I appreciate all of your responses. I think you all have some great points and I appreciate your thoughts. I think it is true that the market here is different, and camping is seen as something different than it is elsewhere. I am of course speaking broadly, and not for everyone. Obviously the overlanding world is getting bigger, and that's why this site exists. It's concerning that even when someone does get it right, like Obsessed2findARuggedHybrid's Trail Marker, the business faces challenges and sometimes they don't make it, or if they do, they're not seeing the income they need to innovate as quickly as everyone else. I totally admit I was way into Overkill's design even after Epik took over. Really amazing idea to fit a lot into a small space. My wife and I were somewhat seriously discussing them for a month or 2, but the business issues...well I won't say any more. Admittedly it also didn't have a bathroom and my wife needed that. I feel bad for them and any company in this tough industry. Most people still don't want to camp this way. My family doesn't, I only got the go ahead on a stick and tin, it was ultimately a no to an overlanding trailer, mostly because we found a Jayco under 3,000 lbs that had a bathroom and slept all 4 of us, for cheap. I could say yes to dozens of small overlanding trailers out there right now, but the family would hate it. So, we buy what everyone else buys, and I'll make memories with my family. It's just too bad that there isn't more of those kinds of trailers here, as I think I could have sold one of those to them, and we could be seeing nature, not other RV's.

I am glad you got your trailer because in the long run getting out camping with the family is the most important thing. It doesn't really matter what trailer you have!

 

[eatSleepWoof]

The molded fiberglass/egg trailers like Scamp, Casita, Escape, Oliver and Bigfoot have very good quality construction but share the same marginal appliances as the stick and tin brands. The shells seem to last forever. Stock, they are fine for most Forest Service maintained roads but people have lifted them and come up with various suspension mods for rough stuff.

You nailed it. That's those trailers' single, biggest flaw. The same exact, shyt appliances, shyt windows, shyt plumbing that's in use in every other trailer. Great exteriors, better overall workmanship, but still a whole bunch of the same problems.

 

[foxintheforest]

There's a single answer to both of these...

Consumers in Europe demand decent (or better) build quality, well-designed, space-efficient interiors, and economical, yet quality appliances. They tow with smaller vehicles, at slower speed limits, on narrower streets.

Consumers in North American demand more room, larger TVs, kitchen islands and fireplaces. They tow with F350s on 4-lane interstates.

Consumers in Europe go camping to enjoy nature and get away from civilization. Consumers in North America go to RV parking lots parks that have WiFi reception, so they can watch Netflix.

The garbage that's built here simply wouldn't sell in Europe, but flies off the shelves here. Why would the manufacturers put in more effort to do something better, when they can enjoy good margins on the trash they've already developed, which keeps selling year after year after year? Why attempt to build clever, efficient interiors, when Bubba wants to "downsize" to a 35ft long trailer with three slide outs? Why use more expensive, but lighter materials, when Bubba will be towing with a F350, and doesn't give a hoot about the weight?

Money talks. When people stop buying the garbage which has been the norm for the last several decades, then manufacturers will be forced to innovate. But until then, nothing will change in any significant fashion.

I see what you’re saying here but nearly all the camping in Europe are ‘campgrounds’ that are basically just fields where people park as close as humanly possible to one another. Legitimately, you will park in the corner of an empty campground field and the next person who shows up will pull up right next to you. Really not that different from a KOA and certainly has a parking lot feel.
Ive been in a few European trailers and they are built to only be on pavement out of flimsy materials just like any run of the mill camper here. They are designed a little differently, more efficient with their space and less ‘features’ compared to a US 5th wheel - that’s what keeps them light.
Overlanding/off road trailers aren’t really a thing in Europe, which adds a ton of weight to the equation because of how they are built. And neither are trailers with washers/dryers/tvs. It’s essentially the same shell as the cheap companies here with an airy feel cuz it isn’t loaded with a knock off lazy-boy. It just appears like fewer things break because they don’t have campgrounds on dirt roads but they wouldn’t last a minute on blm land or forest roads.