Where can you go and not go with a 3500-4000lb (dry) overland trailer?

[msterner]

I am looking to get a camper/overland trailer for my family of 4 and have looked at all options, from truck campers, vans and roof top tents to seemingly every trailer. I am nearing a final decision but have received some feedback that has caused me pause about a trailer. I am wondering, with what types of trailers can you get to what types of places?

I'd like to be able to do things like the Alpine Loop and the White Rim Trail, but am wondering if those are doable with a trailer like the Arkto G12 (2x3" C-channel frame and Timbren suspension), TetonX Hybrid (2x5" box frame with air suspension), Boreas EOS-12 (4x2" tube with Cruisemaster XT suspension), Lifestyle iConn E2, etc. Generally trailers in that 3500-4000 lb. size range.

I am not looking at something like a Turtleback as I need more functionality for my family of 4.

So, can someone with experience help me get an idea for what kinds of overlanding I can and can't do with these types of rigs? If not things like Alpine Loop (Engineer Pass / Cinnamon Pass), then what kinds can I do?

I found this guide helpful in describing different levels of trails:

Trail Rating Info | Overland TrailGuides

www.overlandtrailguides.com

Thank you!

 

[Kingsize24]

I don't think you will be dragging a trailer across any of that anyway. I'd be more concerned with the vehicle capability. Take your trailer, make a base camp, go wheeling.

 

[eatSleepWoof]

I'm not familiar with those specific trails, but there are certainly plenty of decent sized trailers that CAN go through serious terrain.

Building off of @Kingsize24's earlier reply, the question is why would you want to?

Sure, you can get to a remote spot and camp in comfort where others cannot. But at what cost and compromise? And how often will you actually do that? For 99% of people it will not be worth it.

I see overland campers/trailers (like Mission Overland units) at local Provincial Parks every single year. The reality is that's the vast majority of people's use, despite our wishes/dreams of "expeditions."

Get yourself a decent travel trailer with comforts that will make it a nice place to sleep, cook, and relax. Setup a basecamp, and enjoy wheeling trails without a massive anchor behind you (and without the constant worry about damaging said anchor), then come back to camp and enjoy the amenities that a proper trailer offers.

 

[Obsessed2findARuggedHybid]

This is a great question and others have given great advice. So what is your tow vehicle? That is the most important aspect. For instance I have Trail Marker trailer that is 3,800 - 4k max pounds loaded. The box is 80" wide plus tires and fenders that stick out to 8.5 feet wide. It is 9 2" tall and 18.5 long. It has just under 20" of ground clearance with not so great departure and roll over angles. I have Timbren 3500HD. I run a Ark articulating hitch and have no low hanging fruit like folding stab and tongue jacks. My tow vehicle is arguably the most off road capable vehicle (stock suspension) to pull a trailer this size. 2023 Lexus GX Luxury 460 with off road package. Rocky Road super sliders, ko2 stock size , trimmed front bumper , red arc brake controller. It has self leveling air bags that have got me through several dips on some steep dirt roads.

My trailer is a bit lighter then Arkto and Boreas but also a bit wider. Other then that pretty close in dementions.

I agree with what others have said about Base camp. However I camp off grid 90% of the time and there are tons of great places to camp that I can pull my trailer to:

All the way right to the end of "the wedge" at the north end of Swell.

All the way up and over Cedar Pocket Road off I15 in Virgin River Gorage. Fairly steep

North of Macky ID up Burma Road which was very steep.

Curtis Corner road near Monte Cisco peak in Ogden Valley very steep and tight switch backs.

I have entertained trying the white rim but its been years since I have been on Hogs Back. With the Cruisemaster suspension of the Boreas I think its doable. I am weary of red rock ledges and drop offs.

There is my two cents.

 

[Chasingopenspaces]

Not familiar with those trails but do have a family of four and a bóreas EOS. We don’t take it on true rock crawling style routes, not sure that we could. We do camp off grid about half the time, and this trailer lets us not worry too much about forest service roads/fire roads as we are exploring. The stuff rolling out of Indiana starts falling apart as soon as you hit the washboard, and we wanted something that could be abused a bit without too much concern. I tow it with a leveled out Chevy Colorado with 32” KO2s, and I’d say the capability of the truck and camper are pretty much equivalent if that helps give you an idea. We stay in campgrounds about half the time and while a little more space inside would be nice, isn’t a dealbreaker for us. We spend most our time outside when camping anyways, only really gets tight right before bed and in the morning when everyone is trying to change into their clothes. Both the trailer and the truck have a fair number of scratches on their undersides I don’t know how much more the trailer could handle without taking some big hits. A big barrier to towing on trails is it being hard to turn around if necessary.

 

[foxintheforest]

I’ve got an overland trailer and have been on both of those trails. First, you cannot take almost any trailer on the white rim - there is a vehicle (including your trailer) length limit. You might be able to take a jeep and a little cargo trailer but that’s about it. This is due to turning radius’ on the road. Virtually any trailer will be too long with almost any vehicle.

So right off the bat, you need to do homework about the rules and regulations of where you are going. And generally speaking NPs are strict.

It would be totally possible to take my G12 on the alpine loop but completely annoying. First, you must camp in designated spots and almost all of the spots on the loop are not suitable for trailers of any size. Second, there are tons of day trippers going on side by sides along that loop. Getting out of another vehicle’s way and managing everyone zooming around with a trailer would be enough for me not to bring mine.

Again, simple research answers almost all of these questions for the bigger, popular trails. No one takes trailers on world-famous routes like that because either 1) they aren’t allowed or 2) it’s just not practical.

Neither one of those routes are that technical. I think I used 4 low once on the white rim and never on the alpine loop. I have a mostly stock 4Runner with bigger AT tires. Rock sliders, and some upgrades to improve towing. It was more than capable of doing those trails. Turning radius, regulations, and PIA factor aside, my g12 could easily go through something like that. I wouldn’t even rate it as a ‘Jeep trail.’ Just a bumpier/teadious road with some steep sections and blind corners.

The g12 will go wherever my 4Runner goes. We take it down plenty rugged blm roads that are much more intense than white rim or the alpine loop. Not an issue.

But I’m not taking it somewhere it is not allowed and I’m not going to take it down a trail where my trailer is going to be a huge pia for others or myself. I’ll just pack my tent and ‘rough it’ with an exped. Or set up a base camp and toodle about on jeep trails.

 

[Obsessed2findARuggedHybid]

I’ve got an overland trailer and have been on both of those trails. First, you cannot take almost any trailer on the white rim - there is a vehicle (including your trailer) length limit. You might be able to take a jeep and a little cargo trailer but that’s about it. This is due to turning radius’ on the road. Virtually any trailer will be too long with almost any vehicle.

So right off the bat, you need to do homework about the rules and regulations of where you are going. And generally speaking NPs are strict.

It would be totally possible to take my G12 on the alpine loop but completely annoying. First, you must camp in designated spots and almost all of the spots on the loop are not suitable for trailers of any size. Second, there are tons of day trippers going on side by sides along that loop. Getting out of another vehicle’s way and managing everyone zooming around with a trailer would be enough for me not to bring mine.

Again, simple research answers almost all of these questions for the bigger, popular trails. No one takes trailers on world-famous routes like that because either 1) they aren’t allowed or 2) it’s just not practical.

Neither one of those routes are that technical. I think I used 4 low once on the white rim and never on the alpine loop. I have a mostly stock 4Runner with bigger AT tires. Rock sliders, and some upgrades to improve towing. It was more than capable of doing those trails. Turning radius, regulations, and PIA factor aside, my g12 could easily go through something like that. I wouldn’t even rate it as a ‘Jeep trail.’ Just a bumpier/teadious road with some steep sections and blind corners.

The g12 will go wherever my 4Runner goes. We take it down plenty rugged blm roads that are much more intense than white rim or the alpine loop. Not an issue.

But I’m not taking it somewhere it is not allowed and I’m not going to take it down a trail where my trailer is going to be a huge pia for others or myself. I’ll just pack my tent and ‘rough it’ with an exped. Or set up a base camp and toodle about on jeep trails.

Great information Fox!

 

[msterner]

This is a great question and others have given great advice. So what is your tow vehicle? That is the most important aspect. For instance I have Trail Marker trailer that is 3,800 - 4k max pounds loaded. The box is 80" wide plus tires and fenders that stick out to 8.5 feet wide. It is 9 2" tall and 18.5 long. It has just under 20" of ground clearance with not so great departure and roll over angles. I have Timbren 3500HD. I run a Ark articulating hitch and have no low hanging fruit like folding stab and tongue jacks. My tow vehicle is arguably the most off road capable vehicle (stock suspension) to pull a trailer this size. 2023 Lexus GX Luxury 460 with off road package. Rocky Road super sliders, ko2 stock size , trimmed front bumper , red arc brake controller. It has self leveling air bags that have got me through several dips on some steep dirt roads.

My trailer is a bit lighter then Arkto and Boreas but also a bit wider. Other then that pretty close in dementions.

I agree with what others have said about Base camp. However I camp off grid 90% of the time and there are tons of great places to camp that I can pull my trailer to:

All the way right to the end of "the wedge" at the north end of Swell.

All the way up and over Cedar Pocket Road off I15 in Virgin River Gorage. Fairly steep

North of Macky ID up Burma Road which was very steep.

Curtis Corner road near Monte Cisco peak in Ogden Valley very steep and tight switch backs.

I have entertained trying the white rim but its been years since I have been on Hogs Back. With the Cruisemaster suspension of the Boreas I think its doable. I am weary of red rock ledges and drop offs.

There is my two cents.

Hey Obsessed2find! Thanks for the feedback. Super helpful.

I have a 2024 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro that is current stock. I got a 2" lift now and am putting on 35" tires. Beyond that, I may look at a bumper change but am not going to mod it too heavily.

I'd really like to proceed with the Arkto (with the Timbren suspension and 2x3" C-channel frame). It has a slightly lighter frame than something like a Boreas and I am just trying to get an idea for where to set my expectations with it.

When you camp off-grid as you do, are the roads and approaches generally more similar to forest roads and BLM roads or mild rougher trails that any of these trailers would be fine getting to?

We're long time backpackers and like to be remote, but now with young kids we're looking to be able to do some more remote car camping.

 

[msterner]

I’ve got an overland trailer and have been on both of those trails. First, you cannot take almost any trailer on the white rim - there is a vehicle (including your trailer) length limit. You might be able to take a jeep and a little cargo trailer but that’s about it. This is due to turning radius’ on the road. Virtually any trailer will be too long with almost any vehicle.

So right off the bat, you need to do homework about the rules and regulations of where you are going. And generally speaking NPs are strict.

It would be totally possible to take my G12 on the alpine loop but completely annoying. First, you must camp in designated spots and almost all of the spots on the loop are not suitable for trailers of any size. Second, there are tons of day trippers going on side by sides along that loop. Getting out of another vehicle’s way and managing everyone zooming around with a trailer would be enough for me not to bring mine.

Again, simple research answers almost all of these questions for the bigger, popular trails. No one takes trailers on world-famous routes like that because either 1) they aren’t allowed or 2) it’s just not practical.

Neither one of those routes are that technical. I think I used 4 low once on the white rim and never on the alpine loop. I have a mostly stock 4Runner with bigger AT tires. Rock sliders, and some upgrades to improve towing. It was more than capable of doing those trails. Turning radius, regulations, and PIA factor aside, my g12 could easily go through something like that. I wouldn’t even rate it as a ‘Jeep trail.’ Just a bumpier/teadious road with some steep sections and blind corners.

The g12 will go wherever my 4Runner goes. We take it down plenty rugged blm roads that are much more intense than white rim or the alpine loop. Not an issue.

But I’m not taking it somewhere it is not allowed and I’m not going to take it down a trail where my trailer is going to be a huge pia for others or myself. I’ll just pack my tent and ‘rough it’ with an exped. Or set up a base camp and toodle about on jeep trails.

Great to hear from someone with an Arkto G12!

Fully acknowledging that I would need to do more research about trails before doing them! I am wanting to pull the trigger on a trailer so that we can start hitting the road and having adventures, but admittedly, there's a lot to learn!

This is super helpful context. We're not going to be taking it places where rollover is a serious possibility. We mostly just don't want to have to regularly turn around as we're getting into more remote spots or worry about trashing our trailer on extended washboard roads, shorter rocky and off camber sections, etc. We want to be able to camp off grid in places where it is reasonably to safely drive our Tundra and where we don't have to winch through tough sections, etc. That's going to be beyond what we want to do.

Understanding that you think it can go where your 4Runner can go is helpful context. I am driving a Toyota Tundra so that's going go to be pretty similar. Maybe a little more limiting due to its size.

Are you generally happy with your G12? Any other thoughts or notes on its capabilities and limits?

Thanks so much!

 

[Obsessed2findARuggedHybid]

Hey Obsessed2find! Thanks for the feedback. Super helpful.

I have a 2024 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro that is current stock. I got a 2" lift now and am putting on 35" tires. Beyond that, I may look at a bumper change but am not going to mod it too heavily.

I'd really like to proceed with the Arkto (with the Timbren suspension and 2x3" C-channel frame). It has a slightly lighter frame than something like a Boreas and I am just trying to get an idea for where to set my expectations with it.

When you camp off-grid as you do, are the roads and approaches generally more similar to forest roads and BLM roads or mild rougher trails that any of these trailers would be fine getting to?

We're long time backpackers and like to be remote, but now with young kids we're looking to be able to do some more remote car camping.

Yes absolutely. The Arkto is awesome and has much better departure angles then my Trailer Marker for sure. My trailer is a foot shorter then both Arkto and Boreas. So with your Tundra (@ least another 2 feet longer then my gx or Fox's 4runner) could be your biggest problem. Fox had some good advice on that.

 

[foxintheforest]

Hey Obsessed2find! Thanks for the feedback. Super helpful.

I have a 2024 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro that is current stock. I got a 2" lift now and am putting on 35" tires. Beyond that, I may look at a bumper change but am not going to mod it too heavily.

I'd really like to proceed with the Arkto (with the Timbren suspension and 2x3" C-channel frame). It has a slightly lighter frame than something like a Boreas and I am just trying to get an idea for where to set my expectations with it.

When you camp off-grid as you do, are the roads and approaches generally more similar to forest roads and BLM roads or mild rougher trails that any of these trailers would be fine getting to?

We're long time backpackers and like to be remote, but now with young kids we're looking to be able to do some more remote car camping.

I know you didn’t ask me, but I’m an avid backpacker and love being in remote spots. I’ve also got a toddler (we do take her backpacking and overlanding without our camper too). We primarily camp off-grid/dispersed in the Colorado Rockies and the Am. SW.

My Arkto will go on mild, rougher trails to get to remote spots. I absolutely love it for an adventurous family of 3. We frequently multi-sport with it (backpack, canyoneer, rock climb) and it can handle all of our storage needs and then some.

With 4 it would feel a bit tight with a toddler, but maybe less so now that they have the bunk option and if your kids are older. If you still have a kid in a travel crib, it feels like Tetris at bedtime/in the morning but manageable. We all fit at the table if the weather sucks just fine - you could fit 4. The touchdown/storage space inside and out is a lifesaver for cooking/all the kid stuff. We don’t come close to filling the thing.

But tomorrow we are leaving for our first trip without a travel crib, I can let you know how it goes if that’s a concern for you.

 

[foxintheforest]

Great to hear from someone with an Arkto G12!

Fully acknowledging that I would need to do more research about trails before doing them! I am wanting to pull the trigger on a trailer so that we can start hitting the road and having adventures, but admittedly, there's a lot to learn!

This is super helpful context. We're not going to be taking it places where rollover is a serious possibility. We mostly just don't want to have to regularly turn around as we're getting into more remote spots or worry about trashing our trailer on extended washboard roads, shorter rocky and off camber sections, etc. We want to be able to camp off grid in places where it is reasonably to safely drive our Tundra and where we don't have to winch through tough sections, etc. That's going to be beyond what we want to do.

Understanding that you think it can go where your 4Runner can go is helpful context. I am driving a Toyota Tundra so that's going go to be pretty similar. Maybe a little more limiting due to its size.

Are you generally happy with your G12? Any other thoughts or notes on its capabilities and limits?

Thanks so much!

Oh ya - Arkto can handle all of that. Turning around is always a concern. We usually peep roads on Google Earth beforehand and do a risk analysis when we are there on the ground. But we haven’t run into any issues at all - this is our third trailer though (we bought and modified cheap stuff out of Indiana before this). Shoulda just made the upgrade sooner frankly - but money lol. It’s been game changing having the arkto. I was so scared to buy something new and with a steep price tag (not compared to other overland models but still). I have never been happier. Always happy to chat via a DM if you’ve got specific questions!

 

[DirtElk]

Arkto owner here for 2 years pulling with a 4Runner as well. I can echo everything said above and we are more than happy with the trailer. Capable trailer that allows us to push further out and establish a base camp so we can go play in the area.

 

[eatSleepWoof]

As far as turning around goes... I've towed an "overland" box-with-RTT trailer, 5x10 utility trailer, a ~17ft fibreglass travel trailer, and now a ~24ft run of the mill travel trailer; I've taken all of these on forest service roads ("BLM" types in the US). I find that the size of the trailer makes little to no difference in terms of turning around - the restrictions/limitations are largely the same.

The only caveat would be if you have to disconnect the trailer, put it on the tongue jack wheel, and spin it around manually. But that's a one in a thousand situation.

Learn to backup a trailer with confidence, and you won't have nearly as many fears/issues.

A few years ago I was towing that fibreglass trailer and trying to get to a lake. Went down a very overgrown, pinstripe-causing trail, which had endless left/right turns as well as up/down dips. With a few hundred meters to go, I came across several fallen trees blocking the path, and had no way to clear them. I had to back up about ~300 meters through the tight, winding trail. That's reality and CAN happen, so you have to be comfortable with that, especially if you're towing with family in the truck and can't simply spend a few nights in a random spot while waiting for help to arrive.

 

[Obsessed2findARuggedHybid]

As far as turning around goes... I've towed an "overland" box-with-RTT trailer, 5x10 utility trailer, a ~17ft fibreglass travel trailer, and now a ~24ft run of the mill travel trailer; I've taken all of these on forest service roads ("BLM" types in the US). I find that the size of the trailer makes little to no difference in terms of turning around - the restrictions/limitations are largely the same.

The only caveat would be if you have to disconnect the trailer, put it on the tongue jack wheel, and spin it around manually. But that's a one in a thousand situation.

Learn to backup a trailer with confidence, and you won't have nearly as many fears/issues.

A few years ago I was towing that fibreglass trailer and trying to get to a lake. Went down a very overgrown, pinstripe-causing trail, which had endless left/right turns as well as up/down dips. With a few hundred meters to go, I came across several fallen trees blocking the path, and had no way to clear them. I had to back up about ~300 meters through the tight, winding trail. That's reality and CAN happen, so you have to be comfortable with that, especially if you're towing with family in the truck and can't simply spend a few nights in a random spot while waiting for help to arrive.

Very good advice as usual. But if your TV and trailer are 5-10 feet longer how could that not effect your turning radius?