If you ask me, there’s nothing quite like loading up my truck and trailer, hitting the open road, and exploring off-the-grid locations.
Of course, to do so, I have an expedition trailer that allows me to travel off-grid and stay there for days at a time.
If outdoor adventure is an important part of your life (or you want to make it a part of your life), then one of the best expedition trailers of 2021 might be a worthy investment. With these trailers, you can get further away from civilization, stay there longer, and have fun doing it.
The options listed below offer many different features, specs, and amenities. Have a look at our picks for the best expedition trailers of 2021, and see which one fits your needs the best! Also check out our updated list of the best expedition trailers of 2022 while you’re at it.
Table of Contents
- Turtleback Expedition
- Beaver Built Capos and Mahkesis Trailers
- Sunnyside Offroad Bunejug
- TAXA Outdoors Woolly Bear
- Lobo Adventure Trailers Elite Explorer
- Vorsheer Extreme Expedition Rig
- Turtleback Getaway
Best Expedition Trailers of 2021: Turtleback Expedition
I got a Turtleback Expedition trailer last year, and have spent the last 12 months or so putting it through its paces. I’ve towed this trailer with my 2020 Jeep Gladiator in all sorts of conditions, from freeway driving here in the L.A. area to Death Valley, the Sierra-Nevadas, and many points in between. It’s been a complete gem so far!
One of my favorite components of this trailer is the kitchen. This bad boy is a full Birch kitchen with a nice and deep Dometic stainless steel sink, a tempered glass top for the sink so you have more prep area, and a Partner Steel 18-inch stove. You get an 11-pound propane tank to run the stove and the Dometic 6-gallon water heater as well.
You’ll have plenty of water on your trip, too, since the Turtleback Expedition features a 42-gallon BPA-free water tank. Paired with the tank is an on-demand 12-volt water pump.
Power in the Expedition Series trailer includes Blue Sea Marine-Grade components. There’s a single-group 31 AGM deep-cycle battery and an 8-circuit Blue Sea control panel as well. Electrical options include:
- Prowatt 1000-watt inverter
- Red Arc Manager 30
- Zamp Obsidian 100 W. Unregulated Panel
- Charge Port (12v & 2 Side By Side USB Ports) On The Back Of The Control Box
- Charge Port ( 12v & 2 Side By Side USB Ports) On The Back Of Pass. Side Box
The top-of-the-line Turtleback Expedition trailer offers these electrical components:
- Xantrex Freedom X 2000 Watt Inverter
- 110v Outlet In Back
- Dual AGM Batteries
Underneath the trailer is a Timbren axle-less 3500HD suspension. The welded 2×3 galvanized steel chassis is both lightweight and ultra-strong.
The trailer has 16-inch wheels with 265/75R16 tires for tackling tough trails. In back is a swing-out tailgate spare mount with a flip-down table.
Turtleback gives you tons of options, too. You can add either the Expedition T2 or T3 series to get an even more robust expedition trailer. For example, the T2 series includes:
- A secondary propane tank (5-pound)
- Upgraded Roof Rack With Storage Box For Tables And Gear
- 7-Pin Protector
- Nose Box Rock Guard
- Side Box Rock Guards
The T3, which is the top option, includes these goodies:
- Treadplate Side Box Toppers
- Swing-Out Shower Mount
- Corner Steadies
- Molle Panels
- Water Filter System / UV And Carbon Filter
- Arc Wheel Jack
- Pole Storage Tube
- Main Compartment Charge Port
- Dual Zamp Obsidian 100 W Unregulated Panel
- Rigid Reverse Lights
- Cruisemaster Hitch w/Handbrake
- Signature Suspension With Icon Remote Res Shocks
- Topo Decals
You can see why I chose a Turtleback Expedition trailer for my setup. It is absolutely rock-solid and has all the features and amenities I could want or hope for.
See my Turtleback Expedition trailer setup in the video just above!
Learn more about the Turtleback Trailers Expedition Series
Best Expedition Trailers of 2021: Beaver Built Wapos and Mahkesis Trailers
Photo by Vill Van Der Merwe #geoscoutadventures
How often do you come across an expedition trailer that ticks some of the boxes? Or perhaps even most of the boxes? Yet, there’s a bunch of features that you don’t want or need, or there’s options you wish the trailer had?
It’s a common occurrence for me as I scour the market for the best expedition trailers.
What you don’t often see is a trailer that allows you to pick and choose features and components and add them as you go, thereby allowing you to create a custom trailer that perfectly fits your needs.
The Beaver Built Wapos Trailer is one such example of this…
Photo by Vill Van Der Merwe #geoscoutadventures
This trailer is 144” long and 79.75” wide. With a dry weight of just 1,050 pounds, a two-door Jeep Wrangler can easily tow it.
And since this is an expedition trailer, it has the off-road pedigree to get you way off-grid: with the standard wheels and tires, the departure angle is 37 degrees, and with the upgraded 33-inch tires, the departure angle increases to 40 degrees.
Photo by Vill Van Der Merwe #geoscoutadventures
The Wapos Trailer rides on a Cruisemaster CRS² dual-shock suspension with a single-arm design that minimizes weight. Likewise, the Cruisemaster platform has a cable management system to protect delicate cables from the rough-and-tumble nature of off-road driving.
The trailer itself is also built to last with features like anti-slip powder-coated fenders and tongue deck, an aluminum body, and a galvanized steel frame.
You get features like a roof rack, a rear hitch receiver for hitch-mounted accessories, and a large rear door that reveals a food-grade stainless-steel countertop. Other features include standard 31-inch Yokohama A/T tires and 15-inch Vision wheels with a matching full-size spare.
Photo by Vill Van Der Merwe #geoscoutadventures
What really sets this trailer apart for me, though, is that you can add bolt-on accessories as you need them.
You can add a front box with locking side doors and an extended roof rack to give you even more storage.
Then you can add a kitchen drawer pull-out that can accommodate a 75L Yeti cooler or a 75L Dometic fridge/freezer, so you have a place to prepare and cook meals in the wilderness.
Rear C jacks, a custom-designed electrical system, and a spare tire carrier are additional add-ons, among many other options.
Photo by Vill Van Der Merwe #geoscoutadventures
You can even add a pair of side boxes that add eight cubic feet of storage per box. Once this is done, your Wapos Trailer becomes a Mahkesis Trailer. Additionally, with the side boxes in place, you can add a kitchen management system to hold all your cooking utensils, pots, pans, and stove. There’s even room for bowls, plates, spices, and cooking oil!
So, if you want to simply dip your toes into the overlanding and off-roading scene and want a budget-friendly trailer with just the essentials, the Wapos is a great entry point. If you find that overlanding and off-roading are things you want to be more serious about, you can purchase the options listed above and outfit your trailer precisely as you see fit.
Again, this isn’t something you typically see in the expedition trailer market. But that’s exactly why Beaver Built is on our list of the best expedition trailers of 2021!
Learn more about the Wapos and Mahkesis Trailers from Beaver Built
Best Expedition Trailers of 2021: Sunnyside Offroad Bunejug
There’s a couple of problems with typical expedition trailers. First, they can be prohibitively heavy. Second, they can be prohibitively expensive.
The Sunnyside Offroad Bunejug solves both of those problems!
Whether you want an expedition trailer for overlanding, off-roading, hunting, or some other outdoor adventure, the Bunejug has what you need to get out there, explore to your heart’s content, and have the amenities you need for a comfortable stay.
This trailer has a total weight of just 650 pounds, so you can easily tow it with a compact truck, SUV, UTV, or an EV.
The trailer is 48″ x 48″ x 15″ with the exterior closed. Yet, you can choose from a range of optional rooftop tents to provide plenty of interior space.
For example, you can get 48″ x 96″ x 44″ of living space with a two-person tent, including a sleeping footprint of 46″ x 94″ with a peak height of 45 inches. Part of that living space is the annex, which is a 5’ x 5’ area that’s made of heavy-duty 600g PVC.
This rooftop tent is made of 280G poly-cotton ripstop and has a 420D polyester oxford rainfly that’s PU coated and has taped seams. You can keep the bugs out with a no-see-um mesh mosquito screen and enjoy a good night’s sleep on the three-inch high-density foam mattress that offers room for two people to sleep.
All of this rides on a suspension that’s among the best in the business.
The long travel, independent trailing arm suspension is custom fabricated to give this trailer the best on-road and off-road performance. Add in load-adjusting shocks, and you have the makings of a trailer that offers an ultra-smooth towing experience no matter what your destination.
As far as dry camping goes, it’s tough to beat what the Bunejug has to offer. You get a highly-capable trailer that was designed, engineered, and tested on the toughest trails. You also get a trailer with ample storage space and sleeping space so you can be comfortable out there in the wilderness.
Above all, this trailer is easy to set up, made in the USA by a family-owned business, and prices start at just $9,625 (without a tent). Add in a manufacturing timeline of just 6-8 weeks, and you have a winning combination for one of the best off-road expedition trailers of 2021!
Learn more about the Sunnyside Offroad Bunejug
Best Expedition Trailers of 2021: TAXA Outdoors Woolly Bear
The whole point of having an expedition trailer is so you can get off-grid – way off-grid – and do so without worrying whether your trailer can make it.
With the TAXA Outdoors Woolly Bear, you won’t be concerned about its ability to follow along on difficult trails.
For example, the Woolly Bear is built on a durable powder-coated steel chassis with a torsion axle suspension. With electric brakes, 15-inch steel wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires, and 12 inches of ground clearance, this trailer can handle just about anything you throw at it.
Your vehicle can handle towing the TAXA Outdoors Woolly Bear, too. At just 1,270 pounds dry and 2,100 pounds fully loaded, this trailer can be towed with small SUVs, compact trucks, and even four-cylinder vehicles.
What’s more, when the trail gets twisty and narrow, the Woolly Bear shines thanks to its compact size – less than 11 feet long and just over five feet wide.
But the Woolly Bear isn’t just a utilitarian box that can handle the punishment of unforgiving conditions. Instead, it’s fully equipped for you to have a comfortable camping experience wherever your adventures take you.
One of my favorite features of the Woolly Bear is the kitchen. You might not expect a full kitchen in a trailer this small, yet TAXA Outdoors has outfitted it with food and gear storage, a cooler slide-out, and a stainless steel countertop. There’s also LED lighting to illuminate the kitchen workspace and a Birch plywood kitchen organizer to keep your cooking gear tidy.
But the feature that impresses me the most about the TAXA Outdoors Woolly Bear is its sheer amount of storage space – up to 830 pounds of gear!
Up top is a 91.7” x 33.25” laser-cut steel cargo deck that can handle up to 600 pounds of gear or serve as a spot for your two or three-person tent.
Lining each side of the trailer are six powder-coated steel cabinets of varying sizes for storing smaller gear. There’s even a 32”x15” wet storage bay for drying out your wet gear without getting your other gear wet! These storage areas are lockable to keep your stuff safe, too.
TAXA Outdoors offers plenty of optional features to complement the standard features discussed above. For example, you can add a mosquito room for added outdoor living space, an awning, or THULE load bars to accommodate a THULE/TEPUI 3-Person Rooftop Tent or other THULE accessories.
In other words, this trailer is loaded up from the get-go for your off-grid explorations, and with the addition of a few options, you can turn it into an even better option for your camping needs!
Learn more about the TAXA Outdoors Woolly Bear
Best Expedition Trailers of 2021: Lobo Adventure Trailers Elite Explorer
Getting off-grid for a camping adventure requires that you have a trail-rated vehicle that can handle tough off-road travel.
And unless you want to sleep in your vehicle or in a ground tent, you also need a trail-rated expedition trailer to bring along for the ride.
Some trailers are marketed as being “off-road,” but not all “off-road” trailers can truly handle off-road travel. But the Elite Explorer from Lobo Adventure Trailers can definitely handle the rough two tracks you’re deadset on exploring. Since “Lobo” stands for “Living Our Best Outdoors,” it’s the ideal vessel by which you can get that much-needed time out in mother nature.
For example, the Elite Explorer comes with a dual independent suspension, electronic brakes, and an upgraded Lock N Roll 360-degree hitch coupler to simplify off-road travel. If you happen to get into a gnarly situation, the rear recovery hooks can be used to help get you out.
The trailer has a galvanized steel frame for strength and durability, while the body is made from 16-gauge steel to save weight without sacrificing strength. Likewise, the trailer sports an 18-gallon water tank, a 12-volt water pump, and your choice of a Joolca or Geyser Hot Water System.
Regarding power, the Elite Expedition Trailer has two 300-watt 12-volt batteries, two 160-watt solar panels, and an onboard power inverter to keep your devices charged and your small appliances running over the course of your trip.
You can whip up some great meals while at camp, too. The Elite Expedition has a slide-out kitchenette with a sink and an 18,000-BTU dual-burner stove. You get to add the fridge of your choice, too! And to give you outdoor living space that protects you from the elements, this trailer comes with a free-standing 270-degree surround awning with a hard-shell annex room to boot.
Other features include:
- 4-person hard-shell rooftop tent with a queen mattress
- 360-degree night vision lighting
- Outdoor shower room
- Premium wheel and tire selection to match your tow vehicle
- Custom roof rack with a Molle panel enclosure
Additionally, this trailer has L-track tie-down points to secure your gear plus 10 individual storage compartments that provide over 2,500 liters of storage space. That’s a lot of storage space!
In other words, the folks at Lobo Adventure Trailers have thought of everything with the Elite Expedition trailer. You get a comfortable place to sleep, a shower to clean up after a long day of exploring, and a well-appointed kitchen. The onboard power system, incredible amount of storage, and ample sheltered outdoor living space help make this trailer a true basecamp option for your overlanding adventures.
Plus, if the Elite Expedition is a little too much trailer for your needs, Lobo Adventure trailers has other options – the Alpha, Beta, and Omega – that might be a better fit for your off-road adventures. Since Lobo means “wolf” in Spanish, it makes sense to name these trailers after the hierarchy of males (Alpha and Beta) and females (Omega) in the wolfpack.
While Lobo Adventure Trailers is a new player on the market, they’ve more than demonstrated that they have what it takes to build epic trailers with a long list of features and amenities. That’s why they’re part of our list of the best expedition trailers of 2021!
Learn more about Lobo Adventure Trailers
Best Expedition Trailers of 2021: Vorsheer Extreme Expedition Rig
I don’t know about you, but when I’m looking for an expedition trailer, I want something that goes to the extreme, that way I can take my expedition to the extreme.
Needless to say, the Vorsheer Extreme Expedition Rig (XER) is just what the doctor ordered if extreme adventuring is what you want to do…
Without sleeping quarters to take up a ton of space (the sleeping area is up top where you can add a rooftop tent), this trailer can be smaller, lighter, and more agile than other types of off-road and overlanding trailers.
In fact, the XER is just 1,300 pounds, so you can tow it with a side-by-side. That means that you can get way off the beaten path and take trails that you couldn’t take with a larger trailer (or a larger vehicle, for that matter).
But don’t think that because it’s a small, lightweight trailer that the XER is a lightweight when it comes to features and options. In fact, true to form, Vorsheer has loaded this baby up so no matter how far you are from civilization, you still get to enjoy creature comforts.
For example, the XER has a full kitchen area with space for a sink with hot and cold taps, a big cooler, and a high-output stove. You can even add a shower point and a shower room so you can get the gunk off you before rolling into bed in your favorite rooftop tent.
The base XER also features a single battery power system, a basic lighting package, a tongue box, and a cross box. You get a roof box, a rear box, a full-size spare tire on an adaptable tire carrier, and a 2-inch ball hitch too.
The XER comes standard with side boxes for extra storage, a dual battery package for more power, or a propane rack for your fuel. You also enjoy amenities like a tankless water heater, kitchen lighting, a max couple hitch, and a spare tire swing table as well.
With the XER, you’ll have an expedition trailer that boasts a Timbren axle-less suspension, 33-inch all-terrain tires, 17-inch wheels, and 20 inches of ground clearance. All of that is wrapped in a package that’s made in the U.S.A. with high-quality materials, a beautiful design, and the durability you demand in an off-road expedition trailer.
When you want to get away from civilization, you need a trailer that gives you dependable service and the ability to customize the features to your particular needs. Vorsheer accomplishes all that and more with the XER!
Learn more about the Vorsheer XER
Best Expedition Trailers of 2021: Turtleback Trailers Getaway
The second entry on our list from Turtleback Trailers is their Getaway option.
This trailer is smaller than the Expedition series discussed earlier. It’s also lighter and less expensive, so if the Expedition is a bit much, this is a fine alternative.
Like its bigger brother, the Getaway comes packed to the gills with plenty of options, as you can see in the video below:
The trailer is built on a chassis that’s made of welded 2×3 galvanized tube steel. Attached to it are 16-inch Pro Comp steel wheels wrapped with 265/75R16 tires (plus a spare mount single swing-out tire holder). You get a trailer breakaway brake activation switch, a nose jack rated to 2,000 pounds, and a max coupler. There’s a 7-pin trailer connection and dual safety chains for towing as well.
Up top, you can utilize the trailer for a rooftop tent or for storing additional gear – whatever you need!
The Getaway comes equipped with a Trojan group 31 deep-cycle AGM battery, a 12-volt socket, and dual USB charge ports so you can keep your devices charged, even when you’re way off grid. There’s also interior and exterior lighting and a Passport battery charger.
You can carry 21 gallons of water in the BPA-free water tank. Water is delivered via an on-demand 12-volt water pump. The trailer has an 11-pound primary propane tank, too.
At the back of the trailer is a rear slide-out solid maple-topped Baltic Birch kitchen. The kitchen comes with an 18-inch Partner Steel stove, an extra-deep Dometic stainless steel sink, and a tempered glass top for the sink.
As if all that isn’t enough, you can expand the functionality of your Getaway series trailer by upgrading to the T2 or T3 package. The T2 package features:
- Spare Tire
- ProWatt 1000 Watt Inverter
- Red Arc Manager 30
- Nose Box Charge Port
- Composite Kitchen
- Upgraded Roof Rack
- 7-Pin Protector
- Nose Box Rock Guard
And the T3 package adds:
- Swing-out Shower Mount
- Corner Steadies
- Rear door MOLLE panel
- Water filter system / UV and carbon filter
- Rock Lights
- Arc Wheel Jack
- Pole Storage Tube
- Add Water Heater (On-Demand)
- Accessory Propane Tank
- Added voltmeter to rear
- Zamp Obsidian 100 W. Unregulated Panel
- ProWatt 2000 Watt Inverter
- Dual AGM Batteries
- Cruisemaster Hitch w/Handbrake
- Signature Suspension With Icon Remote Res Shocks
- Topo Decals
In other words, if your adventurous spirit wants to get way off the beaten path, the Getaway trailer from Turtleback Trailers can help you accomplish your goals, and do it in a fully-loaded adventure-ready rig!