Over the last year, I’ve written a lot about off-roading, camping, and the OBi Dweller lineup of off-road-ready trailers. These are topics I’m passionate about – and topics that many of you are passionate about, too.
There’s no doubt that the OBi Dweller trailers are some of the most capable and well-built off-road trailers on the market, but the latest adventure that the folks at ROA Offroad took with the OBi Dweller 13 (and the Dweller 15) is just insane! You can watch it in the video below:
As you can see, the ROA Offroad team headed to the Utah wilderness to test the OBi Dweller 13’s off-road capabilities. To make it even more interesting, Mother Nature decided to have herself a blizzard at the same time.
The performance of the Dweller 13 is already impressive – some of the rock faces the Jeep and trailer go up are crazy! But to do it in a blizzard when those rock faces are wet is quite the feat. It just speaks to the capabilities of the Dweller 13 for off-road travel (and to the capabilities of Jeeps as well).
The question is, how does the OBi Dweller 13 handle such rough terrain? Below, I’ve outlined some of the trailer’s off-road features to help you understand just how capable this bad boy is right from the factory.
Table of Contents:
- OBi Dweller 13 Suspension
- OBi Dweller 13 Brakes & Tires
- What Other Features Does the Dweller 13 Have for Off-Road Travel?
- This Trailer Isn’t Just About the Rough Stuff
- Recommended Off-Roading Gear
OBi Dweller 13 Suspension
Let’s start with what is likely the most important aspect of an off-road trailer: the suspension.
As you’d expect from a company like OBi, the Dweller 13 comes with a rock-solid off-road suspension that can take the lumps and bumps of difficult off-road travel.
The system is based on an independent coil and shock setup. What this does is provide an ultra-smooth towing experience on-road, and when you get off-road, it’s more of the same!
The suspension absorbs the movement of the trailer, unlike a solid axle design, which transfers the vibration of off-road travel to the body of the trailer (and to the tow vehicle). The suspension’s ability to take the rough stuff allows you to concentrate on navigating the trail with less worry about what’s happening with the trailer behind you!
OBi Dweller 13 Brakes & Tires
Of course, the suspension isn’t the only thing that makes the OBi Dweller 13 so capable off-road, even in a blizzard…
This trailer comes with 16-inch wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires that provide excellent grip on steep or slick surfaces (and, as the video shows, on steep AND slick surfaces, too!).
Combined with a departure angle of 22 degrees and a whopping 16 inches of clearance, the Dweller 13 is purpose-built for tackling difficult trails. As the video shows, the biggest obstacle in ROA Offroad’s test was no match for the combination of the Jeep Gladiator and the Dweller 13. The massive ground clearance and superb departure angle of the trailer came in handy for getting up a slippery six-foot rock face without incident.
What Other Features Does the Dweller 13 Have for Off-Road Travel?
This trailer is fully loaded with additional off-roading features that make it a dream to tow, even on the most difficult trails.
Up front is an articulating McHitch – a must-have for the ups and downs and twists and turns of off-road travel.
Another must-have is electric brakes. This trailer tips the scales at 4,800 pounds dry, so having electric brakes to help slow it down on the highway and help slow its descent down steep tracks is absolutely essential.
Underneath the trailer is a hot-dipped galvanized chassis that’s specifically designed for off-road travel. This chassis is big and beefy, yet lightweight and strong.
This Trailer Isn’t Just About the Rough Stuff
If you’re unfamiliar with OBi, you might think that a trailer that’s so capable off-road must be pretty sparse and utilitarian inside. But that’s simply not the case…
The interior of this trailer is like a luxury hotel. There’s a camper king bed, a wet bath, and a full HVAC system. The trailer comes with high-end cabinetry and flooring, a TV with DVD and stereo, and a 2000-watt Renege inverter with three 10o-watt solar panels and three 100AH batteries.
Outside, you’ll find a full outdoor kitchen, an electric awning, and an outdoor shower. There’s even an electric entry step to help you get in and out of the trailer with ease.
The point is that this trailer is both utilitarian and luxurious. That’s a hard combination to achieve, but OBi has certainly done it with the Dweller 13, as they’ve done with the other trailers in the Dweller lineup.
So, if you’re ready to hit the trail and explore backcountry areas with ease and comfort, give the OBi Dweller 13 strong consideration. If it can navigate through an off-road course in a Utah blizzard, chances are it can handle whatever you have to throw at it too!
Recommended Off-Roading Gear