When we started thinking about buying an off road camper or rooftop tent, we were struck with how dominated the market was by two person set ups. What about those of us with families? We love to go off road camping too.
What are the best off-road campers for families? There’s actually a decent amount of trailers that will accommodate four people and if you are willing to invest in a rooftop tent you can easily sleep a few more.
We are going to talk through our top five choices while considering cost, family friendly features and sleeping arrangements, off-roading capabilities and off grid power options. We will also talk availability because some of these are hard to snag — especially in a pandemic! Several of these options are a buy before you even see them scenario. Luckily we have Youtube to help guide us along!
Table of Contents
Opus OP-15
The Opus OP-15 is one of the bigger campers on our list but the extra room is great for a family. Though with a base curb weight of 4960 lbs, a GVWR of 6600 lbs, and a tongue weight of 410 lbs you will need to watch your towing capacity on your vehicle with this one. The 4Runner has a towing capacity of 5000lbs for instance so this one is getting a little too close for comfort.
Family Features
- Hot Water System and heater for on demand hot water and heating
- Dometic Air Conditioner mounted on roof
- Large dresser with deep drawers – out of all the campers we talk about this one just looks like a traditional home inside
- Full bathroom with shower, sink and flush toilet
- Dining area with adjustable table
- 4 speaker entertainment system with removable HD television
Kitchen
The Opus OP-15 has an outdoor kitchen setup with a 4-burner stainless steel slide out stove. There are LED outdoor lights and storage and pantry access. There is also a 12v fridge/freezer combo, stainless steel wind guards, chopping board and prep deck. The one downfall of this set up is it doesn’t come with an awning for shade and rain coverage like a lot of the other trailers.
Sleeping Arrangements
The Opus OP-15 is the only camper on our list that comes with a king size bed. It also comes with twin bunk beds. There wasn’t any mention of a bed rail for younger kids but the bunks look larger than some of the other trailers on the list.
Off Road Capabilities
- Independent trailing arm coil suspension with dual shock absorbers
- Lock’n’Roll articulating hitch with 360* rotation for flexible towing
- 2 all-terrain tires, 2 spares, alloy wheels & spare (265/75r/16 mud tires)
- Fully galvanized & welded chassis & drawbar
- Stone guard & underbody anti-chip protection with diamond plating
- 4x drop down heavy duty stabilizer legs & fulton tongue jack wheel
The newest version of this trailer has rethought suspension with beefier gas struts positioned vertically to reduce wear on internal gaskets compared to the older diagonal mounted struts. It also has heavier coil springs to help with off-road load. This is all on an axle-less set up.
Off Grid Power Options
The Opus has 300-watt solar panel setup, 2 fresh water talks totaling 63 gallons and 3 100ah AGM batteries. 18 Gallon grey water tank and a 10 gallon black water tank. It also has a dual 20 lbs gas bottle holder and storage for up to 6 Jerry cans
Price
These are priced at about $53,000. Pretty mid range compared to all of the trailers we looked at and considering you get such a large living space the price point makes sense.
Taxa Mantis Overland
The Taxa Mantis was our first choice last year when we were seriously looking at off road campers. The pandemic led to a shortage of everything and there wasn’t one of these that we could easily grab. If there had been, we might have one now. It is a great design and is definitely built for a family. One thing that we really liked about this trailer was almost the whole side opens up kind of like your favorite outdoor bar. Curb weight on this trailer is 2972 lbs, GVWR 4200 lbs, and a tongue weight of 435 lbs. You could get really close to max towing capacity for some vehicles.
Family Features
- Built in “Storage” Options – The Overland does have good storage but for the price it feels a little cheap. I mean milk crates with bungee ties? For $50,000 couldn’t we get something a little nicer?
- Air conditioner add on
- Cafe Table
- Wet Bathroom with Shower and Cassette Toilet – Almost a negative in our eyes. We are a bathroom in the woods kinda family. Our kids don’t know any different and it makes things easier.
- Four Windows with screens and shades
- Furnace and Hot Water System
- Indoor/Outdoor Living with Awning – This is the highlight of the Mantis. It looks cool and like we mentioned above feels like a chill outdoor bar — but with kids running around and screaming?!
Kitchen
Unlike most of the other off road campers we talk about here, the Taxa Mantis Overland has a kitchen inside. This wasn’t really our favorite setup. We feel like cooking is more of a group activity and the Taxa’s indoor setup left it looking like it would feel cramped and hot in the summer. We would much rather have an outdoor setup where you have a little breathing room.
Sleeping Arrangements
There is one full bed in the back of the trailer with a nice system for organization underneath it. There are also two hanging cots towards the front of the camper. These cots look AWESOME but you would need a rail of some sort to make sure kids wouldn’t fall out because the way it’s designed they would DEFINITELY fall out.
These bunks can also drop down and function as a couch when not in use which comes in handy.
Off Road Capabilities
The Mantis has a Torsion axle suspension with 15″ wheels mated to 235/15 tires. It is 19′ long and has 11″ of ground clearance. You won’t be doing any crazy trails with something like this. You would probably be limited to more of a fire road then the Rubicon trail.
Off Grid Power Options
This trailer has a 20 gallon fresh water tank and a 22gallon grey water tank. Battery compartment fits 2 Group 24 or Group 27 batteries that aren’t included. (At this price point they should be included). It is prewired for solar, but again not included. I guess this gives you more of an opportunity to build what your wants or needs are.
Price
The Mantis is cool. But $50,000 cool? We still aren’t so sure. We aren’t dying over the indoor kitchen setup and one full bed will have my wife and I kicking each other all night. Also at this price point we feel there should be a little more included.
BRX Trailer
If you’ve followed along on our journey, you know we have a rooftop tent that keeps our family of four pretty comfortable on camping trips. The one thing we have considered as our family grows — in height and weight not as in another human — is adding on a trailer to put under our rooftop tent. The BRX Trailer is a perfect example of that. There isn’t any info on trailer weights listed on their website, but it is not as big as the other trailers on the list.
Family Features
The family specific features are more limited on this trailer as it really needs to have the add on of a nice rooftop tent to make it work for a family. We love the iKamper and feel like it would be a perfect addition to the BRX to make it perfect for a family.
Sleeping Arrangements
There is one full/queen bed in the main unit. To access it you have two doors on either side. Really nice for not climbing over your partner in the middle of the night! There is also lights and cabinetry.
For this option to work with a family you would need to add on a rooftop tent. All in all, pretty no frills when it comes to the sleeping set up but isn’t that kind of the point when you are camping?
Kitchen
The kitchen can be accessed by opening up the rear of the trailer and comes with a two burner stove plus a decent amount of built in storage. It also comes with a sink with a 26 gallon water tank that is housed underneath, plus space for a cooler. This kitchen is small but it is set up to maximize space. It is a thoughtfully designed layout that my wife was impressed with.
Off Road Capabilities
This trailer comes standard with a 3500 HD Timbren axle-less suspension, a lock-n-roll coupler, and 12″ electronic brakes. This trailer really is meant to be hauled over some serious terrain with 22″ of ground clearance.
Off Grid Power Options
This trailer comes standard with 2 marine grade deep cycle batteries and a 26 gallon water tank. If you wanted to add solar to the roof of this trailer you would have issues if you planned to put a tent on top as well.
Price
Base price of the BRX is $36,500 so a little more affordable than the other options but keep in mind you’ll need to buy a rooftop tent in addition to this to make it livable for a family.
Bruder EXP-6 Off-Road Trailer
The Bruder EXP-6 is the Cadillac of all the trailers we go over. It has all the luxury of an expensive RV smushed down into a compact and off road friendly trailer. It has all the bells and whistles and at the price point, it should. Bruder is also an Australian company so you will have a hard time finding one of these without paying international fees.
Family Features
- Electronic Roof Lift
- Solar Powered Roof
- Variety of Electric Awnings to choose from
- Optional Clothes Dryer
- Hot/Cold Shower at Rear
- Climate control, interior fans and heating
- Various power and charging points
- Drawers and shelves all over the place!
- Backup generator
Sleeping Arrangements
The EX-6 can sleep six people. There is one larger full/queen bed and then four smaller twin style cot options. All bunk beds include safety nets for young kids!
Kitchen
The kitchen on the Bruder is MASSIVE and organized with shelving that just makes sense. Looking at the outdoor kitchen it almost feels like you are in a food truck, it’s just that big! There are also windows to allow for inside access to the kitchen shelves and bug shields to pull down when you need them.
The Bruder also has TWO fridges, one outside and one inside. Diesel, gas or electric cooktops are available or there is space to use your favorite cooking system. If you are wondering if the Bruder includes something, it probably does. They have thought of everything.
Off Road Capabilities
The EXP-6 has probably the most advanced suspension of any trailer out there. it has 12″ of wheel travel and can pretty much level out any uneven camping spot. With a dual axle this trailer will tow much better, and in emergencies you can lift either axle and tow as a single axle trailer. The goal for this suspension set-up is to keep the wheels on the ground. The towing on this trailer is exceptional due to its thought out weight distribution.
Off Grid Power Options
The website does not give specifics of the included power or solar options. it does carry a 170 Liter water tank, and can have more water capabilities added on. I would imagine this trailer with the right solar and battery set-up could be off grid for a very long time with zero trouble. Hell its probably more luxurious than a lot of hotels out there. (At least some of the dumps I’ve stayed in).
Price
At over $100,000 you get what you pay for. This trailer may be small but it packs all the punch of a traditional RV and also manages to be an off road beast.
Airstream Basecamp X Off-Road Trailer
If my wife had her say, the Airstream Basecamp X Off-Road would be the winner. It has all the bells and whistles that make you feel like you have a larger camper but in a compact, off-road set up. For this section, we are focusing on the Basecamp 20 or 20x which sleeps four inside the trailer. The base weight of this trailer is 2580 lbs with a max GVWR of 3500 lbs. This is perfect for small to midsized SUVs.
Family Features
- Exterior Shower w/ Hot & Cold Water
- Enclosed Aluminum Insulated Heated Underbelly – Great for colder weather camping
- Panoramic Front Windows with Blackout Shades – The window setup alone is enough to love this trailer. It is pretty cool to have the panoramic view but still be cozied up inside.
- Seamless Vinyl Flooring
- STD LED Interior Lighting
- Overhead Storage – In true Airstream fashion, the storage in this unit just makes sense. Everything has it’s place.
- Attachable Tent – Need a little more room? Airstream has a few tent options that attach right to the unit to give you a little more living space.
Kitchen
I know I know we said we didn’t like the indoor kitchen earlier, but that is because in earlier models it takes up so much space. In the Basecamp X it doesn’t take up a ton of space, and includes a sink, 2 burner gas stove, a fridge, and an optional microwave. This is great if you plan on living out of the trailer for more than your standard camping trips. We like to grill or cook on our Tembo Tusk Skottle, But it is still nice to have a place out of the elements to cook for those cold trips.
Sleeping Arrangements
The entire rear eating area of the trailer converts into a good sized bed. The nose also converts into a bed. This trailer is small but will still sleep 4 people.
Off Road Capabilities
If you opt for the X model you will get 3″ of lift and beefier tires. This trailer has higher departure angles for getting into those tight and steep spots. With the X model you will also get Goodyear Wrangler tires.
Off Grid Power Options
The Basecamp X is prewired for solar, and comes standard with heat and A/C. The nice thing about this trailer is it heats the underbelly so your water tank won’t freeze either.
Price
Base price on the Basecamp is right around $43,000 and can jump up quite a bit. You will get the Airstream quality though, and with an all aluminum exterior you can be sure that it will last.
Track Trailer TVAN MK5 Off-Road Camper
The TVAN Camper Trailer is just so well thought out. Part tent and part hard wall trailer, although seemingly small, it expands to fit a family perfectly. One note, TVAN is an Australian company so actually getting your hands on one will be an adventure.
Family Features
- Fabric lined roof for insulation
- EASY (and I mean easy) one person set up
- LED Lights and Reading Lights – For when you are stuck in bed trying not to wake up the crazy ones
- A little over 50 square feet of usable tent and living space
- Recently upgraded taller roof with solar capabilities
- Quick Cover Awning – protects the outdoor kitchen space and beyond. This thing is pretty big and doesn’t even need poles when the weather is calm which means no toddlers tripping or running into them.
- Family Room Add On – A must in our eyes. Especially for rainy or cold days
- Ensuite Shower and Tent Toilet Add On – We have always been against having bathroom setups in the wild. I feel like once your kids get used to them they’ll never camp any other way BUT for longer camping trips this add on could be clutch.
- Stereo with Bluetooth, USB or AM/FM radio
Kitchen
TVAN offers two kitchen configurations, both with really well though out organization and made of mostly aluminum — hello weight savings!
- Classic Kitchen – Smaller but still packs a punch with twin burners, bbq plate and stainless steel workbench with built in windshields. This beauty slides out and has a 65 liter pantry for food storage. It also features a sink, cutlery drawer and electric water pump
- Premium Kitchen – 30% larger than the Classic Kitchen which means it also takes up a little more space of your storage. This is like the James Bond of camping kitchens though and you really need to just YouTube a video to get the full idea of the awesome features. Well thought out with drawers, storage, triple burners, etc. If you are a serious camper, this kitchen is for you.
Sleeping Arrangements
The Tvan has a queen size mattress on the hard side of the trailer with decent sized storage underneath. The tent side of the trailer would be the perfect spot for 1-2 kid sized cots or just sleeping bags on the floor because did you ever have a cot when you were camping as a kid?! Not me!
Worried about using all your extra tent space for sleeping? Tvan has a family room add on that gives you even more indoor space. In one of the videos I watched, they had cot bunkbeds set up with plenty of extra room all around.
Off Road Capabilities
The suspension on the Tvan is a multi link suspension developed for the Australian military. They call this the MC2. It seems to pivot off an arm attached to the opposite side of the trailer. featuring a spring and strut suspension.
Off Grid Power Options
Tvan has some of the best standard power options than any of the trailers on our list and even offers upgrades from this list to include lithium options, bluetooth connectivity and portable solar.
- 120W roof mounted solar
- 25 Amp DC-DC MPPT charger, solar controller & AUX solar input
- Battery management display
- 21 Amp 240V battery charger
Price
Tvan has a nifty price calculator on their website so you can mix and match custom configurations to your liking. You can expect to pay $40,000 plus for this gem. And since it isn’t officially in the states yet, probably a lot more on top of that after import fees and customs. (Nothing comes free anymore). But hey, we can dream right?!
Final Thoughts
If you like getting out and camping, but not right next to Joe Shmoe at the local campground, then these trailers can get you out in isolation. This list is just a few of our favorites. There are far more off-road capable trailers out there, but we can’t list them all.
Off Road vs. Standard
While you will pay a pretty penny for the off-road version of most of these trailer, some do offer a less aggressive level of trailer. Who want a plain Jane trailer anyways? The last thing you’d want to do is get the road version of one of these trailers then take it off-road and blow everything up. Best to opt for the beefier set-up out of the gate.
Availability
Since the pandemic started the off-grid camping niche has blown up. You will more than likely easily be able to get your money back if you choose to sell your trailer. Getting a trailer of this caliber may be harder than you think though. I know there were a couple that we looked at that the salesman flat out told us you will be put on a list and delivery is expected 6 months out. (At the time delivery was expected in August. Nobody needs a camper in the winter)!! Plus they wanted a $1500 non refundable deposit.
If this is still the case when you go looking, either make sure you know what you want, or run if they demand you put non refundable money down especially without seeing the product.
Build it Right
The off-road versions of these trailers will often times weigh a decent amount more than their littler road going siblings. This is due mostly to the demands that traveling off-road brings. Build it the right way so it doesn’t break, and you will get home every time. Build it weak and you will have customers that will tell the world!