When you hear the word overlanding, do you immediately think of RV travel in countries like Australia? While off-road RVing may not have its roots here in the United States, its popularity is surging among American travelers who seek increased freedom and choices regarding where to camp or explore. Understanding why this style of RVing is taking off and exploring how RV manufacturers are creating models to take advantage of this trend is key for staying in-the-know and relevant in today’s market.
Behind the Popularity of Off-Road RVing
It’s no secret that camping in the U.S. has dramatically changed in the years following 2020. In the last few years, we have seen surges in all age groups of travelers deciding to embrace a new type of adventure for their vacation time: the great outdoors. Travelers seek solitude and a more relaxing trip than the typical flight and hotel travel arrangements. Travelers have flocked to RVing in droves.
While it’s incredible to see more people embracing the outdoors and RVing, this has created quite a few challenges within the existing RV travel infrastructure. Campground availability has become more limited, especially in peak seasons and near natural and tourist attractions. While the most popular spots were already tough to snag prior to this increase of new RVers, now even less popular camping areas often require reserving further in advance.
The supply of new campsites has yet to catch up with the increase in camper demand. This has resulted in a lack of availability and significantly increased the price of overnight camping.
I can still remember the first few years as a full-time RVing family beginning in 2015. We laugh about this now, but it was a huge deal if we spent even $40 a night at campgrounds. We also often changed plans at the last minute. If we loved a campground or a location, we simply chose to extend the reservation and easily bump all our other plans to future dates. Or if the weather wasn’t exactly what we wanted, we changed routes. It was pure freedom — and it was terrific.
You don’t need me to tell you that this differs from RVing today. However, there are still ways to have this type of traveling freedom in an RV.
RVers are navigating these new challenges by taking their adventures off-road and off-grid. While campgrounds are more crowded, there are still plenty of options to camp on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land and in national forests. RVers today are looking for the freedom to camp anywhere they wish. Choosing an RV with off-road suspension and solar power opens the door to camping for free in nature or even camping without hookups in national parks or at privately owned businesses like wineries and farms. Off-road RVs are restoring the freedom and affordability of RVing.
Technology Makes Off-Road RVing More Appealing
Aren’t RVers worried about losing the comfort features of traditional RV models and staying in campgrounds with utility hookups? There is a broad range of amenities available across off-road options. From simple pop-ups to traditional full-size overland vehicles, amenities are available to suit any RVer’s comfort needs while off-road traveling.
Tech advancements and the increased availability of solar power have revolutionized how campers spend time off-grid. Gone are the days of solely relying on noisy generator power and worrying about generator hour restrictions. Off-grid RVers can choose models with full solar or upgrade to this option to power their adventures. Portable, suitcase-style solar panels are also an option.
Internet advances have also allowed more travelers than ever to head to previously unconnected locations while still staying in touch. While it’s always nice to unplug when getting out in nature, connection options such as Starlink satellite internet allow people to work in even the most remote RVing locations.
Types of Off-Road RVs
RV manufacturers are taking notice and integrating off-road suspension and other off-grid features into many new RV models. Off-road RVing isn’t limited to overlanders anymore. However, traditional overlanders such as Storyteller Overland’s GXV HILT Adventure Truck also exist in the U.S. market. Today, in off-road models, you can find everything from teardrop travel trailers, such as the nuCamp TAG, to Class C motorhomes such as the Winnebago EKKO. Some brands embrace a rugged tactical look throughout their off-road models, such as Encore RV’s ROG Survival Series. Other off-road RVs, like the new Entegra Condor, maintain a sleeker, more modern look.
The most common types of off-road RVs in the U.S. today are travel trailers and Class B camper vans. Let’s take a closer look at some of the off-road RV models that caught our eye at the Florida RV Show earlier this year.
Notable Off-Road Travel Trailers
While Lance Camper has long been known for its popular truck campers, they launched into the U.S. off-road RV market with the Enduro overlanding travel trailer. This adventure trailer embraces a tactical design both inside and outside. Despite its rugged appearance, the Enduro offers comfort features RVers seek regardless of where they are adventuring. An onboard wet bath, a U-shaped dinette and a large exterior gear storage locker provide a hub for outdoor explorations. At 12 feet and 3,500 pounds, the compact size of the Enduro has a broad customer appeal.
The Winnebago Hike is an off-road travel trailer similar in size and feel to the Enduro. It has a less rugged exterior appearance and a sleek, modern interior. This off-road model features a wet bath, it offers more sleeping configurations, such as a Murphy bed, loft bed or bunk bed, depending on the model. A rear entry door for effortless loading of gear and bikes differentiates this model.
The inTech O-V-R Navigate off-road travel trailer is the most striking example of a rugged exterior appearance and sleek interior. This adventure trailer is built for action with an all-aluminum, fully welded cage frame and diamond-plated exterior skirting. When you walk inside, however, the feeling immediately switches to a modern European-style spacious living interior. It’s a standout in the off-road space.
RVers with larger gear storage needs are a perfect match for off-road toy haulers. ATC stands out in this category with its all-aluminum construction and modular living space configurations that quickly adapt from comfortable interior living designs to a garage space for travel days. The ATC Plā 450 2011 features a separate front bunk room popular with families. The configurable furniture track system allows RVers to add and remove pieces to create the garage space required for gear.
Ember’s Overland 240TKR is a new off-road toy hauler offering. This rugged adventure toy hauler also offers configurable furniture and living spaces via the EmberTrack system. Possible configurations include adding or removing bunk beds, a desk or a bar to create custom living spaces. The most notable feature is a new convertible Murphy bed. The innovative split bed is on a rail system that allows you to create two separate twin beds or one large king to accommodate various traveler sleeping arrangements.
The smallest adventure travel trailers are among the teardrop models. A great example is nuCamp’s TAG travel trailer. For off-road adventurers seeking the basics, a comfortable place to sleep, air conditioning and a large exterior rear hatch kitchen can all be found in this line of teardrops. Lithium batteries and solar upgrades are available for roaming off-grid.
Rugged Camper Vans
Camper vans are also going where they have never gone before in the off-road RV space. Winnebago’s Revel, with all-wheel drive and the Winnebago Power Max system, ensures travelers can remain off-grid for up to seven days.
Storyteller Overland’s Beast Mode is packed with interior comfort features and the freedom to go anywhere. It also features all-wheel drive with a self-charging battery that replenishes itself once it drops below 25%. Got gear? The Beast Mode provides 103 cubic feet of rear storage for bikes and equipment.
Adventurous Class Cs
Class Cs aren’t missing out on the off-road scene. Entegra recently debuted the rugged Condor motorhome to escort adventurers anywhere they wish to go in comfort. The Condor is ready for action, equipped with an all-wheel-drive chassis, a front and rear lift kit, an E-Z Drive handling package, helper springs and a rear stabilizer bar. The interior looks anything but rugged with sleek European styling and a comfortable split twin or convertible king bed.
The Winnebago EKKO is off-road capable, with all-wheel-drive, 455 watts of solar power and a 50-gallon freshwater tank. One of the EKKO’s standout features is the oversized rear pass-through gear garage, which is perfect for bikes. This family-friendly model includes dinette seating with three-point seat belts and child seat tether anchors. The EKKO also offers an optional pop-top roof tent for additional sleeping areas.
Off-road RVing in the U.S. is experiencing a significant rise in popularity as travelers seek greater freedom and the ability to explore more remote areas. RV manufacturers have responded to the demand by offering a diverse range of off-road capable models, from rugged travel trailers to luxurious Class Cs, all designed to meet the needs of adventurers who wish to venture beyond the beaten path.
The off-road RVing trend is not only reshaping the future of travel but also reviving the spirit of freedom and adventure that is at the heart of the American camping road trip experience.