RV parks sure do have plenty of facilities to make your vacation more pleasant. However, camping out in the wild has a unique charm to it that can’t be replicated at a regular RV campground.
With that being said, not every RV is going to be suitable for off-roading and camping in a remote place. You’re going to need something a bit stronger than the average recreational vehicle.
Today, we are going to showcase 7 off-road camper trailers that we think are the best ones out there. Not only that, but we are going to aim at a sub-$10,000 mark for those RVers who don’t have too big of a budget to start their RV journey with.
Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
7 best off-road camper trailers under $10,000
Kakadu BushRanger 200XT
Starting at $9,895
Specs:
- Overall length – 12 feet.
- Width – 70 inches.
- Height – 52 inches.
- GVWR – 3,000 pounds.
- Empty weight – 1,100 pounds.
Key features:
- Sleeps a family of 4-5.
- Durable canvas tent.
- Overall very rugged design.
Priced very close to our budget limit, the BushRanger camper trailer by Kakadu is excellent for tougher rides thanks to its rugged build.
The BushRanger 200 XT features heavy-duty tires with aggressive terrain treads and puncture resistance. Not only that, but this camper trailer boasts an overall durable design thanks to its heavy-duty frame, hammered finish paint, steel fenders, and more.
The trailer tent of this camper is also remarkable. Featuring a reinforced canvas roof and durable walls, the BushRanger’s tent should provide you with great protection in different environments. Kakadu places a special accent on rain protection – the tent features a roll edge design that keeps water out, and it also has internal window flaps to allow you to close the windows from inside without having to go out in the rain.
Aside from protection, what the tent of the BushRanger can offer is plenty of interior room, as well as sleeping space for 4-5 individuals. This is way more than you’d typically get from a tent camper trailer.
With that being said, the BushRanger doesn’t come with everything that an RVer may want. The base package does include ample storage space and base bedroom furnishing, but if you definitely want a kitchen, then you will need to pay up to $1,150 over the base price to get one.
You, of course, are free to set up your own kitchen space, but paying a little more up-front will probably be more reasonable since you will get a kitchen area that was designed for the BushRanger specifically.
Manley Orv Explore
Starting at $9,395
Specs:
- Overall length – 114 inches.
- Width – 66 inches.
- Box height – 23 inches.
- Empty weight – 775 pounds.
- Weight capacity – 2,000 pounds.
Key features:
- Extremely compact.
- Simple design.
- Military-tested torsion axle.
The Manley Orv Explore camper trailer may be a better option for you if you don’t need your camper to have any kitchen equipment. This thing comes with none and also doesn’t have kitchen options, which makes it a good choice if you have your own stuff which you want to bring along for the journey.
Not only that, but the Explore camper trailer is noticeably lighter and more compact than the BushRanger 200 XT. It’s nearly 3 feet shorter and 4 inches wider. Aside from that, this thing has a total weight of 2,775 pounds, 225 pounds lower than the BushRanger. 225 pounds may not seem like a lot of weight, but it’s actually a noticeable number given the size of these campers.
The tent in the Explore is also very different – much smaller than the tent of the BushRanger, it doesn’t have nearly as much interior room. On the other hand, if you don’t need sleeping room for 4-5 people, the tent of the Explore camper should suffice.
The build of this camper should be no less durable than in the BushRanger given that these two campers are priced very close to each other. The rugged tires, military-tested torsion axle, as well as the rustic design can make the Explore camper an excellent companion in remote campgrounds.
Hiker Extreme Off-Road Deluxe
Starting at $7,995
Key features:
- Classical camper build.
- Customizability.
- Offers more protection and comfort than tent campers.
- 3 floorplan sizes.
The extreme Off-Road Deluxe camper by Hiker is quite unique. And it’s not because it is a rigid-body camper, though this certainly is a surprise at this price point. The uniqueness of the Off-Road Deluxe lies in its customizability.
Just pay a visit to the webpage of this trailer, and you will understand what we mean. You are presented with a variety of options starting from basics like exterior color and ending with additional doors, cabinets, trays, racks, awnings, road showers, propane tanks, heating & cooling, and whatnot.
The Off-Road Deluxe has 3 size options – 4 x 8, 5 x 8, and 5 x 9. The base pricing for these floorplans starts from $7,995 and goes up to $9,995, just $5 shy of our budget limit. If you pick the smaller floorplan, you should be able to get some extras on top and stay within those $10,000.
And we think that if you decide to go for this camper, then you really should buy some essential add-ons like an AC or furnace to make your journey a bit more convenient. If you don’t have the budget just yet, then think whether it would be better for you to wait a little bit and save some more money to get the perfect Off-Road Deluxe.
An important feature of this off-road camper is that it has a rigid-body design, which is more protective and perhaps cozier than a tent would be. This thing should perform better in a variety of weather conditions, especially given that it has the option of furnace or AC installation.
The one thing that would make this camper perfect is a kitchen area, but this may have been overkill for its price and size. What you could get from this RV is already quite remarkable, but keep in mind that kitchen equipment will be entirely on you.
Starting at $8,750
Specs:
- Overall length – 102 inches.
- Width – 68 inches.
- Height – 60 inches.
- Torsion axle GVWR – 2,200 pounds.
Key features:
- Short design.
- Hard-shell tent available.
- Very lightweight.
If you think that the Manley Orv Explore didn’t get short enough, then have a look at the T3 camper by Highland Expedition Outfitters.
Measuring 102 inches in length, this camper is a great option if you have very limited garage capacity at home. However, it isn’t the lowest and narrowest camper on our list, but this shouldn’t be a big problem since this thing isn’t that bulky in the first place.
The T3 camper trailer is also a nice choice if you have limited tow capacity – it has a 2,200-pound torsion axle GVWR, so it’s around 700-800 pounds lighter than the campers we’ve already overviewed at its total capacity.
The tent design in this camper is similar to that of the Manley Orv Explore trailer, and it should be enough for 2-3-people parties.
An interesting thing about the T3 camper trailer is that there is an option of a hard-shell bi-fold tent available for it for $2,500. This tent option can’t be used with the telescopic awning add-on, but for some people, it’s going to be an excellent addition to this camper trailer.
Speaking of options, there are many goodies available for this camper for additional money. Among them are propane/water tanks, awnings, the aforementioned tent, and a solar package with a 400W inverter and a 105W solar panel. For just $900, the latter is a great addition to this trailer, especially given that it keeps the total price under $10,000!
TAXA Woolly Bear
Starting at $9,200
Specs:
- Overall length – 10 feet 7 inches.
- Width – 5 feet 3 inches.
- Height – 4 feet 9 inches.
- Dry weight – 990 pounds.
- GVWR – 1,700 pounds.
Key features:
- Extremely lightweight.
- Convenient rack and storage area.
- Integrated camp kitchen.
If you have $10,000 and you want a camper trailer right now, then TAXA Woolly Bear would be a nice option for shorter trips, or if you have your own tent. The thing is that the $9,200 base price of this camper doesn’t include a rooftop tent – you will have to pay an additional $1,149.50 to get one.
But if you just so happen to be looking for a tent-free camper, then the Woolly Bear may be a great pick.
While this camper doesn’t come with a tent by default, it features many other goodies. The most notable of those perhaps is the camp kitchen organizer. The Woolly Bear comes with no kitchen appliances by default, but it does have ready space for you to assemble a convenient and accessible kitchen in.
Aside from that, the Woolly Bear camper has remarkable hauling capabilities. It has organized storage space, as well as a spacious cargo deck that takes bikes, boats, boards, or other toys/equipment.
Perhaps the biggest advantage of this camper trailer is that it’s extremely light. It weighs a mere 990 pounds when empty, and its 1,700-pound GVWR means that it won’t weigh over 1,700 pounds even when full. If you have a tow vehicle with very limited towing capacity, the Woolly Bear is a nice option to consider.
The only problem that we see with this camper is that a tent isn’t included in its base package, so if you liked this thing but only have $10,000, you may want to save a bit more money to get the tent add-on. But if you have a 2- or 3-person tent already, then you won’t have to spend any dollar on a tent that you don’t need.
Oregon Trailer Do-Drop
Starting at $6,150
Specs:
- Overall length – 120 inches.
- Width – 66 inches.
- Height – 60 inches.
- Weight – 550-700 pounds.
Key features:
- Very inexpensive.
- Ample interior room.
- Extremely lightweight.
The Do-Drop by Oregon is the second rigid-body off-road camper on our list, so it is another good option if you don’t want to deal with the hassle of setting up a tent and also feel more protected in a rigid camper.
The Do-Drop camper has a teardrop shape, but it isn’t quite a teardrop camper. Traditional teardrop campers have a rear galley compartment, while this one has nothing like that. Well, if it had, it would lose much of its interior room, as well as wouldn’t cost as cheap as it is – just $6,150 base, which is the cheapest on our list!
The standard package of the Do-Drop is very basic – you are essentially getting the bare trailer. However, given the price of this thing, equipping it in accordance with your needs shouldn’t be costly.
Oregon Trailer does offer a couple of add-ons for the Do-Drop though, including a 110V AC pass-through system, 12V DC system, rear levelers, fold-down side shelves, and whatnot. All the options available for the Do-Drop add up to just $1,630, which allows you not to exceed your $10,000 budget.
One thing to note with the Do-Drop is that doesn’t come with off-road wheels by default – they are available as an add-on for $299. But this shouldn’t be a big problem given the price of this thing.
We didn’t mention how lightweight this camper is, by the way. As Oregon Trailer writes, basic Do-Drops usually weigh about 550 pounds, while fully equipped variants can weigh 700 pounds or heavier. 700 pounds is still very light and, in fact, the lightest among the RVs we’ve overviewed today.
In the end, a very basic camper, the Do-Drop can be an ideal option if you are very tight on your budget. Plus, you’ll have some of your $10,000 left even if you buy the full package!
Mirror Lake Base Camp
Starting at $10,500
Specs:
- Overall length – 147 inches.
- Width – 81.5 inches.
- Height – 76 inches.
- GVWR – 1,495 pounds.
Key features:
- Plenty of interior space.
- Rear galley.
- Very lightweight.
Costing a little over our $10,000, the Mirror Lake Base Camp nonetheless is a worthy candidate on our list. If you can save a little more money, perhaps it would be best for you to wait a bit longer and go for this camper.
A thing to keep in mind with this camper is that the base $10,500 package doesn’t include some RV essentials, so you may need to bring over your own mattress, kitchen equipment, or whatnot at the beginning.
This camper also doesn’t come with things like a DC power system or shore connection, which are available only in pricier packages. Due to this, this camper is suitable for you only if you are ready to spend some more money in the long run to make it the perfect camper.
Given that you have a grill, a portable cooler, maybe a portable stovetop, your own mattress, and a generator, this camper can work with its base package. A teardrop camper by design, it has a dedicated kitchen area, ample interior room, an insulated body, and many other basics that you would want to have in an off-road camper.
With that being said, there are variants of the Mirror Lake camper that do come with DC & AC power systems, kitchen equipment, mattresses, and other things, but these are going to cost you much more than $10,500. The full package of this camper would cost you $19,000!
In the end, the Mirror Lake Base Camp trailer does require a little more effort from you in the long run, but it’s a better camper than others on our list overall if you ready to spend the money.
How not to waste money when on a budget
No matter what your budget is, you would want to be conscious about how you are spending your money. But when we are talking about very tight budgets, you need to be extra careful when choosing an off-road camper.
Above, we’ve overviewed 7 very different campers. They not only had different designs or weight capacities but also varying sets of stock equipment. For example, the TAXA Woolly Bear camper doesn’t come with any tents, while other similar campers did come with one, even though the price didn’t differ too much.
What we want to say is that you need to carefully consider what kind of features and equipment the desired RV comes with.
Priced shy of $10,000, the TAXA Woolly Bear may seem like the perfect camper trailer. It’s durable, lightweight, and features well-organized storage and kitchen spaces. However, if you bought it, you would discover that it misses some things.
While it does have a stable platform for a tent and a convenient kitchen space, it doesn’t come with equipment that would occupy those areas. On top of the $9,200 price tag, you would need to spend more money to make the Woolly Bear your perfect camper with a tent, a mattress, a portable stovetop, a cooler, and anything else that you need.
In the end, you might have ended up having to spend more than your $10,000 budget. And you could consider yourself lucky if your financial capabilities allowed you to add several hundred dollars on top. But if $10,000 was your unpassable limit, something like the Woolly Bear would probably turn out as a disappointment since it wouldn’t have all the basics that you would need.
At the same time, if you were to go for the $6,150 Oregon Trailer Do-Drop – a seemingly worse value due to its cheapness – you would be able to buy all its essential add-ons ($1,630 in total, if you recall) and even save some money on buying additional things like a portable stovetop or a cooler to be able to cook and store food on the go.
Now, we aren’t suggesting that the Do-Drop is a better camper than the Woolly Bear. This will depend only on your needs and financial capabilities.
The point of the above is that you need to really pay attention to what the desired RV comes with. If you have only $10,000 to spend on a camper trailer, then make sure that the one you are buying has all the things you need.
Unless you are ready to do so, do not go for an RV that will force you to spend additional money on a mattress, a tent, a kitchen cooler, or anything else that you need in your camper right now. Otherwise, you will have an RV that isn’t quite ready for the journey, and it will be just standing in your garage occupying space and doing nothing.
Go for a pricier off-road camper
Contrary to what we’ve just suggested, we’d recommend you going for a pricier off-road camper. A pricier RV is likely going to be a better buy in the long run – it will have a better capacity to satisfy your growing needs, it will be more durable, and it will likely be better equipped than its cheaper counterparts.
If you can save money, then do so. Wait for a couple of months and go for a more expensive camper. For an additional $2,500-5,000, you can access a whole another level of comfort and functionality in camper trailers.
Of course, if you are sure that your needs won’t change over time, then it may be pointless for you to opt for a more expensive camper trailer. Aside from that, if it’s not possible for you to save money, then waiting will bring no benefit to you.
On the other hand, you may also start small now and work your way up in the future. A few years later, you may sell the RV that you’ve bought, add a little money on top, and perhaps get a much better camper than you could once afford.
Which way to go – buy a pricier camper now or instead buy a cheap one, sell it later, and buy a better camper – is up to you. Ultimately, it all comes down to your budget capabilities, whether you can save more money and your needs. If you don’t see any point in saving money since you simply don’t need an advanced camper trailer, then don’t waste any time and go buy the one that appeals to you the most!
