We recently had the opportunity to test out an Extreme Off-Road Deluxe trailer by Hiker Trailer. We were able to see first-hand just how far you can comfortably take an off-road trailer while traversing some of the wildest terrain Utah and Arizona has to offer.
We hooked up with Hiker Trailer for our annual overland-to-SEMA journey in order to experience how an off-road trailer will hold up to some harder overlanding routes. Our route would to bring us down through the Maze district, where we’d descend the tight switchbacks of the infamous Flint Trail, navigate Poison Spring Canyon and cross the Dirty Devil River, traverse over Hell’s Backbone and wrap up with a trip to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon before heading to Las Vegas for SEMA 2017.
Since 2013, we’ve been a roof-top tent family and have always been skeptical on taking an off-road trailer through tighter trails, shelf roads and tougher off-road trails. A huge advantage the RTT has over the off-road trailer setup is the maneuverability: if your rig can make it, the tent will make it. Adding a trailer into the mix would make it more interesting.
In tow for the trip, we had a Hiker Trailer Extreme Off-Road Deluxe 5x8 model with some basic options added to make the trip more manageable. The 5x8 version has a base price of $8,995 with many additional options that you can add on right from Hiker Trailer. The trailer comes stock with 17” steel wheels, 33” tires and long soft ride leaf springs with shocks to help you tackle some rough terrain with ease. Two rear dropdown legs and front jacks help you keep the trailer level and sturdy while setup at camp.
A front storage box and integrated front storage rack gives you some great storage options and allows you room to add some weight up front to offset the inevitable weight you’ll add in the back of the trailer. The shell is all aluminum to keep overall weight down, and includes two windows standard as well as a manual roof vent. Although the electrical that comes standard is very basic, it includes 110v power strip and an exterior 110v plug for basic needs. The trailer will come with a 5 on 5 lug pattern, but other lug patterns (such as the 6x5.5 pattern) are available.
For our trip, some of the added features included the optional front window as well as the optional second side door (two options that we highly recommend). It also included a roof rack with a Foxwing by Rhino Rack installed. Hiker had some additional electrical work performed to allow 12 volt charging inside and solar charging of the main battery. We went with the Lock-N-Roll hitch for the trip (Max Coupler is another that option Hiker Trailer offers). We also had the Cargo pan option for some additional storage in the floor.
The first test for the trailer was to see how well it tracked while cruising the long, never smooth, route to Hans Flat Ranger Station. This route is typically filled with endless miles of washboard roads and ruts created from recent storms that will keep your speed in check. I was glad to see the trailer handle itself predictively over the washboard. Tested again on the miles of washboard found on Hell's Backbone and the North Rim, the trailer's stock leaf pack seemed to ride soft enough to keep the trailer stable, however, anything not secured within the trailer was subject to involuntary relocation. Items on the shelves stood their ground, but items in the main cabin were most at risk of shifting around on the rougher sections. Since we were able to maintain speeds over 50mph for long stretches on Hans Flat Rd and Mt Trumbull Rd, I was expecting much worse.
Meanwhile on Hans Flat Road, a section of softer sand allowed us to see how much wider the trailer was going to track compared to the Tacoma. For reference, the Tacoma has 3.5” backspaced FN Five-Star wheels with 35x12.5x16 Interco Trxus MT mounted, and the trailer had nearly identical track width with only the outer lug tracking outside the truck’s track. This knowledge went a long way in the future trails and endeavors to come.
Comparison of the Tacoma vs Trailer tracks
A late start to the day meant rolling into Hans Flat as the sun was setting. Around Green River, I took the liberty of calling ahead to the Ranger Station, advising them that I would be arriving late and if they could possibly leave my camping permit accessible. Having previously been in the area before on past trips, I was aware of the rules, regulations and dangers within this region. This area is not to be taken lightly as it is a long way from civilization.
Losing daylight fast on Hans Flat
When darkness settled in, having the knowledge of the trailer’s tracking behavior quickly showed its benefit. Towing trailers is one thing but taking a trailer through rocky terrain at night really has you watching your mirrors hoping to protect the sidewalls from potential damage. I was pleasantly surprised on the trailer’s behavior behind the Tacoma since it was very predictable. This wouldn’t be the last time I would be taking the trailer on a trail at night. If I were to have my own trailer, I would be adding more marker lights and rock lights for better visibility based on this experience. At times while driving, it became difficult to see the standard marker lights, especially when the dust would kick up behind the truck making it hard to be 100% be certain where the trailer was tracking. Having rear dust lights on the truck paid off once again, increasing my visibility of trailer behind me.
Traversing Canyonlands at night over to the Neck
Rolling into the Neck late, the first major and notable benefit of an off-road trailer was the ease of setup. With so many great camping locations to choose from throughout the trip, the hardest part about setting up camp was trying to figure out what view I wanted to wake up to. The trailer was nimble enough to allow easy placement within the camping area. Again, additional lighting on the trailer will make setting up camp at night an easier task. Once a spot was settled upon, the two rear dropdown legs and two front jack arms made leveling camp fairly quick and easy.
Room with a view
After waking up at the Neck, the most challenging off-road section of the trip was next on the to-do list. This section had me the most worried bringing a trailer along with me due to the narrow shelf road and tight switchbacks that the Flint Trail is known for. I pushed forward, and when the sign stating “high clearance 4wd required beyond this point” came up, I knew it was now or never. Without giving it any further thought, I continued on ready to tackle the challenge ahead. Whenever traveling on the switchbacks, it is good habit to stop at the top, look and listen for any oncoming traffic that may cause issue on your travel along the switchbacks as there is little to no room to pass any oncoming traffic. With the path clear ahead, it was time to get it done.
Leading up to the trip, I expected the need to unhitch, move the trailer by hand and reposition in order to clear the tight switchbacks. I was amazed at how much I could jackknife the trailer with the Lock-N-Roll and long neck of the trailer! I did have to “Austin Powers” the corners to clear the sheer drop-off of the trail edge, but I was able to make it all the way down the switchbacks without having to unhitch and reposition. Mission accomplished!
Point of no return
A portion of the famous Flint Trail Switchbacks
Flint Trail Switchback challenge accomplished!
With the Flint Trail Switchbacks behind, it was apparent that the Hiker Trailer was not going to be the hindrance that I once expected an off-road trailer would be. Now below the Orange Cliffs, it was time to kick up some dirt and move on to the “easier” parts of the testing. Poison Spring Canyon was the next challenge on the list which would involve more shelf roads and the infamous water crossing of Dirty Devil River. This was the first of two major river crossings that were encountered on the trip. The second was the Fremont River near Capitol Reef National Park. The water levels in November are typically low and this year was no different.
For the second night, I wanted to be alongside the river at a hidden spot I found on a previous adventure. Unfortunately, setting up camp this time was a little more difficult given the location of where I wanted the trailer set up and a limited area to maneuver. After a few approaches from the river, I was able to find the right route into camp. This was not the last time I would have to think hard about trailer placement for camp and have multiple attempts to land the trailer in the right spot due to tight terrain and available space.
Long route out Poison Spring Canyon back to the highway
River camp location made a relaxing morning by the water
The last highlight and final challenge on the Overland-to-SEMA route was to navigate the network of off-road trails leading to the various points along the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. As with many lesser traveled areas, it’s hard to be certain which routes are open and what the current trail status is. A route on your map could show it being an open travel route, meanwhile a major washout or fallen trees could cause you to deviate from your plan.
The route I chose heading up to the North Rim kept things interesting with a couple of dead ends and some narrow passages, but ultimately, I led myself out with some trial and error to my desired destination. When maneuvering through tight trees, I discovered another weak spot of traveling with a trailer.
To protect the trailer from contacting the trees, it took some extra room to clear the trailer sometimes at the expense of the truck’s paint. In the end, all of the troubles of the trip were worth it as the campsite on the rim was absolutely awe-inspiring.
The ultimate payoff on the long journey
After hundreds of miles on and off pavement with the Hiker Trailer, my opinions on an off-road trailer while traversing the backcountry has definitely changed for the better. With the proper equipment, an off-road trailer can keep up with you through difficult terrain as long as you’re willing to accept the challenge. Be smart and safe and with proper planning, the possibilities are endless.
For more information on Hiker Trailer and their products, visit Their Site
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