Camper Trailer - On-Road vs Off-Road Differences ???

[Munners]

Hi all,

New here and to 4WD and Camper Trailers. Finding myself overwhelmed with all the considerations to do with off-road camping.

One question I have is around POP-UP CAMPER TRAILERS (in particular Goldstream Wing II 2005-2008).

You can get camper trailers of the same model but one being on-road and the other off-road versions.

So what makes the trailer OFF-ROAD:
1/ Hitch - Obvious
2/ Suspension (Shocks, Springs, number of Leafs (in leaf spring) - Heavy duty
- Does off-road have trailing arms and on-road don't???????
3/ Frame - Do the frames themselves differ????
4/ Ground clearance - Achieved by suspension setup????
5 / Anything else????

I ask as there are many on-road versions of the same trailers which is far easier to find (2nd hand). If it's only a matter of changing the Hitch and suspension then maybe I can purchase an on-road and change the suspension (approx $1000) and Hitch (approx $500). If there is far more to it than that then I'll have to stick with actual "Off-road" trailers.

Many thanks in advance.

[robcaz]

Hi Munners,

Usually an off road camper trailer is built from the ground up & designed to take the punishment of the outback road conditions & plus payload. By throwing heavier suspension & an off road hitch onto an on road trailer does not necessarily make it an off roader. Usually the chassis of an off road trailer has a heavier wall thickness compared to an on road version. The load carrying capacity of extra water tanks, jerrys etc, bearing size, suspension capacity are all taken into account.

With the windup on road camper models they often place a heavier suspension & the axle under the leafs instead on top of them, giving more ground clearance & call it an off road pack. Same chassis & internal features.

Leaf or trailing arm suspension is a matter of preference.

My thoughts on whats makes an off road camper trailer http://www.campertrailers.org/off_road_trailer.htm