Epik Ranger Is a Fresh "Pop-Up-and-Out" Off-Road Trailer, Brace Yourself for Its Price

Three months ago, I wrote about the Epik Scout. Its creator, Epik RV, is a Uniontown, Ohio-based manufacturer of adventure RVs. At the time, the Scout was the company's only available product, but it recently expanded its offering by unveiling the Epik Scout.

As Epik RV explained, the Ranger is the bigger brother to the Scout. It's designed to fulfill the same purpose: help adventurers travel comfortably in rugged, off-grid environments.

The unit I'm checking out today (as seen in the presentation video at the end of the article) is a prototype, so it's subject to some minor changes and additions. Epik RV shared that the trailer will go into production this summer.

So, what makes the Ranger stand out? At first glance, it might seem like a standard off-road trailer, but it comes with celt first glance, it might seem like a standard small off-road trailer, but it comes with clever design features that let you expand it as you'd never expect.

Before we take a closer look at it, let me tell you more about the trailer's construction and dimensions. Epik RV used a no-wood construction for the Ranger – it boasts a welded steel frame with a rubberized protective coat and an aluminum-reinforced foam-core box. What's more, the box is built using Azdel composite panels.

The Epik Ranger measures 17 feet (5.2 meters) in length, 7'6" (2.3 meters) in width, and 9'4" (2.8 meters) in height, offering an interior height of 7 feet (2.1 meters) when the roof is popped up and 6'7" (2 meters) with the roof down. Moreover, it tips the scales at 3,500 lb. (1,588 kg) dry, with a GVWR of 5,000 lb. (2,268 kg).

So, what makes this trailer off-road? Well, besides its sturdy construction, it rides on 33-inch all-terrain tires connected to electronic trailer brakes, but the one component that will make the most significant difference is a Cruisemaster independent off-road suspension.

Now, let's look at the exterior features, starting with the ones meant to increase the interior space. The Ranger is equipped with two slide-outs, one on each side of the camper.

The one on the driver's side expands the rig's bedroom, while the other, which is even larger, creates more space in the kitchen. Finally, the roof can also be expanded.

Unlike many other slide-outs on RVs and other campers, these ones are all mechanical, meaning there are no electronic components that could malfunction and leave you with a stuck slide-out.

Other notable features on the driver's side are a hatch that can be latched open and shut, an outdoor shower connection, a 30-amp plug for shore power, a Dometic heater, a propane-powered 6-gallon (23-liter) water heater, and a compartment holding the rig's power system.

The latter's highlights are a 3,000 W inverter, a DC-DC charger, three batteries, and a solar charge controller connected to a solar panel on the roof. What's more, there's a control panel inside with switches for everything electrical, a monitoring system for the power system, and gauges for the water tanks.

At the front, you'll find a Cruisemaster articulating hitch, a mechanical parking brake, a heavy-duty jack, and an aluminum box housing two 20-lb (9-kg) propane tanks.

The entrance is located on the passenger's side, and Epik RV is still working out which stairs to attach under the door. Furthermore, the door boasts a woven steel, fine-mesh screen, which Epik RV claims is bear-proof. Hopefully, you won't ever have to find out if that's true or not.

The interior feels very spacious when the slide-outs are extended and the roof raised. Two people can easily fit inside.

As you step inside, you'll discover the bathroom on your right. It's a small space with the most basic amenities: a shower and a slide-out OGO composting toilet. But hey, at least you have a bathroom.

The kitchen is on the left. It features more counter space than you'd expect, a stainless steel sink, a microwave, a dual-zone fridge/freezer, and a Dometic dual-burner stove. Four aluminum, double-latched cabinets, three shelves, and two drawers provide storage.

Dead ahead is where Epik RV devised the bedroom. It boasts an RV queen-size bed, six drawers underneath the bed, and three windows. Moreover, between the bedroom and the bathroom, the manufacturer installed a counter integrating a water heater and a diesel heater, as well as a large soft storage spot above.

Opposite the kitchen, you'll notice the seating area. It consists of two benches with a sizeable table in between, three overhead shelves, and an Artic Tern window on the wall behind, complete with a black-out screen and a bug net. In fact, all of the nine windows inside the trailer are from Artic Tern.

One of the benches houses a huge drawer, while the other holds a 30-gallon (114-liter) freshwater tank. By the way, the greywater tank will be added later, so we don't know its capacity yet.

All in all, Epik RV has created a fantastic adventure-ready trailer. However, you'll probably be taken aback when you hear how much it will set you back financially. The Ranger's starting price is a whopping $67,200 (€62,920), which is a lot, however you put it.

You do get an epik (see what I did there?), premium product for this money, but still - that's more than a brand-new Sprinter van. Keep in mind that you also need an off-road-ready vehicle to be able to use this trailer to its full potential.

Some upgrades are also available, such as a spare tire with an included mount, front and rear jack, a Dometic roof vent, or an inverter/battery upgrade. I'm also surprised that an A/C isn't included in the standard offering – you'll have to pay extra for an EcoFlow Wave 2 A/C.