Simple is always best is what mamma taught us. This may apply to many areas in life, but when it comes to travel trailers, most people can't abide by this mantra. One U.S. company is trying to get them to see things differently.
Based in San Diego, California, Little Guy Trailers has been in the business of making trailers and RVs since 2002. One of their most recent achievements is the very cute but oh-so-mighty MeerKat Trailer, a single-axle, lightweight, two-person towable that offers a bunch of innovative features for its category. More so, they make it stand apart in its very own little and cute league, if you'll allow the phrasing.
We covered the MeerKat for the first time in 2021, detailing what it was exactly that made this travel trailer the ideal companion for couples with a shorter must-have list for an enjoyable camping trip. That list included a lightweight and small trailer they could pull with their daily driver, its garageability (which, as of recently, is a proper word), and its ability to offer standing height inside.
All three features are still present in the 2024 model of the MeerKat, detailed in full in the video tour below. But the new model also brings several, quite considerable upgrades that make camp life even more pleasant and convenient, even though they end up adding weight to the trailer. They also add to the starting price of a unit, but that last part should hardly come as a surprise, given how things are going right now.
Photo: Little Guy Trailers
The MeerKat of 2021 tipped the scales at 900 lbs (408 kg) and offered home-like amenities for a pair of travelers who could settle for less when out in nature – and do take that in the most literal sense. Its compact footprint was enough to pack in a front-side galley, a porta-potty hidden under one of the benches, some storage, and a dinette that converted into a two-person bed at night.
The feature that made the MeerKat stand out – and ultimately gave it its name – was the ability to stand up straight inside, achieved by means of a pop-up roof with integrated ventilation.
The 2024 model is still all these things, down to the same dimensions: 13 feet (3.96 meters) in length, 5 feet (1.52 meters) in width, and 6.5 feet (1.98 meters) high with the top closed. It is just as cute as the predecessor and, according to the maker, just as mighty but refined, improved, better.
Photo: YouTube/Playing With Sticks
The most significant change is in regards to the chassis, which is now an A-frame that allows the maker to put a storage box on the tongue. The box holds the spare wheel, which was left before exposed to the elements, the battery, and whatever small stuff you can fit in there. Made of fiberglass, the box frees up some space from inside – it's not much, but with a trailer this small, every inch counts.
The body is still aluminum with fiberglass for the roof, but the new A-frame chassis adds weight. The MeerKat now tips the scales at 1,180 lbs (535 kg), which means you can still tow it with most daily drivers, but it's no longer in a position to claim any sort of national record for the kind of features it offers.
Other upgrades include larger, Euro-style windows to allow more natural light in, with integrated privacy and bug screens for convenience. The stabilizing pads have also been upgraded and now feature on all four corners of the trailer, offering "rock-like" stability at camp. A new screen door has been custom-made for the MeerKat, while the 30-inch wheels come with chrome rims for a more classic look.
Photo: YouTube/Playing With Sticks
The interior has been polished, as well. There's an option to add an ice box or a small off-grid fridge in the kitchen, with the latter option working just wonderfully with the new solar port on the tongue box. The extended bed features a leg extension on one side, and the same amount of storage space under the benches. For a trailer this small, the MeerKat offers plenty of storage options.
The most important upgrade inside is the fact that the pop-up now opens on gas struts, which means you can easily deploy it or bring it back into position for storage, in less time and with less effort. Interior height has also increased, to as much as 6.4 feet (1.92 meters).
New wall lights and recessed LED rear lights create more of a moody, cozier interior. Again, that's a nice touch, given the size of the interior.
Photo: YouTube/Playing With Sticks
Like its predecessor, the 2024 model comes with no tanks because the toilet is a Thetford cassette toilet, and the water in the kitchen comes from two portable 2.5-gallon (9.5-liter) containers. For cooking, you get a portable butane cooker that allows you to throw together a quick meal inside, but there's also an option for an induction cooktop.
The 2024 model brings an increased MRSP as well. Whereas the original started at $22,970, the new model starts at around $30,000 for the standard configuration.
The MeerKat remains the same bare-bones travel trailer for adventurers neither too demanding in terms of creature comforts on vacations nor against the idea of stopping mostly at campsites. It's a basic solution for two people, but one that has plenty of personality and style. And very cute!
Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends. Full profile
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