No one likes half measures, just like no one likes compromising – and with good reason, because both imply not getting what you want or need at any given moment. But for those times when a tiny house is too big and a teardrop trailer too small, a hybrid like the Outpost Camping Trailer might just do the trick.
The Outpost Camping Trailer is a towable with off-grid capabilities and an enhanced degree of comfort, offering shelter for the entire family and a "luxury" kitchen and bathroom while still retaining a very compact form factor that makes it easily towable. It's the perfect compromise for the adventurer looking to go off-grid. Introduced a couple of years ago by Uncharted Tiny Homes, it's the flagship of the Adventure series, so it was imagined from the get-go as a hybrid between a tiny house and an offroad trailer.
Whether you consider it a scaled-down tiny house (apparently, you can make a tiny house even… tinier) or an overgrown teardrop trailer, chances are you won't stay immune to the obvious charms of this towable. Compromising is never a 100% satisfying solution in itself, but this seems to be a rare case when it is: the Outpost promises the comfort and features of a tiny home but in a rugged and competent form factor that brings to mind comparisons to off-grid teardrops.
Downsizing remains the word du jour. The cost of living and the housing crisis make downsizing a forced reality for many people from all over the world, and where they don't, a desire to travel more does. Mobile homes are more popular than ever, and tiny houses are at the forefront of the so-called housing revolution while also being a hot choice with digital nomads.
Photo: Uncharted Tiny Homes
The Outpost was not designed for downsizing of this kind in the sense that it was not built as a permanent home. It could probably still work this way for a couple of young adventurers with not that many expectations in terms of personal comfort, and it might even do an excellent job at it. But the Outpost was designed for adventurers who are looking to hit the trail or even go off the beaten track "for weeks on end" in the company of friends or family.
Measuring just 15 feet (4.5 meters) in length and 8.5 feet (2.5 meters) in width, it's still able to fit within that compact space sleeping for four people, as well as a complete kitchen and a full dry bathroom. Maximum gross weight is 10,000 lbs (4,536 kg), with a dry weight of 6,000 lbs (2,721 kg), so you can pack all the basics for such an outing, including bikes or whatever exploring gear you might fancy in the back.
The layout is as simple as you'd expect from this kind of space. You walk right into the kitchen, which is compact but offers enough features to work for the entire family. The standard spec is for a two-burner stove, a large and deep sink, and cabinets for storage. Throw a bit more cash at the project, and you can upgrade to a 4-burner, add a fridge and freezer box, and upgrade the 66-gallon (250-liter) freshwater tank to a 132-gallon (500-liter) unit.
Photo: Uncharted Tiny Homes
The sleeping area is organized as two sets of bunk beds, with some storage space underneath for chunkier items. Then, at the rear of the trailer is the bathroom, with a walk-in shower, a separate dry toilet, and a small window for ventilation. It's a nice bath, even for many tiny houses, and a definite upgrade over small RVs.
The standard spec also includes two 30-lb (13.6-kg) propane tanks for the stove, R25 insulation with spray foam, and a large awning that allows you to expand the living space outside. Optionals range from full solar package to an AC unit that runs on a generator, a separate heater, upgraded wheels and tires, upgrades for the hitch, and exterior lighting, and they will add to the base price of $44,500.
For example, the unit shown in the video presentation below comes with a price tag of $58,000 (and some change). If you're thinking that's a lot of cash to pay for a camping trailer, Uncharted Tiny Homes says it's actually "standard" pricing for a tiny house, which underlines how the Outpost is different from other off-grid-capable trailers.
Despite its name and the ability to go farther than a tiny house, this is still essentially a tiny house. Just not for full-time living: Uncharted describes it as a "camping, hunting, exploring, do-it-all trailer for all the adventurous spirits out there."
Photo: Uncharted Tiny Homes
The Outpost Camping Trailer is like a summer cabin you can tow with you wherever you might plan on taking your next vacation. And it's a surprisingly neat-looking cabinoutpost, if you ask us.
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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