Go Off-Grid In The New RKS Off Road Trailer
California manufacturing company, RKS Off-Road, may be the new kid on the block, but it is pulling out all the stops on durability, sustainability, and versatility with its first-ever model, the Purpose Trailer.
The custom-created unit is built with many of the necessities and comforts of home but is meant to be taken beyond the pavement to get to destinations other RVs are not equipped to reach. If you are an avid outdoorsman and enjoy fishing, hunting, and water sports in secluded, out-of-the-way places, this might be your new mode of camping. That, ultimately, is the promise the creators behind the Purpose trailer made and set out to deliver.
“Everything we do at RKS is designed and engineered to provide customized solutions for the most demanding and discerning of adventurers,” said Elisabeth Gritsch, co-founder of RKS Off-Road. “We spent years in the RV rental business and were constantly disappointed with the low levels of quality in both materials and craftsmanship. Launching RKS has allowed us to challenge the status quo.”
General specifications
Since they are custom-built, each RKS Off-Road Purpose camping trailer is a little different to meet specific customer needs. However, the general design and material components are the same. The RKS Off-Road Purpose trailer is 17 feet, 3 inches long. It weighs 2,200 pounds with a GVWR of 5,200 pounds.
Closed up, the Purpose resembles a stocky utility trailer with windows and sporty decals. Don’t be deceived. Sections of the trailer expand, flip up, and flip out, creating many rooms. These include a bathroom with a high overhead, outdoor kitchenette, additional sleeping area, and sky deck. With the rooftop canopy/tent system, the unit can sleep up to four people.
Exterior trailer set-up
Wood was eliminated in the framing and overall structure of the Purpose. Instead, the frame consists of aircraft-grade aluminum tubes and I-beams. The walls, roof, and floor are made of honeycomb composite panels.
Depending on customer specifications, the trailer can sit high with ground clearance options ranging from 13 to 19 inches. Altogether, with the lightweight but strong build coupled with the axle-less suspension, off-road tires, and high ground clearance, the Purpose can traverse rugged terrain with ease. The RKS Off-Road team demonstrates this in the video below.
A multi-point mounting system is installed on all outside walls and the roof to carry equipment and other accessories. Dual-pane poly-carbonate windows flank either side of the trailer. An entrance side door leads into the bathroom, and lifting up the rear wall opens up the kitchen area.
The roof over the bedroom is a versatile space. It can be utilized as a deck complete with a foldable canopy or outfitted as an additional sleeping area for two. For the extra bedroom setup, the canopy frame would be used to hold up a canvas tent. The rooftop was designed to hold 1000 pounds.
Electrical and water systems
Regarding power, the Purpose comes standard with a 105-Ah lithium battery with a 210-Ah battery setup as an upgrade option. Another basic installment is the 2,000-W inverter/charger and 120-V shore power hook-up. Customers can opt for a roof-mounted 210-W solar panel.
The water system is set up for extended boondocking excursions. In fact, the company boasts that campers could have enough water for two to six weeks, depending on consumption and number of users, of course.
The tank capacities of 70-gallon freshwater, 25-gallon gray water, and 60-gallon black water are impressive for this small unit. In addition, a gray water filtration system recycles and reuses gray water for use in the ceramic macerator toilet.
The entry door is located towards the front of the trailer and leads into the wet bath. The pop-up roof allows a standing height of over seven feet so campers, especially tall ones, can stand to take showers.
A stainless steel sink and ceramic toilet take up little room in the expansive space. A team member from RKS Off-Road gives a tour of the wet bath in the video below.
The bedroom is situated in the middle section of the trailer. It has an interior height of 4 feet, 3 inches. The room can be set up with two singles or a queen-size bed. Plus, it has central lighting, windows with shades, and shelving units.
As mentioned before, the kitchen can be accessed by flipping up the rear wall. The L-shaped galley comes equipped with a 20k BTU dual burner portable stove, a slide-out tray to hold a cooler or fridge/freezer, a stainless steel sink, and additional built-in storage.
Where can you buy the RKS Off-Road Purpose Trailer?
Production began in December 2020, and first orders will be delivered to customers in the first quarter of 2021. A $100 deposit is required to reserve a unit. After completing the down payment, an agent will contact you and discuss specifications for your custom-made trailer. A standard unit is priced at $39,900.
If you like the RKS Off-Road Purpose Trailer, check out This Affordable Teardrop Trailer That Will Take You Off–Road
