- Motsmann’s new Outranger starts at an affordable $25,950 before you raid the options list.
- The compact two-person trailer has a galvanised, bolted chassis and a kitchen at the rear.
- Optional solar, bigger batteries, heating and air conditioning increase backcountry abilities.
We’ve become accustomed to adventure campers carrying prices that look suspiciously like they should come with a free side-by-side to tow behind. Oregon-based Motsmann Engineering is going the other way.
Its new Outranger is a compact two-person off-road camper that starts at $25,950, or about the price of a new Toyota Corolla hatch ($26,075 including a $1,295 delivery fee), leaving enough money for an actual tow vehicle and maybe even a few vacations.
Related: I Designed A 10-Foot Budget Camper You Can Tow With A Small Hatch
At 162.3 inches (4,120 mm) long, 72 inches (1,830 mm) wide, and 77.8 inches (1,980 mm) tall with its roof rack, the boxy Outranger occupies roughly the same territory as traditional teardrop campers. And it weighs only 1,450 lbs (658 kg) dry in base form, which should make finding a suitable tow vehicle relatively painless.
Its molded body is assembled from six composite structural panels, and buyers can choose the gelcoat color.
But this isn’t simply a mattress in a basic fiberglass box. The Outranger rides on Timbren 2000 HD independent suspension with electric brakes, 15-inch wheels and chunky 30-inch tires. Its bolted galvanized-steel chassis is designed to make individual sections easier to repair or replace after adventures get too adventurous.
“Outranger began with a simple idea: to create a camper trailer for both paved roads and more demanding terrain – and engineer it with the same level of care expected from a modern vehicle,” Motsmann said. “That approach shaped every part of the design: Materials, components and construction methods were selected to withstand vibration, moisture, temperature changes and years of outdoor exposure.”
The composite cabin has 50 inches (1,270 mm) of interior height and an 82-inch (2,080 mm) mattress, with 57 inches (1,450 mm) of shoulder width at its widest point. So it’s not going to feel claustrophobic when it’s time to bed down, and a roof-mounted ventilation fan comes standard, as does a 200Ah self-heating lithium battery.
A standard 12-V electrical system also powers interior and exterior LED lighting and USB charging ports, and includes a shore power connection.
The Slate Truck Of Campers
Achieving that attractive starting price does mean exercising restraint with the configurator. The rear galley comes ready for owners to equip as they please with their own gear, or Motsmann will happily help. Think of it as the Slate Truck of campers. So a 14-gallon (53 liters) water system costs $978, a Dometic cooktop $993, and a Vitrifrigo drawer refrigerator $475.
You can also add 200-watt solar for $498, a propane cabin heater for $1,390 and air conditioning for $1,490. Battery capacity can rise from the standard 200Ah to 600Ah (though that will set you back a chunky $2,385), while other options include awnings, a roof rack and an articulating hitch.
The ability to turn into a boat, like this camper, is unsurprisingly not on the list, though checking enough boxes will still push the price of your Outranger well beyond $30,000. But in today’s adventure-camper market, having to try to make one expensive feels almost refreshing.
Motsmann said it will open preorders on September 1.
