limamike
New member
I mentioned it in a couple of threads, and a few people have asked me to share photos once I got it, so here it is!
I placed an order for a semi-custom Ruger Trailer (Ruger Trailers) a few weeks ago, and I drove up to Colorado to pick it up on Tuesday. Of all the trailers I considered - everything from utility to teardrop - Ruger seemed to have the best prices and quickest turn-around time. The other companies I was considering I had to contact 2-3 times before I would even get a return email, and they all had lead times of several months rather than weeks. All that said, I traded a few emails and phone calls with Steve, the owner of Ruger, and he got started on building about a month ago.
Steve intentionally builds simple trailers to let the user build them out as they see fit. So, he doesn't offer tons of fancy add-ons, and most of his "options" are simply enhancements to the utility of the trailer rather than creature comforts you might find in other companies like Adventure Trailers. I chose to upgrade to the "expedition frame", which is just a beefier frame. I added a tailgate, water cans and holders, articulating hitch, and brakes. I bought the RTT and rack separately and had them shipped to him. When the tent first arrived Steve was kind enough to inspect it for damage, and he found that it was damaged in shipment and refused the delivery for me. Tepui Tents (Tepui Roof Top Tents - - Home) had no issues, and they shipped a new one out the very next day. He installed both the rack and tent for me so I could pick everything up in a "ready to use" state.
Overall, it seems like a great trailer so far. On the 857 mile drive back down to AZ from CO it didn't even feel like I was towing a trailer. The speed limit through most of the drive is 75 MPH, and there was no issue pulling it at close to those speeds. I left my brake controller at the house before I left
redbrick, so I didn't have brakes operating on the drive back. But, with only the RTT and accessories onboard there was no issue with controlling the trailer. I really got the brakes for better control offroad and to avoid registration issues since here in AZ they require brakes on all trailers with a GVW greater than 3k#.
The Tepui tent seems to be about as good as every other RTT out there. Ripstop fabric throughout with what seems like a pretty comfortable mattress. One thing I don't like about it already is how the ladder is attached to the bottom of the tent - it has already dented the bottom of the tent base. I'm not sure if that was caused by the ladder moving during transit or me cranking down on the cover straps. Either way, it seems like a design that could be improved. But, the tent itself is easy to setup and take down.
Ruger was a great company to work with, and Steve is very responsive, unlike a lot of other companies in the offroad community. Steve left me with a handshake and a promise that Ruger stood behind each trailer they made, and to give him a call should I have any issues. I'm excited to finally have a setup like this to use for camping. I hope to get some good use out of it this weekend!
Crap cell phone pictures ahead...
I placed an order for a semi-custom Ruger Trailer (Ruger Trailers) a few weeks ago, and I drove up to Colorado to pick it up on Tuesday. Of all the trailers I considered - everything from utility to teardrop - Ruger seemed to have the best prices and quickest turn-around time. The other companies I was considering I had to contact 2-3 times before I would even get a return email, and they all had lead times of several months rather than weeks. All that said, I traded a few emails and phone calls with Steve, the owner of Ruger, and he got started on building about a month ago.
Steve intentionally builds simple trailers to let the user build them out as they see fit. So, he doesn't offer tons of fancy add-ons, and most of his "options" are simply enhancements to the utility of the trailer rather than creature comforts you might find in other companies like Adventure Trailers. I chose to upgrade to the "expedition frame", which is just a beefier frame. I added a tailgate, water cans and holders, articulating hitch, and brakes. I bought the RTT and rack separately and had them shipped to him. When the tent first arrived Steve was kind enough to inspect it for damage, and he found that it was damaged in shipment and refused the delivery for me. Tepui Tents (Tepui Roof Top Tents - - Home) had no issues, and they shipped a new one out the very next day. He installed both the rack and tent for me so I could pick everything up in a "ready to use" state.
Overall, it seems like a great trailer so far. On the 857 mile drive back down to AZ from CO it didn't even feel like I was towing a trailer. The speed limit through most of the drive is 75 MPH, and there was no issue pulling it at close to those speeds. I left my brake controller at the house before I left
redbrick, so I didn't have brakes operating on the drive back. But, with only the RTT and accessories onboard there was no issue with controlling the trailer. I really got the brakes for better control offroad and to avoid registration issues since here in AZ they require brakes on all trailers with a GVW greater than 3k#.The Tepui tent seems to be about as good as every other RTT out there. Ripstop fabric throughout with what seems like a pretty comfortable mattress. One thing I don't like about it already is how the ladder is attached to the bottom of the tent - it has already dented the bottom of the tent base. I'm not sure if that was caused by the ladder moving during transit or me cranking down on the cover straps. Either way, it seems like a design that could be improved. But, the tent itself is easy to setup and take down.
Ruger was a great company to work with, and Steve is very responsive, unlike a lot of other companies in the offroad community. Steve left me with a handshake and a promise that Ruger stood behind each trailer they made, and to give him a call should I have any issues. I'm excited to finally have a setup like this to use for camping. I hope to get some good use out of it this weekend!
Crap cell phone pictures ahead...
