Not all those who go camping desire the complete survival experience. Some just want to unhinge, far from crowds and busy streets, and enjoy the tranquility of the wild. They want to be able to do that without abandoning the basic conveniences of the modern world.
Thankfully, as camping becomes wholly fused into the American lifestyle, the technology to make the experience more relaxed has also evolved tremendously.
Now, fully furnished campers and trailers are typical middle-class family assets. These home-away-from-home vehicles have all the amenities you need to enjoy every journey without compromising your health, hygiene, and comfort.
Off the Grid, Not at a Campground
While many still use the standard tent setup, we see a steady influx of trailer owners across the country. And many of them hopped on the bandwagon, not for the comfort alone.
Instead, these camping enthusiasts are looking for genuine seclusion, as far away from other campers as possible. And it makes sense.
If you’re camping to relax and have fun with your family or friends, you’d want your campsite to be all yours. After all, the whole idea of taking a long drive into the wilderness is for you to get as much privacy as you need.
You don’t want to travel hundreds of kilometers from a bustling city only to set up a tent at a bustling campground.
However, seclusion is risky, so most campers prefer the safe environment of designated campgrounds. But this is no longer a problem if you own a trailer. This beast offers more than enough protection for you and your possessions. It makes a safe base camp for all outdoor pursuits.
Satisfying the Adventurous Soul
Soaking up the fresh air and appreciating the remaining wonders of the natural world is every camper’s dream come true.
However, hiking and sightseeing aren’t all you can do when you’re on a camping trip. Depending on your location, you can go whitewater rafting, kayaking, or rock climbing.
Then again, since you can’t afford to bring your equipment and stash them in your tent, you’ll most likely have to pass. You can’t go too far from your tent either because you don’t want to lose any of your stuff.
You can have more freedom if you’re camping in an off-road trailer. Whether you’re biking or surfing on your trip, there’s a place inside your trailer for your gear. You don’t even have to worry about possible burglary because your trailer can be as sturdy as a bank vault.
Choosing an Off-Road Trailer – NoBo vs Ibex
The growing demand for camping trailers has triggered the explosion of brands, and they all claim to be the best on the market.
However, even though it boosts the competition, slightly pulling down the prices, it also makes choosing more difficult because now you have more product lines to compare.
Of course, if you narrow down the choices, you’ll be left with a few trusted brands like Forest River. But even these brands offer multiple trailer models, each with outstanding qualities.
If you narrow those choices, you’ll most likely be left with their two flagship product lines—NoBo and Ibex. Both are excellent products, but if you’re torn and can’t make up your mind, you might want to check out this overview of their qualities.
| Feature | NoBo 19 Series | Ibex |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 21.83 x 9.92 x 88 to 24.92 x 9.92 x 88 | 21.92 x 9.92 x 88 to 30 x 11.25 x 96 |
| Construction | Azdel Exterior Construction | Azdel Exterior Construction |
| Gross Vehicle Weight Rating | Below 5000 lb. | 4,795 lb. to 9,735 lb. |
| Unloaded Vehicle Weight | 4,003 lb. to 4,941 lb. | 3,774 lb. to 5,758 lb. |
| Cargo Carrying Capacity | 1,181 lb. to 3,043 lb. | 1,021 lb. to 3,977 lb. |
| Hitch Weight | 472 lb. to 896 lb. | 395 lb. to 935 lb. |
NoBo came out before Ibex, which explains why Ibex has a greater capacity. Forest River often describes Ibex as the one that picked up where NoBo left off.
True enough, Ibex has a lot more features in it. But it’s not like Forest River has dropped NoBo. They still offer it and continue to improve its construction and amenities.
Perhaps the most identifiable difference between these product lines is that NoBo remains under the 5,000 lb range, except for the 20 series, which has a little over 5,000 lbs. The manufacturer kept it small to allow vehicles with a 1500-3500 lb. tow capacity to pull it.
Forest River Ibex
This model’s name says it all. Thanks to its super-lightweight construction, it allows you to go off the grid without limits. You can tow it using any AWD pickup truck and still enjoy a decent speed. Besides, you can also enjoy a few other perks.
Versatility – Forest River signed an exclusive deal with Rhino Rack that all the NoBo 19 Series will come with kayak holders and vortex bars. They can hold kayaks, bikes, and other large equipment. You can also adjust the vortex bars to accommodate multiple items.
On the roof, you’ll have a 110-volt surface-mount solar panel, which you can upgrade by adding more panels. This solar panel keeps your battery charged throughout the day.
Below, you’ll get a 1000-watt inverter, which powers all 110-volt outlets in the trailer. Other models only allow access to that amount of energy through select outlets.
Nimble Suspension – You will stash most of your equipment and supplies inside the trailer. Therefore, it must be as stable as possible to avoid damaging its content. The latest NoBo series has an axle-less suspension system with nitrogen-filled gas struts and a racing-inspired coil spring design to reduce rattling and vibration.
Adequate Ground Clearance – You risk running over obstructions higher than your car’s ground clearance when driving off-road. This could potentially damage sections of your vehicle or, worse, cause an accident. It’s even riskier if you are towing a trailer.
Forest River addressed this problem by including a standard torsion axle into the drivetrain assembly that provides a 13-inch ground clearance.
In addition, all 19 and 20 series models are also designed with GoodYear dirt-track tires, which have a sufficient diameter to elevate the trailer even higher. With this ground clearance, you can travel and camp just about anywhere.
Forest River NoBo
This model shares most of NoBo’s standard features, so you can expect to have almost the same feel when you’re inside it. We won’t discuss those features much and instead focus on what’s added.
WiFi and Channels – You don’t have to completely cut yourself off from society when camping off the grid. You can still enjoy a little entertainment and stay updated with the latest news. Watching television is made easier with Ibex due to its 360-degree Omnidirectional high-definition antenna.
Unlike your old antenna assembly, this one doesn’t need manual adjustment to get better reception or find channels. It can scan for HD channels across a distance of up to 40 miles.
You can even add aftermarket WiFi extenders and adapters, which can be synced into your trailer’s connectivity features by scanning the QR code on the sticker next to the trailer’s door.
Showermiser – You won’t always find clean water where you’re going. Ideally, you have to fill all your tanks before hitting the road and ration your water supply carefully among yourselves.
Forest River had a brilliant idea to help you conserve as much of your clean water as possible—incorporate a Showermiser into your trailer’s shower.
When you take a bath, you’d typically turn the shower on for two to three minutes to clear the cold water. That’s how long it usually takes to pull out the hot water from the tank.
If you’re using a pump that pulls out three gallons of water per minute, that’s about nine gallons of unused water purposelessly poured down the drain.
Showermiser fixes this problem by including an indicator within the system that tells you if hot water is already in the shower.
The device changes color when it makes contact with hot water. This way, you don’t have to waste too much clean water to get your desired temperature. It can save you up to 20 percent of clean water that you can use for cleaning and dishwashing.
Big Bed – To make a compact and midsize floor plan trailer lightweight, you’ll have to remove a few features. Some manufacturers have made the bed a little smaller to conserve space, making sleeping slightly uncomfortable.
Not in the Ibex. Forest River made sure users can still stretch their feet and roll around when they sleep by providing a setup that accommodates a queen-size bed.
The bed is conveniently folded to the back of the trailer. They used a Murphy bed system to convert portions of the bed into a couch.
And when it’s time to sleep, you can simply pull down the couch and the mattress. It will extend to the sink, but that wouldn’t be a problem since you’ll be asleep the whole time.
There are also cubbies on both sides of the bed and 110-volt outlets where you can charge your phone. There are even USB ports for your CPAP machine.
Conclusion
Both NoBo and Ibex have a fantastic set of features. You can choose either, depending on what features you need in your destinations. Many of the amenities aren’t mentioned in this article, so you might want to check them out before you decide.
Consider factors such as air conditioning, slide-out mechanism, wastewater management, etc., in your purchase. A detailed check will help you weigh your options and make an informed choice.