What Is the Best-Built Travel Trailer?

Eager to know what is the best-built travel trailer? Outdoors RV (ORV) is the ultimate camper. It’s head and shoulders above other trailer brands in terms of construction, durability, 4-season features, and boondocking capability.

On RV Insider, the best platform for reading detailed reviews from fellow RV owners, ORV has an impressive rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars from 97 reviews. In contrast, the average travel trailer has a rating of 3.5 stars.

Keep reading to find out what makes ORV travel trailers stand out, from their custom chassis, off-road capabilities, and insulation to interior amenities.

About Outdoors RV

Outdoors Recreational Vehicles Manufacturing was established in 2009 when its founder, Ron Nash, took over the former Fleetwood plant in La Grande, Oregon, after Fleetwood left the towable market. They are still based in La Grande, a small town in the mountains of Eastern Oregon.

ORV’s mission is to design and build rugged RVs for campers who enjoy the outdoors, no matter the terrain, weather, or season. Every unit in their lineup is created for “Mountain Tough Four Seasons Camping.”

Their rigs can withstand harsh terrain and extreme weather conditions, making them ideal for off-grid travel, winter camping, backcountry boondocking, hunting, fishing, and other activities in the great outdoors. They also incorporate customer input when updating their models and floor plans.

In the last 15 years, ORV has become a major player in the RV markets in the Western United States and Canada. To maintain its quality, ORV has reiterated that it will not mass-produce RVs like mainstream RV builders.

ORV is a wholly owned subsidiary of Northwoods Manufacturing (the company that builds the Nash & Arctic Fox), which the Nash family owns. Outdoors RV offers four different models of travel trailers, one fifth wheel, and one toy hauler.

Why is Outdoors RV the Best-Built Travel Trailer?

Here are some good reasons Outdoors RV has the best-built travel trailers:

A Reinforced Custom Off-Road Chassis

Outdoors RV is one of the few travel trailer manufacturers that build their own chassis. Engineered with precision and durability in mind, ORV’s custom frames provide a robust foundation for their camping trailers, ensuring stability, longevity, and reliability even on rough terrain. Here are some features that make their chassis and trailer foundation superior:

Each chassis is designed to match the towing and weight distribution of every floor plan.
They make I-beam-style chassis, which are best suited for high payloads.
Each unit has a heavy-duty 8″ cambered chassis for extra load bearing and shock absorption with extra angle supports at the shackles
Integrated A-frame for strength and stability plus extra ground clearance
Fully closed and sealed A-frame-ends for weather and rodent protection
Rugged armor-guard-protected bumper
Backcountry suspension system
Over-sized, heavy-duty axles and off-road braking systems
MORyde CRE 4000 center suspension system with rubber bushes and heavy-duty shackle kit
Off-road KYB quick-resetting shock absorbers with nitrogen monotube
16″ 10 Ply Goodyear radial off-road tires, e-rated with metal valve stems
Protected electrical junction box
A rear hitch welded into the main frame
All steel is sourced and milled in the US

True 4-Season Insulation

All ORV trailers come with four-season insulation, which provides superior thermal protection in brutal weather conditions. While they are built to withstand sub-freezing weather, they handle hot weather just as efficiently, plus your AC wouldn’t have to work nearly as hard. Here are some highlights of their 4-season features:

Rugged 2″ bonded aircraft-grade aluminum frame walls on side, front, slide-out(including roof), and rear walls instead of the industry standard wood frame wall construction.
1.5″ side wall construction compared to the 1″ industry standards
Walls are 50% stronger and with more insulation than regular RVs
Rigid 2-pound high-density foam, which is 33% denser than the industry standard 1.5-pound foam. The foam is placed inside a double-layer sandwich of fiberglass sheet.
Triple-layered 4-season roof insulation, including 1 layer of reflective insulation and 2 layers of R-7 fiberglass.
Mountain extreme thermal pane windows
Fully enclosed, heated, and insulated underbelly front to back
1″ thick thermal insulated exterior cargo and shower compartment doors
Extra large furnace (35K BTU) for harsh winter camping heat system
Thermal-insulated bedroom ceiling vent and skylight
Norcold Cold Weather Kits are standard on all ORV refrigerators, enabling them to efficiently operate in ambient temperatures down to 0 degrees.
Much quieter interiors thanks to the thick skin.

Solid Floors and a Walkable Roof

The first thing you’ll notice walking into an ORV trailer is the solid floor. Jump up and down on it, and you’ll easily feel the difference. Instead of the industry standard OSP or chipboard for the floors, ORV uses exterior-grade tongue-and-groove plywood with 2 layers of floor insulation.

In addition, each unit comes with a radius-crowned full walk-on roof with heavy-duty marine-grade plywood decking. The roof is made with engineered pine trusses designed to flex and alleviate stress from the rigid aluminum frame walls. Further, the curved interior ceiling panels are installed without nails, thanks to a unique snap-edge system that securely holds the sheets in place, resulting in a seamless finish without the need for nails.

Large-Capacity Holding Tanks

Outdoors RV’s large holding tanks are a great option for RVers who plan to spend extended periods off-grid, where access to dumping stations may be limited, or who prefer not to have to worry about emptying their tanks frequently. All models come with a 100-gallon fresh water tank, 50 to 80 gallons of gray water, and 40 to 50 gallons of black water. Every trailer also has an 80-lb propane capacity.

A Good Variety of Floor Plans

Outdoors RV offers versatile floor plans to suit different needs and appeal to both small and large families. Many layouts have at least one slide out, and their larger models have 2 entry doors and a fully private bedroom.

Front bunkhouse and bath, mid-living room, and private rear master bedroom
Front kitchen, mid-living with dinette in slide, and rear bedroom
Front dinette, mid-living, and rear queen bedroom
Front bathroom, mid living room/kitchen, and rear bedroom with queen bed

Quality Control and Inspection

Outdoors RV maintains rigorous quality control standards by conducting thorough inspections at every phase of the manufacturing process. Not just at the final end, like many manufacturers do. ORV has specialized inspectors who test the quality of raw materials before they are put to use.

Every installation also undergoes meticulous scrutiny to ensure components are properly aligned, structures are sound, and systems function as intended. There’s also a quality control team at the end of the line.

The inspectors also work closely with the service manager overseeing warranty issues. If there are recurring warranty issues, Outdoors RV’s inspectors communicate this information to the ground team building the trailers. This feedback loop ensures that the problem is promptly addressed and resolved, ensuring new models are problem-free.

This proactive approach helps uphold their commitment to customer satisfaction and ensures that their RVs meet the highest standards of performance and reliability.

Great Warranty and After-Sales Service

ORV offers a 1-year hitch-to-bumper warranty, a 2-year limited structural fiberglass wall warranty, and a 3-year limited custom-built chassis warranty. The biggest difference is ORV’s after-sales care. They offer excellent warranty support — even through non-ORV dealers close to you.

Other Amazing ORV Features

Here are some other impressive standard features you’ll find in ORV trailers:

Full-extension 100-pound metal drawer guides vs the 70-pound industry standard
Ultra-leather furniture and dinette seats
Panoramic slide-out windows
Metal weather-guard awning shield
Marine-grade aluminum entry steps
Heavy-duty rear ladder
Exterior and interior energy-saving LED lights
Towing organizer – convenient power cord and tow chain storage
Threaded waterlines tested to 80 pounds that are easy to maintain
Fold-down table with dinette
Optional tried and tested leveling system
Easy-clean floors
Double-size bunk beds on bunkhouse layouts
Premium queen mattress in the main bedroom, plus under-bed storage drawers
Tremendous external and internal storage space
Optimal trailer size for camping and full-time living
No Boundaries off-grid solar package/controller
Trailers are solar-ready for up to 510 watts
Cummins Onan 3.6K on-board LP generator (on Back Country model)

All Outdoors RV Trailer Floor Plans:

ORV has 4 different models and numerous floor plans to pick from. Here are some highlights:

Creek Side Class (4 floor plans) – Dry weight is under 6,000 lbs, with floor lengths from 19 to 21ft
Timber Ridge Class (7 floor plans) – Dry weights range from 6000 to 7750 lbs, with floor lengths from 22 to 28ft
Blackstone Class (6 floor plans) – Dry weight is over 7000 lbs, with floor lengths from 26 to 31ft
Back Country Class (6 floor plans) – Dry weights range from 6000 to 8050 lbs with floor lengths from 21 to 29 f

Cons of Owning an ORV Travel Trailer

While Outdoors RV is known for its high-quality construction and durability, there are still a few potential drawbacks to consider:

ORV Trailers are Heavy – Due to their robust construction, ORV units have heavier weights (over 10,000 lbs GVWR) compared to some competitors. This can limit fuel efficiency, and you’ll need a powerful tow vehicle.
Limited Dealership Network – ORV has a smaller dealership network compared to larger manufacturers, which could make it more challenging to find approved service centers.
Higher Price Point – Due to their focus on quality and durability, Outdoors RVs have a higher price tag than some other brands in the market.
Single AC on Longer Models—The larger ORV models don’t offer the option to add a second AC unit. Although they have excellent insulation qualities, one air conditioner may not be enough if you live in (or plan to travel to)hotter areas.

Overall, these drawbacks are relatively minor compared to the benefits of owning an Outdoors RV travel trailer, such as superior build quality, durability, and customer satisfaction.

Who Else Makes the Highest Quality Campers?

Here are other RV trailers with exceptional build quality, along with their RV Insider ratings:

Arctic Fox by Northwood (4.1 stars from 99 reviews) – A half-sibling of Outdoors RV, Arctic Fox trailers are also renowned for their robust construction, custom chassis, and cold-weather capabilities. The biggest difference is that ORV trailers have more floor plans and amenities.
Lance Camper Trailer (3.9 stars from 185 reviews) – These lightweight travel trailers are known for their attention to detail, use of high-quality materials, and focus on providing comfortable and functional living spaces.
Airstream (4.3 stars from 196 reviews) – Known for its distinctive silver bullet design, Airstream is a luxurious travel trailer brand celebrated for its durability, craftsmanship, and timeless style. However, it isn’t built for off-road or winter camping.
Grand Designs (3.8 stars from 881 reviews) – Founded in 2012, this brand has quickly gained recognition for its innovative craftsmanship, luxury appointments, and customer satisfaction.
Oliver Travel Trailer (5.0 stars from 1 review) – These handcrafted fiberglass camper trailers offer luxurious interiors, durable construction, customizable layouts, and thoughtful features.

Other best RV trailer brands include Winnebago, inTech, BigFoot, Brinkley, Imperial Outdoors, and Scamp trailers.

Outdoors RV Travel Trailer FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about ORV travel trailers:

Who Owns Outdoors RV?

ORV is owned by the Nash family. The founder, Ron Nash, broke away from the mainstream RV community and started focusing on quality over quantity. He established Northwood Manufacturing in 1993 and ORV in 2009. These brands quickly became known for their high-quality components and construction, and they continue to uphold these standards.

What is the Price of an Outdoors RV Travel Trailer?

Outdoors RV prices range between $40,000 and $60,000 for shorter travel trailers and $70,00 to $90,000 for their larger travel trailers. Used campers start from $25,000.

Outdoors RV: Built to Survive Challenging Travel Conditions

Whether you’re planning a prolonged off-grid adventure, a winter camping trip, or a brief boondocking excursion, an ORV travel trailer has a rugged construction that can handle any conditions. They’re also just the right size to fit in the average RV park. Owners appreciate the custom chassis, off-road features, durable materials, superior insulation, massive holding tanks, diverse floor plans, and quality craftsmanship.

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Author Profile

Cynthia Measom

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Cynthia Measom is the founder and main content creator of RV Top Tips. Not just a writer, she’s a dedicated RV owner and enthusiast, alongside her husband, Joe, who is an experienced RV tech. With their joint knowledge, the two are up on the latest trends and technologies in the RV industry, as well as practical camping and lifestyle tips.

The couple own a 2020 Coachmen Chaparral fifth-wheel that they absolutely love. Their secret to being so satisfied? They purchased the model after a solid year of researching different fifth-wheel campers in person and online to find the perfect fit for their family of three.