Best small travel trailer for trip to Alaska?

[Fordtractor]

I am contemplating a several month trip to Alaska from Ohio in 2027. I have been researching and have come to the conclusion that a smaller (under 25 ft.) travel trailer with a good frame and suspension is a must as well as good tires. I have been considering the No Boundaries Beast Mode 20.2. The Curt independent suspension looks interesting as well as no slide-outs to worry about. The Lance 1995 has also caught my attention. Neither of these are readily available in my area and would probably need ordered if possible. I will be towing with a 2020 Ford F250 6.7L PowerStroke Super Crew, so weight isn't an issue. I am more concerned with clearance and reliability.
Does anyone have any recommendations?

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

I think "best" depends on what you expect to do in AK (and the trip thru BC and Yukon on the way). For most places you might go, any RV will likely do ok, and the larger concerns will be protection from flying stone damage and the insulation in the rig. I spent 3 months there in a 36 ft, dual slide motorhome and boondocked in a lot of out-of-the-way places, just using reasonable precaution when choosing the path. Some roads can will be rough, though, and trailers suspension lacking shock absorbers will really beat up the interior. Plan on lower speeds than you typically drive in the Lower 48.

I'll agree, though, that shorter trailers open up more opportunity, but that's true anywhere. And yes, look for a sturdy chassis and generous sized axles & wheels. "Lite" is a curse word if you plan to travel on any but the smoothest paved highways.

You said "several months". If that's more than mid-June thru early September, plan on plenty of cold & snow and a lack of services outside of the major towns. Fuel stations, country stores, and campgrounds shut down early, sometimes late August. When they run out of stock to sell, they close until the next summer season.

Enjoy your journey. Alaska is one of the two places I would love to visit again (the other is the Jasper, Alberta area & the Ice Fields Hwy).

 

[Kirk]

While I very much agree with Gary's post, if you are really concerned then perhaps you should look at the Airstream, which is known for its long life and durability. If you plan to go off road, then take a look at the Bruder XP-8 for the ultimate.

 

[UTTransplant]

Take a look at some of the smaller Outdoors RV rigs. They are quite beefy as demonstrated by their heavier weight, but your truck won’t have an issue with it. The one we had was by far the best built rig we ever owned. We towed it to some pretty remote and rough boondocks sites in the US, but not to Alaska. BTW, we drove our 40’ motorhome towing a Jeep Grand Cherokee. No issues there or back beyond a cracked half-wall attachment that wasn’t put together well to begin with. The big rig definitely restricted where we could camp, but there were options everywhere. Next summer we are headed to western Canada, the area Gary mentioned above. We liked western Canada more than Alaska.

 

[Fordtractor]

Thanks for the replies. We do plan on spending most of our time in Canada's National and Provincial parks on the way up and back. We would most like be traveling late June yo September. Details on that are to be worked out later. I was wanting to buy something more rugged and off-road worthy to break in this summer and also time to sell my current 32" ft. bunkhouse TT. My wife and I went to the Cleveland RV show yesterday and looked at a LOT of potential campers. Unfortunately our budget won't allow an Airstream or Lance or other small-market trailer. We did find a dealer within 1 1/2 hours from our home that carries the No Boundaries trailers. The independent suspension really looks good. The 20.2 model we were looking at doesn't have a slide out so that eliminates problems breaking down and/or leaking at an inopportune time. It also comes with 2 200w solar panels for the occasional times when we might have to boon-dock. The 24 foot length also helps in getting into remote campsites. It is just the right size for the 2 of us.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

We do plan on spending most of our time in Canada's National and Provincial parks on the way up and back.

Stayed in many such parks with a 36 ft motorhome and never felt like I needed a rugged RV to do so. Ditto for Alaska state parks and boondock camping areas. Sometimes not as well-groomed as typical areas in the lower 48, but not a worry. Just saying you may not need as rugged a trailer as you are focused on.

 

[Fordtractor]

Stayed in many such parks with a 36 ft motorhome and never felt like I needed a rugged RV to do so. Ditto for Alaska state parks and boondock camping areas. Sometimes not as well-groomed as typical areas in the lower 48, but not a worry. Just saying you may not need as rugged a trailer as you are focused on.

Thanks, Good to know!

 

[bigbAZ]

I would be looking at fiberglass, namely Bigfoot.

 

[CharlesinGA]

Long Long Honeymoon did a trip to Alaska some years back, THIS is the playlist for that trip

RVing with Joe looked at the NoBo 19.3 and has some comments on it. They have an Ember which he likes for rough traveling.
Joe and his wife live in Alberta and did a 30 day Alberta/Yukon/BC/Alaska trip this year. He does not have a playlist but he did number them. Here is Episode #1, and #2

Folks on the Escape Trailer forum did an Alaska trip in 2025 and here is the thread to it. Your log in here works on any RVLife forum, which the Escape forum is. It won't auto log in the first time but the same user name and password will work.

On any Alaska trip I have read of, you will need to plan on a new windshield when you return.

Charles

 

[CharlesinGA]

Unless you have a good bit of solar and Li batteries, I would want an absorption fridge and most certainly a tank water heater, and not a on demand unit.

Charles

 

[Kirk]

It is just the right size for the 2 of us.

And that is probably the most important factor. What you two like is far more important than the opinion of others, including myself.

 

[MoInEd]

I am from Alberta and have camped in many National parks in AB and BC. Some are better than others, but I don't think you need specially equipped trailers in any of them. The more well known ones are very popular, and they are reserved very soon when they open up for reservation (in the first day!). So plan ahead...
I have good batteries and good solar, and a propane Fridge and always go to sites without power (AC is not needed most of the times really).

 

[Derby6]

If you a.ready own a ‘32 in good shape I’d roll with it. You will be fine and just have to really slowdown from destruction bay to Tok and maybe down to Glenallen on the Tok cutoff if you go that way.
You already own and know the trailer and I’m guessing you like it and have worked out some bugs. I’d hate to buy a new unit and drag it up here.
Thinking way outside the box. Drag it up here. Use it. And sell it in AK and hi tail home empty with a lil $$$ in you pocket.

 

[Fordtractor]

RVing with Joe looked at the NoBo 19.3 and has some comments on it. They have an Ember which he likes for rough traveling.
Joe and his wife live in Alberta and did a 30 day Alberta/Yukon/BC/Alaska trip this year. He does not have a playlist but he did number them. Here is Episode #1, and #2

Thanks for the links. Joe's video really helped with my decision making. After viewing his other links and yours, I don't know if I can wait another year to travel North!

 

[Lou Schneider]

Take a look at some of the smaller Outdoors RV rigs. They are quite beefy as demonstrated by their heavier weight, but your truck won’t have an issue with it. The one we had was by far the best built rig we ever owned. We towed it to some pretty remote and rough boondocks sites in the US, but not to Alaska. BTW, we drove our 40’ motorhome towing a Jeep Grand Cherokee. No issues there or back beyond a cracked half-wall attachment that wasn’t put together well to begin with. The big rig definitely restricted where we could camp, but there were options everywhere. Next summer we are headed to western Canada, the area Gary mentioned above. We liked western Canada more than Alaska.

Not just Outdoors RV, but any of the Northwood Industries products. They have long histories of being rugged and robust units.

 

[DutchmenSport]

Just curious.... have you ever considered a truck camper? That might be an alternative!

 

[jlhog]

That's like going to a Harley Davidson forum and asking what is the best oil to use. Lots of variables. It should boil down to what you like the best.