There are many trailers on the market. And new innovative perks come up in every single one - new technology that makes living in an RV more comfortable, feel more at home, or anything else that can be imagined. Occasionally, though, there is a trailer that really stands out and catches the eye. Many times it is a smaller manufacturer, trying a different take on the modern trailer, or an updated look at vintage.
But this time it's one of the largest manufacturers, Forest River, taking a shot at the rugged, boondocking trend that has been explored in recent years within the outdoor/RV industry. And they succeed. The No Boundaries, or NOBO, line of RVs has been a standout at the RV shows over the past two years. It first debuted at the Elkhart RV Dealer Open House in September 2017. They come in three different series. They are small, off-road, type trailers that are made to be towable by 4-cylinder and 6-cylinder vehicles. Many of them feature roof racks for kayaks, surfboards, and whatever else one desires to bring along camping. Some of them have a tent on top of the camper for sleeping or hanging out called the NOBO Nest Rooftop tent.
The No Boundaries toy hauler series displayed at the 2019 Family Lifestyle Expo at the Farmington Civic Center. [Photo by Andrew Malo]
Craig and Blaine at Parkland RV Center in Farmington, Missouri, were looking for something that could complement their success with the R-Pods. "Those R-Pods are fantastic and we have been selling them like crazy," Craig says, "But I think we are saturating our market with them. So we were looking for something with the same quality and curb appeal as them." They traveled to an RV show and when they saw the NOBO trailers, it instantly caught their attention. "We got to meet with the project manager and we really hit it off," Craig says. "He poured his heart and soul into these trailers." Parkland RV Center is off a major road just outside the Ozarks of Missouri, so they like to find trailers that catch the eye.
They were also encouraged when they learned that the NOBO's are made by the same people that built the R-Pods. "Those R-Pods are bullet proof," Blaine says, "We have been renting two of them out since 2015 and never have any maintenance issues on them and people love them."
The NOBO trailer has quite a few cool features that make it particularly rugged. First, they are an all-metal construction and made out of AZDEL Onboard. According to AZDEL’s website, AZDEL is twice the strong as wood, yet half the weight. It also does not rot like wood and is free from mold, formaldehyde, and mildew, making it a great choice for constructing RVs. The roof of the NOBO trailer doesn't need to be resurfaced, like most RVs, just regular caulking at the seams. The roof can also hold a staggering 500 pounds. “I mean that is basically unheard of in RVs,” Blaine says. The interior is well designed and the smallest of the line has square cushions instead of a mattress. This might seem off-putting, but it is actually pretty ingenious as folks can configure the cushions into a bed, chairs, or a sofa for sitting in the camper. The small one also comes equipped with a wraparound awning that easily extends the campsite.
Another interesting feature is the suspension. They are single axle, but rather than use the usual spring suspension, it has a torsion axle suspension. Blaine has a good example of what that is: "When you're leaving Chicago this time of year and your trailer hits one of those huge potholes that come around; if you have a torsion suspension, one wheel will hit it and the other will stay completely level. It is great for a smooth ride.” It has high clearance and larger than normal off road tires to travel to those hard to reach places.
The aim of these trailers is to cater to the off-road, rugged campers - people who like to get out and really enjoy nature. The interesting amenities of the No Boundaries travel trailer appeal to trends within that type of group. For example, there is a built in bottle opener on all NOBO trailers, as well as options for Wi-Fi, solar, a JBL portable Bluetooth speaker, USB charging stations and more.
Both Craig and Blaine are really impressed with the NOBO and think they will be great for business. “They are not cheap, but it shows in the materials and quality of craftsmanship,” Craig says. The NOBO trailers have only been around for about a year and a half and only just recently has inventory started to spread outside of Indiana and Ohio where they are manufactured. “We got our trailers after the season was over so we haven’t sold many yet,” Craig says. “But I think they are going to be a huge hit with our customers.” Parkland RV has a customer base that likes to get out in the mountains and participate in fishing and water sports, so having a camper that is able to accommodate that is ideal.
When looking for a specialized camper, often it is good to look for smaller manufacturers that specialize in niche products. It is interesting to see a the second largest RV manufacturer in the United States, Forest River, take an interest in this growing segment of the RV world and put out a bold product RV line like the No Boundaries. By all accounts, they seem to have succeeded.