Camping is a fantastic recreational activity that has many benefits beyond simply enjoying the outdoors. In addition to keeping you in tune with nature, it is good for your physical, mental and emotional well-being. There are now countless ways to get out and explore new places, but compact camping trailers seem to be one of the biggest trends in outdoor living at the moment, with many adventurers adhering to the principles of minimalism when it comes to camping gear.
The Ushi Chuck, a tow-anywhere modular camper designed for both work and play, is one of the most compact overlanding rigs we’ve seen lately. It measures just 8.3 feet (2.5 meters) from rear bumper to front hitch, stands 5.8 feet (1.7 meters) tall, and weighs just 711 pounds (322 kg), but its modular design and thoughtful features for gear storage and mounting will allow you to effortlessly carry everything you need for outdoor adventures.
Built by North Carolina-based Ushi Outdoors, this off-road micro-camper is an evolution of the company’s original Ushi Trailer, introduced last year. The new product is actually a lightweight rig that was specifically designed with functionality in mind. With an open cargo bed, a steel roof rack with MOLLE panel, a front storage compartment, and an available rear hitch for additional mounting options, this small camper can haul nearly double its dry weight, and you can transform it into a reliable adventure companion with the right camping gear. It’s a great design that gives it a smaller carbon footprint but has the ability to incite the same wanderlust as larger campers.
Thanks to its compact and lightweight design, it can be easily towed behind the family car and taken on impromptu trips. In addition, its modularity allows for extraordinary versatility and can be used both as a camper trailer and as a work or trade trailer. This means that you can use it to its full potential even when you are not exploring nature.
Photo: Ushi Outdoors
Built on a 1/4-inch aluminum tubing frame, the Ushi Chuck micro trailer is constructed using quality materials that give it strength, durability, and low weight. It features a set of 16″ steel wheels wrapped in chunky mud tires and boasts a torsion axle suspension with a 4″ lift. The trailer comes standard with brake lights and 12-gauge steel fenders coated in textured polyurethane. These features, combined with a generous 14 inches of ground clearance, make it fully capable of handling any type of terrain, meaning this camper trailer will follow you wherever your adventures take you.
Its main selling point is its ability to seamlessly transition from a practical cargo trailer to a fully equipped camper. With a 43 x 39 x 21-inch (109 x 99 x 53 cm) boxy cargo box and a modular MOLLE-style steel roof rack, the Chuck transforms into a capable base camp once you reach your destination.
The cargo bed is designed to hold larger items, such as coolers, boxes, duffel bags, stoves, and other camping gear. Although the micro-camper does not have a full-fledged kitchen, it does feature a mountable countertop and a side mount for a fold-down sink. As such, campers can bring their own portable stove or grill and cook delicious meals in the wild.
Photo: Ushi Outdoors
Above the cargo bed is a Molle-style steel rack, built to support up to 700 lbs of static weight. A plethora of mounting points on the rack’s towers and crossbars allow owners to add a variety of items, while larger MOLLE panels extend up the sides and lower front of the rack for even more accessories.
The cargo storage solutions on this trailer don’t end there, as the Ushi Chuck also features a weatherproof, lockable hitch box and can be fitted with additional hitches and racks for sports equipment such as fishing rods, bikes and kayaks or other accessories such as tow boards, spare wheels and Rotopax canisters.
Of course, this camper is too compact to include built-in sleeping arrangements, but those who want to camp have the option of setting up a rooftop tent. Buyers can add Ushi’s two-/three-person tent to its long list of optional features or choose their own.
Photo: Ushi Outdoors
Ushi Outdoors offers a really long list of options to allow buyers to customize their camper to their needs and turn it into their dream adventure. This list includes 15 and 30-liter pressurized water tanks, an awning, LED lighting, a sink faucet, a grill mount, sliding drawers, a battery, and more.
Although the camper trailer is already quite small, the aluminum bumper and tow bar are removable, making it even easier to store in the garage when not in use.
In terms of cost, the Ushi Chuck All-Terrain Modular Camper starts at a budget of $6,990. However, for that amount, you only get the base trailer with standard inclusions, so you’ll need to accessorize it if you want an efficient base camp, which will significantly increase the final price.