If you haven't guessed, if I could, I'd live in the woods. No phone, no internet, no contact with the outside world. My therapist has said that's probably not healthy for me mentally, but I counter by waving my hands at civilization and the internet which usually sees her then begrudgingly nod in agreement.
But regular stick-and-pole tents, and even the rooftop tent I have for my Can-Am, will only get you so far. You need more. I need more. And more includes things to zip around the backcountry with ease, as I don't have a horse...yet.
I was recently at the Western Hunt Expo in Salt Lake City, Utah, snagging myself my second Americano for the day, when I came across the folks at Jumping Jack Trailers. And, well, this small business offers folks like myself who love the outdoors, and staying in the outdoors for prolonged periods of time, not just the ability to tow a more comfortable and spacious tent into the woods, but do so by also pulling along all the powersport machines you could dream of.
It really is the do-it-all solution for backcountry campers, hikers, hunters, and riders. And the one I was looking at could actually be towed by your average UTV, towing not only all your gear, but a dirt bike or ATV, too.
What's truly fascinating to me is how simple Jumping Jacks' design truly is, and why no one before them thought about it. At its core, you get an off-road trailer with off-road tires, that acts very similar to a regular trailer. Depending on the size you want, you can get a UTV, ATV, or a couple of dirt bikes onto the ramp and trailer itself. You could also leave room for all your gear.
But by raising the deck, increasing the platform's rigidity with steel, and allowing the whole thing to open like some sort of Russian nesting doll that opens to a full-size tent, you get the best of everything. For the hunters in the group, you could pack a dirt bike or ATV, have all your gear in your truck bed or UTV bed, and still have more than enough room to pack out a bull moose or elk.
And instead of freezing or drowing in a regular tent, you're up off the ground. You're not touching dirt. And that goes a long way to extending just how much time you can spend in the backcountry doing all the fun things you want to do or animals you want to chase.
Pricing isn't bad either, especially when you consider what a good walled tent and trailer will run you these days. A small Jumping Jack Trailer will set you back $9,000 and can head north of $15,000 for one that'll fit your UTV. But to me, and what these Jumping Jack trailers offer, doesn't seem all that unreasonable. You're getting a lot for that money and it'd let you do a lot more when you finally get out into the woods.
But yeah, these look awesome and I'm already thinking about the adventures I could go on with one. Who wants to find some alpine trout to chase?
