On the trail with the backroads

Backroads Trail Series on the Colorado TAT: How This Camper Conquered the High Passes

Stretching from the New Mexico desert plateaus to alpine passes over 12,000 feet, the Colorado section of the Trans America Trail is pure drama—goat trails, abandoned mines, cattle gates by the hundred, and some of the most technical high-country roads in the lower 48. We’ve been chasing the full TAT one state at a time since 2018. This year it was finally Colorado… and our first major trip behind the new Backroads Trail Series camper from Expedition Trailers (expeditiontrailers.com).

After years of a rooftop tent on a trailer, we wanted four walls, real insulation, a proper kitchen, and suspension that could keep up with the Rockies. The Backroads Trail Series delivered. Built by hand in Missouri on a hot-dipped galvanized 4-inch CNC laser-cut steel chassis, it features CruiseMaster XT independent coil suspension, the CruiseMaster DO35 articulating coupler with hand brake, LT265/70R17 mud tires, a true 4-season all-aluminum cabin with 2" high-density foam insulation, a queen-size 60x80 sleeping area, rear split-door galley with National Luna dual-zone fridge/freezer, on-demand hot water, and REDARC power management. Dry weight sits in the 2,200–3,100 lb range depending on options, GVWR 3,500 lbs, overall length 15 ft. Compact enough to follow a Jeep Gladiator anywhere, tough enough for the Alpine Loop.

This is the story of how it performed—every rocky switchback, every 12,000-ft pass, every bucket-list camp.

We climbed out of New Mexico onto the high Colorado plateau and pulled into a private-land spot overlooking the valleys (the same goat-trail overlook I’d wanted years earlier). After 18 hours of travel the camper’s independent suspension had already soaked up the long gravel miles better than anything we’d towed before. Setup was quick: Taruca awning out, instant propane water heater fired up for Renee’s first shower. The rear galley kitchen—split doors that double the counter space, stainless sink, fridge/freezer—made dinner simple. Theo arrived in the Grenadier, then Colton and Aiden in the Bronco. We aired down to 18–20 psi with the Faster Fate system and cracked open the custom bourbon bar. The camper felt like a solid base camp from the first night.

Early start into Colorado proper. Cattle gates, the tiny two-cell jail in Branson, perfectly graded gravel, then the Spanish Peaks and Silver Mountains. As elevation climbed into the San Isabel National Forest the roads got rockier and the views exploded. The CruiseMaster XT coil suspension was “kicking some major ass.” Independent travel kept the camper planted and comfortable while the truck worked. We hit 10,500 ft, lunched on Colton’s ham sandwiches, then dropped into Bishop Castle—Jim Bishop’s one-man masterpiece started in 1969. The camper rolled right up without drama.

Through the Wet Mountain Valley and up to our War Mountain camp (another Gaia 3D-scouted bucket-list spot). After 250 trail miles we arrived at 5:30 p.m. with enough daylight left to just sit and stare before setting up. The DO35 hitch and articulating coupler made the tight final approach feel effortless. Awning up against possible storms, whiskey drinks, pork rinds, and a late night. The 4-season insulated aluminum cabin kept us cozy.

Breakfast in Salida (chicken-fried steak for me), then the climb toward Marshall Pass. Poncha Creek Road turned into an actual creek—drone scout confirmed it, so we backtracked for an 11-mile detour past Devil’s Armchair. The camper tracked perfectly through the mud and rocks. Marshall Pass itself (Continental Divide Trail intersection) and the long descent into Marshall Glades were smooth. Gas in Sargents, Black Sage Pass, Lost Pinos Pass (first real San Juan views), Cathedral Point (if I could stash a cabin anywhere…), and Slumgullion Pass. Showers in Lake City, dinner at the Packer Saloon, then quiet night on Red Mountain overlooking Silverton. The camper’s ground clearance, mud tires, and independent suspension made the long day feel shorter.

5:30 a.m. start. Goal: Cinnamon Pass, Animas Forks, drop the trailer in Silverton so we could run the crazier trails light. Cinnamon Pass Road out of Lake City delivers wildlife, then 300–700-ft shear drop-offs and switchbacks that gain 2,000 ft in two miles. Four-low, Austin Powers multi-point turns for the solid-axle trucks. The camper? It handled the rock crawling and steep grades with surprising ease—honestly looking smoother than the truck in places. The CruiseMaster XT suspension and DO35 hitch kept everything stable and tracking true even when the trail got technical.

Summit: 12,640 ft. Descent into Animas Forks (11,168 ft, highest mining camp in North America) on 11–14% grades—four-low and ride it. We dropped the trailer at Silverton Campground (base for the night) and ran free: California Gulch, the reveal at California Pass (12,960 ft), Lake Como (guys jumped, I flew the drone), Hurricane Pass, then Corkscrew Pass (12,240 ft) with its blood-red iron-ore mountains. Tight multi-point switchbacks, side-by-sides flying past—the camper would have been fine, but we left it parked so we could push harder. Million Dollar Highway into Ouray for the blackened John Wayne prime rib at the Outlaw, then back to Silverton. Zero issues. The camper just sat ready.

Imogene Pass side quest—back over the Million Dollar Highway, Camp Bird longer rock-crawling route. Gladiator, Grenadier, and Bronco all fine; the camper would have followed without complaint. Poser Rock, then the steep final mile-and-a-half (1,000 ft gain) to 13,114 ft. Telluride across the valley (road closed). On the way down Theo wedged the Grenadier and sliced his air-down system. No proper jack among us, but a kind couple helped us jimmy-rig a fix. We grabbed the camper and climbed to Velocity Basin (11,291 ft)—now top-five campsite of all time: high alpine lake, snow patches, epic views, wind-sheltered. The independent suspension and articulating hitch made the final rough approach a non-event. Tacos in the rear galley, cheese tax for the dogs, mule deer on the ridges. Slept better in the insulated aluminum cabin than I do at home.

Guys ran Pikayu Gulch to Sound Democrat Mill while we napped and shopped in Silverton. Then Ophir Pass—one of the easier Alpine Loop climbs (10,000 to ~11,790 ft). Rocks get bigger heading west, but the DO35 Cruise Master hitch “stays together past a normal camper’s breaking point.” You can see the whole valley road from the top. Through Telluride to Bridal Veil Falls (365-ft waterfall), then 30 minutes of trail to Gold King Basin (11,338 ft). Another perfect high camp with mining remnants. Last night with Colton and Aiden—Telluride Blonde Ales under the Taruca awning. Next morning they headed back to Kentucky. The camper had been flawless for days of high-elevation, rocky, dusty trail.

Just us and Theo. Smooth gravel past Lone Cone, wildflowers and deer everywhere, last big look back at the San Juans from Black Mesa. Long descent from 10,500 ft to the desert, Dolores River Valley (one distant bear), then up onto the Colorado Plateau that felt like Oklahoma. Snack and fuel in Dove Creek, one obscure turn, a cattle gate, and we were in Utah—greeted by sunflowers. Zero camper issues the entire 800-plus miles. No broken hinges, no suspension complaints, no power or water failures, no sleepless nights. The rear kitchen made every meal easy. The on-demand hot water and 4-season cabin turned cold high-altitude nights into comfort. The CruiseMaster XT independent suspension and DO35 hitch turned technical passes into confidence. This rig has completely changed the way we overland.

We did 800+ miles of Colorado TAT—goat trails, 12,000–13,000-ft passes, Alpine Loop classics, side quests, and remote camps—with a brand-new Backroads Trail Series. It followed our Gladiator through everything, slept better than home, cooked better than any rooftop-tent setup we’ve ever used, and never once made us regret four walls. Hand-built in Missouri, customizable to the moon, and purpose-built for this exact kind of travel.

If you’re looking at a hard-sided overland trailer that can actually keep up with real trails instead of just looking good in the parking lot, the Backroads Trail Series from Expedition Trailers is the real deal. We can’t wait to put more states behind it.

Until next time… we appreciate you. Air down, keep your eyes on the road (and the views), and get yourself some four walls that can actually go places.