A review of the lightweight and capable GO Camper from SylvanSport
Trailers, for the most part, have one main function in the overlanding sense. Camping, and outdoor equipment hauling. While they are wonderful, they often sit in between adventures, limiting themselves for use, until now. Enter the SylvanSport GO Camper Trailer, a unique option in the adventure camper realm that can do many things in between each adventure. Additionally, the GO Trailer is easily modified if you want to tackle more difficult terrain
The SylvanSport GO trailer is made in Brevard, NC. Since they were in my home state, I had a chance to try out one of their demo trailers. Each trailer is assembled by hand, all by TIG welding, in the 30,000 square foot facility in the Appalachian Mountains. Sylvan Sports has been in business for 15 years. We had a chance to go visit the facility and test the GO trailer for a new tame adventure for OutdoorX4.
For testing, I had a multi-destination camping trip in the family car, with the last few days testing it out in the back roads on NC with my Jeep. Over the course of 10 days, this trailer became home, lawnmower transport, and just a downright superstar that made our trip a joy. We started from the mountains of North Carolina and ended up at the L.T. Wright Knives “Pouthouse” campout.
This trailer, with a 2” receiver, weighs a minuscule 840lbs, an absolutely manageable weight that only added a few mpg on the main towing vehicle tested, a 2016 Toyota Highlander. The Gross Vehicle Mass is rated to 1600 lbs., giving the GO a 760 lb. holding capacity. As it stands, in “travel mode” the GO has two crossbeams rated to 160 lbs. The addition of Thule tubular rack mounts makes this multifaceted design even more adaptable for kayaks, trail bikes, solar showers, or the works on top of the trailer itself. The whole system is connected by the standard 4 prong hitch connection system.
There are multiple “modes” the trailer boasts. We used it in “travel mode”, the shortest of the configurations. Action packers and other tote bags were able to stow underneath the luxurious GO tent setup, which folds tightly into its own plastic setup sandwiched near the top of the rig. We had tons of room to spare, even with two extra tables and other items. Once you find the right containers, the 4ft x 7ft-space under the trailer is never ending. A good organizer can fit an incredible amount of equipment, and we had to stop ourselves from bringing too much stuff due to the extra space. However, room for a few luxury items, like tables for the kids, is a huge benefit of the trailer’s design.
The most important role of this trailer is the “Camping mode.” The camping mode utilizes a spacious removable tent that holds what they call a “4 man” setup, but this tent has more living and moving space than most small trailers out there. With a turn crank, pins, and a couple of poles, the camp castle can be set up within 15 minutes. This “Tent” made our trip. It has hard panels that stow in the roof, which we will further explore later. These panels can come out and connect to make a king and a half size bed. We used all the setups, but at night time there was space underneath for our dog, keeping her well away from our mud free sleeping area with the kids in between. The 6.5 ft height allows for complete standing space even for the tallest people, and a full-size zippered door. Ventilation and condensation were never a problem either, and even when we basically camped in a cloud, the airflow from the bottom vent ports to the windows allowed for a dry slumber. We were constantly looking forward to returning to this home away from home every night.
The previously mentioned table system sets up with a strap system. This holds the panel up as a table. The other panel can be stowed away, or even put on the wall for a projector or dry erase presentation. I immediately thought of demonstrating at overland campouts and finally having the ability to project onto a screen for past jungle trips I take people on. The camping configuration also had the optional carpet on the bottom, which was an absolute luxury on our feet during the cold spells we had during the trip. The GO comes with two lavish tent pads that can be used outside the tent and stored in the roof space. We had the optional extra shorter pads for the kids. These are stored in the front waterproof lock case. This large lockable waterproof storage pod in the front of the trailer can also be used as a cooler and is drainable. Without these panels, it sleeps two in Taj Mahal comfort. Options include the Mr. Stow-it organizer, a partitioned organizer that clipped onto the wall which helped keep all my camping gear organized.
Perhaps the most appealing feature of the SylvanSport GO is the fact that it can be used as an actual trailer. In “Transport” mode, the two metal “sleeping platforms” connect to make a high walled trailer. I found these Platforms, with the tent unit functioning as a roof, make the most excellent tables if you have to sell items, they also make a small U-Haul sized hauling area to put very tall items in, without having to take off the tent. Of course, all the panels can come off, along with the tent, for lots of hauling. The back gate is a removable small tubular step that is locked on by a bungee cord. Be careful not to forget about it, as it can drag. This back-gate functions as a step into the trailer when it is in the camping configuration. The Trailer itself is stabilized by stabilizer jacks. There is a pin to set the stabilizer jacks up, and each one makes the trailer completely level. It may help to have a couple of 2×4’s in muddy situations to increase the surface area.
As the trailer sits, it is approximately 12 inches off the ground with a Dexter Torsion axle. Take away the spare tire, and you get 13 inches. The 205/65-10 sized tires were adequate for our needs and we had no problems, even with the Jeep on rocky trails around the national forests in Virginia. However, roads that were very much impassable without the use of 4wd. The trailer can be modified to follow suit. A few different overland travelers have reported that they can take off the bolt-on fenders, and have added much larger tires to accommodate their needs. The only other thing that would be needed is longer stabilizer jacks, and if you want, a longer dolly jack to make a hard-use rig. We had no problems with ours from the factory, as is, off-roading and mudding through the states on our camping trip.
This amazing trailer proves its statement as one of the coolest trailers ever. I even had to use it to take the old ride along tractor to a small engine garage, and it proved just as easy to use as a normal trailer. The American made multitool functionality makes this trailer a real unique option for those who do it all.
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