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Off Grid Trailers (OGT) and Black Series both show up in searches for "off-grid trailer," but they are not really competing for the same trip. One is a 1,900-lb all-metal teardrop you can tow behind a mid-size SUV; the other is a hard-wall camper with a bathroom, kitchen, and a lithium power plant that needs a proper truck. This comparison lays out the numbers so you can figure out which category you are actually shopping in.
Figures checked on 15 September 2026 against offgridtrailers.com (Expedition 3.0, Trailhead trim) and the Black Series product pages.
The two trailers at a glance
| Spec | Off Grid Trailers Expedition 3.0 | Black Series HQ12 | Black Series HQ15 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $34,999 (Trailhead trim) | $49,899 | $54,899 |
| Dry weight | 1,900 lb | 5,080 lb | 5,291 lb |
| GVWR | 3,500 lb | 7,500 lb | 7,000 lb |
| Length | 166 in bumper to hitch (about 13 ft 10 in) | 12 ft interior pop-top | 15 ft interior |
| Sleeps | 2 (queen bed) | 4 | 3 |
| Fresh water | 31 gal | 64 gal | 63.4 gal |
| Bathroom | No toilet; outdoor shower via Truma AquaGo | Indoor fiberglass wet bath | Separate indoor bathroom with shower and vanity |
| Kitchen | Rear galley (outdoor) | Indoor kitchen plus slide-out outdoor kitchen | Indoor kitchen plus slide-out outdoor kitchen |
| Standard power | Dual 12V AGM batteries; solar port (panels not standard) | 200Ah battery, 600W solar, 2,000W inverter | 400Ah battery, 600W solar, 2,000W inverter |
| Climate | Optional | 13,500 BTU A/C and 16,000 BTU furnace standard | 13,500 BTU A/C and 16,000 BTU furnace standard |
| Suspension | Timbren 3500HD axle-less | Independent dual-shock | Independent dual-shock |
| Built in | Canada (Calgary, AB) | Assembled for the U.S. market; Upland, CA headquarters | Same |
Where Off Grid Trailers wins
- Tow vehicle freedom. At 3,500 lb GVWR the Expedition can follow a 4Runner, Tacoma, Bronco, or Wrangler down trails that no 7,000-lb camper should attempt. This is the single biggest reason to buy one.
- Price. Around $15,000 less than the least expensive Black Series.
- Simplicity. All-metal body, fewer systems, less to maintain and winterize.
- Tight trail agility. Under 14 feet long with an articulating hitch, it goes where a 20-plus-foot trailer cannot turn around.
Where Black Series wins
- You live inside it. Standing headroom, an indoor toilet and shower, an indoor kitchen, a dinette, and real climate control. A teardrop is a bed with a galley; a Black Series is a small apartment.
- Power out of the box. Lithium, roof solar, and a 2,000W inverter are standard. On the Expedition, solar panels are an add-on and the standard batteries are AGM. See how long the factory system lasts in the solar and battery calculator.
- Water. Twice the fresh water, plus grey and black tanks so you are not carrying a portable toilet.
- Family capacity. The HQ12 sleeps four and the HQ17 sleeps five; the Expedition is a two-person trailer.
- Long-stay comfort. Standard A/C and furnace mean summer desert and shoulder-season mountain trips are comfortable rather than survivable.
The honest trade-off
If your truck is a mid-size pickup or SUV and you plan to tow it up real four-wheel-drive trails, the Expedition (or another sub-3,500-lb trailer) is the right category, and a Black Series is too much trailer. Read which Black Series your truck can tow before you fall in love with a floor plan.
If you tow with a half-ton or larger truck and you want to camp for a week without hookups, in any weather, with a bathroom and a kitchen inside, a Black Series HQ12 or HQ15 gives you that for the price of a mid-range conventional travel trailer, with a galvanized chassis and independent suspension underneath.
Bottom line
Buy the Off Grid Trailers Expedition for light, nimble, two-person trail camping behind a smaller vehicle. Buy a Black Series HQ12 or HQ15 when the trip is longer, the group is bigger, or you want the comforts of home at the end of a rough road. Compare every Black Series model or request a quote.
Related comparisons: Black Series vs Opus · Black Series vs Taxa · Black Series vs Patriot Campers · HQ12 vs HQ15