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RV review: InTech O-V-R Expedition overlanding trailer

Tony Barthel

Today’s RV review is of the 2023 InTech O-V-R Expedition. This is one of the numerous travel trailers that I’m seeing that have a more ruggedized appearance and functionality. In fact there’s no doubt that this is intended to specifically compete with some of the other trailers we’ve looked at recently including the offerings from Ember RV.

O-V-R

I have already been a fan of InTech products including the InTech Terra Oasis for a variety of reasons, but build quality and materials are at the top of that list.

InTech is one of the very few companies that builds their own chassis to start with. The foundation on which their trailers are based is completely welded aluminum tubing. This has the advantage of being rust free but the size of the tubing also means it’s a strong structure.

The proof of that includes the fact that the company that makes InTech trailers also makes some heavy duty industrial trailers as well.

To that chassis InTech adds a torsion axle suspension including on these models. The torsion suspension has the benefit of being very long lasting but also providing a much smoother ride so that the trailer itself and the stuff in it, your stuff, doesn’t get jostled and jarred nearly as much.

While the company’s aluminum team is at it, they also weld up a full aluminum cage structure for these trailers. To that they bond aluminum exterior walls and even an aluminum sheet roof. No rubber roof here, it’s all metal.

You do get a choice between a more traditional white exterior and a graphite model that really screams, “overlanding, baby!”

The O-V-R series is built almost more like an industrial trailer than the other offerings from the company, which offer swoopy, unusual lines that are beautiful. In fact, so much so, Jayco ripped off the design for their newest model, the Jayco Jay Feather Volare.

Thus far there are three floor plans for the O-V-R, the Expedition, the Navigate and the Adventure. I’m going to start by looking at the Expedition which is the smallest of the series and the least expensive, starting with an MSRP of $58,380.

Sleeping quarters

There are some very clever features designed into the interior of this trailer but the thing I liked the best is an optional bunk. That bunk folds up against the ceiling when not in use and allows you to fully utilize the L shaped dinette below it.

In fact that dinette is also a fairly large place to sit or sleep with a length of seven feet and a cushion width of 26 inches. There’s a table there, but this actually doesn’t fold down to add to the sleeping space. It’s just a table. So you just have your back dinette cushion for sleeping which would be good enough for one, although they could be rather tall.

In fact tall campers might really appreciate this rig with its interior ceiling height of 6’ 11”. That’s more than in many travel trailers.

Back to that bunk, when you do need it, two latches open it up and then it folds open part-way and folds again to form the bunk. That sleeping surface is 31 inches long and 6’ 2” tall. The limiting factor of that bunk might be the weight capacity at 175 pounds.

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The main sleeping place would be the front bedroom where InTech employs two twin-sized beds, like Lucy and Ricky! Did you ever wonder how little Ricky was made when they were sleeping separately?

Anyhow, the mattresses that InTech uses here are six inch memory foam mattresses - much better stuff than you’ll usually find in an RV. Since there are twin beds there’s also a cabinet between them along with a night stand and then a cabinet below that.

This also features a window up above the bed that is, in theory, like the Stargazer window in something like the Ember 191MSL but isn’t quite as sophisticated. This is simply a glass pane overhead with an accordion fold shade over it. The one in the Ember is a dual-pane polycarbonate window that opens - I like that better. But a window up there is incrementally better than a dorky windshield, so I’ll take it.

Have I mentioned that I think bedroom windshields in travel trailers are a silly idea? They are.

More inside stuff

The bathroom in this trailer is a wet bath which can be a deal breaker for some travelers. But this is truly unusual in that the door to the bathroom is fully sealed so you’re in what amounts to a waterproof chamber.

Further, the outside wall of the bathroom is aluminum so it’s kinda cool. For a wet bath. There’s also a porcelain toilet so that’s a plus. Remember this trailer is just 22’ 4” in length so a wet bath is almost a foregone conclusion. And I do like how they’ve done it. For a wet bath.

Otherwise the kitchen features a two-burner propane stove beneath which is a microwave. I wish the nuker were a convection model, but it isn’t. So there.

Cabinet and storage space is good even when you choose the optional overhead bunk, which takes the place of some storage.

There’s a pantry at the door that also has two cubbies for shoes beneath it plus other storage and cabinet space. One thing I didn’t see were any drawers and that could be a bummer for some campers. But I do like the overhead cabinets that sport magnetic closers.

One thing that concerned me the first time I saw the InTech Terra Oasis was that the interior might feel rather stark. The cabinets are high-gloss surfaces and there aren’t a lot of natural colors. But, once I saw one in person, I didn’t feel that was the case at all, so I suspect that would be true here as well.

Outside matters

I really like a few features of the exterior of this trailer. In particular, there are a fair number of cabinets outside. Cabinets under the front, a large storage compartment across the rear and even one on the road side under the bed.

This also has a great optional outdoor kitchen. This is mounted on a drawer slide and features a flat-top griddle and a 12 volt cooler. I really like this.

There’s also diamond plate on the lower portion of the exterior to add to that tough appearance.

Another nice thing, all the outside cabinet doors swing up and feature magnetic retainers. Nice.

Up top there’s a Girard awning and the significance of that is how fancy these things are. First, they don’t have legs, just arms. Look at me all grown up and not making a ground beef joke.

Ooops.

But they also fully extend or fully retract at the single touch of a button. These awnings also incorporate a wind sensor which is a very good thing.

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Boondocking and travel access

The whole appearance of this trailer screams off-grid adventure. Toward that end this trailer also has no slides so it’s completely accessible for mid-journey stops.

There is an optional Off Grid package that incorporates 4 100-watt solar panels, an MPPT charge controller (those are the good ones) and 200 amp hours of lithium batteries. There is also a 2,000 watt inverter which runs everything in the trailer but the air conditioner. You can also add more battery power and additional solar through a plug on the side for portable panels.

Tony’s Commentary

There’s something really unique about InTech but one of the more unusual things about the company itself is how the team are paid. Typically the people who work in an RV plant get paid by the piece. So, if the goal is to build 30 trailers in a day, there’s a big rush to get through that production and on to whatever you have planned after work.

Instead, InTech pays their workers the way you might expect factory workers to get paid but they also are part of a profit sharing. The idea is, the better the company does, the fewer the warranty claims and the happier the customers are, the more money goes into the team’s pockets. That is brilliant. And it absolutely shows-up in the build of their products.

I was a little disappointed in the window over the bed only because I’ve become spoiled by the one in the Ember RV product line. This one doesn’t open and uses a thin accordion shade so I wonder how effectively it blocks light?

There are also a number of cubbies that have bungee cords across them which is great for storage, but they also incorporate a blue light. This makes me think that they’re those bug elimination lights you see in restaurants. I’m not a fan of blue lights, except when it means I’m getting a deal at Kmart. Well, they’re mostly gone now so no more blue light specials.

Overall I really like this offering and the price point is highly competitive. For example, at this price you could favorably compare this with some significantly less well made trailers that don’t offer a lot of the thoughtful features InTech uses.

I’m already a fan of InTech products and think this just goes farther to bring more people into the fold. And, perhaps, you can find a dealership that’s having their own blue light special and will make you a deal on one of these. They’re certainly worth seeking out.

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