Outdoors

Mogo Freedom gullwing trailer hauls outdoor gear, sleeps two

Mogo Freedom gullwing trailer hauls outdoor gear, sleeps two
The Mogo Trailer is an open cargo hauler and camper
The Mogo Trailer is an open cargo hauler and camper
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Mogo Freedom creates a tiny, portable movie theater
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Mogo Freedom creates a tiny, portable movie theater
Mogo Freedom's "world's smallest cinema"
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Mogo Freedom's "world's smallest cinema"
The Mogo Freedom trailer can be used with doors open or closed
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The Mogo Freedom trailer can be used with doors open or closed
The Mogo Freedom trailer weighs 772 lb (350 kg) and has a payload up to 882 lb (400 kg)
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The Mogo Freedom trailer weighs 772 lb (350 kg) and has a payload up to 882 lb (400 kg)
The Mogo Freedom carries bikes right to the trailhead
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The Mogo Freedom carries bikes right to the trailhead
Mogo plans to build each trailer to order
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Mogo plans to build each trailer to order
All packed up and ready to travel
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All packed up and ready to travel
Mogo offers Mo, Go, Free and Dom packages ranging between about £7,000 and 13,000
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Mogo offers Mo, Go, Free and Dom packages ranging between about £7,000 and 13,000
The Mogo Trailer is an open cargo hauler and camper
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The Mogo Trailer is an open cargo hauler and camper
Add one or two awnings and effectively double or triple the size of your outdoor shelter
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Add one or two awnings and effectively double or triple the size of your outdoor shelter
It looks like you can stake down the awning to prevent big critters from nosing inside, but smaller crawlers might still be able to slither and creep in
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It looks like you can stake down the awning to prevent big critters from nosing inside, but smaller crawlers might still be able to slither and creep in
Mogo Freedom creates a mini movie theater
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Mogo Freedom creates a mini movie theater
Ditch the big, gas-chugging SUV and tow the 772-lb Mogo trailer with your small, efficient commuter car
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Ditch the big, gas-chugging SUV and tow the 772-lb Mogo trailer with your small, efficient commuter car
The Mogo Freedom opens up all kinds of possibilities for adventure travel
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The Mogo Freedom opens up all kinds of possibilities for adventure travel
Loaded up with bikes and the Grub Hub portable kitchen unit
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Loaded up with bikes and the Grub Hub portable kitchen unit
The open platform of the Mogo trailer offers a place to sit by the fire
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The open platform of the Mogo trailer offers a place to sit by the fire
At camp with the Mogo Freedom trailer
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At camp with the Mogo Freedom trailer
In addition to working as a camper and cargo trailer, the Mogo Freedom trailer is handy for business use
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In addition to working as a camper and cargo trailer, the Mogo Freedom trailer is handy for business use
The Mogo trailer with awning and Grub Hub
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The Mogo trailer with awning and Grub Hub
The Mogo Freedom trailer is designed to bring bikes, kayaks, boards and other gear to the wilderness and stay for a night or two
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The Mogo Freedom trailer is designed to bring bikes, kayaks, boards and other gear to the wilderness and stay for a night or two
The bed conceals storage below
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The bed conceals storage below
The Mogo trailer is built to fit in a one-car garage
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The Mogo trailer is built to fit in a one-car garage
Enjoying the Mogo trailer at camp
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Enjoying the Mogo trailer at camp
Pull up next to the fire pit and enjoy toasty relaxation
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Pull up next to the fire pit and enjoy toasty relaxation
Mogo Freedom doesn't mention two-wheel motorcycles, but it has hauled the trailer with three-wheelers and ATVs
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Mogo Freedom doesn't mention two-wheel motorcycles, but it has hauled the trailer with three-wheelers and ATVs
Mogo Freedom shows its trailer in various bright, lively colors
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Mogo Freedom shows its trailer in various bright, lively colors
Mogo Freedom shows its trailer in various bright, lively colors
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Mogo Freedom shows its trailer in various bright, lively colors
With both wing doors open, the Mogo Freedom trailer's available roof space triples
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With both wing doors open, the Mogo Freedom trailer's available roof space triples
Mogo Freedom trailer out in the field
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Mogo Freedom trailer out in the field
Mogo packed up with two mountain bikes and the Grub Hub
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Mogo packed up with two mountain bikes and the Grub Hub
View gallery - 30 images

Over the past few years, we've seen a barrage of tiny, ultralight camping trailers hit the market. We won't say that it's a new trend, since man has been constructing lightweight road trip shelters for nearly as long as he's had an automobile to tow them, but some interesting ideas and designs have definitely been bubbling to the surface lately. The Mogo Freedom trailer is the latest member of this rising tide, opening the walls of camping trailer design to create a super-simple, ultra-versatile shelter and toy hauler.

While tightening the proverbial belt during tough economic times, Mogo founder Matjaz Korosec went on a search for a more affordable type of holiday. He wanted a small, light vessel that he could fill with recreational gear like bikes and kayaks and tow with a small car. While a few of the designs we've covered – especially the Teal Tail Feather – seem like they could have fit the bill quite nicely, Korosec decided that the current market didn't have exactly what he was looking for. So he did what many other start-up founders had done before him and created his own design to fill the void.

Korosec's original parameters weren't necessarily unique, but the trailer they birthed certainly is. In following the "cheaper, lighter caravans for the masses" approach taken in 1949 by British Sprite caravan designer Samuel Alper, Korosec and his team came up with a simple, 772-lb (350-kg) trailer that very easily converts between gear hauling and sleeping configurations. They formed Mogo Freedom last June and spent the remainder of the year finalizing and testing a prototype and touring events to gather feedback. The company incorporated the feedback into the "Free" package it showed at last month's Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show in Birmingham, UK. "Mogo" is derived from the idea, "Whatever your M.O., GO."

Mogo packed up with two mountain bikes and the Grub Hub
Mogo packed up with two mountain bikes and the Grub Hub

Unlike other small trailers, which include various furniture, fittings and appliances, the cabin of the 12.1 x 6.3 x 6.4-ft (L x W x H/370 x 191 x 195-cm) Mogo trailer is virtually empty. All that's inside is a floor-filling double mattress. During transit, the mattress lifts out of the way and secures up under the ceiling, freeing the interior for hauling up to 882 lb (400 kg) of recreational toys, such as bicycles, kayaks and surfboards. The floor of the trailer includes storage compartments for organizing smaller gear and tools. When you arrive at camp, all you have to do to set up is remove the gear and drop the mattress – no wrestling around with shock-corded poles, cranking pop-up tents, or assembling interior fixtures.

Another interesting aspect of the Mogo trailer is the two wing side doors that are used for loading – the trailer doesn't include a rear tailgate – and also work as sun-shading, weather-sheltering rooftops at camp. Given the large space these doors open up, campers can leave their folding chairs at home and sit atop the trailer mattress, tailgate- style. They can also use the open wings to essentially triple the size of the interior by affixing canvas walled awnings, creating additional weather-protected space for sleeping, cooking, storage and more.

The wing doors close and lock from inside via central handles, letting occupants escape from cold weather, mosquitoes and other pesky discomforts of outdoor living. The windows can then be used for ventilation.

In terms of construction, the Mogo Freedom trailer body is built from balsa wood sandwiched inside a shell made from an impact-resistant plastic. Mogo claims the plastic, also used in the marine and housing industries, offers better strength, insulation and impact resistance than traditional trailer materials like aluminum or fiberglass. The body is bonded and screwed to a chassis supplied by AL-KO.

The Freedom's boxy shape looks a bit rough for aerodynamic performance, but it's not designed simply for visual effect. Mogo explains that it chose the rounded rectangle packaging to increase structural integrity when compared to the more popular teardrop design.

The open platform of the Mogo trailer offers a place to sit by the fire
The open platform of the Mogo trailer offers a place to sit by the fire

"Mogo Freedom departed from the commonly used way of caravan assembly," the company explains on its website. "We preserved the ancient way of keeping the walls in line with the edge of the roof. This assembly process has been lost in caravan production when the search for more aerodynamic front compromised the building integrity extending the front and increasing the pressure between the wall and the roof seam. Since the seam in Mogo between the wall and the roof are in the same line, the stress points have been reduced and the shell integrity improved."

Mogo plans to build each Freedom to customer specifications and offers four equipment packages to make product selection easier (but make/model a bit strange). The four packages are the company name split up: the Mo, Go, Free and Dom options. Prices start at £7,230 (US$10,750), which buys you an empty trailer with rear window, braked chassis and dual wing doors – mattress and other equipment not included. From there, each package adds select equipment options like front window, mattress, wing-door awnings, chassis suspension, Grub Hub roller kitchen and Hubi solar-charged lithium battery power kit. The all-inclusive Dom package retails for £12,870.

Buyers can also add specific options a la carte, saving money on things they don't want. You can view a full price list at Mogo's online shop (we had to submit our email to view, otherwise we would link directly to the price list). Prices include delivery within England, Wales or Scotland.

We like the Mogo trailer's simple, functional design, but no matter how many times Mogo Freedom drops the buzzword "glamping", we have to point out that there's really nothing very glamorous or luxurious about it. Its wing-doored, rectangular-donut design gives it a cool look, but it's basically just a hard-sided tent with a cozy mattress. It leaves you fending for yourself when it comes to the amenities that other small camping trailers have built-in, such as cooking, showering, seating, etc. Nothing wrong with that, but not many people outside of Mogo headquarters would call such a bare-bones trailer a "glamper."

Mogo Freedom's "world's smallest cinema"
Mogo Freedom's "world's smallest cinema"

In addition to being a small, light camper, Mogo also advertises its trailer's potential for business use. Thanks to its large wing doors, we could see how it would make a handy vendor's trailer for events like county fairs and farmers markets. Fill it with merchandise, tow it up to your space, pop one of the wing doors, and you're open for business. The company even turned the trailer into the "world's smallest cinema," equipping it with two salvaged movie theater seats and an entertainment center during last year's Tea Break Film Festival, not too different from what Dethleffs did in designing the Mini Movie Campy.

Source: Mogo Freedom

View gallery - 30 images
5 comments
5 comments
Vf6cruiser
Way too much money for what you get............over here in the US you can add $4-5K and get a newer used 26ft Toyhauler with all the gear.........but then you need a big diesel rig to tow it............recreation ain't cheap........
Johnny Shi
I do find the two wing side doors used for loading fairly interesting. It seems that they can also be used for multiple purposes as well. Looking at the picture it feels really happy and warm around the campfire. The side door also seems to trap in some heat as well. Just reading this post makes me want to go camping.
ljaques
That is absolutely the best idea I've seen in trailers in DECADES. The thickness of the doors hint of actual insulation. The "gull wing"[sic] doors are fabulous, making it perfect for helping friends move to a new apartment.
But ten to twenty freakin' GRAND for a utility trailer? What are these folks smoking?
I tell you what, if I can't make one of these for myself for -less- than $1,500USD, I'm slipping. And that includes dual glazed windows, 2-3" of insulation, water tank, fan, LED lighting inside, the snap-on tent, real 13" auto tires, plus a battery to run it.
Daishi
@Vf6cruiser it is a cool idea but does seem to be a little on the expensive side. Even though its small it also has only one axle which could add a lot of tongue weight to deal with if you are planning to pull it with a car depending on how you load it.
You can get a 16' toy hauler like the Work and Play 16UL for about $18k new that comes with kitchen, bathroom, shower, beds, heater, generator ready etc.
You can get small 6x12 cargo trailers for under $2k new but they don't come insulated or with any bells or whistles like this one: http://www.usacargotrailersales.com/virtuemart/6-wide/internet-special-6x12-v-nose-detail.html
I saw one guy had a converted utility trailer with a $500 murphy style (folds down from wall) bed from liftco and a $200 mattress from camping world.
Add $100 for the insulation board, $100 for the wall panels to cover it and you are at about $2,900 + labor to convert a 6x12 cargo trailer to a camper/toy hauler.
If you want to get creative use an E-track system and make your camping stuff modular so you can swap out things like lego parts depending if you are using it for camping, hauling toys, or work: http://i.imgur.com/x3JbGst.jpg
Tom Lee Mullins
I think it is very creative. It seems so many neat campers are only sold overseas.