Forest River’s rugged and adventurous NoBo travel trailer is surprisingly upscale inside
It’s apparent from first glance that the No Boundaries travel trailer from Forest River is intended for outdoorsy RVers and rugged terrain. Just look at its high ground clearance, enclosed underbelly and full walk-on PVC roof as proof of that design influence. Then there’s the traction-covered 300-pound-rated wheel well made for RVers to stand on for side access to roof-stored kayaks, bikes, SUPs and other recreational gear held in place by Rhino-Rack tracks.
The No Boundaries lineup, or NoBo for short, introduced last fall with three floorplan series measuring 10, 16 and 19 feet, was created for RVers looking for a lighter trailer that accommodates plenty of outdoor equipment. To that end, all NoBo trailers, even the largest ones, have a gross vehicle weight rating (gvwr) of less than 5,000 pounds.
Of the two 19 Series models, the NB19.5 is slightly smaller at 7 feet, 4 inches wide and 22 feet, 8 inches long from coupler to bumper. The lean weight and dimensions are part of a purposeful design intended to keep these trailers towable by many V-6 SUVs and other family-size vehicles.
The NB19.5 is a hardy-looking trailer that is clearly at home off-road. In addition to the previously mentioned features, it has a 4,400-pound rubber-on-rubber, torsion-axle independent suspension to allow each wheel to adjust to road conditions, as well as beefy 16-inch tires, enclosed dump valves and waterproof connections for all electrical wiring.
Step through the entrance, though, and the NoBo leaves the rough-and-tough stuff outdoors. Inside, the cool, light colors and plentiful windows lend themselves to an unexpectedly swank atmosphere. I liked the pale-gray wood-grain laminate floors, gray cabinets with hardwood doors and hidden hinges, stainless-steel appliances and satin-nickel cabinet hardware.
The thing that really stood out was the soft lighting coming from the LED strips inside the frosted-glass overhead bedroom cabinets and an open spice-rack area along the kitchen counter. Bright LED ceiling dome lights have independent and door-side switches, but the light strips provide a more pleasant ambience when the extra illumination isn’t needed.
The kitchen has a recessed two-burner cooktop under a flush cover, always a welcome element that adds counter space, as well as a wonderfully roomy 6-cubic-foot refrigerator and a stainless-steel sink with an arched faucet. A convection microwave is available as an option. The adjacent pantry cabinet provides extra storage space.
Once dinner is prepared, Forest River has created what it calls a “chaise lounge dinette” in place of a standard booth setup, with seats that curve at the far ends, and removable ottomans with storage inside. The freestanding table is narrow, and people sitting at the curves will undoubtedly bang knees. There’s also a shelf behind the seats, which I appreciated, and more overhead cabinets. The seats themselves are cushy and comfortable without being easily crushed. These seem like they’ll stand up to use and weight.
The dinette converts into a bed that reportedly sleeps two, but it’s a tight fit for most adults, so extra-small people or children would be appropriate for that bed; the queen bed at the front is right-sized for adults. Great news for picky sleepers: This is a full 60-by-80-inch queen bed, which makes it easier to swap out mattresses, if you desire, plus each side has its own nightstand and storage cabinet with an outlet. Under the bed is access to the pass-through basement storage.
The other 19 Series floorplan, the NB19.7, has two rear bunks, each with its own window, overhead light and set of outlets, with shelves at the head. Both bunks are rated for 300 pounds, which is a nice offering for folks who want to bring grown-up friends and not just kids.
Another bonus in the 19 Series NoBo trailers is the full dry bath. Here, there is a toilet with a sink, storage, a mirrored medicine cabinet and a real radius-corner shower. A waterproof LED fixture is close enough to the shower enclosure to cast some light in at night when there’s no sunshine to help illuminate it through the skylight.
The previously mentioned Rhino-Rack tracks, standard on 19 Series trailers, allow owners to mix and match optional components like a kayak carrier, depending on the type of gear they want to haul on the roof. One more fun thing: All NoBo trailers come with a portable waterproof JBL Bluetooth speaker, which users can charge overnight (both 19 Series trailers have a USB charging station) and take with them to create a personalized adventure-soundtrack listening experience.
These kinds of thoughtful appointments make the No Boundaries 19 Series worth a hard look for folks wanting to explore a little farther off road without towing too much weight or giving up a little luxury in their downtime. It looks like Forest River was listening to what people wanted to see in a lightweight adventure trailer.
Forest River/No Boundaries
574-535-2704 | www.forestriverinc.com/travel-trailers/no-boundaries
