FOREST RIVER NOBO 16.6 BEAST MODE
- Mark Mitchell
- Oct 21
- 8 min read
Updated: Oct 21
We chose the Beast Mode for our Alaska trek because it is designed specifically with ‘boondocking’ in mind and is equipped to support off-grid camping with no hook ups.
For adventurers seeking a travel trailer that bridges the gap between traditional RV comfort and true off-grid capability, the Forest River No Boundaries (NOBO) 16.6 with the "Beast Mode" package is a very compelling option in the lightweight adventure travel segment. This lightweight bunkhouse is designed for outdoor enthusiasts who want to tow with smaller SUVs or trucks and venture beyond the paved campground. We chose the Beast Mode for our Alaska trek because it is designed specifically with ‘boondocking’ in mind and is equipped to support off-grid camping with no hook ups and outfitted to easily carry a wide variety of adventure gear. Quite simply the Beast Mode from Forest River takes this trailer to the next level for off-road adventuring.
We chose it for our 8,000 mile 45 day trek to Alaska and it performed flawlessly the whole trip. The ‘Beast Mode’ model is a significant upgrade to the basic model with chassis and suspension upgrades that turn it into a serious off-road ready trailer. Key enhancements to the suspension and towing package include an industry-leading independent suspension system, which replaces a standard leaf spring axle. This axle-less design allows each wheel to move independently, dramatically improving stability, handling, and ground clearance on uneven terrain by providing a full 5” of articulation at each wheel.. The upgraded suspension, including nitrogen-filled shocks and racing-inspired coil springs, helps to reduce vibrations and ensure a smoother towing experience, both on and off the pavement.
“The Beast Mode on the trailer has been amazing. It's an independent suspension with shocks and control arms. It's added comfort as well as control along the trail. It's really critical for trips and trails like we did on this past trip. It adds a lot more confidence on the trails” said Matt Girgis, a member of our expedition along with his wife Sarah, who towed and stayed in the NoBo during the trip.
The Beast Mode trailer also comes equipped with Goodyear all-terrain tires on aluminum wheels, offering better traction and durability for dirt roads and rugged trails Finally a the Beast mode comes with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) to help monitor tire health. a crucial safety feature for off-road travel. The performance of the NoBo 16.6 Beast Mode trailer was impressive throughout the trip, handling all of the off-road challenges we encountered and towing easily on the road behind a modern Ford Bronco.
“The NoBo 16.6 has proven to be a very comfortable trailer for this expedition,” Matt continued. “We have a lot more space, one, for storage, but also, being able to sit around comfortably, being able to download, to eat at the dinette, and just to have our own space. In general, a trailer like this helps a lot with your overall vehicle weight. When you build out an overland vehicle, you tend to throw everything on the vehicle itself, so dispersing some of that weight onto the trailer and its own vehicle weight helps alleviate some of that load.”
On the outside the NoBo is covered with Azdel composite panels, a lightweight and moisture resistant providing superior insulation compared to a traditional wood construction. The required Cold Weather package provides a fully enclosed and heated underbelly and 12V heat pads on the holding tanks (fresh, gray, and black—30 gallons each), extending the usable camping season by a month or more depending on your location.
To power the trailer off-grid the roof mounted solar system does a great job. The system includes a pair of 200w solar panel, lithium ion batteries, a 30 amp charge comptroller an a 2000w inverter for running high draw appliances off-grid. ‘You can stretch out your time off grid with this setup a little bit more than seven days, but your only limitation is going to be the gas for the generator and the holding tanks for your water,’ stated Matt. “Having the solar on the trailer has been great for keeping the battery topped off throughout the day. However, when you're wanting to run the AC or when we're needing to charge all of our camera gear, having a generator is really a must.”
Despite its rugged exterior focus, the NOBO 16.6 has a cleverly designed bunkhouse floor plan that maximizes its internal space. It measures around 21 feet 8 inches in exterior length and has a Dry Weight (UVW) of approximately 3,749 lbs, making it towable by most V6 vehicles. The trailer is generally designed to sleep up to five people, featuring a Queen bed up front and double bunk beds in the rear. A comfortable booth dinette with slide out provides a dedicated area for dining and can be converted into an additional sleeping space.
“It's been very comfortable sleeping in the trailer,” added Sarah. “We've been able to add a lot of comforts from home to make us not feel as homesick while we're out on the road.”
One of the nicest features of the NoBo 16.6 is the full bath with a toilet and shower, a significant feature for a trailer of this size. That was a very popular feature and was much appreciated at the end of a long day on the road or off-road.
Matt agreed “The advantages of a trailer like this are largely the space. You have your own space for a dinette and your own designated space for a bed, and also, a separate area for your bathroom. So you have a separate shower and toilet, which has been really nice to have. You are able to have a bed made whenever you want and a bathroom accessible whenever needed. On this trip, we experienced multiple rainstorms and it was very convenient being able to just run inside and have the entire home on wheels at our fingertips. If we were to do this expedition all over again, we'd definitely choose this trailer just because of the added space and also having a bathroom.”
Another awesome feature was the air conditioning which performed flawlessly and was a welcome respite from the summer heat we encountered on our trip. “I learned I really like having AC on board, definitely during the summertime,” said Matt. “Also, having things like a toilet and a shower are definitely going to drive our next builds in the future.”
When it comes to cooking the kitchen in the NoBo is conveniently located and well equipped with a two burner gas cooktop, a sink, refrigerator and a convection microwave oven and plenty of storage for pots, pans, silverware and grocery items. “It is very convenient being able to cook out of the NoBo's kitchen whenever you want,” confirmed Matt. “Compared to our original setup with just our vehicle, it was a whole process taking out all of the kitchen gear, whereas the NoBo, it's all easily accessible whenever you need.”
Speaking of storage the NoBo 16.6 is equipped with overhead cabinets along both interior side walls and has a large storage garage easily accessible from the outside. We added some extra storage on the roof to be able to bring a few extra items without cluttering up the inside of the trailer. Mounting the storage boxes was easy with the Rhino Rack system that comes with the NoBo 16.6. The system includes the robust Rhino Rack RVT track and Vortex bars providing a modular set up designed to carry kayaks, bikes, fishing equipment and even a rooftop tent if you want to bring a couple of extra friends.
“With a trailer, you are able to carry and store a lot more gear. When you maximize the storage on the inside and on the outside, you are able to bring all of the necessities that you need for an expedition like this,” said Matt. “The extra storage in the trailer has been really nice to have. We've been able to bring a large Honda generator to charge all our gear and we've been able to bring a lot more gear for activities.”
Obviously when pulling a trailer, you will be reducing your overall fuel efficiency. When you add items like bikes and storage boxes plus the weight of added gear, you then start to decrease your fuel efficiency even more. Be sure to take this into consideration when planning and budgeting for your trip. Also consider things like emergency repairs that may arise unexpectedly during the trip.
“One of the main advantages of having a trailer from a big national company like Forest River is parts availability and support,” Matt continued. “If you're stranded in the middle of nowhere, you're able to get somebody to communicate with you, somebody to be able to help you, and a lot of the parts are high volume parts like the refrigerators, the wheel bearings, you know, and different things. So if you have a problem, you're gonna stand a better chance of getting it fixed quicker with a larger brand like Forest River than you are with a lot of smaller companies.”
“Some additional upgrades that we did on the trailer were adding ROAMBoxes on the Rhino-Rack on top of the trailer,” Matt confirmed. “We also added a second spare tire and we used Otzi Gear tire carriers for additional storage. Around the trailer, we also added KC HiLiTES for perimeter lights, one, so we can see when we're setting up late at night, but also, just so we can have extra peace of mind. On the front of the trailer, we swapped out the jack for a Trailer Valet JX5K. Whether it's to get out wheeling or to just check out the town, we're able to unhitch the trailer much faster. For added comfort and peace of mind on the road, we added a Blue Ox SwayPro weight distribution hitch.”
The result was trailer that was very easy to tow, easy to hook and unhook, able to tackle rough forest roads and trails and extremely comfortable when compared to rooftop or ground tents, or even a smaller trailer.
The Forest River NOBO 16.6 "Beast Mode" proved to be the perfect pick for our Alaska Trek, providing a comfortable, fully-featured basecamp that can be reliably taken deep into remote locations thanks to its high-performance off-road suspension and integrated boondocking technology.
“I think is a very well thought out design,” stated team leader Ken Faught. “I like the fact that it's fast to be able to set up. I think that having the slide out is important on here. It's kind of a cool blend of style and function, and provides enough comfort, you know, with it, that the sacrifices you would make because of the size, I think, you know, are outweighed by all the practicality of the trailer itself.”
If you are an active camper who values freedom and true off-road capability as well as creature comforts then the Forest River NoBo 16.6 Beast Mode trailer is a great choice for you.
For more information visit https://forestriverinc.com/rvs/no-boundaries
Forest River NoBo 16.6 Beast Mode Specifications
Sleeps: 5 people
Dry weight: 3749 lbs
Hitch weight: 380 lbs
Cargo capacity: 1501 lbs
Exterior length: 21 ft 8 in ft
Exterior width: 8 ft
Exterior height: 10 ft 8 in
Fresh water capacity: 30 gal
Gray water capacity: 30 gal
Black water capacity: 30 gal
