American RV manufacturer LIV has unveiled its brand-new trailer dubbed E-Leaf OffRoad. The company claims it is a “100-percent electric trailer” that doesn’t rely on hookups, gas, or propane. Everything inside, from the cooktop to the water heater, runs on electricity.
The idea is simple but seems engineeringly perfected. The trailer is capped with two 200-watt solar panels on the roof (400 watts combined) that feed a charge controller owners can monitor over Bluetooth from their phone. Those panels charge a 300Ah lithium battery bank, and a 3,000-watt inverter turns the stored energy into regular household power for the entire trailer.
We’ve seen plenty of solar-assisted rigs over the years, but LIV claims this particular model is “fully independent from the grid rather than just supplementing a propane setup.” New Atlas praises the trailer, calling it an admirable feat for replacing mandatory propane, diesel, and gasoline use with an all-electric appliance set backed by a robust electrical system.
But what happens during overcast conditions? For the days when the sun doesn’t cooperate, LIV has built in a 2,550-watt inverter generator that tops off the battery automatically. What’s worth noting here is the fact that LIV hasn’t disclosed what fuel that backup generator runs on, though the unit pictured in early photos appears to be a gasoline or dual-fuel model, which puts a small asterisk on the “100-percent electric” claim. There’s also a 20-amp DC-to-DC charger that pulls power from the tow vehicle while driving, so the battery bank is often topped up before camp is even set up.
None of that power matters if the trailer can’t actually get to the campsite, so the E-Leaf OffRoad rides on LIV’s Lightning Green composite chassis. It features diamond-plate underbody protection that guards it against rocks and trail debris. This is coupled with off-road wheels and a full-size spare, both of which come as standard equipment. “The Starlights off-road graphics package finishes the look, because a rig this capable should look the part,” the company states.
The off-road and off-grid prowess isn’t the only feature that has campers intrigued. LIV is doing something very few makers in its class dare to do. As reported by autoevolution, the trailer isn’t made of fiberglass or wood. Instead, it opts for a plastic design, marine-grade thermoplastic to be precise.
LIV builds its trailers by bending, shaping, and heat-fusing sheets of thermoplastic into a single seamless shell, rather than the wood-framed, screw-and-caulk construction common across the RV industry, which the company says “eliminates seams that can leak or rot over time.”
Obviously, this makes it lighter than other trailers on the market. LIV claims the build will “last a lifetime with minimal maintenance,” and backs that up with a 10-year limited warranty on the frame that reportedly carries no carve-outs for off-road use. Whether it can survive rain, snow, hail, or freezing temperatures is something only time will tell.
Inside, the trailer features a Murphy full-size bed that folds up and out of the way during the day. The bed sleeps a couple, while a gaucho sofa adds a second sleeping spot along with extra lounging room. The underside of the Murphy bed doubles as a fold-down dining bar paired with folding stools, giving you a few different ways to sit. Other features include a 32-inch TV that will keep campers entertained in case rain spoils the fun.
The E-Leaf OffRoad has a dedicated corner kitchen space with an L-shaped worktop. It features appliances including a single-burner electric cooktop, a microwave, and a fridge/freezer, keeping with the trailer’s all-electric theme. The bathroom includes both a toilet and a shower, with an eight-gallon electric water heater supplying hot water.
Other notable features include an air conditioner and heat pump combo and a rear load door that makes it easier to load bulky gear than working it through the side entry. It also includes stair and porch lights that make late arrivals at the campsite a little easier to manage.
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Before we get too excited, LIV has put out a disclaimer with the trailer images, noting that this is a first look rather than a finished product, and that pricing and equipment could still change before the trailer reaches final production. Given how much of the RV market is still built around propane tanks and generator noise, a sub-$25,000 trailer that runs almost entirely on solar and battery power is a notable bet. And as for the plastic, time will tell!
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