Backcountry Camping with a Black Series HQ19 in Big Bend National Park
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.พ. 2025
- We took our new HQ19 Black Series into the backcountry of Big Bend National Park. This was our first overlanding trip towing anything this big! We definitely learned alot. We decided to take River Road to the Johnson Ranch campsite. We obtained our backcountry permit and set off for a new adventure… This was our first off road trip with our HQ19 Black Series trailer. Starting from the east entrance, it is 36 miles down River Road to Johnson Ranch campsite. We started from the east end as the west end is typically rougher and more difficult.
We started out strong but by the end of the trip we tested our HQ19 Black Series and ourselves. We did damage the trailer, but it was nothing that couldn’t be fixed.
We enjoyed a couple of days of dry camping at Johnson Ranch campsite. There is a lot of interesting history at Johnson ranch. The Army air corp established a landing strip to patrol and protect the USA/Mexican border back in the 1920s. It was later decommissioned. We enjoyed hiking around the old ranch site and seeing the ruins and artifacts.
As our boondocking in the backcountry came to an end, we decided to complete the drive of River Road from end to end. Our exit trip was 15 miles back to the pavement. The drive out we were more prepared and took it slower with properly set expectations. As much as we wanted to head to a new destination, we decided to end our road trip and return home to make repairs on our HQ19 Black Series camper.
This footage was shot in January 2022, so make sure to check current road conditions with the park.
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Our AFK Days - RB & LeeAnn - Adventures - Hiking - Camping - 2021 Black Series HQ 19 owners -Exploring - Unplugging
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Thanks for making this video. We are seriously considering the HQ19 ourselves. Great learnings and insights from your adventures!
We went with an older model due to the less than great drawer and cabinet latches. We have not seen any 2023's yet. hope they fix them. It is a great trailer. We had a smaller trailer. We love our Black Series a lot more. We have done a couple of HQ19 videos. Always happy to chat about Black Series!
👋. I was very happy when I saw that a new video had come out; I always look forward to them! It was definitely worth the wait....whew! Glad you made it out with the truck and trailer still attached😳
Thank you very very much for your kind words. It is things like hat that encourage us to post more. Yeah, we are both surprised we survived! Cheers and thanks for stopping by and saying hello!
Camping in the HQ19 Black Series Outback in Big Bend National Park... your adventures were amazing.. great job with this video
Thanks, we try and have some fun when we goto BBNP Thank you for your kind words and dropping by to say hello!
We miss getting out to BBNP. Johnson Ranch looks awesome. Rugidized- great word. Ouch! That wasn't good. The Black Series did well, but the steps were a bummer. It'd be nice if it had removeable steps so you could take it off before you started down uneven off roading, and then put it back on when you got to camp. Slow and easy. The Park Ranger is probably right. There aren't too many trailers that big that are designed for off-roading. You should be proud; even if it was taking forever. 😂😂. Man, I bet ya'll were tired before it got even worse at the gate. Now, you are just exhausted. Oh, dang the connectors to the hoses for the black and grey tank. Poor microwave too. Dinner looked good and was well deserved. The history and the pictures were really cool. You earned your gold stars. Bill and DeAnna
Thank you so much for your kind words.When we got to camp at Johnson ranch, we hugged each other out of relief that we made it! We even joked about just staying there at Johnson ranch! Every time we goto BBNP, we find something new to explore and try. We are headed back in Jan. Will see what trouble we can get up to. Since that trip with the broken hoses we have seen a few others that had a similar issue. Next time you head down this way. Let us know. We are based out of Austin.Thank you again for stopping by and saying hello and the gold stars! :D
Great adventure! Amazing night sky photo's.
Thanks, We are getting better at the night photography! You guys should visit! :D
Definitely a beautiful country! You two are brave driving that long of a trailer. But at least you got all the comforts after a long day on the trail. Not bad of damage, a little price to pay for an awesome view ❤
We agree. We are headed back in Jan. Brave or novice... it could go either way! :D Yeah, nothing critical has broken on the trailer. We have done well with it. Thank you again for stopping by and saying hello!
great trip! .. amazing landscapes like that seem worth a few bent steps! thanks for filming and sharing a “real world usage” trip, unlike most of the other Black series videos that seem to be done by dealerships.. thanks!
Thanks for commenting and your kind words. We got our black series to push the limits of what we can do. Always looking for new adventures to get into awkward situations. Cheers!
that was awesome! good video.
thanks, we had fun making it! What a beautiful country!
I just picked up a MARS13 - Black Series that is about 19.5' ... Hoping it will have more clearance through the desert washes where I usually camp...
Congrats on the new trailer! Since we changed out the stairs we have not had any more issues with clarence. Happy adventuring!
Good job 👍
Thanks 👍 Thanks for stopping by and saying hello!
Well that answered my thoughts on the steps getting smashed up
We replaced it with a single step and it feels much better. We have a video on replacing them. Cheers!
Bummer about the stairs, the gray connector and some of the other but all things consider, the trailer seemed to take a beating and come out of it pretty well!
Yeah, We are really happy with the performance. No rock crawling in our future, but we are ready to go further into the wilds of America!. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
Could use a little lift on the truck to improve the hitch clearance as well ass a high hitch.
We have switched to a different hitch and that seems to help. Thanks for stopping by and saying hello!
Was there scrapes on the sides of the truck too like the camper?
yeah, but not as noticeable as on the windows of the trailer.
I just discovered your channel. We love Big Bend NPark and Big Bend Ranch State Park. I’m trying to figure out how to watch your Big Bend videos in sequential order... Any tips🤔 ???
We have a playlist of big bend area. Thanks for watching and enjoy the big bend region!
Maybe I missed it but you didn't show if the stairs worked
The staris did not work. Motor was fine, but the mechanical capability was ruined! We were not a fan of those steps, never felt solid. We replaced it with a single step without a motor and have really liked it. Kinda like the airstream steps, might switch it out some day! Thanks for stopping by!
Perfect, off road
Curious any problems to mention
I noticed light switch off and maybe the microwave out of it's location
Thoughts overall quality?
Looking to purchase one
Thanks
Dave
It did great offroad. we have had a few issues with the trailer. One was the AC motor was loose and making a bad noise. We lost a clip that held the outdoor kitchen in. Came off while driving. Rivot came out. easy fix. Not sure about the newer model BS trailers. We looked at some and decided to go with the holder model. Liked the drawer and cabinet latches on the hold style. We have replaced and upgrade the solar panels and charge controller. We replaced the hitch. that helped a lot! We would probably get this trailer again. only decision would be the HQ19 or the HQ21.
@@AFKDays appreciate the reply 👍
I saw some black series have air suspension.
Yeah, there is a mod you can do. Some in the FB group have done that. Thanks for commenting!
How much is your truck can tow? You need to consider what you add in your trailer weight wise.
The Trundra we have is rated at like 9800 pounds. It does ok.
A Dodge Ram power wagon coupled with a black series will be the best 👌 👍
Was watching some videos on the Dodge Ram this morning. Those are nice! We are looking at bigger trucks, but not soon. Cheers!
Nice
Thanks! Thanks for stopping by and saying hello!
The truck needs a 2 inch lift and bigger tires.
For the price that trailer cost that should’ve never happened with the steps. You’re better off removing or altogether and installing them once you get to your destination.
We replaced them with a smaller step. I should have checked to see if the stairs would clear before I continued.
Those stairs were BOLTED on with some serious screws.
Thanks for stopping by and saying hello!
The Chinese camper and the crappy Toyota I'm impressed you made it
HAHA. yeah. us too! It did a great job. We want to go back out there and spend more time. Very peaceful! Cheers!
The Toyota 5.7 engine, many of which have gone over a million miles, yea, crappy Toyota lol
Not to sound too critical, but a suspension failure on that road could have been catastrophic for your adventure. In the end, no matter how "off roady" it is, a full-sized travel trailer is not made for that kind of road.
We learned a lot on that trip and got some interesting looks! Looking forward to our next trip. Thanks for stopping by and saying hello!
how did your tundra tow that size trailer?
It did fairly well. We had some big hills and some dry river crossing. It was fairly loaded... the trailer that is. It was a heck of a drive taking the trailer out there! Thanks for your comment!
Do not buy current black series!! No warranty no matter what they say! They are over 2 years old with new vin plates
That is not nice. We got ours with just a one year warranty. We got lucky!
I’ve seen these BS go through more rough roads then you did on ROA. They never had their hose damaged. They’ve Mabe only one time bent their steps.
yeah, we did not know that we had hit until we got to camp. The last mile or so was really rough. We are more careful now. Don't to have that occur again.
After washing your BS did the scratches come off?
We were able to get some to come out. But a lot are still there. The windows are the really annoying scratches. But they are to be expected when going off road like this. Thanks for commenting!
@@AFKDays How do you tow without a distribution hitch? This would probably maybe be a concern not having one.
@@Berrypancakes229You don’t want to use a weight distribution hitch on an off-road trailer. Most of these use an articulation hitch.
Maid in china?!
Parts from China, made in the USA. Designed in Australia! Have a great day!
ALOO DE WATER SISTEM ITS LIKERY IN ALL BLAK SERY CONTRAVERSAS:))
Nice! THanks for committing.