Braxton Creek Bushwhacker Specs and Tow Guide
You're looking at used listings late at night, tow vehicle in the driveway, and one question keeps coming back. Is that little teardrop going to be an easy weekend trailer for Jordanelle, or is the cheap price hiding weight and repair problems you'll discover on the climb? Our team at Motor Sportsland hears that version often, and we'll walk it the way our service lane would, with the model-year chart first, the payload math second, and the recall checks before any negotiation.
What the Braxton Creek Bushwhacker Is and Who It Suits
A Millcreek couple with a midsize SUV may want a real bed and a simple kitchen for a weekend at Jordanelle, without moving up to a fifth wheel or a larger tow vehicle. The Bushwhacker is a compact travel trailer line built around that kind of use.
The FRVA magazine history of the Bushwhacker series traces the line to 2019, when the Bushwhacker 10FB was introduced at an RV industry expo in Salt Lake City, Utah. The early model was approximately 13 feet 2 inches long, weighed 1,320 pounds dry, had a 2,325-pound GVWR, and slept two.
The lineup later expanded beyond the base 10FB. Plus models are longer and heavier than the base trailer, with layouts intended for couples and small families. The model-year chart that follows lists each model's figures, so compare the specific year and floor plan rather than assuming the same specifications apply across the line.
Read any Bushwhacker by model year first. The early 10FB and a later 10FB don't share the same spec sheet, and dry weight alone never decides whether your vehicle can tow it.
For a specific used trailer, start with its VIN and your tow vehicle's payload sticker. Those details help establish which unit you're considering and how much capacity is available before adding passengers and cargo.
Bushwhacker Sizes Weights and Prices by Model Year
Braxton Creek Bushwhacker Specs by Model
| Model | Length | Dry weight | Payload or CCC | GVWR | Hitch weight | Listed price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Bushwhacker 10FB | 13.17 ft | 1,300 lb | 817 lb payload | 2,200 lb | 120 lb dry | MSRP $11,716 |
| Early Bushwhacker 10FB | 13 ft 2 in | 1,320 lb | 805.8 lb cargo | 2,325 lb | Not listed | No MSRP in published figures |
| 2024 Bushwhacker 12SK | 15.75 ft | 1,740 lb | 305 lb payload | 2,260 lb | Not listed | Not listed |
| Bushwhacker 15FK | 15.5 ft | 1,900 lb | 1,360 lb dry-to-GVWR gap | 3,260 lb | 260 lb | 2024 MSRP $22,812, one sale $12,900 |
| 2024 Bushwhacker Plus 17FD | 18 ft | 2,180 lb | 1,080 lb dry-to-GVWR gap | 3,260 lb | Not listed | Not listed |
| Bushwhacker Plus 17BH | 18 ft, 6 ft 9 in wide | 2,360 lb | 760 lb cargo | 3,320 lb | 320 lb dry | Not listed |
Start with the row you are comparing against. The RV Business report on the Braxton Creek rebrand lists the 2021 Bushwhacker 10FB at 13.17 feet long and 1,300 pounds dry, with an 817-pound payload capacity, a 2,200-pound GVWR, and a listed MSRP of $11,716. The early 10FB figures differ, so check the model year rather than relying on the name alone.
Where Scanners Misread the Chart
The 2024 Bushwhacker 12SK pairs a 15.75-foot length and 1,740-pound dry weight with only 305 pounds of payload and a 2,260-pound GVWR. Its published dimensions and capacity make the trade-off clear: extra floor space does not mean extra room for cargo. Water, propane, a battery, and dealer-installed options all count against the available payload.
The Plus models offer a different comparison. The 2024 17FD is listed at 18 feet, 2,180 pounds dry, and a 3,260-pound GVWR. The earlier 15FK specifications show a 15.5-foot length, 1,900-pound dry weight, 3,260-pound GVWR, and 260-pound hitch weight. Those dry-to-GVWR gaps are not the same as usable cargo capacity once options and installed equipment are accounted for.
Price needs the same scrutiny. One dealer's 2024 Bushwhacker 15FK listing showed an MSRP of $22,812 and a sales price of $12,900. That difference alone does not establish value. Compare the trailer's condition, tires, title status, and recall paperwork before judging the asking price.
The RV Business report on the Braxton Creek rebrand also reports that the Braxton Creek brand became Bontrager Outdoors and describes Bushwhacker and Bushwhacker Plus within the company's lineup. That naming change can matter when looking up parts or asking about warranty coverage.
Treat MSRP as a reference point, not a used-trailer value guide. Compare the specific unit's weight, condition, and recall status before deciding whether a low price is a good deal.
Payload Hitch Weight and Mountain Towing
Weight That Comes Out of Bushwhacker Capacity
The 17BH's cargo limit gets used quickly once water, propane, batteries, and camping gear go aboard. This load chart shows where the weight counts.
| Load | Approximate weight | Limit it uses |
|---|---|---|
| 10 gallons of fresh water | About 83 lb | 10FB or 10SS payload |
| 24 gallons of fresh water | About 200 lb | 17BH 760 lb cargo capacity |
| 4.7 gallons of propane | About 20 lb before the cylinder | Small-model remaining payload |
| Battery, options, and camp gear | Whatever remains after fluids | Trailer GVWR and axle rating |
| Hitch hardware, passengers, vehicle cargo | Counted person by person | Tow vehicle payload, not tow rating |
The 2023 Bushwhacker Plus brochure lists the 17BH at 18 feet long and 6 feet 9 inches wide, with a 2,360-pound dry weight, a 3,320-pound GVWR, and 760 pounds of cargo-carrying capacity. Carrying 24 gallons of fresh water adds roughly 200 pounds, using more than a quarter of that capacity before food, clothing, batteries, or propane are loaded.
Ground clearance does not increase an axle rating or GVWR. Both remain firm limits, even on uneven access roads. On a rough approach to a dispersed Wasatch campsite, exceeding them can put added strain on tires and bearings.
Why Vehicle Payload Fails Before Tow Rating
The 17BH has a 320-pound listed dry hitch weight. That load uses tow-vehicle payload, along with passengers, hitch hardware, and any weight-distribution or sway-control system. A vehicle may have a tow rating well above the trailer's weight and still exceed its payload once people and cargo are aboard.
Smaller models still need careful loading. The RV Guide spec page for the 2021 Bushwhacker 10FB lists 1,300 pounds dry, a 2,200-pound GVWR, 817 pounds of maximum payload, a 120-pound dry hitch weight, a 10-gallon fresh-water tank, and 4.7-gallon propane capacity. Water adds approximately 83 pounds, and propane about 20 pounds before cylinder hardware. The dry-to-GVWR difference is not all available for camping gear.
Loading also changes hitch weight. Gear ahead of the axle raises it; heavy gear behind the axle can lower it and increase sway risk. Keep heavy items low and near the axle, then confirm the loaded weights rather than estimating.
Practical rule: Weigh the loaded trailer and check tongue weight against your vehicle's payload sticker and receiver limit before mountain travel, not at the first steep pullout.
A walkthrough of the trailer's size and layout can help you judge what gear will fit.
Use this guide to towing a camping trailer to prepare for weighing your setup. Check it loaded for Jordanelle, Bear Lake, or a Wasatch grade, with the people and water you expect to carry.
Couples Families and First Time Campers
Sort buyers by how they camp, not by the lowest sticker. The same Braxton Creek Bushwhacker badge covers trailers that suit very different weekends, and picking wrong usually shows up as a packing fight, not a towing failure.
Two Adults Who Pack Light
A 10FB or 10SS fits two adults on short Wasatch or Great Salt Lake weekends when the tow vehicle is modest and the packing list stays small. Sleeping for two and a short body also help with tight driveways and side-yard storage. The no is just as clear. If you want a week off-grid, a big refrigerator, or room to stand and dress without a routine, this platform will frustrate you.
The 12SK needs a specific warning for couples who like gear. More length suggests more room for bikes, chairs, and an extra battery, but its payload says the opposite. It's a gear-light trailer for people who travel with hookups and a short list, not a step up for heavy packers.
Small Families and the Middle Models
The 15FK is the middle step for a couple that wants more floor length while still watching hitch weight closely. A Plus 17FD or 17BH can work for a small family if everyone accepts an 18-foot cabin, close sleeping quarters, and cargo that has to be weighed rather than tossed in. Kids grow faster than trailer interiors do, so I'd buy for the next two seasons, not the next two months.
This is not a toy hauler. There's no garage for a dirt bike or ATV, and strapping powersports gear inside a small travel trailer eats payload and tears up the interior. If hauling toys is the point of the trip, shop a true toy hauler and keep the Bushwhacker for what it does well.
- Good fit: Two adults, short trips, hookups most nights, modest SUV, light gear.
- Workable fit: A couple plus one small child in a Plus model, with weighed cargo.
- Poor fit: Several kids needing bunks, long dry camping, or powersports hauling.
First-time buyers most often shop dry weight and miss the hitch. Run one loaded weekend near Salt Lake City before a longer Bear Lake trip, sleep in it, cook in it, and dump and refill at home. If that weekend feels cramped, a bunkhouse travel trailer is the honest next step.
Recalls to Check Before You Buy Used
A low asking price does not settle the cost of a used Bushwhacker. Before negotiating, check whether safety repairs are complete and whether the trailer's tires and load capacity fit your Utah trips.
Use this checklist in order, and keep the VIN handy.
The Lot Inspection in Order
- Record the VIN and manufacture date: Read both from the trailer, not the advertisement. Model year and build date can differ.
- Search the VIN: Check it in the NHTSA recall database and ask the seller for repair paperwork for any campaign listed as open.
- Inspect the floor fasteners: The NHTSA recall report identifies certain 2020 to 2021 Bushwhacker 10FB and 2021 10SS trailers with undersized floor lag bolts. The floor could separate from the frame; the remedy specified 3/8-inch bolts, washers, and lock nuts.
- Check the tire placard: Compare its pressure information with the tire sidewall and the tires' stated maximum pressure. A placard that does not match the tires can lead to incorrect inflation.
- Inspect the exterior gas manifold: Check the recall database for any campaign involving the exterior gas manifold, and ask for the repair record tied to the VIN. A cracked manifold can leak propane.
- Match tires and axle to your load plan: Check tire size, age, and condition against the weight you intend to tow. Ask for any available scale ticket.
Use a flashlight to examine the frame-to-floor attachment. On an affected trailer, consistent replacement hardware is a useful sign, but paperwork matters too. Mixed, undersized, or missing fasteners call for a shop inspection before you proceed.
For the gas manifold, look for cracking, makeshift sealant, or fresh tool marks without supporting paperwork. Have a qualified technician perform a propane leak check as part of the pre-purchase inspection. A low price is a poor trade if the floor attachment or gas system still needs repair.
Pair these model-specific checks with a used RV inspection checklist for the rest of the walkaround. If the VIN shows an open campaign, or the seller cannot document completed work, pause the purchase until the repair status is clear. For an older trailer, include replacement tires in your budget unless date codes and records show the tires are recent.
Cooler Hatch Battery and Utah Service Limits
Spec sheets stop at the campground entrance. Power draw, hatch sealing, and parts wait times decide whether the second night is as good as the first, and compact trailers ask more of their owners.
What Owner Reports Actually Say
Owner reports collected in the Overland Bound Bushwhacker owners thread describe rear-hatch leaks around the hinge, gas-strut mounting problems, and a continuously running fan that drained the battery. Another owner reported that the thermoelectric cooler consumed roughly 70 watts continuously, about 1,680 watt-hours per day, and estimated a compressor refrigerator at about 280 watt-hours per day in that setup.
Those are anecdotes, not laboratory measurements. Treat them as questions to test on the specific trailer you're buying, not as verdicts on every unit. Still, the math direction matters. A cooler drawing power around the clock, plus a fan, lights, and a water pump, will drain a small battery bank fast during a dry-camp night at Jordanelle.
Warranty logistics deserve the same honesty. One owner reported water-leak and other warranty repairs taking three months for parts. That's one report, but it's enough reason to ask any seller who holds the warranty now and where the work gets done.
The photo below shows the kind of hatch work our technicians inspect before calling a used unit weather-tight.
Run a Repeatable Camp Test
- Battery draw test: Record voltage at bedtime and again in the morning with the cooler, fan, and lights running as you'd use them.
- Hatch hose test: Run water over the rear hatch hinge and strut mounts, then check inside for drips and damp bedding or cabinetry.
- Cooler watt reading: Put a plug-in meter or battery monitor on the cooler circuit so you're budgeting measured draw, not hope.
- Fan and noise check: Run the vent fan at sleeping speed and listen from the bed, because a fan you can't sleep under gets switched off.
Ask how old the battery is and whether solar was installed. Solar-ready means wiring or a port exists. It doesn't mean panels are covering your daily draw, and a single small panel won't rescue a cooler that eats power all day.
For Utah storage, keep it simple and consistent. Store the trailer with batteries charged and off cold concrete, cover the tires against sun, and inspect the roof and hatch seal before the next mountain season. A hatch that sealed in October can still weep after a winter of freeze and thaw, so test it again in spring.
Our service department can check the hatch seal, battery condition, and fan before a wet Wasatch trip, and that visit costs far less than drying out a mattress. I'd rather you spend on a compressor refrigerator and a healthy battery than on accessories, because cold food and lights at midnight are what make a small trailer feel capable.
Buying New Used or Financed Around Salt Lake City
Start with a buy and pass rule, then talk money. Buy a small Bushwhacker when the scaled tongue weight fits your SUV, the VIN recall paperwork is closed, and the trip is a couple or a very small family with a short packing list. Pass when you need bunks for several children, a garage for powersports gear, or several days of cooler and fan use without hookups.
New Versus Used
New units sidestep the older used-unit campaigns, but they don't sidestep physics. You still need a loaded scale check before towing into the mountains, and you should still confirm the current brand name and warranty holder before signing, since the name changed in 2024.
Used units are reasonable under four conditions. The VIN paperwork is complete, the tire placard is correct, the floor fasteners are sound, and the rear hatch stays dry under a hose. Miss any one of those and the discount has to cover real shop time, not just optimism.
A low sale price doesn't offset a longer loan on a trailer your family outgrows in one season.
Financing and Trade-In
Our guide to financing an RV walks through comparing offers on one sheet. Put the total out-the-door price, term, and monthly payment side by side, and get pre-approved before the lot visit so you're negotiating the trailer, not the loan. Stretching a term to shrink a payment on a small trailer usually means you still owe money when you want something bigger.
For a trade-in, bring your tow vehicle's payload sticker photo and the trailer title. That lets us match trailer and vehicle to the same tow limits instead of appraising the trade in isolation.
Our Millcreek sales department is open Monday to Friday and Saturday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and closed Sunday. You can reach Millcreek sales at (801) 262-2921 and service at (801) 262-2924 if you want to schedule a tow match or a pre-purchase inspection before you drive out.
Browse current lightweight inventory, then stop by our Salt Lake City area showroom with your packing list in hand. We'll weigh the conversation the same way we'd weigh the trailer.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Bushwhacker
Is the Braxton Creek Bushwhacker a Toy Hauler
No. It has no garage for a dirt bike or ATV, and its payload is meant for camping gear, water, and food. Powersports gear needs a true toy hauler with a rated cargo area and tie-downs.
Can a Compact SUV Tow a Bushwhacker
Possibly the lightest 10FB, and only after a payload check that counts passengers, hitch hardware, and water. The Plus 17BH and its heavier dry hitch weight need a larger tow vehicle budget, so don't shop by tow rating alone.
What Does a 10FB Weigh Loaded
It starts around the published dry weight, then water, propane, battery, and dealer options add up before your gear goes in. The only number we'd trust for your trailer is a scale ticket taken loaded the way you camp.
Which Model Year Is Safest to Buy Used
No year is automatically safe. Check the VIN and recall completion for the 2020 to 2022 campaigns on the specific trailer, read the tire sidewall, and inspect the floor fasteners and gas fittings before negotiating.
Is the Brand Still Sold Under the Bontrager Name
Reports from 2024 describe a rename from Braxton Creek to Bontrager Outdoors, with the lines reorganized under new names. Confirm the current name, parts channel, and warranty holder with the selling dealer before you sign, and get it in writing.
How Long Will the Battery Last Without Hookups
That depends on the cooler, fan, lights, and water pump you run, plus battery age and size, which is why a one-night test beats any estimate. If a thermoelectric cooler runs continuously, plan on hookups or a serious battery and charging upgrade.
Bring your tow vehicle's payload sticker and, if you've found a used unit, its VIN, and we'll run the weight math and recall check with you before you spend anything. Visit Motor Sportsland to browse lightweight trailers and schedule a tow match at our Millcreek showroom, so your first Jordanelle weekend starts with a trailer your SUV can carry.
