Review: ATC Game Changer 2021
Travel trailers are very personal purchases centered around the activities you want to do, balanced against the cost and preferences of those that will use them. In my case, I needed a trailer suitable for a person with allergies that has enough open room to carry a few motorcycles, can be used as a cargo trailer if needed, and has a full bathroom and shower.
As my wife and I searched for a suitable trailer, we ultimately purchased a 2021 ATC Game Changer 2015. ATC stands for Aluminum Trailer Company, so there is no wood, which works well for keeping the place clean to minimize allergens.
ATC was founded in 1999 as a company creating “do-it-all” cargo trailers, which evolved into car haulers and ultimately into RV trailers with full amenities and accommodations for toys such as motorcycles, side-by-sides, and vehicles. We chose the 2015 model, which has a 20 feet of open space with 15 feet of toy storage in a 26-foot-long trailer weighing approximately 5,700 pounds empty.
ATC trailers are ruggedly built and come factory-lifted, which is an important consideration if you plan to visit remote campgrounds on small forest roads with rough terrain. For the most part, the Game Changer 2015 uses premium components where it counts, such as axles, wheels, aluminum construction, strong hinges, and quality LED lights inside and out.
Portable Creature Comforts
After nearly two years of use, I have few complaints about the unit. Inside comforts include abundant storage, a full sink, a convection oven, and a full bathroom.
The bed lowers in the back of the unit and provides queen size comfort. When not in use, you can raise it to an elevation of nearly seven feet so even my 6-foot-5-inch body can walk under it without bonking my head. A dinette and bench seats that fold into beds provide sleeping room for up to five persons.
Heating, air-conditioning, and good exhaust fans keep us comfortable. For power, you can plug the Game Changer 2015 into shore power. In our case, we installed 760 watts of solar panels to keep batteries charged while using the trailer off-grid.
Compared with other travel trailers, ATCs are a little more sparse and industrial-feeling with the all-aluminum cabinets. Aluminum tends to run both cold and hot, so the Game Changer 2015 is not a great four season trailer.
The large rear ramp door tends to absorb and dissipate a lot of heat, particularly when facing the sun, which can lead to unstable temperatures. Floor insulation is a special order and recommended for colder climates. All water storage tanks—fresh, gray, and black—are heated, as are the water lines.
Carrying motorcycles required a mounting system, so I purchased a Bolt-It-On system which connects to the floor cargo hooks. The system installs quickly and can be easily removed once you get to camp.
Fortunately, I already had a suitable vehicle to pull the trailer, which can weigh up to 12,000 pounds loaded. Vehicle fuel consumption is a factor, but rolling into a campsite on a blustery evening, rolling the bike out, lowering the bed, and cooking a meal while listening to the pitter-patter of rain is awesome! Also, taking a shower and having access to convenient cooking, hot water, and a real restroom are wonderful amenities.