The TAXA Cricket’s compact footprint can make it appealing to campers who want a smaller trailer, but size alone won’t tell you whether it’s a sensible purchase. The deciding factors are the exact unit’s loaded weight, its towball load, your tow vehicle’s limits, and how easily you can manage its pop-up roof and onboard systems. Before committing, check the trailer’s identification plate and paperwork, test its setup and equipment, and estimate the costs of making it road-ready and maintaining it. If you’re buying in New Zealand, also confirm that the trailer’s ratings and certification suit local requirements.
The Cricket is a compact camper trailer with a pop-up roof and a flexible interior. That design offers a relatively small footprint for travel and storage, while creating more usable space when camp is set up. It can be a good fit for buyers who value compactness and are comfortable with a trailer that needs to be opened and arranged before use.
Don’t assume that every TAXA Cricket has the same equipment or specifications. Model year, condition, installed options and previous modifications can all affect weight and functionality. A listing’s description is a starting point, not proof of what is included or what the trailer weighs today. Ask to see the specific unit’s plate, manual and equipment inventory.
A brochure or sales listing may quote a dry or unladen weight. That figure can exclude some combination of installed options, fluids, battery, personal gear and camping supplies. The weight you tow is the trailer as prepared for your trip, so a low published figure doesn’t establish that your vehicle can tow a loaded Cricket safely.
Start with the trailer’s identification plate and documentation. Find its permitted maximum mass and the limits for its axle, tyres and coupling. Then ask whether the stated weight applies to the exact unit, including any added equipment. If there’s no reliable figure for its current empty weight, arrange to have it weighed rather than estimating from a different Cricket listing.
New Zealand buyers may encounter local terms such as tare, ATM, GTM and towball download, while imported paperwork may use terms such as GVWR, dry weight and tongue weight. These terms don’t all describe the same measurement. Ask the seller or a qualified certifier to clarify the ratings for the particular trailer, and don’t treat a simple conversion between pounds and kilograms as confirmation that it meets local requirements.
For a realistic travel figure, weigh the trailer with the equipment and supplies you expect to carry. Include water only if you plan to travel with it, along with food, clothing, tools, bedding, recovery gear and anything stored on or in the trailer. Roof-mounted equipment can add weight and may also be subject to separate limits, so check the Cricket’s documentation before using a rack or carrying bulky items up high.
| What to check | Evidence to request | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Trailer mass rating | Identification plate and paperwork for that unit | Shows the trailer’s rated limit; it does not tell you its actual trip weight. |
| Current trailer weight | A recent scale reading, ideally with travel equipment loaded | Reveals whether the planned load fits within the trailer’s rating. |
| Towball load | A measurement in the intended travel configuration | Counts against both the trailer’s coupling limits and the tow vehicle’s limits. |
| Tow vehicle capacity | Vehicle handbook, manufacturer plate and hitch specifications | Confirms the limits that apply to your particular vehicle and equipment. |
| Imported-trailer status | Certification and registration documentation, where applicable | Helps establish whether the trailer can be used legally and supported locally. |
A vehicle’s advertised maximum towing capacity is only one part of the calculation. Check the permitted trailer mass, the vehicle’s gross vehicle and combined mass limits, payload, rear-axle limit, towbar rating and towball-load limit. The lowest applicable rating can become the constraint.
Payload deserves particular attention. People, luggage and accessories already use some of the vehicle’s carrying capacity; the towball load also adds weight to the vehicle. A setup that appears to fit the headline towing figure may still exceed a payload or axle limit once the vehicle is loaded for a real trip. Use the vehicle maker’s information for your exact model and configuration, not a general claim about the same model name.
After checking the ratings, assess the vehicle and trailer as a loaded combination. A weighbridge can help establish actual vehicle, axle and trailer weights. If you’re unsure how the results relate to the limits, ask a qualified towing professional to interpret them before travelling. Don’t solve a weight problem by moving cargo without checking the trailer maker’s loading instructions; poor balance can create handling problems.
Also check the hitch and electrical setup. Confirm that the towbar and coupling are rated for the combination, the safety connections are appropriate, and the trailer lights and brakes work with your vehicle. Whether a brake controller or other equipment is required depends on the trailer’s specification and the rules where it will be used. For a New Zealand purchase or import, confirm the applicable requirements with NZTA or an entry certifier rather than relying on assumptions based on a US-market listing.
A pop-up roof is part of the Cricket’s compact design, but it adds steps to arriving at camp and packing away. Ask the seller to demonstrate the complete process, following the manual. Watch whether the roof lifts and closes evenly, and check the latches, hinges, seals and any fabric or panels for damage, wear or signs of water entry.
Then try the rest of the routine yourself. Depending on the exact layout and equipment, that may mean levelling the trailer, stabilising it, arranging the sleeping area, opening storage and setting up any included accessories. Notice whether you can reach and operate everything without awkward lifting or repeated rearranging. If one person will usually handle setup, make sure that person can manage it comfortably.
Think about both open and closed dimensions. Check that the trailer will fit your storage space when packed, and that you have enough clearance to raise the roof where you plan to camp. Don’t assume a roof rack or added cargo is acceptable just because it fits physically; verify the relevant weight and fitment limits in the documentation.
Ask the seller to close the Cricket as well as open it. A roof that appears easy to raise may be difficult to latch or seal properly. If anything binds, sits unevenly or needs force, find out why before purchase rather than treating it as a minor inconvenience.
Equipment can differ between Crickets, so make an itemised list of what comes with the trailer and what is an optional extra. Don’t assume that a listing’s reference to power, water, cooking or storage means every component is installed, functional or included in the sale.
Pay particular attention to evidence of water intrusion around the roof and openings. Discolouration, soft surfaces, damaged seals or a persistent damp smell warrant investigation. A tidy interior doesn’t prove that the roof and seals are sound.
The purchase price is only one part of the budget. A used Cricket may need tyres, brake work, bearing service, new seals, battery replacement or repairs to its roof mechanism and interior fittings. For a new or imported unit, delivery, taxes, certification and registration may also affect the total cost. Get an itemised estimate for the specific trailer rather than relying on a generic allowance.
Include the cost of making your tow vehicle ready. Depending on what is already fitted and what the combination requires, this may involve a suitable towbar, electrical connection or brake-control equipment. Insurance, secure storage and routine servicing add further ongoing costs. If you’ll camp away from powered sites, budget for the equipment and maintenance needed to meet your actual power and water needs; a compact trailer isn’t automatically self-sufficient off-grid.
Before buying used, ask for maintenance and repair records, and price any identified work with a repairer familiar with trailers. A lower asking price may not be a saving if essential systems are untested or the trailer needs substantial repairs. If buying from another country, obtain a landed-cost estimate and confirm certification and support arrangements before paying a deposit.
The Cricket may suit campers who want a compact trailer, are happy to follow a setup routine and have a tow vehicle that meets the limits of the loaded combination. It may also appeal to buyers who can make use of its flexible interior and don’t need a large, permanently configured living space.
Consider a different trailer if you need a very quick arrival-to-bed routine, require more fixed indoor space, carry substantial gear, or can’t verify a suitable tow-vehicle match. A smaller body doesn’t remove the need to manage weight, and a feature-rich example may weigh more or cost more to maintain than a simpler one.
Not necessarily. Its compact footprint can make storage and manoeuvring more manageable, but towing depends on the loaded mass, towball load, tow vehicle ratings, hitch setup and trailer condition. Check the complete combination rather than judging by exterior size.
There’s no reliable answer based on vehicle class alone. Compare the exact SUV’s manufacturer limits with the specific Cricket’s loaded weight and towball load, including passengers and cargo in the vehicle. If any rating or weight is uncertain, have the combination assessed before towing.
No assumption is safe based on the model name alone. Equipment can vary by year, options, market and owner modifications. Ask for a written inventory and test the components fitted to the trailer you’re considering.
Confirm that the trailer’s identity, weight ratings and documentation are clear, and establish whether it can meet local certification and registration requirements. Ask NZTA or an entry certifier about the specific unit and its paperwork before purchase; don’t assume a foreign rating or listing settles local compliance.
There isn’t one check that replaces the others, but verify the trailer’s actual weight and inspect the roof, seals, chassis and running gear carefully. Also test each installed system and review service history. An independent trailer inspection is sensible when you can’t verify condition or repairs yourself.
Buy a TAXA Cricket only after you’ve confirmed its loaded weight against the limits of your tow vehicle, tried the setup and checked the condition of its roof and systems. If those checks fit your camping plans and the full ownership costs are acceptable, its compact design may be a practical match; if key ratings or certification remain unclear, resolve them before paying.
