Positives Re: The NoBo
The negatives far outweigh the positives on the NoBo for me, but there were some positives. Unlike the Flyer Explore, the NoBo 10.6 does have onboard water storage. There is a hose near where the kitchen pops out on the side that you can use to cook with or spray off yourself or the quad that you can't fit in the back. This is a good idea. On the flip-side though, it is more expensive to insure a trailer with plumbing vs one without plumbing. If onboard water is really important to you, you aren't going to get it with the Flyer Explore.
The second thing I liked about the NoBo was the wheel and tire package. I just think that the all-black wheels look better than the off-road package wheels that come with the Flyer Explore. That is just personal preference though and I'll probably just paint the wheels that come with my Flyer Explore when I take delivery anyway, so it'll be a non-issue.
I also like the fact that the fenders on the NoBo are made to be stood on when accessing things on the roof. I don't think the Flyer Explore fenders are meant to stand on just because of how they're attached, though I could be wrong.
Positives Re: The Flyer Explore
It is IMMEDIATELY apparent that the Flyer Explore has higher build quality in all respects vs the NoBo. Bonus that the entire frame of the structure is aluminum and each connection is welded all the way around. This means that the larger Flyer Explore is only slightly heavier than the NoBo WITH the tip-out and the interior is much larger. I think it's actually lighter than the NoBo if you don't opt for the tip-out. There's no problem riding a quad up in to the back of the Explore, though you'll have to duck going in. Since the rear opening is much larger (66" vs 50") that means the angle on the rear door when used as a ramp isn't quite so ridiculous either, even when optioned with the off-road tires and the lift kit as mine is.
The Explore can be optioned with some nice things as well, including a built-in stereo that's already wired to 12V. In 2018 and older models they used to do a small around Jensen stereo that wasn't great, but as of 2019 they're doing a full din-sized stereo, which means you can easily upgrade it if you wish. In the NoBo you can option a JBL Bluetooth speaker and a little plastic hook to put it on the wall, but no real stereo. The built-in stereo is nice when it comes to wiring up a TV though, which the Explore is pre-wired to accommodate (either 12V or 110V). I found a $115 Element 1080P monitor with an HDMI input at Walmart that I'll be mounting to the wall in the Explore, in conjunction with a Raspberry Pi for games and movies, and I can get sound through the factory stereo, which will be cool.
If you're short, the 16" difference in interior height when going from the NoBo to the Explore can be a big deal, since someone my height (5'9") can ALMOST stand up in the Explore. Granted, most of the time spent in these will probably be sitting or sleeping, but when you look at them side by side, the Explore feels MUCH bigger inside, especially if equipped with the tip-out.
As mentioned above, the Explore when equipped with the tip-out can accommodate 2 adults on the tip-out and two on a queen-sized air mattress on the floor, thus negating the need for a roof tent to sleep extra people. You CAN equip the Explore with a roof tent, but the weight rating on the rack is limited to 300 pounds, so it's likely a one-adult affair. If you have kids that want to sleep up there that's an option, although now that I can have them sleep inside on the floor that saves me $1500-$2500 since I don't have to buy the RTT.
Another cool feature of the Explore is the 2" hitch receiver on the back. This allows you to put an aluminum carrier back there and haul a few totes, some bicycles, your generator, etc. with you. They rate this at 200 pounds, so you could pile up a few totes full of stuff, strap a waterproof bag around them, and have a lot of extra storage say your Explore is full up with an ATV or a couple of dirt bikes.
I also like the fact that the fox-wing awning on the Explore covers the kitchen area when it's open. Since the kitchen is outside, it's kinda nice to be able to cook in the rain without getting wet and having your food rained on. On the NoBo, the kitchen slider is behind a door. On the Explore, there is no door, which gives you the ability to have additional food prep space via the included extra counter section that packs away on top of the fridge, giving you an L-shaped kitchen whereby your prep surface, fridge, and stove are all immediately accessible. On the NoBo the stove is on the end of the pull-out and faces away from the trailer, so there's no real prep surface to speak of without walking around a lot. The whole kitchen is just more well thought out on the Explore.
Lastly, the Flyer is available in 4 color options, which I like since the silver option matches my Wrangler.
Conclusion
I know this is a rather large write-up that may never get read, but I just though I'd share my thoughts on the two since I recently went through this decision process myself. This segment is becoming more and more popular as well so I can see the potential for a lot more people attempting to find information on this in the coming year, and to be honest there really isn't a lot of information out there about either of these options, as they're a very niche segment. I ended up going with the Explore for all of the reasons above, and even when optioned to the max the Explore was still nearly the same price as the NoBo out the door at my local dealer. I custom ordered mine with the exact options I wanted and I take delivery in 2 days. I can't wait. Intech really hit it out of the park with these cool little campers, and I can see the price going up as the segment heats up so if you're looking, now might be a good time to snap one up.
