Advice needed on trailer purchase

[Bloomer]

I'm torn between purchasing and building an offroad 5x8 cargo trailer (with RTT eventually) or a Morris Mule trailer (with a RTT eventually) and would like input from others on what they see (or have experienced) as benefits/negatives of each.


The 5x8 cargo trailer I found is an all aluminum (including frame) and can be ordered with a 1 additional foot extended tongue, side door, window(s), either torsion or solid axles with leaf springs, and a reinforced roof for the RTT at a later date. Should be able to easily modify the suspension to get additional lift/clearance.


The Morris Mule trailer is (obviously) smaller than the cargo trailer and is more similar to the M416/M100 trailer. It has a split aluminum cover that can double as a table or working surface. Has extended tongue and platform surface area for storing gear outside of the bed. It is also equipped with torsion bar suspension.


Both trailers will be close to the same price.


Benefits, as I see them, in the cargo trailer:
Lots of room
Dry place to sleep/hang out during rain storms
Perhaps more uses outside of camping


Negatives of the cargo trailer:
Big
Wind drag when driving resulting in poor fuel mileage
Limited access to remote areas


Benefits of Morris Mule trailer:
Smaller simple design
Lighter and minimal drag behind the land cruiser
Able to navigate trails and potentially able to access remote areas


Negatives of Morris Mule trailer:
May need to further modify for RTT
No inside quarters for sleeping or shelter from rain
No dealers close by. Will have to order online/over phone without inspecting first.


Would be interested in hearing what other think...


Thanks

 

[titanpat57]

I think you have to weigh what is going to make you most comfortable more nights out of the year. By comfortable I mean her Highness is not bitching 24/7 about why in the hell did she ever let you talk her in to going camping.

When I was 33....I could drink all night, fall asleep next to the fire, get up at 7 and have a warm beer with my eggs....but at 56 I've completely forgot how to be a man, want to be warm, and dry while sleeping..have a full service kitchen, and drink coffee till 2 in the afternoon.

I figured at this stage of the game I don't need any practice to be uncomfortable camping all night....I think you just have to find that balance in your life and in your camping trailer.

Figure it this way....even if you do build out the cargo trailer,you' all probably manage to drag it more places than most. Enjoy your time camping to the utmost.

Time is the only commodity in life that can't be replaced or reproduced...

 

[scrapdaddy]

I think you have to weigh what is going to make you most comfortable more nights out of the year. By comfortable I mean her Highness is not *****ing 24/7 about why in the **** did she ever let you talk her in to going camping.

When I was 33....I could drink all night, fall asleep next to the fire, get up at 7 and have a warm beer with my eggs....but at 56 I've completely forgot how to be a man, want to be warm, and dry while sleeping..have a full service kitchen, and drink coffee till 2 in the afternoon.

I figured at this stage of the game I don't need any practice to be uncomfortable camping all night....I think you just have to find that balance in your life and in your camping trailer.

Figure it this way....even if you do build out the cargo trailer,you' all probably manage to drag it more places than most. Enjoy your time camping to the utmost.

Time is the only commodity in life that can't be replaced or reproduced...

Amen Brother!

 

[JayDoc]

I'll echo the above a little bit. The size you buy should follow your purpose - and for me, the cost.
I have bought an old m101a2 (which is a bit bigger than your cargo trailer listed above) and have slowly been converting it into a camping trailer. I'm comfortable pulling it off road in mild-mod conditions to a base camp position but would not pull it in a truly wild environment - so where do you see it being used?

I'm an admitted cheapskate here and the fact that I found my m101a2 on craigslist for $300 was a big influence on my choice but maybe that ain't an issue for you. A byproduct of that is that you'd have to be willing to modify the m101 a bit to fit your future goals (rtt etc) but if you're willing, there's a world of options.

check out the link for what a well thought out m101 can look like.
https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/refreshing-a-m101a2.572367/