Trailer or no trailer?

[TexasD90]

I have just moved over to an 80 series from a land rover defender 90. When we were traveling in the defender there was not enough room for our stuff, so I built a trailer to camp out of. Now that I have a much larger vehicle I am debating getting rid of the trailer and just going with a RTT. It is me, the , my 3.5 year old daughter and mt 2 year old son. I like the trailer because when you set up camp you can then take day trip without taking everything down. I don't like pulling it around though (tough on mileage and ssssssslllllooowwww with stock gears). We do lots of exploring and wheeling so having the tent up top worries me a little. I really like the ease of set up with the RTT though.

My questions:
1. Do you like your RTT
2. Do you like your trailer
3. Does the tent make your rig feel top heavy
4. Is it a pain in the a!? To take down every time you need to drive somewhere
5. Is the best answer to put a RTT on the trailer and get lower gears
6. Any other words of wisdom???

Thanks for taking time to help me think through this.

 

[Willman]

I love my trailer! It is a kick in the pants!

My trailer goes anywhere the tow rig goes!

My questions:
1. Do you like your RTT - Yep
2. Do you like your trailer - Hell ya...
3. Does the tent make your rig feel top heavy - nope
4. Is it a pain in the a!? To take down every time you need to drive somewhere - Trailers are great to setup a base camp so you can take day trips...
5. Is the best answer to put a RTT on the trailer and get lower gears - running 4:88 in my taco 3.4L - gears help on the passes.
6. Any other words of wisdom??? - Just do it man!



Having a trailer is a must have if you are a family man. All the stuff plus the kitchen sinks fits great in my trailer. It will take a few trips getting use to the backing/5 point turns. Trailer brakes are key....Lock them up and the trailer is most useful when you are in a tight spot.

Hope this helps!

 

[REZARF]

I am a trailer man too... but I drive a fj40.

I am torn, I have 2 kids and my wife too and the trailer is a TIGHT fit.

If I had to do it over again, with an 80/100 series tow rig, I would build the rig the way I wanted to, buy a nice pop-up trailer and plan my trips around that setup. I find as my family grows, trips deeper and deeper into the back country are less likely to happen. I do however want to spend time with my family OUTSIDE, so a compromise might be in order. Base camp with daily wheelin'

Just my .02

 

[pesimsmd]

I have done it both ways, it depends on where you are going. Driving in Alaska I prefer RTT on the Roof for several reasons. The higher you are off the ground, the further away from the food chain. Plus river/water crossing are easier with out a trailer to weigh you down. All other trips I prefer RTT on my trailer. Can carry more stuff (maybe be good or bad), I can leave the trailer and hit the trails. Set up base camp for couple of days is great with a trailer.

 

[roscoFJ73]

I have just moved over to an 80 series from a land rover defender 90. When we were traveling in the defender there was not enough room for our stuff, so I built a trailer to camp out of. Now that I have a much larger vehicle I am debating getting rid of the trailer and just going with a RTT. It is me, the , my 3.5 year old daughter and mt 2 year old son. I like the trailer because when you set up camp you can then take day trip without taking everything down. I don't like pulling it around though (tough on mileage and ssssssslllllooowwww with stock gears). We do lots of exploring and wheeling so having the tent up top worries me a little. I really like the ease of set up with the RTT though.

I cant see why you would need to regear it,the 1fz fe has heaps of power in its lower gears as it is

My questions:
1. Do you like your RTT

Yes but you need a good one.

2. Do you like your trailer

Yes because I can leave it set up at base and go sightseeing

3. Does the tent make your rig feel top heavy

A little but not annoyingly so(I have a 75 series)

4. Is it a pain in the a!? To take down every time you need to drive somewhere

Yes ,thats why I have a trailer.I only take the RTT mounted to the vehicle for overnight stays on the road.

5. Is the best answer to put a RTT on the trailer and get lower gears

My RTT is interchangeable with the trailer and as I said before I cant see why you would need to regear.

6. Any other words of wisdom???

Youve got children and they are not going to get smaller,the days of fitting everything into one vehicle are drawing to a close,so you will need the trailer

 

[Mark W]

Depends how you use your rig and trailer.

For roads, back roads, fire roads, old mining roads and the like, a trailer can be a useful way to haul a lot more gear with you.

For more serious off road use, it can quickly become a lot more work to get down the trail. In a bog, a trailer will often become an anchor attached to the back of your rig. Up truly steep inclines it may result in your rig not making the top. In flowing water channels the trailer can complicate a crossing as it tries to wash downstream. In rough terrain or thick brush it can be easy to lay the trailer in its side. Particularly with it loaded top heavy with a tent on the top and gear piled high. It is just that much more "rig" to get through extreme rocks. It reduces manuverability when you have to work your way through tight spots to get in position to winch or do anything else that calls for specific location of your rig. And it impacts fuel mileage.

Of course if you have already been using a trailer, you probably know all this... just pointing out all the things that an RTT DOES NOT do.


I often tow a trailer behind my rig, or have someone else driving one of my rigs with one of my trailers along as a support rig for a group. I've done a lot of trail miles with trailers. \

When you need to carry the gear, they are indispensable. But they are also often a handicap on the trail.


A good RTT is a snap to set up and take down. It adds a lot less hassle and handicap to your rig than the addition of a trailer. You are a lot more likely to tip a trailer with an RTT on it than a Cruiser with an RTT.

Mark...

 

[TexasD90]

What are everyones thoughts on Tepui Tents? I have been reading about them, and I haven't read anything bad yet. They seem to be priced right, but that doesn't always mean its a good deal.

 

[Rubiconcruiser]

As always there are several hundred ideas about trailering. First off keep the trailer, it is a necessary issue when it comes to comfort on the trail. I have used an RTT on top of my rig, found it to be fuel consumptive, too tall to move thru canyons easily and others. The trailer albeit a hassle, can be used as a base camp setup as opoined by another here. Just remove the hitch and security is not a real issue. The fuel milage due to gearing is easily rectified. ANyway. Have fun whatever you decide.

 

[TexasD90]

I'm leaning towards a RTT on the trailer for family travel, but setting it up to go on the truck also. Then I dont have to take the trailer on my solo trips.

 

[spressomon]

^ this! Best of both worlds. I'm waiting for a new Columbus for the top of the 100...for the more rough excursions when its just me in my rig (well...and my doggies ) and we're in a different camp spot every night.

But for, say hunting camps for instance where camp is set-up for multiple days, nothing beats being able to set-up and leave a camp trailer...waiting there for you upon return to camp.

For a family that likes to wheel together especially any type of off-pavement routes I couldn't imagine not having a trailer of some kind to take some of the load and packing/unpacking time/complications for camp everyday.

And the trailer can be more or less ready to roll at a moments notice...a little more conducive for quick weekend type get aways...

Had an AT Horizon with a couple different RTTs on top...Maggiolina GT being the last one...and now the Kimberley. They both weighed, fully loaded, about the same (~2,600lbs) in full touring mode...but overall the KK is far more versatile and comfortable (and arguably more capable from a stability/towing perspective)...especially for 2 or more in the family.

Choices, choices and even more choices!

 

[Rubiconcruiser]

Consider building a rack forr the truck or a support structure you can transfer tent and frmework to as a unit, trailer to truck, Had this idea with my dodge as well as my Toyota and CJ, Transferred frame and tent as a component, Worked fairly well but I still enjoy the convenience of the trailer setup.

 

[The Jade Bean]

I'm building up our expo rig and expo trailer and the further I get in the builds I can't see not really having the trailer. I can see that at least 75% of the time it would be a must for a good base camp.

We also decided like others to go with a RTT on the trailer and for us that allows us to still utilize the roof rack on the rig for other storage. I'd keep the trailer if I were you, it can be hard to replace a good expo trailer.

-Daniel

Sent from deep in the mountains of Honduras using only sticks and rocks.

 

[TexasD90]

after thinking it through and much research on tents...... I decided to keep the trailer. I will be mounting a Tepui Tents Gran Sabana to the trailer. I am building a lift system for it to mount to that will raise and lower the tent from the trailer lid to a height of 7.5 feet. This way I can still open the lid of the trailer, and set up the annex. Way excited, and thanks for the input.

 

[The Jade Bean]

Sweet...post pics as you do it!

-Daniel

Sent from deep in the mountains of Honduras using only sticks and rocks.

 

[rusty_tlc]

I am a trailer man too... but I drive a fj40.

I am torn, I have 2 kids and my wife too and the trailer is a TIGHT fit.

If I had to do it over again, with an 80/100 series tow rig, I would build the rig the way I wanted to, buy a nice pop-up trailer and plan my trips around that setup. I find as my family grows, trips deeper and deeper into the back country are less likely to happen. I do however want to spend time with my family OUTSIDE, so a compromise might be in order. Base camp with daily wheelin'

Just my .02
<snip>]

We have the 100 with a pop-up and it's a good combo for mild to moderate wheeling. Width is the biggest issue,
The 100 has more than enough power to pull a small pop-up, sometimes I forget it's back there until I look in the rear view.
The comfort and ease of set-up with a PU is great. We even take my 80+ mom on week long camping trips.

IMHO the perfect set-up is the one you will use the most, a family of four would be much more comfortable and more likely to go more often with the extra elbow room a PU offers.

 

[Mark W]

I tend to use a trailer for loads that will not fit or that I rather not put inside the rig (LOTs of fuel for example). Or if I intend to drop the trailer and load along the way and pick it up on the way back.

We sometimes carry a couple of fuel drums in as far as the trailer can be towed and when the terrain becomes a problem for it, we top off the onboard fuel capacity We use this range to continue on. returning to the trailer and fuel cache on empty, to fuel up from it before heading back to the road system.

But for any other purposes. I lean toward simply taking a bigger rig these days. Overall my'60 or '62 without a trailer closely matches the capabilities of my '40 with a trailer. The '80 could with a few more mods. If the Cruiser wagons with a trailer will not carry all I need... the Suburban or crew cab pickup is not that much worse to get down most trails than a Cruiser wagon with trailer.
Especially if you are not talking about challenging trail conditions, but just "family campout" stuff.

Mark...

 

[TexasD90]

I got to work in the shop today, and started on my tent lift system. It will give me a head height of 82 inches under my annex when the tent is in the raised position, but it will lower down to the top of the trailer for when I am driving or don't need the annex. Sorry for the bad pictures my wife is gone with the camera. I'll get some better pics as I go.

 

[bigwapitijohnny]

Outlander Sherpa II...

I purchased my Outlander Sherpa II (Built for a lifetime of adventure) in August 2010. At the time, my 3rd generation 4runner was limited in capacity ~ even with the added BajaRack.

[URL="http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/bigwapitijohnny/Sonoran/IMG_2856.jpg"][/URL]​

I am glad that I went with a trailer due to the convenience that the Sherpa II affords. All I have to do is to load groceries in the fridge, hook up the max coupler and go. I wanted to avoid having to put all of the equipment on my daily driver. Seems impractical to me to have my DD with a RTT on all the time. I did consider having a pulley system for the RTT, but the time it took to prep the vehicle would quench the ability to go camping 'on the fly'...​

[URL="http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/bigwapitijohnny/Camping%20pics/2011-05-06_18-17-09_779.jpg"][/URL]​

I have since upgraded to a CrewMax Tundra due to the 4runner being underpowered. Don't even know the Sherpa II is behind me now...​

[URL="http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/bigwapitijohnny/Shadyboy%20awning/IMG_0235.jpg"][/URL]​

Regards,​

BWJ​

 

[alia176]

I like it with or w/o a trailer, depending on if the entire fam damily is going camping or not. If it's just me, I sleep inside the 80. Now that the six year old will be going with me, may have to use the RTT, unless I can find a way to have both of us sleep inside with the fridge. We use the Kamparoo for family trips - very comfortable and cushy. When the girl wants to bring her friends, I'll setup a bunk bed in there.

1. Do you like your RTT - usually despise them unless I can afford a Columbus or Magiolina. <drool>. Anything else tends to be too tall and get snagged by tree branches. Last thing I need to worry about is to have an expensive RTT getting shredded!

2. Do you like your trailer - LOVE it. Hot water, hot air, queen foam mattress, a place to play cards if need be. 80 only hauls food and clothes. Leave the trailer in the camp and go exploring or take it with you. Come home from work, hitch up and leave town. Don't need to pack the 80 like an UPS truck along with the dog in the back. That used to SUCK the big time.

3. Does the tent make your rig feel top heavy - yeah and I hate giving up my cargo box.

4. Is it a pain in the a!? To take down every time you need to drive somewhere - hence, I despise them.

5. Is the best answer to put a RTT on the trailer and get lower gears- see below

6. Any other words of wisdom??? - yeah, invest in a trailer that allows you to get out of the bad weather. Tents should be for more than just sleeping and changing clothes sitting up. You should be able to cook and play games inside while its raging outside. Just getting out of the wind storm and eating your supper in peace (w/o sand in your food and drink) sheds a whole new spin on camping.

YMMV as they say. These are my opinions so take it for what its worth.

 

[Saragato]

The trailer adds enormous cargo capacity, utility and extends the ultimate distance of travel while freeing up the roof for other items such as surfboards, kayaks, pelican boxes, gas cans, ect. I can load three passengers in complete comfort into the FJ80 and then carry two dogs and all the gear in the tow trailer.

An RTT would be great, if one fell out of the sky onto my rooftop but they seem expensive and are "just" for sleeping...trailers can potentially be a more flexible "platform"....

IMHO