Official Will An Off-Road Trailer Work For Me? The Off-Road Trailer Conundrum

[Brian P]

Yup.
http://www.rme4x4.com/showthread.php?75544-Off-road-Utility-trailer-build

I did a bit of reading on the internet about trailer building and decided what sounded reasonable to me, now I'm not a welder or an engineer, but I have put nearly 5k highway miles on my trailer, I either had Devine intervention, luck or just measured correctly and I have been very pleased with my build, other than the weigh toward the rear issue.

 

[Box Rocket]

My axle is offset to the rear by about 6" so the weight it a bit more biased to the front. When I added the tire carrier to the back of my trailer the dynamics changed quite a bit because of the shift in weight. I redesigned how I was carrying my water and fuel and remounted my CO2tank at the front of the trailer so with the weight of 15 gallons of liquid and the Steel CO2 tank it balanced it out pretty good and tows really nice still.

It's a good point about keeping it weighted to the front.

However, nothing wrong with your ideas if you ask me. I think the firewood rack off the back is a great idea actually. Just need to plan how to compensate for the weight up front to keep it balanced.

 

[RogueJeepr]

Is there any way you could have known that it would tow squirrelly?

A good way to check is to undo the hitch and see if its easy to lift up. If it is then move more weight up front .
Having small trailers is a plus cause ya can move them around by hand. I keep just enough weight so I can lift the tounge onto the ball but not too heavy to the point I cant lift it at all .

 

[jeeper]

Can I have some opinions on using a small cargo trailer as an offroad trailer? I'm thinking something like this:



our current offroad vehicle will not be doing anything serious, and the trailer would not either. I imagine it being used to explore the swell, while providing space for my wife to pack everything she thinks the kids will need. It might also be able to haul my dirt bike and provide a place for me to stay on an overnight trip.
Some of the major cons I can think of would be how top heavy it may be, so possible tip over, especially after lift.

However, I think the many pros for our family outweigh the cons.

What think ye?

 

[cruiseroutfit]

I think if you're OK limiting your route options and you're willing to beef us suspension and components and/or slow down... no reason it wouldn't be workable. When I built a trailer my primary goal was to haul stuff while meanwhile not limiting the places I go, the speed I get there and simplify my packing/travel. I wouldn't be comfortable dragging something that big behind me for several reasons BUT guys use similar setups with good results albeit different circumstances.

 

[jeeper]

I think if you're OK limiting your route options and you're willing to beef us suspension and components and/or slow down... no reason it wouldn't be workable. When I built a trailer my primary goal was to haul stuff while meanwhile not limiting the places I go, the speed I get there and simplify my packing/travel. I wouldn't be comfortable dragging something that big behind me for several reasons BUT guys use similar setups with good results albeit different circumstances.

Part of our problem is that we are pretty new to cross country travel. I know it will go more places that our fifth wheel, and get there faster... So we are at least one step ahead. However, I don't really know what I am looking for, or where we will be going. I do know that it only needs to be able to go where the expedition can. That rules out Pritchett for sure

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Part of our problem is that we are pretty new to cross country travel. I know it will go more places that our fifth wheel, and get there faster... So we are at least one step ahead. However, I don't really know what I am looking for, or where we will be going. I do know that it only needs to be able to go where the expedition can. That rules out Pritchett for sure

Well, the easiest way to know if it will work... go use it. You might find that it limits your speed or travel plans OR it works just perfectly and you can continue to outfit it to cover your needs. No reason not to try if you already own it.

 

[jeeper]

I don't own one of that size yet.. But as a trailer enthusiast it won't hurt my feelings to have to buy/build multiple trailers to try out.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

...I'm really pondering my future trailer use, as I generally take the Land Cruiser when I'm solo and I generally take the Tacoma when my wife is along... I don't use the trailer much in fact it hasn't been used for nearly a year now. I don't think I'll sell it anytime soon but I may re-task it. It might become the haul rig for my gold panning supplies

I guess I never update my personal trailer conundrum. The trailer continued to see less and less use as my personal needs and travel continued to change. My Tacoma could easily accommodate 2 people for week+ or 3-4 people for 3-4 days of self supported travel and the 100 Series even more so, I can easily do a week with 2-4 people and gear. I had a customer ask about the trailer a handful of times and in a weak moment last year? I told him to come get it. It hadn't been used at all last year and just once the year before behind my FJ40 for a week long trip in the Swell and Moab. So while it doesn't make sense for me currently, I'm not opposed to one in the future and if I was hauling 5+ people on long trips, I can certainly recognize the want, need and simplicity of a trailer.

I have a 3 spot moto trailer I want to beef up a bit, make it something I could tow through the Swell or out along the Pony Express without worrying about the wheel-barrow tires I've considered removing or modifying the middle slot with a platform where I can mount some nice secure boxes, perhaps a Jobox or similar? Make it easier to haul the bikes which ideally means we take them out more often.

 

[Tonkaman]

Make it a mix of both worlds. Outfit the trailer with plumbing and a water tank. Have fold down seating counter tops. The trailer is used to hold fear and a small bit of shelter/amenities. All while using the RTT to sleep in and awning to hangout under

 

[jeeper]

Make it a mix of both worlds. Outfit the trailer with plumbing and a water tank. Have fold down seating counter tops. The trailer is used to hold fear and a small bit of shelter/amenities. All while using the RTT to sleep in and awning to hangout under

This was my thinking.. Glad you approve , especially as you will be the one who has to drive a little slower with me Ha Ha

 

[CobraNutt]

Anytime you want to try it out, lemme know, and we can drag our trailers to the Swell and have a great outing and figure out where to go in outfitting your trailer in the future!

Sent from my mystical handheld gizmo.

 

[thefirstzukman]

I think the small enclosed has definite possibilities and a place for sure. I have really enjoyed my Off Road trailer for sure, but I is a lot smaller. I dont think you would be dragging that through a lot of the places that I have taken mine, but that might not be your intention.. If I had the money I would be sporting the Hundy and ditch the trailer, but that isnt in the stars anytime soon. The trailer has given us the opportunity to run trails like Elephant hill and HITR in a Samurai for multiple days. I keep it as light as possible, we use our ultra light backpacking gear and pack smart. I would hate to be 2 days down a trail and have to figure out how to get a broken rig and an enclosed out of somewhere. I lost my 35' Jazz fifthwheel in a fire a few years ago and replaced it with a 6x12 and some springbars, it is great for a lot of camping in places you wouldn't take a big trailer and it makes a great storage place for stuff in implement weather, it is great.

Its whatever works for what you want to do.

 

[jeeper]

I have not had much luck finding the cargo trailer I am looking for, so I playing with the idea of building an open trailer now. My experience says anything behind the tow vehicle is covered in dust/mud/dirt/etc after any dirt road. What do you guys do to keep your gear/food/cloths/tools/etc from becoming a dirt bath?

 

[Box Rocket]

I have not had much luck finding the cargo trailer I am looking for, so I playing with the idea of building an open trailer now. My experience says anything behind the tow vehicle is covered in dust/mud/dirt/etc after any dirt road. What do you guys do to keep your gear/food/cloths/tools/etc from becoming a dirt bath?

I do a few things. I'm using some inexpensive bins from Walmart for most of the food items and some other gear. Like these:

These bins are sturdy and nest nicely so you can stack them and they'll stay put.

These bins actually do a pretty good job of keeping must crap out. But I also used a strip of foam weather stripping around the lip so when the lid clips closed the seal is compressed. These has helped a lot with keeping dust out.
.
The other thing that has been awesome are the new Tepui gear bags that I have. I got these as a demo since I sell Tepui stuff so yeah I guess you can consider this a biased opinion, but the truth is these bags has been the best I've ever had, especially with keeping water and dust out. Last year during CruiserFest we did several hundred miles of dirt roads and these bags were either in my open truck bed or my open trailer. the bags would be covered in dust, but when I opened them up there was not a speck of dust that made it inside. Really surprised me. They are really durable and weather proof too. Not exactly cheap bags but now after using them they are worth every penny. They can just be hosed off too which makes them super easy to clean. let me know if you want some and I can get you a deal.

http://tepuitents.com/collections/gear-bags

ARB also makes some nice weather proof bags called the Cargo Storm Bag. I know several guys with these and they seem to be quite durable and mostly waterproof. I'm not sure about the dust intrusion but I would expect since they keep water out that they would do the same for dust. Kurt at Cruiser Outfitters will have those if you want those.

 

[Brian P]

I use a handy packer or whatever they are called, I also add a 1/2" wide foam weather stripping on the lid.

 

[Tonkaman]

Plastic containers work really well for us, but not everything fits in them. Just remember EVERYTHING else will be dusty/muddy/wet. For what your doing I think a cargo trailer is the way to go

 

[jeeper]

For what your doing I think a cargo trailer is the way to go

This is what T said tonight. She would rather me spend more and be happy longer this time...

 

[thefirstzukman]

http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/productImages/300/65/6541d014-c49b-4719-a69e-8d457ab25fb1_300.jpg
+1 on these. We use these on our trailer and they are great, you can get them for pretty cheap at costco.

 

[nnnnnate]

I'm going to try and add a lid to mine that I'll be able to remove by myself. Hopefully I can make it tight enough that it'll keep the goo out but we'll see.