Opinions wanted on practicality of towing a trailer.

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MidOH

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I wouldn't do that. It's just not a tow vehicle for real trailers. And that's a real trailer. I'd consider a F150 for that trailer. If it was spec'd well with tow package. Half tons are pretty weak.

Little suvs and trucks have grossly overrated tow capacities.

Towing a trailer once a year and parking it, is vastly different than traveling with that trailer, often, in rain and snow.

A gas F250 would be a great choice, and wouldn't even know that a trailer that light, was even there. In fact, it might payoff to pick out a heavier trailer at that point. 5-6000#.

For real travel, no excuses, you want to stay under half your GVWR and GCVWR. My trucks rated for 12,500# towing. 3600# cargo.

So a 23' tandem axle trailer is just lovely.

We're mostly just base camping and boondocking. Ohio overlanding is gravel roads and improvised campsites at best. Boondocking is just as fun.
 
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bcmedicxj

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Hello,
I'm new here and have limited experience. I have been camping 3 or 4 times a year since High School (early 90's). My buddies and I had access to a mid 80's Toyota SR5 (not mine) that we'd take camping with a tarp, sleeping bags, a pack of hot dogs and some packs of mustard...and maybe some beer. For recovery equipment we had a Come-A-Long and an Axe. The three of us had a blast camping and driving the privet trails on a family friend's land in southeast Ohio. My other buddy acquired a POS jeep that was owned by about 3 different guys in high school. You had to be careful not to let your feet go through the holes in the floorboard. We beat the crap out of those vehicles and tested their limits as dumb young guy do. I was happy to take advantage of the fact that I had no skin in the game. I was amazed to see what they were willing to do with these things, especially my buddy driving his Dad's SR5. They both were very generous with letting me drive the rigs as well. Once the jeep died and my Buddies Father removed access to the truck after a broken windshield (basketball related) and dinged up finder (trial related), camping continued without the offroad fun. We did graduate from the lean-to to some bougee Coleman tents however.

Fast forward a few years later and a couple different friends got brand new jeeps. They had no desire to bet the crap out of them but wanted to hit some trails. I was invited to come along. I watched and helped them slowly mod their jeeps into more capable offroad trail rigs. We would tent camp around Ohio but found the trails are limited. As we started venturing to neighboring states and harder trails in the mid-west, they would again decide to add more lift, bigger tires, etc. I would help them install their new parts as I was the most mechanically inclined. Then they got into rock crawling. ROCKCRAWLING! What the hell is rock crawling? I said. Why don't you just drive faster and raise hell like me and the other boys used to do? It's great fun I said. They rightfully reminded me of the cost of their rigs and the fact they didn't want to destroy them with mud holes and bouncing off trees. Their logic was rock crawling was slower and more refined and therefor easier on the rigs. So slowly we would remove their second set of mods and add more "capable" mods. We would venture out east, west and hit jeep jamborees, Leadville Co, Holy Cross and Moab (sadly I missed that last one). I was well aware and grateful for the fact that I had no skin in the game and yet blessed enough to experience the time in the garage, camping and even some drive time.

As a side note: I also watched them loose the daily drivability of their jeeps and noted the talk of trailering the rigs instead of driving them to far away destinations. I also told myself if I ever get an offroad rig it will be a used beater and only build it once.

Fast forward 15-years and now I have a wife and two daughters (10 & 8). I have a small business and limited time for hobbies. I've also realized I have limited time to make memories with my family. So, I bought a 2-door Bronco with a manual transmission, factory 35'' tires and front and rear lockers (sasquatch package) that I use primarily for work. LET'S GO CAMPING!....Shoot, where do I put everything?

My first thought was buying a small trailer that is capable to being towed "off road". I was SHOCKED at the prices first of all. I've found some older M416 trailers (still shocked at those prices). I'm not yet totally there but am stating to except "the price is the price". Then I started wondering the practicality of actually taking a trailer on trails? Then started thinking about base camping and security of our crap from people and weather. Then I started thinking about Smitty-built Scouts and turtleback type trailers. Then started learning about the capabilities and limitations of independent suspension rigs (I have come to the conclusion to try and keep thigs as stock as possible...hopefully) Then started learning about Overlanding. Then started thinking of setting up camp every night just getting to national parks let alone while there. Then started thinking about "off-road" teardrops. Yet again I started thinking about how practical it is to actually drag a trailer on trails the Bronco can handle on its own (not crazily moded up). Then I started wondering do we really need a so called "Off-Road" teardrop if nobody truly drags them along on "moderately hard" trails? Should I just get a "normal" teardrop? Are we locked into base camping anyway with any trailer? If we hook up with other overlanders are they annoyed by someone dragging a trailer along? My goal was to not weigh down the Bronco with roof racks, RTT, hitch racks or swing out bumpers and then suspension upgrades. IMO all that weight makes the vehicle less capable both offroad and as a daily...but is "this is the way"?

My goal is to take the family out camping (which we do with normal family 3 row car). The boiled down issue is I want to now enjoy the capabilities of the Bronco on trails here on the "east coast / mid-west" and still fit all the stuff. I also would like to take a once or twice a year 7-10day overlanding trip with the family to see our country and parks and maybe offroad a bit too. I am also starting to realize the advantages of the quick set-up times Overlanders enjoy. I have "analyses paralysis" big time!

I guess I'm asking what experienced folks think? What limitations/advantages can I expect when towing these 4-types of trailers I'm kicking around (both "off-roading" and "Overlanding")?
1. M416 type trailer with fabricated secured lid.
2. Smitty built Scout with possibly a larger hardshell RTT
3. A proper "off-road" teardrop with a RTT
4. A cheaper mainstream teardrop. (which I may expect to get beat up a bit).

Is towing even a good idea? Is it generally accepted knowledge towing greatly limits you when overlanding in the USA?

Thank you for reading my ramblings and I appreciate your advice or thoughts. I know these are open ended questions. If this topic is beaten to death please point me to some good threads.
Take a look at : www.compactcampingconcepts.com. They have parts and accessories to convert lightweight utility trailers ( home depot, lowes, tractor supply and rural king) into some very capable overlanding trailers.
 
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armyRN

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I built a little trailer off a 4' HF-type trailer frame. Here's a build thread:

Mini Harbor Freight (type) Trailer Ultimate Build-Up Thread | Jeep Enthusiast Forums (jeepforum.com) Read the whole thread and build your own - it isn't that expensive.

I love it. Fully loaded it weighs about 1500lbs. And that's the max rated towing limit of my TJ (2.5/five-speed/4.88 gears, 33" tires).

Overland Adventure.2.jpg

Overland Adventure.6.jpg

It is amazing how much stuff you can actually put in the trailer (there's not much room in the TJ even with the rear seat removed). However, as far as sleeping on the trailer in the RTT (actually a double-sized tent-cot), it is best for just one adult, or two very friendly adults. It has been across the country a couple times, up to Alaska and Canada, done the TAT, and a couple of the BDR routes.

I've still got the TJ, but last year I bought a new JLU Willys XR. And my dream trailer is a Timberleaf Pika teardrop with the off-road package. Not too big, just big enough. I can't afford one right now, but if I could, that's what I'd get. A very small teardrop trailer.

The Pika Teardrop Trailer | Small Camping Trailers, Camping Trailers (timberleaftrailers.com)
 
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Lonsind

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I built a little trailer off a 4' HF-type trailer frame. Here's a build thread:

Mini Harbor Freight (type) Trailer Ultimate Build-Up Thread | Jeep Enthusiast Forums (jeepforum.com) Read the whole thread and build your own - it isn't that expensive.

I love it. Fully loaded it weighs about 1500lbs. And that's the max rated towing limit of my TJ (2.5/five-speed/4.88 gears, 33" tires).

View attachment 279002

View attachment 279003

It is amazing how much stuff you can actually put in the trailer (there's not much room in the TJ even with the rear seat removed). However, as far as sleeping on the trailer in the RTT (actually a double-sized tent-cot), it is best for just one adult, or two very friendly adults. It has been across the country a couple times, up to Alaska and Canada, done the TAT, and a couple of the BDR routes.

I've still got the TJ, but last year I bought a new JLU Willys XR. And my dream trailer is a Timberleaf Pika teardrop with the off-road package. Not too big, just big enough. I can't afford one right now, but if I could, that's what I'd get. A very small teardrop trailer.

The Pika Teardrop Trailer | Small Camping Trailers, Camping Trailers (timberleaftrailers.com)
I've been thinking about doing something similar with my old XJ. It's amazing how versatile those HF trailers can be with some creativity. Totally agree on the space issue—I've done a few trips with just my rig and it's always a game of Tetris. The Timberleaf Pika is a dream! One day... For now, I'm just glad to get out there and explore.
 
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bcmedicxj

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Off-Road Ranger I

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Vonore, TN, USA
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Bruce
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Towing a trailer does have advantages. You can make day trips without having to break camp (depending on where you are of course) and it does make more space in the XJ for the fridge or cooler and for a passenger or a trail buddy. As you already know, space is premium in a XJ.
 

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