zgfiredude
Rank VI
Steward I
I wasn't questioning your ability or experience, just verbalizing the types of things that a person might not consider when NOT taking your approach. Mostly for others that are reading this thread as well.
Steward I
Advocate I
For sure, I wasn't really taking it that way and was just expanding on our thought process and where we're coming from. I would caution anyone from jumping into anything like this and just winging it, especially if they're thinking about taking off for weeks or months. Personally, I love the planning and logistics involved combined with the freedom of not having a set schedule and the flexibility to adjust our general route as we see fit.I wasn't questioning your ability or experience, just verbalizing the types of things that a person might not consider when NOT taking your approach. Mostly for others that are reading this thread as well.
Advocate I
Advocate I
Advocate I
Looks decent, but way too small for us and is missing a lot of features/options we want. Thanks for the suggestion, though!Have you checked out the Runaway Venturist? I don't have one. But it is on my short list.
The Venturist - RunawayCampers.com
Advocate I
sounds like a great trailer and i'm sure a good one like that will hold its value and can be sold with minimal loss if you did decide you didnt want it later. i say go buy it and have fun.So now I'm really torn, Teton X is going to be starting production on their "Hybrid Comp" trailer which will have composite panels and no wood. They've also redesigned the pop-up roof and it will be a full pop-up instead of the tilt pop-up. Additionally, they say they're going with airbag suspension in place of the Timbren 3500HD, a Lagun table leg instead of the fixed pole, using an Ark off-road jockey wheel/jack, including a MaxxAir Deluxe with remote, Maxcoupler articulating hitch, and also including a 50Ah Battle Born lithium battery, Victron BMS, and 45Ah charge controller as standard.
Since it doesn't look like I'll be able to avoid paying $2,500 for shipping the OGT Pando 2.0 that brings the Pando 2.0 with the options we want within $3,300 of the price of the Teton X Hybrid Comp and the options we'd want. My wife still needs to give her feedback on the Teton X galley layout vs the Pando. I like the interior layout and amount of space in the Teton X better than the Pando and I feel like the Teton X storage inside is a little more flexible without blocking use of the bed.
The bummers are price (we're now into the low $40s) and production lead time of 18-20 months currently. That is really pushing it close to when we were planning on trying to hit the road in 2023.
Such a hard choice.
Advocate I
Indeed, it does sound like a pretty well-built trailer with quality components being used. I've spoken with owners of the previous Teton X Hybrid and they've said the quality and support are top notch, which is the same thing I hear about OGT and the Pando 2.0, and in talking with folks from both companies I have no reason to suspect that's not the case.sounds like a great trailer and i'm sure a good one like that will hold its value and can be sold with minimal loss if you did decide you didnt want it later. i say go buy it and have fun.
Advocate I
Advocate I
now that is a very important point. our little camp trailer has the slide out stove/refer on the side and we love cooking that way...or in cases where we just take the tundra, we cook on the tailgate. we recently did a trip out west with brother-in-law and they have an R-pod camp trailer. one night we went in with them to eat and it felt so weird sitting inside and cooking and eating. it is convenient and nice in bad weather....BUT we go out and camp like we do because we actually enjoy that kind of inconvenience.We've done the more traditional trailer route a couple of times and for us they defeat the purpose of being out in nature because they force you inside
I think the Pando 2.0 is a winner. The main reason we didn't choose it was the low interior height. We camp year round and figured if we were going to tow we would like more sitting room for holding up in rough weather. We had spent 40+ years camping in various size tents and knew that we would not be happy with Pano's 46" tall interior. We have a rack and gear boxes on top of our Rover and figured we could easily tow something up to that height. If the Pando was a foot taller we might be towing one today.Man, I need help (mentally and otherwise :P). I took a closer look at the Teton X Hybrid and it's pretty compelling. I'm not sure how I feel about them using poplar/plywood for some of the construction, the metal and composite construction of the Pando is pretty appealing. I really don't want to have to worry about small or unknown leaks leading to rot and mildew over time. Any thoughts on that? Or the Teton X (vs the Pando 2.0)?
Advocate I
My wife just got back from a backpacking trip (Cirque of the Towers in the Wind River Range) last night, she'd been gone for a week so we haven't been able to discuss much. You do make some good points about setup and protection without needing the awning with something like the Pando. Something else I realized is that there are no steps or fenders on the side of the Teton X to access the roof rack or solar panels easily whereas the Pando has stand-on fenders and easier roof access as a result, like if we want to put kayaks up there.I think the Pando 2.0 is a winner. The main reason we didn't choose it was the low interior height. We camp year round and figured if we were going to tow we would like more sitting room for holding up in rough weather. We had spent 40+ years camping in various size tents and knew that we would not be happy with Pano's 46" tall interior. We have a rack and gear boxes on top of our Rover and figured we could easily tow something up to that height. If the Pando was a foot taller we might be towing one today.
We ruled out sideways slide out kitchens. We just love the rear galley design with an instant cover by the rear hatch. We are so glad we put that feature on our must have list. It has worked out great. There is no need to put on rain gear or deploy an awning just to whip up a quick breakfast on a rainy morning… And my wife and I both enjoy cooking under that cover.
We ruled out any shelter that relies on fabric. We are just burnt out on fabric leaking and wearing out over time and having to put it away wet then finding time to dry it out, mold & mildew, rodents… Some of the same reasons we decided to move away from tent camping. We looked at hard shell popups but got some funny looks when I asked about setting one up during a coastal storm. That’s another reason we wanted to move away from tent camping. We love camping in rough weather but setting up shelter in wind and pouring rain = not fun.
We looked at several rigs that honestly didn't look like they would hold up to rough conditions for very long. We ruled out poor suspension, plywood floors...
Anyway, those are some things we considered.
ps, Not sure why Teton X is using poplar it's not real stong and has poor resistance to decay. Spruce has a far better strength to weight ratio.
Member III