Describe what makes a off road trailer

[housedad]

I have been reading quite a lot on here and elsewhere about off road trailers.

However, I have yet to find a basic description of what makes a trailer a off road trailer.

Now, there is a lot of answers to this based on what the trailer will be ultimately used for, but when you talk about the basics, like wheel size, axle type and height, bolt patterns, road clearance, frame type and how much stronger than a road trailer, overall width, etc.

There are so many possibilities for what goes on the frame, like a box, camper, utility, cargo, etc., that I'll ask that question in another thread.


So, the question is:

What are the basic attributes of a off road trailer. (Or: definition of a off road trailer.)

Thank you

Bion Rogers

 

[Wagon Burner]

One that you can take with you behind your rig that attaches to a hitch, and is capable of traveling safely over, thru, and wherever you point your rig.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

What is the definition of an off-road truck?

 

[henrys103]

off.........road..........trailer
make it whatever you want or need as long as it's capable of going off road

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Brief definition I wrote in a recent forum article:
"First, lets define the type of trailer we are talking about. My reference relates to off-road trailers designed to be towed by your 4x4 to remote places not possible with a standard utility trailer. Because of that they will likely have tires at or near the size of your vehicle. They will have hitches that don't inhibit motion or articulation, and are generally built to make your camping and travel experience more comfortable by allowing you to haul more gear. I am not referring to a tent trailer, whereas they can be beefed up for towing into the back country, my dialogue is more aimed at home built or commercially built trailers similar to the popular military surplus M416 or the modern Adventure Trailers offerings. In my opinion if the trailer couldn't be cleanly pulled through a trail such as Mineral Basin or even something a tad more difficult like Rattlesnake with no damage and minimal added effort, it can't really be considered an off-road trailer. On the same note I don't think it warrants the definition of an off-road trailer under the broader terms of 'overland' or 'expedition' use if it isn't highway friendly and capable of being towed at speed limits and for long distances with little encumbrance on the tow rig. The specs and benefits of the numerous different options on the market range that I have no intention of covering the product selection with this article so much as the need and uses of such trailers."

Its obviously not the end all definition, and really its just my take on off-road trailers. Hope you find it helpful.

 

[teotwaki]

Brief definition I wrote in a recent forum article:
"First, lets define the type of trailer we are talking about. My reference relates to off-road trailers designed to be towed by your 4x4 to remote places not possible with a standard utility trailer. Because of that they will likely have tires at or near the size of your vehicle. They will have hitches that don't inhibit motion or articulation, and are generally built to make your camping and travel experience more comfortable by allowing you to haul more gear. I am not referring to a tent trailer, whereas they can be beefed up for towing into the back country, my dialogue is more aimed at home built or commercially built trailers similar to the popular military surplus M416 or the modern Adventure Trailers offerings. In my opinion if the trailer couldn't be cleanly pulled through a trail such as Mineral Basin or even something a tad more difficult like Rattlesnake with no damage and minimal added effort, it can't really be considered an off-road trailer. On the same note I don't think it warrants the definition of an off-road trailer under the broader terms of 'overland' or 'expedition' use if it isn't highway friendly and capable of being towed at speed limits and for long distances with little encumbrance on the tow rig. The specs and benefits of the numerous different options on the market range that I have no intention of covering the product selection with this article so much as the need and uses of such trailers."

Its obviously not the end all definition, and really its just my take on off-road trailers. Hope you find it helpful.

Heck, maybe not end-all but amazingly good.

 

[ntsqd]

Brief definition I wrote in a recent forum article:

Its obviously not the end all definition, and really its just my take on off-road trailers. Hope you find it helpful.

I read that article (btw consider a cross post here?) and I think it's a pretty definitive definition.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Heck, maybe not end-all but amazingly good.

I read that article (btw consider a cross post here?) and I think it's a pretty definitive definition.

Thanks!

I've got some minor updates and additions to make to it... when I get that finished I'll cross-post it

 

[tdesanto]

Two attributes really stand out in my mind:

1) Durability
2) Suspension

 

[UK4X4]

1) Durability
2) Suspension
3) Ground clearance !

 

[housedad]

great so far! Thanks!

So, how about the hitch? Would a certain type of hitch, pintle or articulated joint be preferred? Or is a ball hitch perfectly fine except in rock crawling?


I have heard things like
'keep the trailer the same or less width than the tow vehicle'
'try for the same ground clearance or more than the truck'
'don't use torsion suspension'
'same bolt hole pattern and tires as tow vvehicle'
'designed to reduce or eliminate trailer frame racking'
'Independent suspension is best, but not torsion'
'Strong enough to withstand a rollover without destroying contents.'


I have never read anything about optimum length, or height. How much the axle should be oversized for the load,

 

[The Adam Blaster]

Well, most of those look ok, but the torion axle thing, I think the jury is still out on that aspect...

One addage to follow might be, keep it as short as possible while retaining correct geometry and turning radius applicable to your towing vehicle.
And put extra "armour" in the areas of the underside that are most likely to touch the ground, most notably the rear corners.

 

[RHINO]

i use a ball hitch, been through some 4+ rated trails w/o incident.

to me its simply a stout frame, good ground clearance, and heavy axle/hubs for the weight of big tires.

 

[ntsqd]

Just to be clear, it is the rubber torsion AKA "Torflex" axles that are under examination and some say are not up to off road use. They have good points, the question with them becomes what is the expected use?

Should you find a torsion suspension using torsion bars or springs then those are in a whole different class. They're rare enough that I've not seen much discussion about their use on or off road.

Ball couplers are fine off road until you exceed their pitch and twist limits. If that never happens then there's little reason to use anything else. Most medium or more difficult routes in the west are likely to push on those limits pretty hard.

Pintles get a bad rap for noise. I've never had one, so no idea. I'd expect them to be noisy, but some have posted that they are not. Some of those posters mention careful sizing of the pintle and the loop being crucial to limiting noise.

The various articulated couplers avoid all of the noise issues at the possible expense of being a little more difficult to couple. Not a lot more, and I'm sure that there is a technique for each that makes it easier.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

Yeah, the rubber torsion axle thing... Adventure Trailers is dead set against them. But many "off-road" trailer manufacturers in Africa and Australia use them. <shrug>