hitch rack vs roof rack vs trailer

[frumpy]

With a small vehicle and two occupants (plus two dogs), you do need some interior space. It is likely this can be accomplished with a very light roof load. Your roof load should never exceed about 150lbs. I never run any roof load if possible. On my latest trip, I kept the roof rack on the JK and hauled some firewood with it.

Consider putting light, bulky items in a lightweight rack (like the FrontRunner aluminum racks or the new ARB aluminum). Tent, sleeping bags, pillows and chairs. Get everything else down low, and far forward. With the dogs, you can fill the rear footwells with tools and water (properly lashed). In the rear, store cooking and camp gear, recovery equipment and personal effects. Again, put the heaviest stuff far forward (closer to the rear axle) and low.

The Liberty is a small SUV and it looks like yours is near stock, which will help with vehicle dynamics too.

Very good points, and the liberty isn't the most roomy SUV. If I go with a roof basket I was just planning on welding up something out of 1" square tubing thats 42"x48" or so. I think the biggest problem I have right now is mounting the gas and water jerry. I think I may just slowly start building the trailer for the bigger/longer trips.

Also, the box on the trailer is a lot larger then the frame (box is 4.5'x6.5') so I could either stick with that size or go smaller to about a 36" wide box which would also give me the option of a rtt in the future.

 

[Deleted member 9101]

My vote is for a trailer, plenty of room... and you can leave your stuff packed when you get home. Really, your trailer is not a bad start, unless you want to drag it down trails with you? I would just swap to 12" tires and call it a day.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

My vote is for a trailer, but not the one you have. Sell that, and I'd bet you could almost build a proper small off-road trailer for the same money.

 

[Whitey]

I think the biggest problem I have right now is mounting the gas and water jerry. I think I may just slowly start building the trailer for the bigger/longer trips.

Do you honestly need a jerry cans? You said the most you're planning on doing is some fireroads and camping. I find it hard to believe you'll be hundreds of miles away from a gas station. You can also be creative is storing water inside the car easily enough.

 

[frumpy]

I already have a nice cnd military water jerry that is great and I always bring spare gas with me. There are often times where it is very far between gas stations and sometimes travelling late at night gas stations in the middle of no where are closed. I guess I could even get away with a small 10L gas can but I always like to be prepared.

Also, for the winch, you never know when you will need it especially if you are out solo and it has many good uses aside from just recovering yourself.

 

[frumpy]

My vote is for a trailer, but not the one you have. Sell that, and I'd bet you could almost build a proper small off-road trailer for the same money.

I've thought about doing that. I have seen a lot of the fancy super nice trailer builds on here but I think all I really need is a utility trailer to haul some gear thats nice and sturdy. I could probably sell my trailer for around $400, already have tires and rims that match the jeep, axle from princess auto for $100ish lighting all for $50, pintle hitch set up for around $100 and then the steel and some old springs from the wreckers.

Although for what I am using it for, I think it may be fine as it is (with the axle and tire upgrade). Its not going to see any crazy trails nor be loaded up with insane amounts of stuff.

 

[robert]

If you can get away with it, a hitch hauler is one of the easier ways to carry stuff. If you need the clearance/departure angle it obviously won't work. You can but elevated versions, but they generally don't hold much unless they are custom built with two supports instead of one. I much prefer one for hauling firewood as opposed to putting it on top- messy and I hate getting dirt and bugs in (what's left of) my hair. They have the added benefit of blocking your license tag- not that I would know anything about blowing by a speed camera since I knew they couldn't see my tag.

I have a roof rack on my truck but it can be a pain to get stuff up and down if you're short or the truck is tall. I usually only carry boats up there, but I also have a Yakima box I carry on occasion. I keep meaning to built a basket but haven't gotten around to it.

With your current trailer, you'd need to lose the current suspension entirely and upgrade. I'd also go with wheels outside the box instead of under it or it's going to be really tall. Many of the current crop of utility trailers can be made more "offroadable" by simply doing a spring over on them- unbolt the axle, pull it out of the springs and flip it over then rebolt it. I did this on mine to make it easier to get into a sloping side yard. They also generally need more bracing to limit flex and strengthen the tongue.

 

[Inc]

I have a 2005 Liberty, a wife, twin babies, and a big chocolate lab so room is a rare commodity when we are all going some place.

I built a custom roof rack for the Libby, but got rid of it because I didn't like having to heft stuff that high up onto the top of the jeep, and it seemed like it had a fair amount of drag to it even with the wind foil I made for it. I ended up welding some round HREW tubing to my stock Renegade roof rails and if I need to strap something to the roof, I still can but there is no drag at all now. I am limited because there are no sides to the roof rails, so I have to strap absolutely everything down or it will fly off though. Since your jeep isn't lifted really tall, raising your COG shouldn't be an issue with a roof rack.

I have never been a fan of hitch carriers. I think, you might as well be tugging a trailer and since you already have one, I'd skip buying or building a hitch carrier.

Over the last few months I built a small utility trailer to haul our gear and it totally freed up the jeep so that all we need to carry inside are occupants. My family isn't very fond of the harder off road trails, so I leave the trailer at home and go solo with my gear in the jeep when I feel like testing out the jeep's limits.

If I were you, I'd build up the trailer to suit your needs. You'll be able to carry everything and then some and the jeep won't be crowded or packed up. On my jeep at least, it seems like I get better MPG pulling a loaded trailer vs. driving a jeep that is loaded to the hilt with people and gear.

 

[frumpy]

I have a 2005 Liberty, a wife, twin babies, and a big chocolate lab so room is a rare commodity when we are all going some place.

I built a custom roof rack for the Libby, but got rid of it because I didn't like having to heft stuff that high up onto the top of the jeep, and it seemed like it had a fair amount of drag to it even with the wind foil I made for it. I ended up welding some round HREW tubing to my stock Renegade roof rails and if I need to strap something to the roof, I still can but there is no drag at all now. I am limited because there are no sides to the roof rails, so I have to strap absolutely everything down or it will fly off though. Since your jeep isn't lifted really tall, raising your COG shouldn't be an issue with a roof rack.

I have never been a fan of hitch carriers. I think, you might as well be tugging a trailer and since you already have one, I'd skip buying or building a hitch carrier.

Over the last few months I built a small utility trailer to haul our gear and it totally freed up the jeep so that all we need to carry inside are occupants. My family isn't very fond of the harder off road trails, so I leave the trailer at home and go solo with my gear in the jeep when I feel like testing out the jeep's limits.

If I were you, I'd build up the trailer to suit your needs. You'll be able to carry everything and then some and the jeep won't be crowded or packed up. On my jeep at least, it seems like I get better MPG pulling a loaded trailer vs. driving a jeep that is loaded to the hilt with people and gear.

thanks, Inc. I love your jeep too and have been following your jeep and trailer build. My fiance prefers the easier trails as well, she will take a faster speed fire trail run over crawling (with my old YJ or TJ) any day of the week.

I think for now I am going to swap in a wider axle (maybe bigger springs if needed) and throw on the 29" tires I have sitting out back and try out the trailer thing. If I like it, then I can go from there and build something a bit beefier and more designed for the trails.

 

[Inc]

thanks, Inc. I love your jeep too and have been following your jeep and trailer build. My fiance prefers the easier trails as well, she will take a faster speed fire trail run over crawling (with my old YJ or TJ) any day of the week.

I think for now I am going to swap in a wider axle (maybe bigger springs if needed) and throw on the 29" tires I have sitting out back and try out the trailer thing. If I like it, then I can go from there and build something a bit beefier and more designed for the trails.

That makes the most sense to me. Probably the cheapest and easiest way to get what you are looking for. Plus you can slowly or gradually make the trailer more custom to suit your needs.

 

[rugbier]

Based ofn the description of what you are planning to carry, is kind of Oranges to Apples to Plums

If I was you in your vehicle and were to carry the items you have described on very mild trails, I will without a doubt use the trailer.

Maybe build it up a little ( gain some clearance ), and will always give you the expansion to a RTT

Good luck

 

[frumpy]

Definatly Oranges to Apples to Plums. Whatever I go with will see everything from week long trips camping/cottaging, two week long trips back home to visit family (then wheel while there) of over 3000km, and general duty of moving gear around, not to mention a canoe too.

 

[KSJeep]

Another option would be to build a shelf to go over the dog crates. You should then have room behind and over the crates for gear. You could make the shelf removable with folding legs for storage. The tied down shelf could also act to keep the dog crates in place should something happen.

 

[Zelix]

I've thought about doing that. I have seen a lot of the fancy super nice trailer builds on here but I think all I really need is a utility trailer to haul some gear thats nice and sturdy. I could probably sell my trailer for around $400, already have tires and rims that match the jeep, axle from princess auto for $100ish lighting all for $50, pintle hitch set up for around $100 and then the steel and some old springs from the wreckers.

Although for what I am using it for, I think it may be fine as it is (with the axle and tire upgrade). Its not going to see any crazy trails nor be loaded up with insane amounts of stuff.

I'm gonna second the trailer idea. First off the ability to just unhook and drive away. With a rack you'd have to climb up and unload. I built my trailer rather cheaply. It's solid and more than enough for what I'll ever need it for. I got a tailer kit from ABC trailer parts for $250 it had axle with springs and mounts, lights, fenders, hitch, chains. If you are looking to go cheep you could do that and then upgrade the trailer as you feel you need to. I built mine to handle multiple tasks.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

I've thought about doing that. I have seen a lot of the fancy super nice trailer builds on here but I think all I really need is a utility trailer to haul some gear thats nice and sturdy. I could probably sell my trailer for around $400, already have tires and rims that match the jeep, axle from princess auto for $100ish lighting all for $50, pintle hitch set up for around $100 and then the steel and some old springs from the wreckers.

Although for what I am using it for, I think it may be fine as it is (with the axle and tire upgrade). Its not going to see any crazy trails nor be loaded up with insane amounts of stuff.

I just don't see any point doing anything to the trailer you have. If you're really doing a lot of fire roads, the corrugations will probably tear that thing apart. Then it'll be worthless, and you'll be back at square one. Just build a trailer from scratch that does what you need right from the start.

Yes, there are lots of trailer builds that are very complicated and overwhelming. But just look at Box Rocket's design. It's a nice simple box, rugged and easy to build.