What do you do with your trailer...when you don't want to tow it on trail?

[Mitch502]

I'm sure there would be times, if I had a trailer, where I might ride some trails and then double back past the same location again later in the day. During those trips, I would think it would be better to drop the trailer and come back. I realize the point of building a trailer is to have it with you, but regardless, if this situation was to arise:

a) Do you drop your trailer?
b) Have you ever been asked to move it, assuming it wasn't on a specified camp ground? (i.e. in a forest parking lot)
c) I would obviously chain/lock it up. Anyone ever had anyone mess with their stuff like this?

Any other insight/tips are appreciated. I'm trying to decide if having a pop-up camper is worth it for me, versus just always using a RTT on my Jeep.


Thanks in advance,

Mitch

 

[yj4trails]

The idea of a trailer for me has been as a base camp. I also have a jeep so I am limited on room, the trailer holds everything.... Get to your destination and drop the trailer and go explore. My trailer has a roof top tent. I thought a long time before my RTT purchase. Boiled down to I don't have room for a tent trailer in the garage. Good luck with your decision.

 

[Mitch502]

The idea of a trailer for me has been as a base camp. I also have a jeep so I am limited on room, the trailer holds everything.... Get to your destination and drop the trailer and go explore. My trailer has a roof top tent. I thought a long time before my RTT purchase. Boiled down to I don't have room for a tent trailer in the garage. Good luck with your decision.

That was kind of my thinking. Do you ever fear anyone is going to mess with your RTT and such while you're away?

 

[yj4trails]

Sure I worry. But most people have never seen or know how to take down a RTT... And being out that far I would think you will encounter fewer people that would mess with your camp. Hopefully.

 

[Mitch502]

Alright. You fall right in my line of thinking as well. The chance of kids wondering into it and vandalizing it or something is pretty slim I guess. Chain it to a tree and be done with it I guess.

Thanks
Mitch

 

[grogie]

My trailer is less then two years old, but so far I've pulled it over some rough trails, which its suspensions was built for. Plus it has trailer brakes which are nice to have to engage when going downhill so that the trailer is like dead weight if needed. It's also light enough (at 1100#s loaded) that if I ran into a problem and I couldn't back up, I can unhook it and turn it around by hand. But with that being said, I still won't take it everywhere my Jeep has gone, such as narrow, high mountain Jeep trails or any tight switchbacks.

It's also my base camp, however it's super fast to setup/takedown so I tend to move around with it. I can personally take down the RTT in less then 10 minutes, but it would give someone else a fit trying to get the cover zipped on if they didn't know the process. (My Tepui RTT is awesome... and so much better then a ground tent.) I do have two locks for the hitch, plus locks for the box, the RTT is bolted down from inside the lid, and I also have a heavy duty chain if I'm that worried. I'm actually more worried about it and my Jeep sitting in the parking lot of a motel then in the woods.

I use to travel and camp a lot with my Jeep, and the great thing about adding the trailer is its giving me the added space to make camping more comfortable and self sufficient. I'd certainly recommend it, especially for smaller vehicles with limited interior space. I've got build thread here.

 

[Mitch502]

Thanks for the input. Reading the thread now