Why Hello Grendel! The wood weight did have a small impact (namely truck duty space) but is only about 75-100lbs. On stock leafs it sucked with the shell, rack, and platform the weight was quite a bit and my leafs were shaped like a W. Not good, but with the Dakars everything is fine and dandy
Sounds like you have been reading my mind.... Even since I built it, exactly what you said has been in mind. OBA is on my short list and that is a feature that I want for sure.