Jeep JK Unlimited big enough for family of 4?? Or just get a trailer??

[Ford Prefect]

I think that the jeep will do very nicely.

I would say that you should seriously just get the largest RTT you can find though. Your kids are NOT going to like the idea of sleeping IN the jeep when they could be sleeping on the roof! (Ask me how I know, and how many nights I did not have room in the comfortable RTT and had to sleep in my jeep! grrr)

There are several out there, Camping Lab for one, that are large enough for a family of four. (their large one is about the size of a King bed, so it can work out.)

Other than that it really matters how you pack and what you take. Example... People go on multi year round the world trips with two people on one motorcycle. Clearly they are bringing only what they require. So depending on what you and your spouse 'can't live without' then you should be fine. I know that with our first child we packed the back of our WJ clear full of crap for weekend trips. (STILL no idea what all that crap was) Where as now with two kids we manage with a couple sleeping bags, and one piece of luggage.

Good luck!

Edit: I should add... If you wanted to consider this... My wife and I picked up a REALLY nice twelve foot pop up tent trailer that sleeps eight. It was about 1600.00 and pulls behind my WJ like it is not there. (not enough trips to know about the mileage reduction yet) It is an easy way to go with a base camp type set up, and you can get one for the price of a good RTT. The trick there is to keep everything packed in there all the time, IE camp chairs, bedding, dishes, etc. Then you are ready to leave on a moment's notice, it takes me about ten minutes to leave once my wife comes home from work. When you come home pop it up, clean it out, put everything back where it goes. Then you are ready to leave on a moment's notice again! Basically as soon as you can get the cooler loaded, and into the back of the jeep, hook of the trailer, load the kids and spouse, lock the house and hit the gas!

By the way, there are a LOT of places you can take that type of trailer up off or Rampart Range Road, and Mt. Hermon that you can really enjoy a weekend out without having to be very far from home at all. Plus many welding shops can lift an older trailer, or reinforce the frame, etc so that you do not have to worry about it off road.

 

[mesha]

I had no problem camping in my 4 door JK with a family of 4. We fit the fridge in there and everything. The size of the rig doesn't mater as much as the amount of stuff you take;-)

 

[cnynrat]

The size of the rig doesn't mater as much as the amount of stuff you take;-)

I think this is the critical issue. What is your camping style? Everyone is different. With a new child on the way, you definitely need to give some thought to how your needs might change with a young child along.

FWIW, we used to pack up the back of an FJ Cruiser pretty full just with gear for two. Admitedly, we don't usually rough it when we are camping out of a car. I'm perfectly capable of going on a backpacking trip when I really want to get away from it all, but I find that one of the pleasures of camping out of the 4x4 is the greater level comfort that can be had.

Having had the trailer for over a year now, I don't really find that it limits our adventures. In fact, there is at least one trip we've done where I don't know how we could have done it without that capacity (partly because our normal trail companions are in a TJ, so we end up carrying more than our share). I think that can cut both ways.

Just because you have the trailer doesn't mean you need to use it on every trip. If you have a trip where the trailer isn't needed, or where you can't bring it for some reason, you can always scale back your packing list and leave the trailer at home.

 

[monkeyplunger]

My camping style has evolved and mostly due to work constraints and personal comfort. Here is our progression:

Single, low work stress - I did everything on my KTM 950A and use only backpacking equipment

Met my wife, low work stress - went to LJ Rubi and used only backpacking equipment and added thermarest prolite. (still my favorite setup of all time)

Added dog, moderate work stress - went to Liberty CRD and still used backpack equipment

developed back problem, moderate work stress - added thermarest base camp

Went to overland expo - added maggiolina airland - spoiled wife and my back.

Added second 60 lb dog, very high work stress - went to JKUR (CRD was starting to have issues, did not have time to wrench on it)

About to add baby to family - adding trailer (moving airland to trailer and adding change room and hammock for baby)

What my experience is so far to date (which i dont think is all that unique), is when work was easier i slept better and could basically sleep anywhere. As i have progressed further in my career the stress levels has steadily increased which affects the quality of my sleep and also time has become an issue - i spend a lot of time at work during the week. Naturally over time its getting harder for me to find comfort away from my king sized bed. So my vehicle is adapting to that along with size of the family (wife, 2 dogs, and future daughter). I still love off roading in the Jeep, i dont think i can give that up just quite yet and not ready to convert to RV and Jeep tow. So long story short, i have the JKUR and getting an off road trailer. My time is very important to me, so the plan is to have the trailer ready to go at all times (minus food and clothes) so when i come home from work on friday we can take off into the mountains with minimal work. It will give us the flexibility to set up a comfortable base camp and still go wheeling.

Its funny how we spend so much time (and money) analyzing our setups to maximize camping efficiency for the one weekend a month and two weeks a year adventure. Really makes me think how much career is worth how much free time? I make more money so i can afford the gadgets, but sometimes i wish i made less so i could go back to what i started with - less comfort but more time.

 

[nwoods]

I think I could have typed your post word for word straight out of my own thoughts. 'cept my dogs are actually kids

 

[boknows]

TRAILER.

Think about how a trailer will limit your adventure and spoil your kids (and wife), and then reconsider what you "need" to bring with you. Besides the essentials, food, water, recovery, tools, tent, etc. Each member of the family has one small backpack. If they can't fit their stuff in it, they don't get to bring it all.

I think it comes down to personal preference and the type of "adventures" you think a trailer would limit you to. I have three children, two dogs a 4 door JK, an Adventure Chaser and I suscribe to going as light as possible. I could stand on my head for a week and endure it with a smile, however, the comfort level for my wife and children requires the ability to pack a toilet and extra water and some frivalties. It has not only paid dividends in the happiness of my campers but increased the frequency that they are willing to get out. I can think of very few technical situations where a trailer would prohibit me from my overland travels but the ability to have extra space in the Jeep far outweighs the downsides of hauling it around.

Also nice. I keep nearly everything in the trailer save food, water, clothes and store it in the corner of my garage. Tear down and storage for me is: wash the trailer, back it into the garage, disconnect, drink beer.