Been thinking really hard about placing an order to tow behind the TJ. Its not the optimum set-up but probably works for the 75% of the time.
Anyone tow one behind a TJ? I wish they were narrower and had the same width and track width. I'm curious how much the 13" width will negatively affect things since trailer tires won't follow in the same tracks?
Is Schutt willing to make any changes from their basic options list or is it better to order a 'blank' canvas and customize from there? I dont have a good place currently to do much work myself still.
What's the length of your canoe? I'm looking at maybe picking up a 12' kayak.
I can't speak to the TJ / track width component. Give OK4WD in Stewartsville NJ a call- they are dealers but also real users and builders of rigs. Their insight was really helpful for me.
I am really happy with the construction of the XV3, especially the core trailer itself. I am excited to fit it out how we want now. In terms of fully loaded vs a la carte build, here are some of my thoughts:
I bought our XV3 pretty fully configured from Schutt/OK4WD and now I am starting in on the interior organization plan and other things I felt were in my skill level (and space as I do not have a garage to work in either!). If I were doing it over there are some things I would rather leave to an upfitter like OK4WD or DIY or local trades. These include:
-Doing it again, I would not use any of the Schutt electric box components (charger/solar charger/switches) but would rather see something more flexible and more robust like a RedArc system. I will likely swap mine out and I am only mad at myself for not doing it that way to begin with. Also, it seems to be a big oversight not to have any ports (USB or cig) in the electric cabinet. (Mod to come!) Doing it again, I would have ordered all the lighting/wiring package and just left the electric bay empty to add in a Redarc Redvision system. Schutt did a nice job with placement and routing, I just am not impressed by the switch/fuse/solar controller setup. And more ports, I want more.
-While the rhinorack is a nice visual match, I think a welded rack would have served me better. I am worried about the flex at the corners of the modular rack. With a RTT on the rack, I can't use any of the extrusions/grooves anyway. Thought about trying to mount it upside down in fact! Also, it might be worth checking which Rhinorack you are getting if you go that way as we found out later we have the old version installed, even though it was a 2021 order.
-We took delivery with a Rhino Batwing, which promptly destroyed itself on deployment in a light breeze that none of my ARB awnings would have blinked at. I would skip that and either go with an ARB straight awning or a solid aluminum-framed 270 awning like the Ostrich Wing (which we did) or similar. The issue is height of the awning. So either taller brackets (see also welded rack) or stay short like I am (5'7"and I can walk under it just fine.
-I ordered the spare tire carrier and have a full size spare. Since I matched the tire sizes with the Jeep, I feel like I am just carrying around extra weight now as we have two spares. I would probably skip this if doing it again, especially as the lighter I can keep this rig the better re: Jeep tow capacity.
Small things:
-the "reverse" Rigid rack-mounted light is exactly where everyone's forehead seems to go- I feel like we've nearly concussed a few people. I will be relocating this light to underneath the rack and off to the driver's side so its beam can clear the spare.
-I added amber covers to the rack lighting for at-camp use since the white is really bright.
-There is a bright white LED strip over the galley box that I am not sure what it's purpose is. I may add an inline switch so it can be ******** off at camp.
-The placement of the quick release for the shower hose seems odd to me. It is over by the electric panel. I will be relocating it and would suggest that it is moved if I were ordering again. The controls are essentially on the opposite side, by the galley box and something forward facing there might make more sense.
-With the redarc system, a water tank level monitor could be added to the water tank, and I'd ask for that to be installed at build if possible.
All of this said- it is a solid built trailer and Schutt clearly knows how to build something robust. Any of my notes are really about systems and only you will know what you might want or need. And no matter what, at delivery, you will find you want to mess it all up and start over. Like a jeep.
