Trailer sizes

[Chorky]

Lets talk sizes! I soon shall be beginning the design of a more or less custom trailer based on a retail model base (think Alaskan flatbed model but in trailer form). Much I will change or customize or ask the company to do. But it all starts with the base - size.

Based on calculations, the smallest I plan to go is 15' floor length, with a 19' total length, and a 84" total width, with likely outside wheel width to be 82". This would allow for near perfect tracking behind my truck and allow it to at least follow vehicle tracks the best.

The question, for those who have had small and large alike, is a personal question - if the layout is designed good enough for small space living, do you still find you desire to larger spaces (such as longer, or bigger trailer with slideouts) at the compromise of being restricted to developed spaces? Keeping in mind this is not only for camping, but for living full time for another 5 years or so. Most hopefully in a campground, with week long trips here and there.

This question probably mostly applies to folks with super expensive high end things like earth roamers, or earth cruisers, or campers on unimogs, etc..simply due to the design and relative size being similar to what I plan in trailer form. But, if there are any serious red flags people have seen over time I would like to know so I can consider adjusting plans.

 

[john61ct]

depends where you go

lots of forestry "roads" on gov land will just rip up the perimeter of anything tall or wide

need to carry a polesaw, ladder chainsaw etc if you want (need) to keep going forward, no space to turn around.

Some carry a trail bike to reconnoiter every couple miles ahead

 

[dreadlocks]

I was kinda on this same trip.. at first I was looking at tiny little trailers with minimal space.. we rented a couple and quickly discovered a bunch of pitfalls we were unaware of.. like floor space for doggos, storage of big items.. etc.. most small campers give no floor space at all, when in travel everything was piled up on bed.. when we needed to pull over and get some sleep things had to get thrown outside to make room inside to lay down.. I quickly started to hate bathrooms, every floor plan seemed like far too much space was used for a "Closet" I was never really wanting to use..

In the end after lots of back and forth I ended up with a trailer several times larger than I started out looking for, its a cargo toy hauler so its basically open floor plan.. the beds are tilt out canvas, its got one on each side and when deployed the trailer becomes nearly as wide as it is long.. Ive spent a week trapped inside w/2 kids, 2 dogs, and my old lady for bad weather and we still had a grand ole time reading and playing and wheeling through the rain.. I look back and if I was stuck w/all of em in a tiny popup I think we'd of packed up and just went home.

Now the downsides, the fuel economy is worse than I had been planning on.. dragging a big flat wall behind you kinda has that effect vs something small enough to draft behind you.. and of course the size now makes it unworthy of any severely technical trails.. not that the trailer is not capable, I'm just not willing to spend all that time w/a chain saw clearing a 11ft high path for it to go down.. so its more of a park it at the trailhead, unload the toys out the back and play on the more technical stuff solo, unladen w/weight.. which is nice, but those very hard to get to camps are not worth the hassle/risk.. 6mo ago I drove out to Sublime Point in GC, has a couple of the best camp sites I've ever came across at the end.. The trail was moderate, but nothing I could not had dragged the camper through.. However the whole way there I'd of been cutting and clearing a path to get it through.. there was lots of deadfall and height obstructions it'd of encountered well before any wheeling obstacles I struggled to get it over.. and yeah I could unload a motorbike out the back and go scout ahead, thats probably the only way I'd venture that big rig deep into anywhere.. find a spot I can turn it around, pull a bike out.. go scout ahead until I find the next spot I could double back, then repeat.

 

[Deleted member 9101]

For camping, smaller is fine.

Since you plan on living in it I would go as large as you can. No sense in being cramped when you don't have to be.

I borrow my dads travel trailer a few times year. Its 26' with one slide out, with me, my wife, my daughter, my sister in law, and a 55 lb dog it can get crowded quickly.

 

[Chorky]

I was kinda on this same trip.. at first I was looking at tiny little trailers with minimal space.. we rented a couple and quickly discovered a bunch of pitfalls we were unaware of.. like floor space for doggos, storage of big items.. etc.. most small campers give no floor space at all, when in travel everything was piled up on bed.. when we needed to pull over and get some sleep things had to get thrown outside to make room inside to lay down.. I quickly started to hate bathrooms, every floor plan seemed like far too much space was used for a "Closet" I was never really wanting to use..

In the end after lots of back and forth I ended up with a trailer several times larger than I started out looking for, its a cargo toy hauler so its basically open floor plan.. the beds are tilt out canvas, its got one on each side and when deployed the trailer becomes nearly as wide as it is long.. Ive spent a week trapped inside w/2 kids, 2 dogs, and my old lady for bad weather and we still had a grand ole time reading and playing and wheeling through the rain.. I look back and if I was stuck w/all of em in a tiny popup I think we'd of packed up and just went home.

Now the downsides, the fuel economy is worse than I had been planning on.. dragging a big flat wall behind you kinda has that effect vs something small enough to draft behind you.. and of course the size now makes it unworthy of any severely technical trails.. not that the trailer is not capable, I'm just not willing to spend all that time w/a chain saw clearing a 11ft high path for it to go down.. so its more of a park it at the trailhead, unload the toys out the back and play on the more technical stuff solo, unladen w/weight.. which is nice, but those very hard to get to camps are not worth the hassle/risk.. 6mo ago I drove out to Sublime Point in GC, has a couple of the best camp sites I've ever came across at the end.. The trail was moderate, but nothing I could not had dragged the camper through.. However the whole way there I'd of been cutting and clearing a path to get it through.. there was lots of deadfall and height obstructions it'd of encountered well before any wheeling obstacles I struggled to get it over.. and yeah I could unload a motorbike out the back and go scout ahead, thats probably the only way I'd venture that big rig deep into anywhere.. find a spot I can turn it around, pull a bike out.. go scout ahead until I find the next spot I could double back, then repeat.

I do agree larger sometimes means more comfortable, but I also know from experience that floorplan and layout has a huge impact maybe even more so than physical size. I also wouldn't want to be worried about low hanging branches, and do plan to not go too far in the backwoods because it will be my home - but also need somethng that is not so large that is constricting to campgrounds only. Hence the idea behind the custom Alaskan style. Seems to be a good midpoint size wise and compromise wise for the best of both worlds? I also do plan to get a Rokon for further venturing rather than submitting the truck/trailer to unnecessary harshness. But contrary to your situation, canvas is an absolute no for me. Not when I live in sub zero temps in the winter haha. But, with size comes weight, which is also a consideration...

 

[Chorky]

as large as you can. No sense in being cra

26' is about the largest i would want to go simply due to weight considerations. I have lived in a 18' trailer for the last 4 years... so that size is totally dooable, and its not a great floorplan either... It is though difficult to try and decide between a 15' floor length and a 22' floor length...

 

[Deleted member 9101]

26' is about the largest i would want to go simply due to weight considerations. I have lived in a 18' trailer for the last 4 years... so that size is totally dooable, and its not a great floorplan either... It is though difficult to try and decide between a 15' floor length and a 22' floor length...

My next one will be similar to this one, if not this very one. 28' long, two slide outs, and the dry weight is 5300 lbs. If you don't have kids, pull the mattresses from thr bunks amd you can store a looot of stuff back there.

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[Deleted member 9101]

I don't know hat your budget it, but this seems to be a pretty rugged option:

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[dreadlocks]

I do 95%+ of my camping boondocking dispersed, has no problem on forest/mining roads, or pulling off into a short trail to an established dispersed site.. those kinda roads are clearanced for big lumber/mining rigs.. its the actual trails that are tunnels just hollowed out for wheelers and no more that stop me.. the canvas pop outs can stay up and everything is solid, the cargo area that normally carries my motor bikes can hold enough cots to sleep a small army.. so its still suitable for winter camping, just with less room and toy carrying capabilities.

Weight considerations will depend more on your tow vehicle.. on my diesel the fuel economy between my 6klb trailer and a tiny lil cricket camper I rented was surprisingly negligible.. like 14-16mpg vs 16-18mpg.. on my dads old GMC 2500 dualy it got 5mpg unladen or hauling a 30ft trailer.. it didnt even matter.

 

[calicamper]

My dad is looking at selling his house in 2 yrs, renting a inlaw flat from a friend as his permanent residence but spending 3-6 months a yr staying in various locations visiting close friends etc. We basically have it narrowed down to 21-22ft trailers rear side entry, entry closet, rear bath and front fixed bed. Maybe a small slide. Its just him and this typical layout seems to be the most practical with every day type storage etc. Occasionally off grid but primarily RV resort life. Which case all the typical name brand stuff is pretty decent. Going bigger for one person I can’t see being useful unless your entertaining guests.

 

[2Jeeps&PatriotX1]

My camper trailer w/ rtt, annex plus an additional room (wife, myself & 2 large dogs) is 11’ long and both tow vehicles stick out further (jeep due to mirrors even when folded & truck that is overall wider) than the camper itself, so long as the jeep or the truck can squeeze through then the camper is ok.

Ive had the camper on some gnarly off camber trails getting back into the good spots where only those with 4wd (non suburu or low clearance vehicles) with rtt or ground tents could go. Watched a guy in a new 4runner crush his oem steps and a guy attempt to tow his travel trailer with his chevy 2500 diesel back there only to bottom out his trailer and rip his trailer jacks off while twisting the tongue after attempting to yank it up and over.




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[Chorky]

I do 95%+ of my camping boondocking dispersed, has no problem on forest/mining roads, or pulling off into a short trail to an established dispersed site.. those kinda roads are clearanced for big lumber/mining rigs.. its the actual trails that are tunnels just hollowed out for wheelers and no more that stop me.. the canvas pop outs can stay up and everything is solid, the cargo area that normally carries my motor bikes can hold enough cots to sleep a small army.. so its still suitable for winter camping, just with less room and toy carrying capabilities.

Weight considerations will depend more on your tow vehicle.. on my diesel the fuel economy between my 6klb trailer and a tiny lil cricket camper I rented was surprisingly negligible.. like 14-16mpg vs 16-18mpg.. on my dads old GMC 2500 dualy it got 5mpg unladen or hauling a 30ft trailer.. it didnt even matter.

Weight is a consideration. Arbitrarily only. I have a OBS 7.3L, but that doesnt mean I purposefully want to max it out. I think, for living on the road, lighter is better, considering having ample insulation for super cold winters.

I suppose though to maybe word my question a different way is to ask, from those living on the road (like, van life people), what were the things of a small footpring that really made life difficult, to the point of being uncomfortable. Subjective of a question as that is.

 

[billiebob]

I've done bigger and always preferred smaller. One must have for me is a permanent bed. I actually prefer an outside kitchen too.
But is this just for you? No kids or companion?

Another must, a quality powered awning. And good storage for outside table and chairs. Plus a big, ie full with rear bath.
No sliders, keep it simple, light, tough.

I almost bought this but then I looked underneath at the mess of low hanging plastic pipe.
17' Coachman Clipper FQ

 

[quickfarms]

I've done bigger and always preferred smaller. One must have for me is a permanent bed. I actually prefer an outside kitchen too.
But is this just for you? No kids or companion?

Another must, a quality powered awning. And good storage for outside table and chairs. Plus a big, ie full with rear bath.
No sliders, keep it simple, light, tough.

I almost bought this but then I looked underneath at the mess of low hanging plastic pipe.
17' Coachman Clipper FQ
View attachment 580213

That floor plan is almost identical to my HILO

 

[calicamper]

I've done bigger and always preferred smaller. One must have for me is a permanent bed. I actually prefer an outside kitchen too.
But is this just for you? No kids or companion?

Another must, a quality powered awning. And good storage for outside table and chairs. Plus a big, ie full with rear bath.
No sliders, keep it simple, light, tough.

I almost bought this but then I looked underneath at the mess of low hanging plastic pipe.
17' Coachman Clipper FQ
View attachment 580213

I like the rear side door layout your not walking into the bed at the front door. I hear you on the low hanging junk. I looked at some 2019’s right before the shutdown it seemed like some brands were starting to clean that up some others looked like the mow and blow crew were called in to fix sprinkler pipes?