Scott Brady
Founder
Oh, crap! there is chrome :gunt:
Twitch, twitch....
Twitch, twitch....
What about expedition trailers?
- Thread starter DaktariEd
- Start date
blupaddler
Conspirator
So, is there any other difference besides the long-travel suspension? Too bad it doesn't have those side boxes with the kitchen in them.
I will ANXIOUSLY be awaiting your results. Have a safe trip this weekend. I am jealous. :sunflower
I will ANXIOUSLY be awaiting your results. Have a safe trip this weekend. I am jealous. :sunflower
njtaco
Explorer
Help me out here... The long travel on the trailer... Is it to improve the ride for your gear? Or does it help towing over obstacles? I thought an articulating hitch resolved the second, and airing down helped the first. Does the long travel increase "body roll" at slow speeds? (Assuming the shocks dampen roll at highway speeds.) Would this make the trailer "more tippy" on the trail?
Thanks for entertaining my questions. I just never really considered long travel on a trailer, on- or off-highway.
An after thought: I was not thinking of high-speed washboard roads, heavily loaded. I'm still guessing here, but it would seem the longer travel would help here, right?
Thanks for entertaining my questions. I just never really considered long travel on a trailer, on- or off-highway.
An after thought: I was not thinking of high-speed washboard roads, heavily loaded. I'm still guessing here, but it would seem the longer travel would help here, right?
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Scott,
Did you make it to the show out here in Pomona last weekend? That pic looks like the show we went to last weekend. Would have been great to meet you.
I checked out the Chaser, which like mentioned before is their new model. It is available both as a DIY kit or assembled, and you can add items a la carte. It seems like a pretty good idea. There were 2 things that I didn't like about it though. First is the lack of the boxes on the side of the trailer. I think they would get used all the time for quick access items. Second was the amount of bolts used to hold it together. I have no doubt that it's a solid trailer, but I think alot of Locktite would be in order and the occasional maintence to make sure everything remains properly fastened, especially after some washboard would be needed. Nothing against the new trailer, I think I just still lust after the Horizon version.
Errin
Did you make it to the show out here in Pomona last weekend? That pic looks like the show we went to last weekend. Would have been great to meet you.
I checked out the Chaser, which like mentioned before is their new model. It is available both as a DIY kit or assembled, and you can add items a la carte. It seems like a pretty good idea. There were 2 things that I didn't like about it though. First is the lack of the boxes on the side of the trailer. I think they would get used all the time for quick access items. Second was the amount of bolts used to hold it together. I have no doubt that it's a solid trailer, but I think alot of Locktite would be in order and the occasional maintence to make sure everything remains properly fastened, especially after some washboard would be needed. Nothing against the new trailer, I think I just still lust after the Horizon version.
Errin
Scott Brady
Founder
njtaco said:
Exactly.
The long travel improves trailer handling and protects the contents on corrugated and rutted trails.
Lack of suspension travel has always been my concern with trailers, as the travel did not match the tow vehicle, which reduced overland speeds.
Scott Brady
Founder
ErrinV said:
Yes, it would have been great to meet you there.
Unfortunately, I was not at the Pomona show, but I will be at the Phoenix Event
Internation Sportsmans Expo, Phoenix
March 10-12, 2006
My truck will also be on display there :ylsmoke:
Scott Brady
Founder
Now that I have pulled the trailer over 300 miles and 188 miles in the dirt, here are my quick thoughts.
1. Suspension is incredible on the corrugations and high speed sections. I often forgot it was back there. Suspension is so critical to trailer performance. Damping was a little soft on compression, which also affected sway, but plans are already in the works to address that.
2. Built quality was excellent!
3. No failures, and I was even able to add more load when one of the vehicles broke on the trail. Just a few more PSI in the bags and it came right back up.
4. Huge storage area. The trailer would completely eliminate the need for a roof rack, and take most of the weight out of the tow vehicle. Electric brakes ensure safety.
1. Suspension is incredible on the corrugations and high speed sections. I often forgot it was back there. Suspension is so critical to trailer performance. Damping was a little soft on compression, which also affected sway, but plans are already in the works to address that.
2. Built quality was excellent!
3. No failures, and I was even able to add more load when one of the vehicles broke on the trail. Just a few more PSI in the bags and it came right back up.
4. Huge storage area. The trailer would completely eliminate the need for a roof rack, and take most of the weight out of the tow vehicle. Electric brakes ensure safety.
Scott Brady
Founder
I was towing the Chaser, though there were two Horizon models also on the trail.
elcoyote
Supporting Sponsor, Overland Certified OC0004
Just to let you know about the numerous bolts in the body, (110 in all), they are backed up with nylock nuts which we have never had any problem loosening. Side boxes are absent from the Chaser to help keep the price down and make the trailer more attainable. We like the convenience they provide too but they are costly to build. Since you are a fan of the Horizon, You may be interested in reading a customers recent review of his Horizon suspension upgrade after completing a Baja surf trip. http://web.mac.com/rgrussell/iWeb/Geezer/Adventure Trailer Review.htmlErrinV said:
elcoyote said:
Just read that review. That must be the same G-Wagen on the website right? Are you Mario? Same handle as on ADVRider. We spoke over there, and I found this site thanks to you. Sorry I didn't get to meet you at the show. I really like the idea of the Chaser, the wife seemed to like it too, mainly 'cuz it was cheaper, but what does she know. :Wow1: Oh wait, she's the one in charge. Damn. I'm sure that the trailer is solid. I just picked up a KTM 640 that vibrates like hell. Seemed like the whole time I was riding in Death Valley I was tightening bolts, so that's why when I saw all those bolts I started to get nervous.
I still go back and forth between trailer or no trailer. Still not sure, but I do know that I've looked at other trailers and the Adventure Trailer still is at the top of my list.
Curious what you think of the Campa ATT trailers. They are available to rent here. They are in the same price range I think, but not knowing much about them, how does the Adventure Trailer differ.
Thanks,
Errin
elcoyote
Supporting Sponsor, Overland Certified OC0004
Yep, I'm the same ElCoyote at advrider...it's a nickname given to me by an old friend that just seemed to stick. Sorry to have missed you at the show but heck, you're always welcome by the shop. Yes that is the same G-wagen on the site. BV is very hard on his equipment and we consider him the ultimate crash test dummy.
The Campa ATT is a South African designed trailer that I believe has been licensed to a company in the midwest. My opinion of the trailer is relative to the type of off road travel we partake in. My opinions are merely just that and are not meant to say that one trailer is better than another, it just depends upon your application and maintenance skills. The SA designed trailers are appropriate for SA type travel, i.e. long stretches of washboard in the bush and leaf spring/beam axles are okay for that but lack ground clearance. We used a torsion in the past to improve ground clearance but have switched to our new trailing arm air suspesion which gives both ground clearance and excellent washboard dampening. Our Horizon trailer has Boulder Bar protection around the chassis specifically for the difficult trails, theirs does not. The Chaser does not require them and the fenders can be unbolted if you're hitting the Hammers. The Boulder Bar design came from our experiences on the Rubicon with our original trailers that needed repair at trails end. The Boulder Bars are angled to deflect the trailer either up & over or around the obstacles and to protect on departure depending upon how you manipulate the in-cab controller for the electric brakes. The Campa uses a mechanical surge brake which we are familiar with (we used to use them from Trailco) but the problem we encountered was that on the steep down hills where we would use engine compression for braking, the surge brake would load up and lock the tires on the trailer. We also experienced trail damage to the surge brake linkages as they hang down underneath the trailer. Our electric brake wiring runs inside the chassis frame, well protected.
Stainless steel is sexy but if it needs repair in a remote location, like aluminum, you need special welding equipment and skills. Our use of cold rolled 14 gage can be repaired with common stick & mig systems. Notice that the standard color for our trailers is white powder coat...perform this simple test, leave a piece of white painted steel and a piece of unpainted stainless out in the sun, test their temperatures to the touch and you will understand why we do what we do. SS gets hot, really hot.
To make a truly informed decision about a trailer, I would suggest you take advantage of the rental that Rover Accessories has available as well as ours (rentals available at the end of April from Adventure Trailers). Try them both and get the one that works best for you, your application and your tow vehicle.
The Campa ATT is a South African designed trailer that I believe has been licensed to a company in the midwest. My opinion of the trailer is relative to the type of off road travel we partake in. My opinions are merely just that and are not meant to say that one trailer is better than another, it just depends upon your application and maintenance skills. The SA designed trailers are appropriate for SA type travel, i.e. long stretches of washboard in the bush and leaf spring/beam axles are okay for that but lack ground clearance. We used a torsion in the past to improve ground clearance but have switched to our new trailing arm air suspesion which gives both ground clearance and excellent washboard dampening. Our Horizon trailer has Boulder Bar protection around the chassis specifically for the difficult trails, theirs does not. The Chaser does not require them and the fenders can be unbolted if you're hitting the Hammers. The Boulder Bar design came from our experiences on the Rubicon with our original trailers that needed repair at trails end. The Boulder Bars are angled to deflect the trailer either up & over or around the obstacles and to protect on departure depending upon how you manipulate the in-cab controller for the electric brakes. The Campa uses a mechanical surge brake which we are familiar with (we used to use them from Trailco) but the problem we encountered was that on the steep down hills where we would use engine compression for braking, the surge brake would load up and lock the tires on the trailer. We also experienced trail damage to the surge brake linkages as they hang down underneath the trailer. Our electric brake wiring runs inside the chassis frame, well protected.
Stainless steel is sexy but if it needs repair in a remote location, like aluminum, you need special welding equipment and skills. Our use of cold rolled 14 gage can be repaired with common stick & mig systems. Notice that the standard color for our trailers is white powder coat...perform this simple test, leave a piece of white painted steel and a piece of unpainted stainless out in the sun, test their temperatures to the touch and you will understand why we do what we do. SS gets hot, really hot.
To make a truly informed decision about a trailer, I would suggest you take advantage of the rental that Rover Accessories has available as well as ours (rentals available at the end of April from Adventure Trailers). Try them both and get the one that works best for you, your application and your tow vehicle.