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#144317 - 08/15/08 10:59 PM NYT Article on Small Trailers
bmisf Offline
Member

Registered: 03/19/03
Posts: 185
The New York Times has an article this week called "As Gas Prices Swell, Trailers Shrink".

Some really cool designs in there - I especially like the Airstream Basecamp and SylvanSport Go. It was fun to watch the videos of the setup of the SylvanSport interior, converting between beds and a dinette.

But: for both general and "bug out" use, my take is that my 4WD packed with a good tent, BOB and other supplies is less expensive, more flexible, would attract less attention, and ultimately is actually easier to use and maintain.

The tent can be positioned much more flexibly (and remotely) than any of the trailers, not to mention RVs, and will be far faster to set up. A lightweight but large tarp can help turn the vehicle into a kitchen or flexible extension of shelter space.

Sure, some of these designs can also take ATVs or kayaks and other bulkier stuff - but I don't find that a compelling reason to get one. (I see a more compelling argument for a very small trailer that could carry extra gear - discussed on this forum in other threads - but personally I'd skip that too.)

What do you all think?

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#144326 - 08/16/08 12:11 AM Re: NYT Article on Small Trailers [Re: bmisf]
Todd W Offline
Product Tester
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 11/14/04
Posts: 1928
Loc: Mountains of CA
One of these days I plan to build an off-road ready teardrop trailer. Rolled tube, sheet metal, etc... something that can actually be tipped on it's side or banged on some rocks and trees.

Other than that I agree with you.
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#144328 - 08/16/08 12:27 AM Re: NYT Article on Small Trailers [Re: bmisf]
LED Offline
Veteran

Registered: 09/01/05
Posts: 1474
Neat, but I'd rather have either a tent or a small trailer, not a hybrid of the two. Aside from all the obvious drawbacks, one of the benefits of a trailer would be better protection from the elements, faster setup/breakdown, and a bit better gear organization.

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#144333 - 08/16/08 12:54 AM Re: NYT Article on Small Trailers [Re: LED]
Nishnabotna Offline
Icon of Sin
Addict

Registered: 12/31/07
Posts: 512
Loc: Nebraska
Teardrops rock. On my list of things to build, precisely for the reasons cited. It's sad to say that my small 14' trailer is too large and heavy to haul around.

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#144337 - 08/16/08 01:12 AM Re: NYT Article on Small Trailers [Re: Nishnabotna]
BobS Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 02/08/08
Posts: 924
Loc: Toledo Ohio
My brother has a Little Guy teardrop trailer. He loves it and does a lot of camping with it. If you are interested in teardrops do a search for tearjerkers, it’s a group of people that love teardrop trailers.
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#144340 - 08/16/08 01:16 AM Re: NYT Article on Small Trailers [Re: BobS]
BobS Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 02/08/08
Posts: 924
Loc: Toledo Ohio
Here is a web site that is a step by step build (with lots of pictures) of a teardrop trailer from a harbor tools $200.00 trailer to the final teardrop.

A Design and Build Journal of How I Built my Tiny Teardrop Trailer

http://www.nfdc.net/home/cbdb/Teardrop%20Trailer.htm

_________________________



You can run, but you'll only die tired.


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#144357 - 08/16/08 04:00 AM Re: NYT Article on Small Trailers [Re: bmisf]
OldBaldGuy Offline
Geezer

Registered: 09/30/01
Posts: 5695
Loc: Former AFB in CA, recouping fr...
It kinda depends on what you want to do. I really like hard sided trailers, the A-liner near the top of the list of mini-trailers, but I can take a 2WD midsized pickup, with tent camping gear in the bed, into places that no 4WD anything could tow any trailer into...
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#144431 - 08/17/08 12:17 AM Re: NYT Article on Small Trailers [Re: OldBaldGuy]
JohnE Offline
Addict

Registered: 06/10/08
Posts: 601
Loc: Southern Cal
I wouldn't be so quick to claim that OBG, have you seen any of the "expedition trailers" out in the market?

They're damned near bullet proof, have better suspension than many powered vehicles do. Most are the fold up type that condenses into a box mounted on usually very tall tires.

They are towed behind very capable 4wd trucks, Land Rovers, etc.

They are the cat's meow when it comes to trailering.

check out: www.expeditionportal.com

John E

John E


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JohnE

"and all the lousy little poets
comin round
tryin' to sound like Charlie Manson"

The Future/Leonard Cohen


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#144447 - 08/17/08 03:01 AM Re: NYT Article on Small Trailers [Re: JohnE]
OldBaldGuy Offline
Geezer

Registered: 09/30/01
Posts: 5695
Loc: Former AFB in CA, recouping fr...
I couldn't find much about trailers in the link provided, just one little bitty guy, and something stuck on the back of a truck and labeled as a "trailer," but I am willing to concede that I may not know all that much about "off road" trailers. I do know that I have taken my former Nissan 2WD P/U into places that I doubt any trailer could follow, thanks to really tight turns...
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#144449 - 08/17/08 03:21 AM Re: NYT Article on Small Trailers [Re: OldBaldGuy]
JohnE Offline
Addict

Registered: 06/10/08
Posts: 601
Loc: Southern Cal
Sorry, go to the forums on the Expedition Portal site and find the expedition trailers section. Some of these things are amazing.

John E
_________________________
JohnE

"and all the lousy little poets
comin round
tryin' to sound like Charlie Manson"

The Future/Leonard Cohen


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