OK the big question how big is too big for most over landing trails and how small is too small for full-time usage with no homebase let’s hear your opinions.
Red_Leaf_Overland
Rank V
Advocate III
I have been trying to design a trailer for my needs and really what it comes down to is mostly the layout of everything. I have been trying to keep it around a 4x6 platform because I tent to go through a fair amount of tight trails, but this limits me for placement of a cook station. I also planned on doing a sleep in camper but carry a lot of tools/spare parts that I considered building storage under the sleeper.... then every time I look at it I change something or adjust something and then something else doesn't work the way I want it to...
if you look at how much you want to bring, how you want it stored, and where you want to travel it gets bigger quickly. I believe most of the common trailers are around 5x8 or 6x10 which too big for me because of where I plan on dragging it.
Member III
Mine are based on the width of my vehicle. The length is for comfort with the axle mimicking my vehicle turning radius. I tend to drive through moderately rough areas. I need mine to follow my vehicle track a close as possible as well as not be taller. My tear drop box is 6.5 X 9. If I stayed on better roads it would be a bit bigger for comfort. I guess my answer would be, it depends on what you want. Some people prefer something bigger with more comfort.
Width, buy it wide enough so you can see BOTH sides while reversing. My preference is 5'wide behind a Wrangler. 6'wide behind an F150. 7'wide behind an Econoline.
Length,,,,, keep the hitch to trailer axle longer than the tow vehicle wheelbase. Anything shorter gets hard to catch while reversing. A long bed quad cab towing a short Expo trailer is the worst.
A Wrangler towing a Tear Drop is a dream to back up a long ways when you pick the wrong road.
Actually seeing the sides of the trailer and not just the fenders will make reversing even better. My Wrangler is 60" wide and my trailers are 60" wide plus the fenders. When the trailer makes the slightest deviation from backing up straight it is obvious in the mirrors long before it fucks off forcing you to pull ahead and straighten everything out.
Final point on width...... is track.... unimportant on paved roads but off road a trailer track equal to the tow vehicle track can make tracking thru sand, mud, snow better and when trying to dodge big rocks trailer tires that follow where the truck tires went is kind of convenient.
Length,,,,, keep the hitch to trailer axle longer than the tow vehicle wheelbase. Anything shorter gets hard to catch while reversing. A long bed quad cab towing a short Expo trailer is the worst.
A Wrangler towing a Tear Drop is a dream to back up a long ways when you pick the wrong road.
Actually seeing the sides of the trailer and not just the fenders will make reversing even better. My Wrangler is 60" wide and my trailers are 60" wide plus the fenders. When the trailer makes the slightest deviation from backing up straight it is obvious in the mirrors long before it fucks off forcing you to pull ahead and straighten everything out.
Final point on width...... is track.... unimportant on paved roads but off road a trailer track equal to the tow vehicle track can make tracking thru sand, mud, snow better and when trying to dodge big rocks trailer tires that follow where the truck tires went is kind of convenient.
Last edited:
Thanks everyone I think youve come to the wrong conclusion I’m not building a trailer I’m looking to buy one. just try to get feed back. the only trailers I’m familiar with are 19+ foot travel trailers those don’t go off road
Altho I doubt this is an issue, keeping it no wider than the tow vehicle will let you use the stock factory mirrors and not need to buy extended trailer mirror things.
Trail Blazer III
- 6,000
- First Name
- Beau
- Last Name
- K12
- Member #
-
28559
- Service Branch
- Air Force
Look Into Black Series and Imperial Outland trailers. Both are very good and made for off-road/Overlanding. Mine is 26' and is capable of majority of trails. If I can get a full size truck down it, chances are the trailer can make it too.
Trail Blazer III
- 6,000
- First Name
- Beau
- Last Name
- K12
- Member #
-
28559
- Service Branch
- Air Force
They are on the high end. The imerial Outdoors are 45k+ if I remember correctly from my research. The black series run from 35k to 95k depending on the model that you get. Both are build for off road and very durable, I got the Black Series HQ19 so I can full time in it after I finish grad school and can work remote.
Member III
My comments were either building or buying. You asked about sizing but didn't say where you wanted to pull it. Once you figure that out, start looking at specs. You can get trailers from 5' wide to 7'wide and a bunch of lengths. if your just dirt road, there all good, if you want trails, you need to be within a certain size. There are a bunch of manufactures. See if you can rent something locally before you do anything. Once you narrow it down, ask opinions on what your looking at.
