Expedition Trailers: Which one?

[BigJ]

I agree with IS. If getting my family out to safety means leaving the trailer behind then so be it. That's a no brainer.

That looks great Blue! Very very nice.

 

[BigJ]

So there's a few things this conversation has sparked me to consider. Great stuff guys and I appreciate the input!

The larger RTT would be pretty much a must for me. If going with Tapui (great looking stuff, by the way) you get an "annex" that looks like a relatively nice sized "inside" area to hang out in and hide from the rain/weather/bugs whatever. However to use that the tent floor looks to need to be off the ground somewhere around 6-8ft.

http://www.tepuitents.com/models/gran-sabana.html

It seems like a baaad idea to me to lift the tent that high off something like the Manley. Not to mention it would probably totally kill the ability to lift open the cover.

What about moving the RTT on top of something like this:

Cross Tread Renegade Truck Rack - 27in High Posts - 81400

That would get the height I'm after, and still let me open/fold back my bed cover to access stuff inside.

Then, if I didn't have enough room in the bed for whatever reason, suppliment with something like the non racked version of the Manley.

I know this has been done before on a Raptor but that effort didn't allow for opening the his folding bed cover and it wouldn't be high enough to use the annex either. It did look pretty damn cool though, where I think an install/setup like I'm proposing might look pretty awkward.

Also, being that high, I wonder how long 'stuff' would survive an off road trip the kind I'm used too. My TentCot literally shook itself apart, and it was just folded up in the bed.

Thoughts?

 

[ManleyORV]

So there's a few things this conversation has sparked me to consider. Great stuff guys and I appreciate the input!

The larger RTT would be pretty much a must for me. If going with Tapui (great looking stuff, by the way) you get an "annex" that looks like a relatively nice sized "inside" area to hang out in and hide from the rain/weather/bugs whatever. However to use that the tent floor looks to need to be off the ground somewhere around 6-8ft.

Tepui Roof Top Tents - - Gran Sabana

It seems like a baaad idea to me to lift the tent that high off something like the Manley. Not to mention it would probably totally kill the ability to lift open the cover.

What about moving the RTT on top of something like this:

Cross Tread Renegade Truck Rack - 27in High Posts - 81400

That would get the height I'm after, and still let me open/fold back my bed cover to access stuff inside.

Then, if I didn't have enough room in the bed for whatever reason, suppliment with something like the non racked version of the Manley.

I know this has been done before on a Raptor but that effort didn't allow for opening the his folding bed cover and it wouldn't be high enough to use the annex either. It did look pretty damn cool though, where I think an install/setup like I'm proposing might look pretty awkward.

Also, being that high, I wonder how long 'stuff' would survive an off road trip the kind I'm used too. My TentCot literally shook itself apart, and it was just folded up in the bed.

Thoughts?

One of my old demo tents was an ARB that had an annex/changing room and I used it with our trailer, spring over and 35's. The mounting height is about 65", which as you mentioned is not ideal, in a perfect world you would want it a bit taller. But I just let it bunch some at the bottom.

You are 100% correct though, with the annex staked down you cannot lift the lid without un-staking it. I just left mine hang without stakes since I was just using it to change.

Me personally I wouldn't feel comfortable having a cab height rack for an RTT on the Raptor and then driving the Raptor how it is meant to be driven. Additionally I feel one of the advantages of having a tent on the trailer is that you can setup base camp and then go out and have fun in the truck or even run to get ice without having to pack up camp.

Your might be a perfect candidate for the new tent comping out from Kakadu out of Australia, that I posted on page 3. Plenty of room and since it opens from the side you can access the contents of the trailer with everything deployed. We should have one to test in the next couple of months. The downside of this setup is there is a strict height of 42"-44" to the top of the tub rail on the trailer. This means no 35's or 37's, you have to stick with spring-under and 33's max.

It's just like modding a Raptor... there are tradeoffs to everything! and you have to choose the things that are most important to you.

-Josh

 

[Icecobra]

Been watching and waiting lots of good ideas and after my recent pismo trip and looking forward to lost coast run I knew something had to be done. For the time being I am trying this little used trailer I found and for 1000 the price was right to start out. I am modifying it and going to see if I cant manage a tent top from cascadia to fit. I am changing tires but it has a 6 lug 5000 pound axle so I will see what happens I mean how bad could it be? I keep watching for ideas to pop up here but everyones so focused on going fast I wonder if some forget about having fun too... This may work it may not have to see what happens...

 

[bstoner59]

You can have fun w/out going fast?!?!?

 

[Icecobra]

But this tiny trailer wont be much of a hold up...

 

[Wilson]

cool

 

[Icecobra]

So I am making modifications to improve space and storage capacity and really I am looking to put a tent on top of the trailer... Here we are so far tear down...

 

[MagicMtnDan]

So I am making modifications to improve space and storage capacity and really I am looking to put a tent on top of the trailer... Here we are so far tear down...

Good thread and very interesting to see what you're doing. Please keep us posted along the way to your trailer refurb.

 

[Icecobra]

Trailer

SO its coming along wheel spacers are in and the tire wheel package fit (35X12.50X20) Hardwood floors done. Trying to pick a tent that mounts on top of it..