I like to plan ahead and cover all my bases if i choose to live on the road. I have been doing extended overland trips in my 2019 4Runner and its been great. I have also been lucky with weather, but i know if i do this full time and even if i move to the better weather its inevitable i will want to stay in one place and will encounter some bad weather. IMO it's probably one of the hardest parts about living on the road. Raining for a few days or even a week stuck inside all by yourself.
So, though a cargo van would be perfect i really love my 4Runner with its ease of movement and capabilities, but it simply does not have the space to live in it long term. For now ill be trying out a pop up canopy. But i was wondering peoples thoughts about a 5x8 or 6x10 enclosed cargo trailer. What's too small? I don't want to overburden my 4Runner and i also don't need a ton of space for just me. Just a place i can go and have head clearance so i can move around and live/stand/sleep comfortably.
I will be doing the build myself on a new inclosed cargo trailer with professionalsionals doing any door or window installs when the time comes.
What's the cargo trailer consensus for the best small size? Can you get a 5x8 with with a tandem axel?
Going through different floor plan designs it appears a 6x10 would be ideal. But i would really love to get a 5x8 with a V nose to work. Maybe a cargo van will be better? Thoughts?
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We caravan with long-term traveling chums.
We tow a 7x16 gooseneck tandem axle.
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At camp, we occasionally back-to-back with another cargo trailer, leaving 8'-12' between our trailer bumpers.
With a white tarp rat-shitted over, our two rear doors facing, we have a cozy spot for chairs and stove.
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In rough weather, we enclose four sides, with flaps for access to the trailers.
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We decided on this after a trip with everybody parked side-by-side in a semi-circle, and another trip with the vehicles nose-to-tail.
Each of those configurations felt isolating.
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With four cargo trailers -- two sets of back-to-back, one set a dozen feet from the other, the tarped zones facing each other -- we create a strong sense of security.
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In your situation, I think I would go taller -- bigger? -- for the headroom... crouching gets old quick.
On our favored rough back-woods tracks, tandem axles are mandatory for our size... and we carry two spare tires/wheels.
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I remember hearing a suggestion someplace about trying to save money by trying to get by with a single axle.
Based on our five decades of experience in dozens of semi-organized caravans -- interstate and international -- with experienced travelers, we prefer to not be the nincompoops with everything constantly breaking.