Trailer towing gone sadly wrong

[bullfrog !]

^^^In my case there are two of us, but even when solo carrying a motorcycle was convenient as I didn’t have to pack up camp just to do a side trip. It is all about how much space you require as in if you carry tools or equipment in order to earn money. Yes if you can live out of a backpack then almost any vehicle will do to get from place. A van offers a place to secure items and sleep. If you are living out of a backpack it is probably a good choice. If you are staying on BLM land 14 days at a time and need things like a generator or storage for larger amounts of water and food goods then a trailer makes a lot of sense. When the weight of what you carry becomes an issue because of fuel economy, overloading a vehicle or overcrowding then a trailer is an excellent solution especially when combined with a second light weight means of transportation. In my experience using a second means of transportation for going to or beyond remote areas is much more safe and less costly than taking a heavy overloaded vehicle.

 

[rruff]

In my experience using a second means of transportation for going to or beyond remote areas is much more safe and less costly than taking a heavy overloaded vehicle.

Yes, it is! In my case that is a bicycle to get to even more remote areas, or my feet. But I want the peace of and serenity of having my rig parked in a remote area too. Some people want to be social all the time, and don't like being alone... but being "away from the things of man" is important to me. Tradeoffs, for sure.

 

[Frood]

Towing a trailer is inherently dangerous... not just dangerous for the inexperienced, or people who have mistakes/errors in their setup. And a trailer is rarely the best option for someone who wants to live in their vehicle and boondock, due to the inconvenience. There are some situations though, like if you stay parked for a long time... or if you need lots of space and amenities, and money is short.

Buy the 3/4 ton and put a reasonable camper on it....

I think it's the mid-level experience that is the most dangerous time for towing a trailer though. Inexperienced towers are overly cautious, don't generally exceed safe speeds, and tend to be aware of every little tug and pull on their vehicle. Experienced drivers know that experience doesn't mean you are able to tow faster safely so it's more of the same... reasonable speeds, aware of pulls and tugs on the vehicle, and try to keep aware of what's going on with the load.

The mid-experience drivers seem to think that more skill = faster safe driving speed, get used to the tugs and pulls on their vehicle so push them to the back of their mind, and try to drive the same way they would if they weren't towing anything.

Of course the above is all just conceptual and not based on anything other than conjecture and a very small observational sample size, but it seems likely to me.

 

[NctryBen]

Would you mind describing why? I think it would be helpful.

The reason I said they were inherently more dangerous is because of accident avoidance. But honestly, in the great majority of situations, the best response is to slam on the brakes and go straight. Where braking is concerned, I guess if the trailer brakes work well and are properly calibrated, you'll likely be able to stop as fast as anyone carrying the same weight. The rest comes down to your skill as a driver and setup. I do think it takes more skill and knowhow when you pull a trailer.

Convenience is about manuevering in town, or out in the boonies. A truck with a camper on the back will do much better there. But like I said, if you park for long periods and don't care about the ability to traverse challenging terrain, a trailer can work very well and give you a lot more space and luxury than an RV would for the $. Then the vehicle you tow it with can be used to explore and run errands.

For myself, the first priority is being able to get where I want to go without destroying my rig, and that unvolves rocks, ruts, ravines, sand, switchbacks, hills, trees, occasional mud and snow, etc.

Your kinda rruff on things... haha. In your situation the TC is a good way to go. Should a person have a trailer they need to know the limitations and either stick to them or be ready to buy things like stabilizers and steps as typical repairs...

 

[bullfrog !]

I have often underestimated people’s desire to take RVs places they should never been able to go here at Lake Powell. I don’t think there are many places a determined camper can’t go with a trailer. Pretty common to see 28’ to 32’ trailers at the end of 4 wheel drive only roads on the water front here.

 

[rruff]

Pretty common to see 28’ to 32’ trailers at the end of 4 wheel drive only roads on the water front here.

Sure... but the reason you commonly see them is because they can't make it back out...

 

[bullfrog !]

Surprisingly they do get out and usually without calling a $1,000 tow however I do see black plastic black tank dump valves sometimes! Lol!!! Usually large families stacking rocks and multiple tow vehicles take their time and manage to get in and out with little damage.