[SuperWade2]

I'm looking at maybe getting a trailer and not sure exactly what I want or need...We are planning on some big offroad camping trips

I've considered a Flatbed Trailer (16' or 18') to pull behind my 2003 Tahoe.... It has the towing package and should be OK to pull about 8000lbs, give or take... I've seen used ones on Craigslist for $1500-$2000. Would have enough room in the Tahoe, and maybe in the front of the trailer for all our camping gear, coolers, etc, etc... I have 2 young kids that I plan on taking with us, so the DVD Player and comforts of the Tahoe would be nice for the 4-6 drive to the camping/offroad spots.

I've also looked at one of the offroad trailers to just pull behind the Jeep...some of which are pretty awesome, but can get pricey $3000-$8000 if I wanted to get the Tent Campers ones with all the bells as whistles. 5 Hours in the Jeep with 3 year olds to get to the wheeling spot doesn't sound like a good time...

In either case, I'm going to have to try to find somehwere to park the thing because I don't have room and my Home Owners Assn. wouldn't look kindly to me leaving the thing in the driveway or street in front of my house.

Any advice?

SW2

[Cannon]

Wade, you definitely have alot of questions & I'm thinkin little time to be dealing with fabricating you own stuff with two kids & all!

The home owner assoc thing has me at a standstill though. Theres nothin I know of on the market that couldn't end up being left to rust, collect dust, chip, crack, peel, or leak..... They can be pretty nasty to deal with.

The first and last thought I came up with was a folding trailer with 14" tires for approx $4-500 bones, depending on how much time you put into it on your own to configure to your tastes, but I think it'll be way below your expectations.

Good luck though (bump)

[Faramir66103]

Originally Posted by SuperWade2

5 Hours in the Jeep with 3 year olds to get to the wheeling spot doesn't sound like a good time...

In either case, I'm going to have to try to find somehwere to park the thing because I don't have room and my Home Owners Assn. wouldn't look kindly to me leaving the thing in the driveway or street in front of my house.

Any advice?

SW2

Well, if you had a small(ish) trailer to pull behind the Jeep with the camping gear you could devote the interior space to on road items. I've seen some folding flat bed trailers at places like Harbor Frieght and Northern Tool that aren't expensive. Add a Job Box or other similar storage container if you want to provide security/ convenience/ weatherproofness. The only thing you might need to change would be the wheel and tire size, and that would only be if you wanted to actually pull the trailer on the off road portions of your trip. When at home the Job Box could be removed, the trailer could be folded and both could be stored in the garage or back yard (if you've got either).

Another option would be one of the smaller but more complex trailers with any number of fancy options. When at home, it could also live in the back yard (again, space permitting).

A friend of mine does road trips with her little ones (well, not as little anymore!) and they got a great deal of use out of a cheap LCD DVD system. It can be strapped to the back of the front seats to entertain the little ones. She says they would have never survived the long trips without it.

I also recall when I was younger my folks would plan the big family road trips to start around dinner time so that about the time we really got bored, we were also getting tired and would then sleep through the bulk of the trip. This also meant that the folks were driving during the off peak times on the highways and in the cooler parts of the day (less a/c usage in the big van).

FWIW,
Adam

[planman]

Buy a tow bar to flat tow your jeep and magnetic tow lights. Try rvoutlet.com or your local Habor Freight.

Then buy a Surco safari rack or Thule (or similar) enclosed luggage carrier to put on top your Tahoe. Try craigslist or eBay if you want to buy used. Try summitracing.com for the Surco safari rack if you want new.

Problems solved...with very little to store when you're not using it.

[RenoosRemoob]

Originally Posted by SuperWade2

I'm looking at maybe getting a trailer and not sure exactly what I want or need...
SW2

Sounds like I may be in a very similar position as you. I'd like to get a trailer for our JK but for no specific purpose or use. It just seems like we constantly wish we could carry a little more at some occasions -- helping children move to/from school, apartments, new homes, moving lawn mowers for various grass cutting needs, etc.

We started to begin looking for a trailer hitch, but decided we probably need to pick out our trailer before we worry about the hitch.

[kdmeyer]

Thule N1150 or N1205 are on my short list of trailers. Small, simple, and light, with a raised axle.
http://www.thuletrailers.com/fw/main/4_Foot_Wide-41.html

[bobholthaus]

kdmeyer- did you buy a thule trailer? I am also thinking about one.

[1 ton yj]

I'd go for a 16 foot open center car hauler. The open ones tend to be a little lighter and you're going to need to shave weight where ever you can. Just towing the Jeep you will be within a couple hundred pounds of the GVWR of the Tahoe before loading the kids and camping stuff. Have you looked at the brakes on the Tahoe? They are not that big. I would also suggest a large aftermarket trans cooler with a fan, and bypassing the factory trans "cooler" in the radiator.

It very well can be done but you will be at the safe limit of the tow vehicle.