I tow and I'm a solo traveller. I like sleeping on a queen size bed, I like undercover space when weather is not so nice and I like to just hook up and go. 3L per 100 extra for me as well and it's really not that much for the added comfort
All Ozi Adventures Sounds like my experience too. Great to be out of the weather. The only thing I found negative was that when it rained a lot I’d wish I didn’t have the hassle of a trailer when negotiating mud and wet paddocks. So I’d end up packing up so I wouldn’t get stuck. Now I’m back to a 6m x6m tarp and can park half under it, sleep on a stretcher and be out of the weather. Each to their own.
I'm looking at getting a trailer at the moment and it'll be mostly solo trips for 1 or 2 nights. For me it's the convenience of having the trailer packed, ready to go so I can get home from work, hook up the trailer throw the dog in and leave quickly. Packing and unpacking a car to me is a lot of effort and a big turn off. Think the biggest thing is having a fridge plugged in and packed.
Great accurate concise video. Absolutely spot on. Exactly describes my experience of with and without a trailer. I went from my 100 series without, to with a Tvan, back to without. Needed the trailer so I could carry the extra fuel I needed because I was pulling a trailer. Too expensive, even for long overland trips it’s waaaaay cheaper to pay for accommodation once a week if you need to shower launder clothes etc than it is to pay the extra fuel The other thing to mention Ronnie is checking weights by parking your vehicle only, on a weigh bridge WITH your trailer hooked up and see whether the additional ball weight is putting you over GVM. I know that with my Tvan fully loaded it added over 200kgs to my GVM which put me over my 3260 GVM and that also equals illegal and uninsured.
I tow a trailer because I’ve climbed mountains with just a pack and slept on the ground, I’ve pulled a snow sled full of gear for miles in single degree temps then slept in a tent, roughed it a bunch of times. I have nothing to prove. I camp now for my own enjoyment, and I like sleeping on a real mattress in comfort while experiencing the great outdoors. And I like my coffee, my meals, my refrigerator full of cold beer, and my cigars while I do it.
More excellent advice from Ronnie. Aahhh yes, the pack before the trip, how good is that? Sometimes, it puts me off going camping because the thought of finding all the gear, packing it in the vehicle, checklists etc is all too much, can't be bothered. Reckon if I had a trailer set up, just put in food, fuel and water, hitch up and head off. Clothes, bedding, gas bottles, Weber, water tanks, rubbish bag, awning, chairs, table all in the trailer - so much easier! Plus you can put bikes, canoe etc on top of it. Also if your vehicle is a daily driver theres less crap to unpack straight away when you get home. Reckon I still want the 40L Engel in my vehicle though. Actually a case can be made for another one in the trailer.
I have a rooftop camper on a box trailer and intend to do the half Aus trip solo next year but mostly on road. This set up is fast with gas struts and kitchen and I intend to be travelling fast. After that will be transforming the truck so I can drop the trailer to go to rougher places like the cape and highlands. This vid reinforced that I am on the right track.
Even for a solo traveler a camper is more convenient, you have less weight on your vehicle and less clutter in your vehicle. But you only need a light weight trailer that is easy to set up and pack up.
That is what I use. I built a trailer that weighs under 400lbs. Loaded probably still under 550lbs. I can have camp set up in under 10 minutes. Love it!
Bloody love my Cub camper trailer. Stock 79 series with 33s. Go anywhere and 10 minutes to set it up. Provides an awesome base camp and comfortable. If I wanna do a short trip I take the swag. Perfect combinations for a daily driver. Great video Ronny!
Don't comment on these much, but solid points, and after having seen many of Ronny's videos I have to say I like them. Straight forward to the point and no screaming. Def not a numpty.
I do a lot of solo travel and I have a light off road trailer, (~400kg), with a light roof tent, the tent only weighs 17kgs. The benefits of towing are huge for me. Everything you just said I've experienced first hand. For me the ideal solution has been keeping the weight off.
@@dawesville1615 My trailer is a Stockman Pod All Roader from Melbourne. It has the rack option. My roof tent is an Oasis 5.2 by Trekker in France. The roof tent is a type of folding cot/stretcher. I'd actually prefer one like Ronny's but I'd have to upgrade the struts on the trailer lid to hold it. You don't see many of those Oasis tents around. It's a couple of minutes to set up and take down.
I Tow because my other half likes a few creature comforts as she’s doesn’t like camping much but now she has a shower etc. but the main reason is i own a Jeep lol... so these days we find awesome Free boon-docking in CO & UT. Set up base camp hit the trails, come back to unwind. Great video Ronny.
Great balanced commentary. We love our camper trailer. Spot-on with the 3l/100km fuel penalty, but one loses it when it is a parked. The RTT adds 2l/100km, is always there and is not easy to remove between trips either. We also like sleeping in total comfort, whatever the weather. Route planning the rough stuff needs to be better with a trailer, as it may not be possible to reverse or turn. Wear and tear and well as reliability of the entire rig is greatly compromised by overloading, no matter whether one tows or not. We tow in Kalahari sand often, and weight, tyre pressure, track choice decisions are crucial to not getting stuck-but can be mastered.
My prado does 10l/100 with rtt from about 9.5 without. I made a winch and quick attach system that I just wind it down and clip it on. 10 min. It stays up under my carport roof for storage.
You hit the nail right on the head with the pros & cons. I thought I needed a trailer to go on longer trips, more gas, water and firewood were the only real advantages. A 4 day/night trip was enough for me to figure it out. No trailer for me. It sucks to have to pack the tent every time you need to go somewhere, but not usually staying too long in one spot, basecamp isn't a need for me. I decided to have a well thought-out dedicated Jeep which I'm working on right now. Fridge, pull out kitchenette and drawers for everything else will work out... that's for me and my needs. Although all the trailer amenities would be nice lol Always a compromise. 👍
I am a minimalist, do a lot of solo and just pack all my gear and sleep in the back of my Ford Expedition and make sure I am organized prior to the trip. You are right though Ronny, when doing a trip with mates, it is nicer to have a trailer to bring extra gear like firewood, petrol etc for those extended trips. Thx for the Pros and Cons Vids these are very helpful. Mike
Thanks, really interesting. Wow, we don't have to register trailers in the UK. As long as the lights work properly, the tyres are ok and it's not overloaded we're good to go. Of course we still have to make sure we're not over GVM.
Spot on mate, spot on! I have done both, I like both. A trailer also allows you to travel with minimal/no gear on your roof: good for fuel consumption, so in my experience that is a straight trade-off with the extra fuel for the trailer. And it allows your daily driver to fit into the urban carparks with 2.0m height restrictions.
I bought a camper trailer for our club weekend 4wding trips. I don't take it offroad, Just tow it to where we're all staying set it up (Fold out tent style) then for the weekend we have a large enclosed space you can stand up inside of, And a full kitchen. Makes the weekend much more enjoyable! Also beats paying $100+ a night for cabins
Ya we've got better options getting where we're going, as well. Not everyone is overlanding close to home, I can get across country faster crashing in my trailer at Walmart or whatever than trying to tent camp or hotel it every night.
one more pro, you can change the car, and your camping setup is identical... I was tooing and froing between RV and campertrailer, and even resellability with a trailer is much better!
Great vid. Very balanced. My only negative was when you talked about cheap/second hand campers it sounded off-putting. I agree with cheap, you get what you pay for, but buying second hand is the way for many of us and it is down to checking out it's history/condition. Used is good provided it has been looked after. We recently bought a larger 7yo Cub camper and it is great. But I've already done some repairs/mods etc- make it your own for what you want. As always, love your stuff and your fellow WA's, Harry and ASPW.
Brilliant ! I’ve a utility trailer I converted to hold a rtt I’ve fuel . Water , spares , carries fridges , chairs and tables . Perfect . Lightweight and easy to tow. I don’t go off road as in this vid bit do like fields and festivals . It’s perfect ! Still have trailer envy
Hi Ronny great vid. old vid but thought i would comment. one thing not mentioned as a solo traveller is if your knees and back are buggered and you can't put in 20 tent pegs, need a cpap machine and need battery power a tent or swag is no good. got a small camper, while not without it's limitations it is sooooo much easier, I can still get into the outdoors.
Unless the wheels are driven by a PTO from the vehicle, like used to be done from the older Landrovers. There some that have electric motor assist, but this is not very powerful.
Also more of a challenge for those that enjoy that sort of thing. Electric motors can be very powerful, interesting that this offering isn’t more mainstream though.
Making a decision on to buy or not to buy based on this is too narrow minded. Some weekends I want it all! some weekends I go minimalist. I pick my gear based on where I feel like going this week. I have the best of both worlds because I know where I can take my trailer or not. Just get one and learn where to take it or not.
You have said it well. First,You have a beautiful Rhodesian Ridgeback. Next,Patriot campers ,the one showed is top dog. A major purchase. I do over-landing in the US, I can’t justify so much money. I wish. Thanks
We tried using a camper for all our 4x4 trips was a good cub hard floor. We live under an hour from vic high country. Was ok in most situations but becomes dangerous when tracks get serious. Try reversing back down a full on high country track when up cant make it up. We now swag it or take 22 foot caravan for base camp. Camper set up/pack up and wet canvas gets a bit old.
Ronny, Towing vs not towing. You left out one option for not towing, & that is slide-on camper (truck camper). But its expensive to go 6x4 (no I don't get hooked up on the lazy axle, have front & rear lockers) to increase GVM to be comfortable for extended travelling-- we love it.
Pro for security of stuff at camp site when you leave, also in bear country being able to secure food or yourself at night. Being inside a simple box or tear drop style is much nicer than a tent in a decent storm. Toy hauler hauls my cruiser trike with my truck, utility behind the Cherokee Trail Hawk takes care of two plus a large dog. Thanks for your great videos!
Thanks for this video. Camping is so expensive. I have a lot of camping gear. Always looking for something better. A good vehicle, water, and what you need to survive!!!
I had a cheap camper, but was too much hassle for anything less than 3 nighter trip. I found myself with permanent canopy setup and a trailer, so sold the trailer and fitted a lift off canopy! Couldn't be happier with the outcome
I really like my Rugar off road trailer with my RTT on it. I’ve towed it on many roads that shouldn’t be roads. At camp I have my JK to roam around for the day. It’s a very small price to,pay to have that agility. I go out for 1 to 2 weeks at a time and still have room for more gear. Don’t be afraid to tow, it’s the way to go ! (For me)
It was an easy choice. My wife and I wanted to pull into the garage on a Friday afternoon and leave to camp for the weekend without going through and packing the car each time. More importantly, we did not want to drive around town with all the camping gear bolted to the Jeep. It's expensive and it shouldn't be one's only option when deciding to camp, but if you have the means it's so worth it. I went with a Turtleback trailer and love it.
Got a used Kimberley Kakadu for 4 reasons - it means we can stay at our favourite beach campsite for longer because mainly because 1. we can take more drinking water and more food. 2. We have a lighter vehicle for exploring while we are there and don’t have to pack up the campsite to go exploring. 3. i have an ensuite setup for the wife on a rear swingaway on the trailer with shower and portaloo so everyone is happy to go camping and stay for longer. 4. It’s easier to fit the fun stuff like surfboards and fishing gear. But we set it up to stay at the favourite location that we were already familiar with. I’m not driving down unfamiliar tight tracks or into car parks where I might be at risk of having to back out down a tight or gnarly/cross slope track. All up, including all the additions/mods I made it has cost me $12,500 plus my time. For solo camping, as a bloke its easy with an extracab ute and never towing anything.
Thanks for the video. I drive a Semi truck for a living and that makes towing a camper trailer both a pro and con for me. I can handle a trailer, but when I'm not working I want to get as far away from a trailer as possible. lol
Agreed. We tow a Crux 1600, we have 2 kids, 13 and 15, we tried the rooftop tent, didn't like it whatsoever. Huge pain the butt to deploy/put away, I was the only one who could do it, being 6'1". Our trailer seems to be the best balance, but when I go solo, I just use a tent. The big problem with a roof top tent is storage. That sucker eats up all that area, and like you said with 4 people, hello packed interior. The more I do things the more I realize how hard it is to find a perfect setup. I like the trailer for storage, sleeping comfort, extra cans of gas, and the ability to leave it somewhere and go (many areas in the USA the parks say no to trailers on some roads). When the kids leave, we'll probably use a tent, as we have found some amazing fast comfortable mattresses.
Another con to towing a trailer: you'll need a bigger, more expensive winch to help pull you out if you have the added mass and resistance of the trailer, in case you get stuck.
I pull a travel trailer (caravan), set up base camp in more leisurely terrain, and then drive the truck out into the rough from there. With a little planning (finding the right locations), this system works well. I love to fish (my 130lb dog likes to participate). In remote locations, I fish from the shore. At the really big lakes (longer stays), the wife pulls the boat.
Great video and I agree with your reasoning for & against. Currently dont tow much at all but will be in a couple of years when me, the wife and 2 proper sized dogs get to head off on some bigger trips. Already looking through camper trailers and its so easy to eliminate so many of them for their weight & setup times. Cub & Patriot trailers are very high on my very small list.
D W look at Metalian , they have been around longer than patriot , patriot basically copied the USA and South Africans who have been using that style for years. Metalian are South African with a good presence in Australia now. Their trailer layout is cheaper and more functional than patriots$
@@michaelhermans4753 Change in circumstances due one of the dogs turning out to not be campsite friendly. When the time comes for a camper, the choice will be a Cub. A couple of friends have since purchased Cubs and that has only confirmed they are worth it.
I agree on the roof top tent killing fuel economy I had one on a defender it increased fuel use by two litres per 100 km and I needed a step ladder to put out all the window shades. I had a off-road trailer made with the same wheel track as the tow car was good even on sand regards mike
I have a tradie trailer, best thing I could think of, fit so much gear in it and you can pick one up for like $1000 ,flip axle under the springs to get clearance, or buy real tall springs for chump change on eBay, (and flip axle to get even more again), put some solid all terrain tyres on it for handling sharp rocks, best thing is here in NSW Australia a trailer with 750kg gvm max does not need a mechanical check at rego time and only costs $66 a year just to renew the rego
this was good to watch. my family doesn't tour with me but we do love to camp. when i tour i go solo and just sleep in the truck, which is my preferred method but we bought a pop top camper for the family- its not remotely off-road ready but it will make it down a dirt road where we can plop it down and explore. Im from Utah and most of our trips are there, which you probably have a little more context on now: in the moab area and you can probably guess that towing a trailer in the area wouldn't make a lot of sense, as access to trails and backcountry is relatively easy from basecamp. truthfully we don't even tow with the 80 series anymore, but with my wifes gx470 which is more of less stock. Its been a good compromise for us. I've looked at a rugged poptop, but I think we're happy with basecamping it and exploring from there. cheers from utah
In the early 90's, a guy in sweden built an offroad trailer for his Volvo L3314 (903 in the military) what was special about it is that it had an identical axle as the rear one in the truck and when the truck was put into low range, the trailer was driven via the PTO on the truck.. (dont remember the constructin exactly but custom driveshaft, u-joints etc..) What was extra special is that the Volvo was running a smallblock Ford and c4 auto and that the truck and trailer was running something like 40" swampers..
Starting from the premise that a camper trailer is better suited to a longer "base camp" style trip, then I reckon the cost of a quality traditional, static set-up (tents, tarp/gazebo, tables and kitchen, toilet, shower, etc.) would come in at much less than 20% of the cost of a quality new camper trailer (say compared with the Patriot X1 at a starting price of $46k. For $9,200 I could build a top-end base camp set-up for a family of 4). I don't have to register the static set up each year, and the relative maintenance cost is vastly different (replaceable parts/items from any number of national retailers, rather than bespoke fittings from the manufacturer). For me, the traditional static set-up makes more sense. And, when sensibly constructed, weather is manageable, too.
I prefer to always have all my stuff with me - ready to go. I don’t mind the extra time to take down stuff to move on. Also may be that I decide to change my plans and just go somewhere ‘unplanned’. With a base trailer setup, that takes more time, more fuel, etc.
On my fourth trailer something to consider here in the United States some places you can’t camp without a hard sided camper, unless you like sleeping with bears.
Many years ago I ran into that problem in Glacier National Park up in Montana. Fortunately, I had my old Volkswagen camper bus so I was allowed to stay in campground.
I did a recent camping trip. I had my amazing Blackwolf Turbo 300 tent and my mate had his massive home built caravan. The last day we were there it was pouring rain. I had to pack up my big canvas tent in the rain and put it in the back of my car soaking wet. When i got home i had to set my tent up again to dry it out, i had to wait another day to be able to do that because it was still raining when i got home. My mate just hitched up his van and that was it. Far out i was annoyed. LoL
Great video nailed it I do both with the boys trips I travel light and swags only With the family we have a MDC ROBSON and take a tinny and setup for a long period the girls love it and is the only way they would go camping with some level of comfort.
Great Video, one thing to add on the pro side for photographers or creators. The trailer frees up space in the vehicle to ensure the expensive gear like cameras, drones etc are kept safe. Definite must if you don't have a film crew with an additional vehicle. And the other point on the con side, is that it is difficult to find trailers with the same wheel and tyre configuration as your vehicle. So you have to carry additional spares that are not interchangeable with the vehicle.
Ronny gets in the shower with his clothes and hat on like a boss! Good video. I'm one that doesn't like stuff slung all over my rig. Increases fuel consumption, gets hit on trees, or makes it so I plain can't fit as easily thought a forest trail. Plus, adds weight. My one con with a trailer is turning that thing around on a dead end trail in the mountains. Sometimes it's a rock wall one side and a cliff on the other. It gets tight!
Top video Ronny as always, nicely explained. What its about is personal priorities and limitations. What you love doing, how much you intend doing it, how much you can afford and what physical restrictions you may have body and healthwise.
Biggest single item swaying my Pro/Con decision was right after watching the video I checked the cost of the camper trailer 😱🤯😲😮 Costs more than a new Landcruiser!
Question for you Ronny(if you read these) when you guys setup your camp and then leave the trailers does someone stay behind to keep watch or do you leave everything by itself ? That would be my paranoia with setting up camping and leaving the trailer is I’m leaving all my stuff behind who knows what’s going to happen
Very well done. I think you covered all the points fairly without a bias as I have seen elsewhere. One Pro for me- if I had a trailer, I would force myself to make more time to go out with it! I would explain to the wife that I have to 'justify' the expense!
Another great and very informative video. Well done mate I suppose another thing to add is how often do you go on camping trips. If once or twice a year, then you might need to ask yourself if it is worth the expense of having a camper trailer.
Good run down on trailers Ronny, one thing you didn't mention is the high cost of accommodation when traveling long distances, so many fantastic free camps and who wants to jammed up in a tiny site in a caravan park anyway. I agree with the cons but think the pro's out weight them, keep up the good work mate.
My truck is rwd and I will say that it does great on rugged terrain even being rear wheel drive only but towing a trailer severely limits offroad performance and getting stuck is even easier
Solo most of the time and love the camper trailer. Yep I like my luxury. But I can't wait for the canvas to die so I can change to a roof top tent on it.
I tour with our camper - absolutely love it, 30 second setup. Just push the button and she’s done. If you want to do a Defender and Reconn2 modify episode. Let me know!
Yeah, if I'd already had a truck (and a spare 80k) I would have gone that route, a good used Jeep, rtt, and tt only set me back less than half that. Gotta start somewhere!
Hi Ronny I could not make it to Expo West (due to that nasty work thing we must put up with sometimes) so I am waiting for you videos from there and Moab. Keep up the great videos.
I don’t what the laws are like in Australia but in the US you can build your own trailer or cut the bed off an old truck and use it. Some states will require an inspection before registration but it’s a significantly cheaper option than buying a trailer. I’ve seen trailers made from old pickups for 150-250$.
One more minor con for 'On-Road Costs', here in the states, most your tolls for bridges, tunnels etc charge per axle. Where I'm live, Regular truck: $4.00, Truck and Single Axle Trailer: $6.00, Truck w/ Double Axle Trailer: $8.00. Depending where I'm going, I may go through 2-3 of these tolls. Or I drive WAY around them adding about 100 miles to the fuel and where and tear costs.
Nice one Ronny. Very useful video. I’m stuck in the middle. I’ve got a good roof tent and when I head out with the kids I end up in the swag (misses wont come). I’m thinking about a trailer and like the idea of the extra space and the main thing is being able to have a base camp and still use the motor if needed. All good food for thought. Keep up the good work.
In most cases I find that off road trailers are way overbuilt. Often weighing well over 1200lbs. The idea is to make a trailer that is light like the one I built. Granted it has not gone on as big of trips as you have, but it is in the making. I love trailers for off road camping because it make setting up camp a snap. George.
We bought our X3 because i could not build a vehicle to accommodate the wife. She didn't want to climb a ladder or up into a truck. She wanted to be comfortable. I had my F350 planned out but she squashed it. Now I'm getting a Bronco because i don't have to worry about payload and gvwr....... too much. I'm still planning a swag of sorts and a fridge for the solo trips out. For overlanding i may take the trailer even if i go solo because I'll be gone a month or more and would like to carry all my supplies that i may need
While I'm mostly a solo traveller at times the family comes too and my fj can't handle three extra people. I've decided to go a simple 6x4 as the rear of my cruiser is already set up as a camp kitchen. The trailer lets me pack swags, a table and chairs which are hard to get into a vehicle
Great video mate. A price on this particular trailer would’ve been good too. I know these trailers are good and expensive, you get what you pay for, as l’m always told by others. Keep up the good work, you’re the man.👍😊
Better Ronny back to your core , the 6 week mates fishing trip was one reason people left personally I was ho hum will I watch another episode sometimes was weeks later I did just keep it in your old core production that is how you got there,
omg. i just love all you videos and never comment, but when you start your video by hurdling the draw bar, how can i stay quiet any longer hahaha. you crack me up. love your vids.
Every time I look up something concerning Overlanding I always find a video you've done on the subject, Ronny. Thanks for sharing what's relevant.
I tow and I'm a solo traveller. I like sleeping on a queen size bed, I like undercover space when weather is not so nice and I like to just hook up and go. 3L per 100 extra for me as well and it's really not that much for the added comfort
All Ozi Adventures
Sounds like my experience too. Great to be out of the weather. The only thing I found negative was that when it rained a lot I’d wish I didn’t have the hassle of a trailer when negotiating mud and wet paddocks. So I’d end up packing up so I wouldn’t get stuck.
Now I’m back to a 6m x6m tarp and can park half under it, sleep on a stretcher and be out of the weather.
Each to their own.
I'm looking at getting a trailer at the moment and it'll be mostly solo trips for 1 or 2 nights. For me it's the convenience of having the trailer packed, ready to go so I can get home from work, hook up the trailer throw the dog in and leave quickly. Packing and unpacking a car to me is a lot of effort and a big turn off. Think the biggest thing is having a fridge plugged in and packed.
I’m solo and I tow. I have an off-road teardrop though. The ease of setup and the comfort can’t be beat.
I tow to the campground and then disconnect and hit the trails.
Camp smarter not harder.
😁
Great accurate concise video. Absolutely spot on. Exactly describes my experience of with and without a trailer. I went from my 100 series without, to with a Tvan, back to without. Needed the trailer so I could carry the extra fuel I needed because I was pulling a trailer. Too expensive, even for long overland trips it’s waaaaay cheaper to pay for accommodation once a week if you need to shower launder clothes etc than it is to pay the extra fuel
The other thing to mention Ronnie is checking weights by parking your vehicle only, on a weigh bridge WITH your trailer hooked up and see whether the additional ball weight is putting you over GVM. I know that with my Tvan fully loaded it added over 200kgs to my GVM which put me over my 3260 GVM and that also equals illegal and uninsured.
I tow a trailer because I’ve climbed mountains with just a pack and slept on the ground, I’ve pulled a snow sled full of gear for miles in single degree temps then slept in a tent, roughed it a bunch of times. I have nothing to prove. I camp now for my own enjoyment, and I like sleeping on a real mattress in comfort while experiencing the great outdoors. And I like my coffee, my meals, my refrigerator full of cold beer, and my cigars while I do it.
More excellent advice from Ronnie. Aahhh yes, the pack before the trip, how good is that? Sometimes, it puts me off going camping because the thought of finding all the gear, packing it in the vehicle, checklists etc is all too much, can't be bothered. Reckon if I had a trailer set up, just put in food, fuel and water, hitch up and head off. Clothes, bedding, gas bottles, Weber, water tanks, rubbish bag, awning, chairs, table all in the trailer - so much easier! Plus you can put bikes, canoe etc on top of it. Also if your vehicle is a daily driver theres less crap to unpack straight away when you get home. Reckon I still want the 40L Engel in my vehicle though. Actually a case can be made for another one in the trailer.
I have a rooftop camper on a box trailer and intend to do the half Aus trip solo next year but mostly on road. This set up is fast with gas struts and kitchen and I intend to be travelling fast.
After that will be transforming the truck so I can drop the trailer to go to rougher places like the cape and highlands. This vid reinforced that I am on the right track.
Even for a solo traveler a camper is more convenient, you have less weight on your vehicle and less clutter in your vehicle. But you only need a light weight trailer that is easy to set up and pack up.
That is what I use. I built a trailer that weighs under 400lbs. Loaded probably still under 550lbs. I can have camp set up in under 10 minutes. Love it!
Bloody love my Cub camper trailer. Stock 79 series with 33s. Go anywhere and 10 minutes to set it up. Provides an awesome base camp and comfortable. If I wanna do a short trip I take the swag. Perfect combinations for a daily driver. Great video Ronny!
Don't comment on these much, but solid points, and after having seen many of Ronny's videos I have to say I like them. Straight forward to the point and no screaming. Def not a numpty.
I do a lot of solo travel and I have a light off road trailer, (~400kg), with a light roof tent, the tent only weighs 17kgs. The benefits of towing are huge for me. Everything you just said I've experienced first hand. For me the ideal solution has been keeping the weight off.
mikehzz does your roof tent come with the trailer or are they separate brands. What are their brands please?
@@dawesville1615 My trailer is a Stockman Pod All Roader from Melbourne. It has the rack option. My roof tent is an Oasis 5.2 by Trekker in France. The roof tent is a type of folding cot/stretcher. I'd actually prefer one like Ronny's but I'd have to upgrade the struts on the trailer lid to hold it. You don't see many of those Oasis tents around. It's a couple of minutes to set up and take down.
mikehzz thank you.
I like finding other people who do both, I've got a super light rtt and trailer myself.
I Tow because my other half likes a few creature comforts as she’s doesn’t like camping much but now she has a shower etc. but the main reason is i own a Jeep lol... so these days we find awesome Free boon-docking in CO & UT. Set up base camp hit the trails, come back to unwind. Great video Ronny.
Great balanced commentary. We love our camper trailer. Spot-on with the 3l/100km fuel penalty, but one loses it when it is a parked. The RTT adds 2l/100km, is always there and is not easy to remove between trips either. We also like sleeping in total comfort, whatever the weather. Route planning the rough stuff needs to be better with a trailer, as it may not be possible to reverse or turn. Wear and tear and well as reliability of the entire rig is greatly compromised by overloading, no matter whether one tows or not. We tow in Kalahari sand often, and weight, tyre pressure, track choice decisions are crucial to not getting stuck-but can be mastered.
My prado does 10l/100 with rtt from about 9.5 without. I made a winch and quick attach system that I just wind it down and clip it on. 10 min. It stays up under my carport roof for storage.
You hit the nail right on the head with the pros & cons.
I thought I needed a trailer to go on longer trips, more gas, water and firewood were the only real advantages. A 4 day/night trip was enough for me to figure it out. No trailer for me. It sucks to have to pack the tent every time you need to go somewhere, but not usually staying too long in one spot, basecamp isn't a need for me. I decided to have a well thought-out dedicated Jeep which I'm working on right now. Fridge, pull out kitchenette and drawers for everything else will work out... that's for me and my needs. Although all the trailer amenities would be nice lol
Always a compromise. 👍
Awesome .You are absolutely right.
I got small pop-up off-road trailer give me amazing comfort for 4 people
I am a minimalist, do a lot of solo and just pack all my gear and sleep in the back of my Ford Expedition and make sure I am organized prior to the trip. You are right though Ronny, when doing a trip with mates, it is nicer to have a trailer to bring extra gear like firewood, petrol etc for those extended trips.
Thx for the Pros and Cons Vids these are very helpful.
Mike
Thanks, really interesting. Wow, we don't have to register trailers in the UK. As long as the lights work properly, the tyres are ok and it's not overloaded we're good to go. Of course we still have to make sure we're not over GVM.
Spot on mate, spot on! I have done both, I like both. A trailer also allows you to travel with minimal/no gear on your roof: good for fuel consumption, so in my experience that is a straight trade-off with the extra fuel for the trailer. And it allows your daily driver to fit into the urban carparks with 2.0m height restrictions.
I bought a camper trailer for our club weekend 4wding trips. I don't take it offroad, Just tow it to where we're all staying set it up (Fold out tent style) then for the weekend we have a large enclosed space you can stand up inside of, And a full kitchen. Makes the weekend much more enjoyable! Also beats paying $100+ a night for cabins
Ya we've got better options getting where we're going, as well. Not everyone is overlanding close to home, I can get across country faster crashing in my trailer at Walmart or whatever than trying to tent camp or hotel it every night.
one more pro, you can change the car, and your camping setup is identical... I was tooing and froing between RV and campertrailer, and even resellability with a trailer is much better!
Great vid. Very balanced. My only negative was when you talked about cheap/second hand campers it sounded off-putting. I agree with cheap, you get what you pay for, but buying second hand is the way for many of us and it is down to checking out it's history/condition. Used is good provided it has been looked after. We recently bought a larger 7yo Cub camper and it is great. But I've already done some repairs/mods etc- make it your own for what you want. As always, love your stuff and your fellow WA's, Harry and ASPW.
Brilliant ! I’ve a utility trailer I converted to hold a rtt I’ve fuel . Water , spares , carries fridges , chairs and tables . Perfect . Lightweight and easy to tow. I don’t go off road as in this vid bit do like fields and festivals . It’s perfect ! Still have trailer envy
Hi Ronny great vid. old vid but thought i would comment. one thing not mentioned as a solo traveller is if your knees and back are buggered and you can't put in 20 tent pegs, need a cpap machine and need battery power a tent or swag is no good. got a small camper, while not without it's limitations it is sooooo much easier, I can still get into the outdoors.
Camper trailer is great for touring but when it comes technical four wheeling then it's a terrible anchor
Unless the wheels are driven by a PTO from the vehicle, like used to be done from the older Landrovers. There some that have electric motor assist, but this is not very powerful.
Also more of a challenge for those that enjoy that sort of thing. Electric motors can be very powerful, interesting that this offering isn’t more mainstream though.
In some situations you can use it as a base camp and leave in a spot, wheel the technical trails all day, then head back to the trailer.
That's the crux of it. 😂
Making a decision on to buy or not to buy based on this is too narrow minded. Some weekends I want it all! some weekends I go minimalist. I pick my gear based on where I feel like going this week. I have the best of both worlds because I know where I can take my trailer or not. Just get one and learn where to take it or not.
You have said it well.
First,You have a beautiful Rhodesian Ridgeback.
Next,Patriot campers ,the one showed is top dog.
A major purchase. I do over-landing in the US,
I can’t justify so much money. I wish. Thanks
Where do you go? How long are you out for when you do it?
We tried using a camper for all our 4x4 trips was a good cub hard floor. We live under an hour from vic high country. Was ok in most situations but becomes dangerous when tracks get serious. Try reversing back down a full on high country track when up cant make it up. We now swag it or take 22 foot caravan for base camp. Camper set up/pack up and wet canvas gets a bit old.
Ronny, Towing vs not towing. You left out one option for not towing, & that is slide-on camper (truck camper). But its expensive to go 6x4 (no I don't get hooked up on the lazy axle, have front & rear lockers) to increase GVM to be comfortable for extended travelling-- we love it.
I think the trailer is great for base camp so you can unload the vehicle and have more fun
This is a simple and easy to understand extremely important explanation of the difference. Thank you !
Pro for security of stuff at camp site when you leave, also in bear country being able to secure food or yourself at night. Being inside a simple box or tear drop style is much nicer than a tent in a decent storm. Toy hauler hauls my cruiser trike with my truck, utility behind the Cherokee Trail Hawk takes care of two plus a large dog. Thanks for your great videos!
Thanks for this video. Camping is so expensive. I have a lot of camping gear. Always looking for something better. A good vehicle, water, and what you need to survive!!!
I had a cheap camper, but was too much hassle for anything less than 3 nighter trip. I found myself with permanent canopy setup and a trailer, so sold the trailer and fitted a lift off canopy! Couldn't be happier with the outcome
I really like my Rugar off road trailer with my RTT on it. I’ve towed it on many roads that shouldn’t be roads. At camp I have my JK to roam around for the day. It’s a very small price to,pay to have that agility. I go out for 1 to 2 weeks at a time and still have room for more gear. Don’t be afraid to tow, it’s the way to go ! (For me)
It was an easy choice. My wife and I wanted to pull into the garage on a Friday afternoon and leave to camp for the weekend without going through and packing the car each time. More importantly, we did not want to drive around town with all the camping gear bolted to the Jeep. It's expensive and it shouldn't be one's only option when deciding to camp, but if you have the means it's so worth it. I went with a Turtleback trailer and love it.
i like a trail for the sole reason i leave it ready to go and we use it for a base camp ,
Got a used Kimberley Kakadu for 4 reasons - it means we can stay at our favourite beach campsite for longer because mainly because 1. we can take more drinking water and more food. 2. We have a lighter vehicle for exploring while we are there and don’t have to pack up the campsite to go exploring. 3. i have an ensuite setup for the wife on a rear swingaway on the trailer with shower and portaloo so everyone is happy to go camping and stay for longer. 4. It’s easier to fit the fun stuff like surfboards and fishing gear.
But we set it up to stay at the favourite location that we were already familiar with. I’m not driving down unfamiliar tight tracks or into car parks where I might be at risk of having to back out down a tight or gnarly/cross slope track. All up, including all the additions/mods I made it has cost me $12,500 plus my time. For solo camping, as a bloke its easy with an extracab ute and never towing anything.
Yet another no nonsense video with great info for those who are new to this. Great work!
Thanks for the video. I drive a Semi truck for a living and that makes towing a camper trailer both a pro and con for me. I can handle a trailer, but when I'm not working I want to get as far away from a trailer as possible. lol
Couldn't agree more mate, we love towing our trailer makes camping easy and we love a good base camp.
Agreed. We tow a Crux 1600, we have 2 kids, 13 and 15, we tried the rooftop tent, didn't like it whatsoever. Huge pain the butt to deploy/put away, I was the only one who could do it, being 6'1". Our trailer seems to be the best balance, but when I go solo, I just use a tent. The big problem with a roof top tent is storage. That sucker eats up all that area, and like you said with 4 people, hello packed interior.
The more I do things the more I realize how hard it is to find a perfect setup. I like the trailer for storage, sleeping comfort, extra cans of gas, and the ability to leave it somewhere and go (many areas in the USA the parks say no to trailers on some roads). When the kids leave, we'll probably use a tent, as we have found some amazing fast comfortable mattresses.
Just have to love Rohnny, "I've been positive with the pros" 🤣🤣🤣
HE's the next Yogi Berra. "It's like deja vu all over again"
Slide on camper is the way to go leaves you
Able to tow a boat
Another con to towing a trailer: you'll need a bigger, more expensive winch to help pull you out if you have the added mass and resistance of the trailer, in case you get stuck.
I pull a travel trailer (caravan), set up base camp in more leisurely terrain, and then drive the truck out into the rough from there. With a little planning (finding the right locations), this system works well. I love to fish (my 130lb dog likes to participate). In remote locations, I fish from the shore. At the really big lakes (longer stays), the wife pulls the boat.
Great inputs, many thanks. For me, I will always tow for optimum comfort!
Great video and I agree with your reasoning for & against. Currently dont tow much at all but will be in a couple of years when me, the wife and 2 proper sized dogs get to head off on some bigger trips. Already looking through camper trailers and its so easy to eliminate so many of them for their weight & setup times. Cub & Patriot trailers are very high on my very small list.
D W look at Metalian , they have been around longer than patriot , patriot basically copied the USA and South Africans who have been using that style for years. Metalian are South African with a good presence in Australia now. Their trailer layout is cheaper and more functional than patriots$
I’m looking At the cub frontier
What did you end up buying?
@@michaelhermans4753 Change in circumstances due one of the dogs turning out to not be campsite friendly. When the time comes for a camper, the choice will be a Cub. A couple of friends have since purchased Cubs and that has only confirmed they are worth it.
@@davewarland1680 I keep going back to them, getting too old to tent and the wife hates the long pack up times
I agree on the roof top tent killing fuel economy I had one on a defender it increased fuel use by two litres per 100 km and I needed a step ladder to put out all the window shades.
I had a off-road trailer made with the same wheel track as the tow car was good even on sand regards mike
I have a tradie trailer, best thing I could think of, fit so much gear in it and you can pick one up for like $1000 ,flip axle under the springs to get clearance, or buy real tall springs for chump change on eBay, (and flip axle to get even more again), put some solid all terrain tyres on it for handling sharp rocks, best thing is here in NSW Australia a trailer with 750kg gvm max does not need a mechanical check at rego time and only costs $66 a year just to renew the rego
this was good to watch. my family doesn't tour with me but we do love to camp. when i tour i go solo and just sleep in the truck, which is my preferred method but we bought a pop top camper for the family- its not remotely off-road ready but it will make it down a dirt road where we can plop it down and explore. Im from Utah and most of our trips are there, which you probably have a little more context on now: in the moab area and you can probably guess that towing a trailer in the area wouldn't make a lot of sense, as access to trails and backcountry is relatively easy from basecamp. truthfully we don't even tow with the 80 series anymore, but with my wifes gx470 which is more of less stock. Its been a good compromise for us. I've looked at a rugged poptop, but I think we're happy with basecamping it and exploring from there. cheers from utah
In the early 90's, a guy in sweden built an offroad trailer for his Volvo L3314 (903 in the military) what was special about it is that it had an identical axle as the rear one in the truck and when the truck was put into low range, the trailer was driven via the PTO on the truck.. (dont remember the constructin exactly but custom driveshaft, u-joints etc..) What was extra special is that the Volvo was running a smallblock Ford and c4 auto and that the truck and trailer was running something like 40" swampers..
Starting from the premise that a camper trailer is better suited to a longer "base camp" style trip, then I reckon the cost of a quality traditional, static set-up (tents, tarp/gazebo, tables and kitchen, toilet, shower, etc.) would come in at much less than 20% of the cost of a quality new camper trailer (say compared with the Patriot X1 at a starting price of $46k. For $9,200 I could build a top-end base camp set-up for a family of 4). I don't have to register the static set up each year, and the relative maintenance cost is vastly different (replaceable parts/items from any number of national retailers, rather than bespoke fittings from the manufacturer). For me, the traditional static set-up makes more sense. And, when sensibly constructed, weather is manageable, too.
I've driven up a narrow dead end sandy track with a trailer, trying to reverse and turn the trailer around was a challenge.
I prefer to always have all my stuff with me - ready to go. I don’t mind the extra time to take down stuff to move on. Also may be that I decide to change my plans and just go somewhere ‘unplanned’. With a base trailer setup, that takes more time, more fuel, etc.
On my fourth trailer something to consider here in the United States some places you can’t camp without a hard sided camper, unless you like sleeping with bears.
Many years ago I ran into that problem in Glacier National Park up in Montana. Fortunately, I had my old Volkswagen camper bus so I was allowed to stay in campground.
4:45 This is the exact reason why I have an off road trailer, plus they are just cool.
I have been tempted to tow but so far, I have been able to resist! Pros don't make up for the cons.
I did a recent camping trip. I had my amazing Blackwolf Turbo 300 tent and my mate had his massive home built caravan. The last day we were there it was pouring rain. I had to pack up my big canvas tent in the rain and put it in the back of my car soaking wet. When i got home i had to set my tent up again to dry it out, i had to wait another day to be able to do that because it was still raining when i got home. My mate just hitched up his van and that was it. Far out i was annoyed. LoL
Great video nailed it
I do both with the boys trips I travel light and swags only
With the family we have a MDC ROBSON and take a tinny and setup for a long period the girls love it and is the only way they would go camping with some level of comfort.
We've got the rtt and the teardrop just to cover all bases.
Great Video, one thing to add on the pro side for photographers or creators. The trailer frees up space in the vehicle to ensure the expensive gear like cameras, drones etc are kept safe. Definite must if you don't have a film crew with an additional vehicle.
And the other point on the con side, is that it is difficult to find trailers with the same wheel and tyre configuration as your vehicle. So you have to carry additional spares that are not interchangeable with the vehicle.
Ronny gets in the shower with his clothes and hat on like a boss!
Good video. I'm one that doesn't like stuff slung all over my rig. Increases fuel consumption, gets hit on trees, or makes it so I plain can't fit as easily thought a forest trail. Plus, adds weight.
My one con with a trailer is turning that thing around on a dead end trail in the mountains. Sometimes it's a rock wall one side and a cliff on the other. It gets tight!
number one reason to tow, and your actual last comment in the video. GVM
Top video Ronny as always, nicely explained. What its about is personal priorities and limitations. What you love doing, how much you intend doing it, how much you can afford and what physical restrictions you may have body and healthwise.
Biggest single item swaying my Pro/Con decision was right after watching the video I checked the cost of the camper trailer 😱🤯😲😮 Costs more than a new Landcruiser!
good vid . I was thinking which way to go and a small camper trailer wins bit more money but I want comfort and 4wdriving thanks ronny
Good views Ronny , I’m old school myself a camper would only be required if I took the mrs lol 😝
I tease you guys some for all the junk you guys pack along. You guys do love your comfort when you stop for the night.
Question for you Ronny(if you read these) when you guys setup your camp and then leave the trailers does someone stay behind to keep watch or do you leave everything by itself ? That would be my paranoia with setting up camping and leaving the trailer is I’m leaving all my stuff behind who knows what’s going to happen
Very well done. I think you covered all the points fairly without a bias as I have seen elsewhere.
One Pro for me- if I had a trailer, I would force myself to make more time to go out with it! I would explain to the wife that I have to 'justify' the expense!
Another great and very informative video. Well done mate
I suppose another thing to add is how often do you go on camping trips. If once or twice a year, then you might need to ask yourself if it is worth the expense of having a camper trailer.
Good run down on trailers Ronny, one thing you didn't mention is the high cost of accommodation when traveling long distances, so many fantastic free camps and who wants to jammed up in a tiny site in a caravan park anyway. I agree with the cons but think the pro's out weight them, keep up the good work mate.
just got to have a patriot camper, love the vid Ronny
Used to be just a swag and esky/fridge man 😭
Now the mrs comes camping so I had to get a trailer with roof top tent 😂😫
I miss the simple set up
Always useful videos mate.
Won't be needing to tow.
Thanks
My truck is rwd and I will say that it does great on rugged terrain even being rear wheel drive only but towing a trailer severely limits offroad performance and getting stuck is even easier
Solo most of the time and love the camper trailer. Yep I like my luxury. But I can't wait for the canvas to die so I can change to a roof top tent on it.
Beautiful Ridgeback.
Another reason for towing: it's fun!
I tour with our camper - absolutely love it, 30 second setup. Just push the button and she’s done.
If you want to do a Defender and Reconn2 modify episode. Let me know!
Yeah, if I'd already had a truck (and a spare 80k) I would have gone that route, a good used Jeep, rtt, and tt only set me back less than half that. Gotta start somewhere!
Hi Ronny
I could not make it to Expo West (due to that nasty work thing we must put up with sometimes) so I am waiting for you videos from there and Moab.
Keep up the great videos.
Good on you Ronnie, another good coverage of an interesting subject.
Main reason I think it depends on the vehicle you are driving....space in the car, ability to tow
Another con is fees on ferries, bridges, tunnels and road tolls are often more expensive with a trailer on.
I basically travel with myself and a spare pair of undies in case I get too drunk and shit myself so nah no trailer
I don’t what the laws are like in Australia but in the US you can build your own trailer or cut the bed off an old truck and use it. Some states will require an inspection before registration but it’s a significantly cheaper option than buying a trailer. I’ve seen trailers made from old pickups for 150-250$.
One more minor con for 'On-Road Costs', here in the states, most your tolls for bridges, tunnels etc charge per axle. Where I'm live, Regular truck: $4.00, Truck and Single Axle Trailer: $6.00, Truck w/ Double Axle Trailer: $8.00. Depending where I'm going, I may go through 2-3 of these tolls. Or I drive WAY around them adding about 100 miles to the fuel and where and tear costs.
Nice one Ronny. Very useful video. I’m stuck in the middle. I’ve got a good roof tent and when I head out with the kids I end up in the swag (misses wont come). I’m thinking about a trailer and like the idea of the extra space and the main thing is being able to have a base camp and still use the motor if needed. All good food for thought. Keep up the good work.
Be interesting to see the fuel difference between towing vs swags / rtt on roof
On mine (Toyota 3.0 D4D); Normal 10km/l, FrontRunner RTT 9km/l, towing a Conqueror UEV-440 (1500kg) 8km/l.
In most cases I find that off road trailers are way overbuilt. Often weighing well over 1200lbs. The idea is to make a trailer that is light like the one I built. Granted it has not gone on as big of trips as you have, but it is in the making. I love trailers for off road camping because it make setting up camp a snap. George.
We bought our X3 because i could not build a vehicle to accommodate the wife. She didn't want to climb a ladder or up into a truck. She wanted to be comfortable. I had my F350 planned out but she squashed it. Now I'm getting a Bronco because i don't have to worry about payload and gvwr....... too much. I'm still planning a swag of sorts and a fridge for the solo trips out. For overlanding i may take the trailer even if i go solo because I'll be gone a month or more and would like to carry all my supplies that i may need
While I'm mostly a solo traveller at times the family comes too and my fj can't handle three extra people. I've decided to go a simple 6x4 as the rear of my cruiser is already set up as a camp kitchen. The trailer lets me pack swags, a table and chairs which are hard to get into a vehicle
Wish I had some MASTES.
hahaha, right :)
was thinking exactly the same :)
Great video mate. A price on this particular trailer would’ve been good too. I know these trailers are good and expensive, you get what you pay for, as l’m always told by others. Keep up the good work, you’re the man.👍😊
Good summary Ronny!! Solo/ don’t need it.
Well... Now i know that i do not need to tow. :). Thanks and all the best to You. Jack.
Great Pros and Cons Towing vs Not towing. New Sub.
Better Ronny back to your core , the 6 week mates fishing trip was one reason people left personally I was ho hum will I watch another episode sometimes was weeks later I did just keep it in your old core production that is how you got there,
omg. i just love all you videos and never comment, but when you start your video by hurdling the draw bar, how can i stay quiet any longer hahaha. you crack me up. love your vids.
Great video. Unbiased, informative and helpful. Keep up the good work.
Love the sneaky No.5's in the video