Anyone ever regret trailering? - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

BillaVista · 07-01-2002, 04:35 PM

OK, assuming once you go tow rig and trailer, your trail rig no longer keeps it's road legal status, anyone ever regret it? Ever really long for a road legal trail rig again?

Like, it's a PITA, or too expensive to maintain/insure/fuel/etc. the tow rig, trailer, and trail rig?

Or what if your local area has a lot of trails that start at one place, and end in another - what do you guys do? Drive the trail back? Hightail it from trail-end back to trailer, keeping an eye out for 5-0h?

Thinking about making the leap to full-on not even close to road-legal trail rig, just kinda cold feat...no going back.

I can imagine the great things of towing...give me the honest pitfalls and drawbacks.

Tan Wheeler No Mo · 07-01-2002, 04:42 PM

The only time was when I towed and my friend that didn't to tow broke. So his truck ended up on my trailer and my truck ended up on the road for the drive home.

I can't really see any regrets with towing.
Alot of pros, Dam I rolled my truck, wait I I have to do is get it to the trailer, Jump int the tow rig turn on the A/C and drive home.

RE:Todd · 07-01-2002, 05:43 PM

I'm in the middle of this dilema now. I return through Rubicon, haven't figured out Dusy yet.

DRM · 07-01-2002, 05:50 PM

I will NEVER regret the ability to not worry about having to make the drive home after a long ride. I will never again have to skip an obstacle because I may break a crucial component requied to drive home.

I do however regret modifying a rig to the point where I can't drive it reasonbly safely on the road if the desire arrises...

Chris Geiger · 07-01-2002, 06:14 PM

So far it's been great! I stopped driving the rig on the hwy when I got my 38" tires. Now that it's a full time trail rig, I don't have to worry about breaking the glass and can go for it!

Brandon · 07-01-2002, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DRM
I will NEVER regret the ability to not worry about having to make the drive home after a long ride. I will never again have to skip an obstacle because I may break a crucial component requied to drive home.

I do however regret modifying a rig to the point where I can't drive it reasonbly safely on the road if the desire arrises...

you couldn't drive your truck on the road safely?? Man, my 5.0 flatbed topless hydro assist, 38" TSL, blah blah truck will always be road worthy!

tail_lite · 07-01-2002, 09:30 PM

I don't regret trailering at all..... my rig can be driven on the road but with 38's turning for 150 miles or more, I'd rather not....

Lance · 07-01-2002, 11:23 PM

I still drive my rig around town all the time. It's fun!!! But towing is where it's at!

Brandon · 07-01-2002, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lance
I still drive my rig around town all the time. It's fun!!! But towing is where it's at!

LOL a cop would just be speechless if they pulled ya over

I don't intend to drive my truck to moab anymore but yea, I do want to be able to cruise around town if I want to or even drive it to work

Tx4x4Fun · 07-02-2002, 08:44 AM

No regrets here. The ability to jump into that A/C and "RICH CORINTHIAN LEATHER" after a long day more than makes up for it. Like others mentioned above, I would be more likely to try the harder obstacle knowing that I'll still have a ride home!

fj40charles · 07-02-2002, 02:38 PM

I would never go wheeling without trailering it unless it was real close. I just don't see the comfort for driving a short wheelbase vehicle in the heat with no top for long distances.

Also, I can go 85 mph when I'm towing and get decent mileage with my Cummins.

Charles

Rudezuk · 07-02-2002, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tx4x4Fun
Like others mentioned above, I would be more likely to try the harder obstacle knowing that I'll still have a ride home!

Thats why i got my trailer......Cause i did break things and had to rely on others to tow my $hit home for me!

Its actually alot cheaper for me to drive the trail rig than it is the truck and trailer...........zuk gets like 20mpg!! But the comfort factor and knowing that you have a guarenteed ride home is nice!

welndmn · 07-02-2002, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Brandon

LOL a cop would just be speechless if they pulled ya over

I don't intend to drive my truck to moab anymore but yea, I do want to be able to cruise around town if I want to or even drive it to work

I feel the same,
I love trailering but i do love driving my junk to work evey so often

BillaVista · 07-02-2002, 04:13 PM

Hmmm, interesting thoughts.

It sounds as if you guys are saying:

1) Trailering is it...you can fully get it - AND get home!

2) If at all possible, it is cool to still be able to street drive the rig.

I guess it's the last point that is the kicker....I'm starting a "from-scratch" total hybrid rig build (and I'm WAY over my head

) and as you can imagine....if I don't have to even pretend to keep it road=legal, it will be exponentially easier....but you give up a lot if you HAVE to trailer it even down to the mailbox !!

DRM · 07-02-2002, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Brandon

you couldn't drive your truck on the road safely?? Man, my 5.0 flatbed topless hydro assist, 38" TSL, blah blah truck will always be road worthy!

Oh, I actually drove it for about 6 months as my daily driver - 100+ miles per day most days. That being said, the gearing sucked for interstate driving, and would have worn through tires after much longer.

A better comment would be I would have liked a truck the wife could feel comfortable driving around town if she wanted to... and feel safe putting our little girl in there too.

surveyboy · 07-08-2002, 02:59 PM

well I have the access to a trailer and its great for the long trips and the comfort of getting home- even if the rigs broke. for the local trails, It's to much of a hassel to hook it up, tie it down, untie it, and drive. My jeep is road legal and thats the way I like it. but, if you're building a rig, then your option for highway driveing is alot lower.

fj40guy · 07-09-2002, 12:32 PM

My FJ40 works fine for around town (street legal), but after tossing in a couple of kids, camping gear, big dog... and driving for three hours to get to a camping spot.... Whew! Just a little too cramped. Repeat that, but towing the FJ40, with a 2500HD Crew Cab with A/C, decent stereo, and being able to TALK with my sons while on the road.... worth it!

Funny sight at Gilmer: A Ford Crew cab with no one around, but the engine running. Finally realized two guys were reclining back, AC blowing full blast, and they were sound asleep! 20 years ago I would have thought "What a wusss" These days I just think "Cool!"

Of course the way my son's are going through food, I'll need a friggin RV just to haul a weekends worth of food!

Tom

TEX · 07-09-2002, 01:52 PM

Having my off-pavement ride completely un-streetworthy isn't so cool. But, it's cheaper than making the mods to make it work on pavement, so no worries.

As for the tow rig AND the trailer, it's really a no-brainer for me. I have far too many other uses for both to ever part with either, whether I have a wheelin' truck or not. Though, I probably would still have a 1/2 ton pickup if I didn't tow the racer.

TEX

DRM · 07-09-2002, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TEX
As for the tow rig AND the trailer, it's really a no-brainer for me. I have far too many other uses for both to ever part with either, whether I have a wheelin' truck or not. Though, I probably would still have a 1/2 ton pickup if I didn't tow the racer.

TEX

AMEN!

The trailer meant when we moved - we did not have to rent a U-Haul... Same for when we helped some friends of ours move too.

I have picked up rocks, bags of mulch, parts vehicles (generally 15 or so a year), picked up friend's broke down junk, lumber for building projects, and on, and on...

Rover Addiction · 07-09-2002, 03:04 PM

If you have the money for the tow rig and trailer, it's great to have. I keep my trail rig street legal because I enjoy driving it to work like a lot of you guys, but for me it actually comes out cheaper to tow than to drive. I get 9 mpg from the trail rig and 15 from my tow rig. In addition, after missing 2 days of work hauling my broken rig home, I was told that if I wanted to keep working, I had to either trailer or stay home!

yeah, the insurance for both kinda sucks, but having an extra vehicle to drive whenever I need it is great and it's a whole lot more comfortable coming home from the trail.

A few months ago, I made a run to Las Cruces from the San Francisco area in 24 hours straight through in order to participate in the Chile Challenge. No way could I have done that in the trail rig! Yeah, it could do it and it's legal, but it would have been a whole lot more tiring.

So.. heck yeah! Get the tow rig!

-John

07-01-2002, 04:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
BillaVista Registered User Join Date: Mar 2001 Member # 3547 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 6,719	Anyone ever regret trailering? OK, assuming once you go tow rig and trailer, your trail rig no longer keeps it's road legal status, anyone ever regret it? Ever really long for a road legal trail rig again? Like, it's a PITA, or too expensive to maintain/insure/fuel/etc. the tow rig, trailer, and trail rig? Or what if your local area has a lot of trails that start at one place, and end in another - what do you guys do? Drive the trail back? Hightail it from trail-end back to trailer, keeping an eye out for 5-0h? Thinking about making the leap to full-on not even close to road-legal trail rig, just kinda cold feat...no going back. I can imagine the great things of towing...give me the honest pitfalls and drawbacks.

07-01-2002, 04:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
Tan Wheeler No Mo Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Member # 3349 Location: Disco Bay Posts: 437	The only time was when I towed and my friend that didn't to tow broke. So his truck ended up on my trailer and my truck ended up on the road for the drive home. I can't really see any regrets with towing. Alot of pros, Dam I rolled my truck, wait I I have to do is get it to the trailer, Jump int the tow rig turn on the A/C and drive home. __________________ 92 runner in the making 86 Toy 87 Zuk in parts To many projects not enough time TOY 4 RCKS

07-01-2002, 05:43 PM	#3 (permalink)
RE:Todd Registered User Join Date: Mar 2000 Member # 422 Location: Roswell NM Posts: 6,374	I'm in the middle of this dilema now. I return through Rubicon, haven't figured out Dusy yet. __________________ Todd Steele TINBENDERS Formula Toy #006; Thanks to Deaver Spring, High Angle Driveline, Longfields, Rock Buggy Supply, PRP Seats, Marlin Crawler, Coast Motor Supply and RockStomper. [url=http://www.tinbenders.org]TinBenders.org[/url]

07-01-2002, 05:50 PM	#4 (permalink)
DRM Super Moderator Join Date: Feb 2000 Member # 8 Location: Spring Hill, TN Posts: 34,957 Blog Entries: 1	I will NEVER regret the ability to not worry about having to make the drive home after a long ride. I will never again have to skip an obstacle because I may break a crucial component requied to drive home. I do however regret modifying a rig to the point where I can't drive it reasonbly safely on the road if the desire arrises... __________________ >David > 4x4Spot.com >It only hurts the first* time you agree with me...* >"A little nonsense now and then is cherished by the wisest men."

07-01-2002, 09:30 PM	#7 (permalink)
tail_lite Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Member # 9404 Location: Ridgecrest,CA. Posts: 3,768	I don't regret trailering at all..... my rig can be driven on the road but with 38's turning for 150 miles or more, I'd rather not.... __________________ My new 4x4 ----- Honda Rincon 650 fourtrax

07-01-2002, 06:14 PM	#5 (permalink)
Chris Geiger Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Member # 26 Posts: 8,396	So far it's been great! I stopped driving the rig on the hwy when I got my 38" tires. Now that it's a full time trail rig, I don't have to worry about breaking the glass and can go for it!

07-01-2002, 11:23 PM	#8 (permalink)
Lance Administrator Join Date: Jun 1996 Member # 1 Location: El Dorado Hills, CA Posts: 18,739 Blog Entries: 1	I still drive my rig around town all the time. It's fun!!! But towing is where it's at!

07-02-2002, 08:44 AM	#10 (permalink)
Tx4x4Fun Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Member # 4527 Location: Cedar Park, TX. Posts: 438	No regrets here. The ability to jump into that A/C and "RICH CORINTHIAN LEATHER" after a long day more than makes up for it. Like others mentioned above, I would be more likely to try the harder obstacle knowing that I'll still have a ride home! __________________ [URL=http://www.fun4x4.net]'93 Jeep YJ[/URL] / [URL=http://www.blackhummer.com/powerstroke]'99.5 F350[/URL]

07-02-2002, 02:38 PM	#11 (permalink)
fj40charles Zeus of the Sluice Join Date: Oct 2000 Member # 1926 Location: Dallas, TX USA Posts: 3,254	I would never go wheeling without trailering it unless it was real close. I just don't see the comfort for driving a short wheelbase vehicle in the heat with no top for long distances. Also, I can go 85 mph when I'm towing and get decent mileage with my Cummins. Charles __________________ '69 FJ40 with very few stock parts. 2000 Cummins with some goodies to make it smoke..... Trail Gear's Bad Ethics=Bad Business.

07-02-2002, 04:13 PM	#14 (permalink)
BillaVista Registered User Join Date: Mar 2001 Member # 3547 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 6,719	Hmmm, interesting thoughts. It sounds as if you guys are saying: 1) Trailering is it...you can fully get it - AND get home! 2) If at all possible, it is cool to still be able to street drive the rig. I guess it's the last point that is the kicker....I'm starting a "from-scratch" total hybrid rig build (and I'm WAY over my head ) and as you can imagine....if I don't have to even pretend to keep it road=legal, it will be exponentially easier....but you give up a lot if you HAVE to trailer it even down to the mailbox !!

07-08-2002, 02:59 PM	#16 (permalink)
surveyboy waterboy Join Date: Jan 2002 Member # 9086 Location: 505 miles from the hammers Posts: 4,142	well I have the access to a trailer and its great for the long trips and the comfort of getting home- even if the rigs broke. for the local trails, It's to much of a hassel to hook it up, tie it down, untie it, and drive. My jeep is road legal and thats the way I like it. but, if you're building a rig, then your option for highway driveing is alot lower. __________________ My uhaul truck turned rig hauler thread Un-employed Spotter

07-09-2002, 12:32 PM	#17 (permalink)
fj40guy Rock God Join Date: Jan 2002 Member # 9576 Location: Texas... off 183A Posts: 2,230	My FJ40 works fine for around town (street legal), but after tossing in a couple of kids, camping gear, big dog... and driving for three hours to get to a camping spot.... Whew! Just a little too cramped. Repeat that, but towing the FJ40, with a 2500HD Crew Cab with A/C, decent stereo, and being able to TALK with my sons while on the road.... worth it! Funny sight at Gilmer: A Ford Crew cab with no one around, but the engine running. Finally realized two guys were reclining back, AC blowing full blast, and they were sound asleep! 20 years ago I would have thought "What a wusss" These days I just think "Cool!" Of course the way my son's are going through food, I'll need a friggin RV just to haul a weekends worth of food! Tom __________________ Too many projects, never enough time nor money.

07-09-2002, 01:52 PM	#18 (permalink)
TEX Registered User Join Date: Apr 2000 Member # 603 Location: Missouri, USA Posts: 14,194	Having my off-pavement ride completely un-streetworthy isn't so cool. But, it's cheaper than making the mods to make it work on pavement, so no worries. As for the tow rig AND the trailer, it's really a no-brainer for me. I have far too many other uses for both to ever part with either, whether I have a wheelin' truck or not. Though, I probably would still have a 1/2 ton pickup if I didn't tow the racer. TEX __________________ www.probog.com Thanks to: www.heiseroil.com Extreme Performance www.kmelectronics.com Bear Creek Auto Recyclers www.svrehorsepower.com

07-09-2002, 03:04 PM	#20 (permalink)
Rover Addiction Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Member # 4749 Location: Erie, CO Posts: 975	If you have the money for the tow rig and trailer, it's great to have. I keep my trail rig street legal because I enjoy driving it to work like a lot of you guys, but for me it actually comes out cheaper to tow than to drive. I get 9 mpg from the trail rig and 15 from my tow rig. In addition, after missing 2 days of work hauling my broken rig home, I was told that if I wanted to keep working, I had to either trailer or stay home! yeah, the insurance for both kinda sucks, but having an extra vehicle to drive whenever I need it is great and it's a whole lot more comfortable coming home from the trail. A few months ago, I made a run to Las Cruces from the San Francisco area in 24 hours straight through in order to participate in the Chile Challenge. No way could I have done that in the trail rig! Yeah, it could do it and it's legal, but it would have been a whole lot more tiring. So.. heck yeah! Get the tow rig! -John __________________ "All the parts falling off this truck are of the finest british craftsmanship."

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode