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tradmanclimbs
Ice climber
Pomfert VT
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Oct 24, 2018 - 09:23am PT
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Well Jim, yopu made your decision. personally I just don't like towing. you always have to think about where to park, how to get turned around and how to get out of where you got into...
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Topic Author's Reply - Oct 24, 2018 - 09:24am PT
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Our new trailer is only 15 ft. and 2,690 pounds so towing shouldn’t be a real problem. We pick it up on 11/9...pictures to follow.
Like I said, two different concepts. We tried one, now the other.
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FRUMY
Trad climber
Bishop,CA
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Oct 24, 2018 - 09:41am PT
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After many different travel vehicles and hundreds of thousands of miles driven I went with a trailer. There are a lot of drawbacks, but in the large picture, it is great.
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ddriver
Trad climber
SLC, UT
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Oct 24, 2018 - 09:43am PT
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the Fet
climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
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Oct 24, 2018 - 09:45am PT
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Definitely trade offs for each approach. Of course if we were rich we could buy one of each.
55 mph is the law, but travel in the right lane with the big rigs and it's almost always 59 mph. You can feel the wind resistance, mpg, and handling really drop after that, so it's a safe, efficient speed. On faster speed limit roads you can generally go up near the regular speed limit without getting pulled over but you're pushing your rig.
So in a van you could get places faster. You could drive a moderately rough road in a van that you wouldn't want to take a trailer down (on a dusty road the trailer gets covered). You can park in a single car spot. You'll get better mpg. You could change your plans and drive on through without having to go back and get a trailer.
In a trailer you have 2 vehicles in 1. The tow rig is still decent as a daily driver. You can unhook and go on rougher roads. Worse mpg with the trailer, but better without. The trailer has more space and amenities, the older I get the more I appreciate the comfort. Less converting bed space to couch space, etc. You can have a real 2 person bed (that can seal the deal right there). It fits 2 people comfortably for long periods of time, or convert the dinette and sleep 2 more if needed. It's nice to have a 4 person dinette to sit at in the evening with guests and eat dinner, play cards, etc. You need to look for two parking spots in a row, so you end up parking farther away.
A van would be good for weekend warriors or a young single person. A trailer would be good for a couple that can spend extended time at each location.
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Topic Author's Reply - Oct 24, 2018 - 09:48am PT
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Been there Jeremy...your time will come.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Oct 24, 2018 - 09:50am PT
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This...
Fuso 4x4 gets 15 mpg.
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JLP
Social climber
The internet
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Oct 24, 2018 - 10:02am PT
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I don't know where you'd bring this w/o it tipping over.
I'd do it for the porch swing, though.
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clinker
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, California
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Oct 24, 2018 - 10:04am PT
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Trailer.
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AP
Trad climber
Calgary
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Oct 24, 2018 - 10:05am PT
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I was heading down south on the I 15 one spring and encountered a Saskatchewan farmer going back home after a winter in Baja.
His main vehicle was a converted grain truck made into an RV with bikes and kayaks on a back deck. This "mothership" was towing a small Toyota truck with camper, the "space shuttle"
Has anyone converted a utility trailer into a travel trailer? It seems that with a window cut into the side, some basic plumbing and a bed a person could have a comfortable cheap unit.
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FRUMY
Trad climber
Bishop,CA
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Oct 24, 2018 - 10:08am PT
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Ca. is one of the only states that has a 55mph limit on trailers. In most states, it is 5 mph below max post speed. Many states have no limit at all.
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Topic Author's Reply - Oct 24, 2018 - 10:10am PT
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I have yet to see much compliance with posted speed limits in California...regardless the type of vehicle.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Oct 24, 2018 - 10:17am PT
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Many states have no limit at all.
Just drive yer IQ and you’ll be fine.
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Topic Author's Reply - Oct 24, 2018 - 10:24am PT
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Damn Reilly...bummer, I’ve always wanted to hit triple digits. Oh well...maybe in my next life.
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splitclimber
climber
Sonoma County
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Oct 24, 2018 - 10:25am PT
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I don't like towing and we get out in the winter a lot where I'd be sketched out to tow a trailer in snow. We have been happy with slide-in pop-up campers.
It's nice to drive the truck camper to a off-road climbing spot and not have to move, but sometimes we find ourselves having to breakdown each morning to drive a bit to a climbing spot or backcountry trailhead.
It is really a trade-off. Would be awesome to have both options some day.
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hooblie
climber
from out where the anecdotes roam
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Oct 24, 2018 - 10:26am PT
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easily deployed. lately, i haven't left home without itbut party f'ing over in the ice and snow
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Don Paul
Social climber
Washington DC
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Oct 24, 2018 - 10:58am PT
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Werner I agree those monster RVs are gross. If the point is to be outdoors then the less you bring, the better.
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Gunkie
Trad climber
Valles Marineris
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Oct 24, 2018 - 11:16am PT
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I just stopped at the 4Runner stage. Sleep and carry everything I need in it. But, I'm young (ish), dumb (est), and full of benadryl to sleep in it.
I loved that stage. Never needed Benadryl to sleep. I loved driving to work on a Friday morning all packed up for the weekend in the Gunks when you could still park on the Warwarsing Turnpike overnight. I'd get up there and have a beer or two with other like-minded climbers who were camping. That was also BITD when Skytop was open to climbing. Would bike out there and climb all day. Or bike out to Millbrook. Good times!
My 1988 4runner BITD.
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DonC
climber
CA
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Oct 24, 2018 - 11:55am PT
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I have a 4Wheel Camper slide-in on a 4x4 Toyota. I like to explore areas like Death Valley and want the option of camping wherever I am at the end of the day. I don't want to leave a trailer somewhere, which may not even be in the direction I continue the next day. My camping is very simple, the only thing typically outside the camper is a chair, so it takes just a few minutes to lower the top and go.
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