In my other trailer thread, I made mention of having a larger cargo trailer on order:
viewtopic.php?p=849464#p849464
The idea was to buy a 7x16 to replace my 6x12, using the 7x16 as my motorcycle hauler, plus a place to haul extra junk for camping trips, or going to events such as Overland Expo, which I went to last year with TenaciousTJ. On that trip, my 6x12 was jammed with stuff - not even close to weight capacity, just full of STUFF, plus my motorcycle.
The 7x16 would be a perfect size for longer distance trips with my motorcycle, plus the junk that I took to Overland Expo last year. I could haul the bike and use it as my alternate form of transportation when set up at a "base camp" location. I'd been thinking about this a lot over the last few weeks, and even during the fall last year.
BUT, there's a drawback of having "only the motorcycle" as ground transportation on trips.... you can't haul groceries on it, it's not the greatest form of transportation when doing exploration or sightseeing "solo", nor is it ideal in hot climates, or foul weather.
Prior to ordering the 7x16, and even last year, I thought of a bigger enclosed trailer, one that would haul the Jeep plus my other stuff. The thing I kept coming back to is I don't want a BAT (big arse trailer - new acronym Inline6 came up with) when going on my local bike trips - a small trailer works far better for the places I go. In fact, I think even back in Spring of 2010 when I bought my 6x12, I contemplated the BAT concept. I finally concluded the small trailer concept would work far better for what the trailer would get use the most for: motorcycling camping trips with my truck and camper. The 6x12 replaced a 6x10 I owned for 17 years!
Multiple trailers was not even a consideration back then, money wasn't falling off the money tree at the time either.
About 3 weeks ago I ordered the 7x16 and planned on selling the 6x12. A week or less after ordering the 7x16 I bought the 5x8 mentioned in the thread above. The 5x8 would become my local use trailer for doing the automotive swap meets and gun shows I've been going to. The 7x16 would surely work for that too, but I was already tired of always swapping junk in the current trailer when switching from camping mode to swap meet mode.... that's the reason I bought the 5x8.
Yes, I'm rambling.... :lildevil:
Over the last two weeks or so, I keep rethinking (uhh... OVER-thinking) the logic of buying the new 7x16.. does it really makes sense to spend the mount of money it's going to cost to buy the new 7x16, and have it optioned out with everything available?
So, I've been periodically using one of the "search all of craigslist" search engines and looking at http://www.racingjunk.com for 7x16 or similar trailers. The cost of the new one I have on order isn't out of reach, but holy crap it's expensive.
Then I start thinking again... Even though I'd already axed the idea of a BAT, I was starting to revisit the BAT concept again... yes, this has just come up within the last week or so... the 7x16 was going to be a pretty well decked out trailer, and due to it's smaller size, and huge level of customizations inside, I started to think it might be a hard trailer to sell should I want a BAT at a later date. Think "race trailer" interior, but only big enough to haul motorcycles. The whole BAT concept was NOT in my head when I sold the flattie two weeks ago.
...and then I keep coming back to: Having the Jeep on long trips and being able to use it as my sightseeing rig / grocery getter will open up far more options for my travels.
Having the Jeep as the ground transportation was possible with the flatbed, but it rules out hauling other stuff with me, which is why I took my 6x12 to Overland Expo last year. Yes, I've seriously been over thinking / over analyzing this. :evilbat:
There was a time where it didn't make sense to have multiple trailers...... that day has come and gone. With the variety of things I do, it's come to the point where there just isn't a "one size trailer for all purposes." :lildevil:
I starting searching all of craigslist again, looking at other sizes of trailers...
Last weekend I found a 8.5x20 in another state, then promptly forgot I had sent an email about it, until I found a reply on Tuesday when I checked the alternate email account I use for CL stuff. That's when I started re-analyzing everything I'd already over-analyzed. The ultimate conclusion is: it just makes more sense to not spend huge $$$ on a NEW 7x16 like I want. Used ones that size don't come up very often in the "race trailer" style that I want and what I wanted in the new one might be a hard sell if I decide a BAT is needed at a later date..... so I've decided to buy a BAT now and be done with it.
The 8.5x20 is way more trailer at far less cost. It even has a roof A/C in it. It's highly unlikely I will outgrow this one, and it has already reached it's "depreciation" level.
Yep, there's not a "one size fits all needs" trailer for my activities.
I will keep the 6x12 and use it for bike trips.... hmm, maybe I need to paint the walls in it now. Dragging it around on my biking trips, the truck acts like the trailer is not even back there. Even though at times I wish it were bigger, it works well due to its small size, which also make it easier to get in to some of the free camping areas I found this past summer. A 7x14 would be nice though... :lildevil: But I need to quit buying trailers.
The 5x8 will be my local swap meet rig.
The BAT will be the long distance trip rig.
The little flatbed aluminum trailer I have will probably be put up for sale soon.
Yes, I have a sickness... too many trailers. :evilbat:
viewtopic.php?p=849464#p849464
The idea was to buy a 7x16 to replace my 6x12, using the 7x16 as my motorcycle hauler, plus a place to haul extra junk for camping trips, or going to events such as Overland Expo, which I went to last year with TenaciousTJ. On that trip, my 6x12 was jammed with stuff - not even close to weight capacity, just full of STUFF, plus my motorcycle.
The 7x16 would be a perfect size for longer distance trips with my motorcycle, plus the junk that I took to Overland Expo last year. I could haul the bike and use it as my alternate form of transportation when set up at a "base camp" location. I'd been thinking about this a lot over the last few weeks, and even during the fall last year.
BUT, there's a drawback of having "only the motorcycle" as ground transportation on trips.... you can't haul groceries on it, it's not the greatest form of transportation when doing exploration or sightseeing "solo", nor is it ideal in hot climates, or foul weather.
Prior to ordering the 7x16, and even last year, I thought of a bigger enclosed trailer, one that would haul the Jeep plus my other stuff. The thing I kept coming back to is I don't want a BAT (big arse trailer - new acronym Inline6 came up with) when going on my local bike trips - a small trailer works far better for the places I go. In fact, I think even back in Spring of 2010 when I bought my 6x12, I contemplated the BAT concept. I finally concluded the small trailer concept would work far better for what the trailer would get use the most for: motorcycling camping trips with my truck and camper. The 6x12 replaced a 6x10 I owned for 17 years!
Multiple trailers was not even a consideration back then, money wasn't falling off the money tree at the time either.
About 3 weeks ago I ordered the 7x16 and planned on selling the 6x12. A week or less after ordering the 7x16 I bought the 5x8 mentioned in the thread above. The 5x8 would become my local use trailer for doing the automotive swap meets and gun shows I've been going to. The 7x16 would surely work for that too, but I was already tired of always swapping junk in the current trailer when switching from camping mode to swap meet mode.... that's the reason I bought the 5x8.
Yes, I'm rambling.... :lildevil:
Over the last two weeks or so, I keep rethinking (uhh... OVER-thinking) the logic of buying the new 7x16.. does it really makes sense to spend the mount of money it's going to cost to buy the new 7x16, and have it optioned out with everything available?
So, I've been periodically using one of the "search all of craigslist" search engines and looking at http://www.racingjunk.com for 7x16 or similar trailers. The cost of the new one I have on order isn't out of reach, but holy crap it's expensive.
Then I start thinking again... Even though I'd already axed the idea of a BAT, I was starting to revisit the BAT concept again... yes, this has just come up within the last week or so... the 7x16 was going to be a pretty well decked out trailer, and due to it's smaller size, and huge level of customizations inside, I started to think it might be a hard trailer to sell should I want a BAT at a later date. Think "race trailer" interior, but only big enough to haul motorcycles. The whole BAT concept was NOT in my head when I sold the flattie two weeks ago.
...and then I keep coming back to: Having the Jeep on long trips and being able to use it as my sightseeing rig / grocery getter will open up far more options for my travels.
Having the Jeep as the ground transportation was possible with the flatbed, but it rules out hauling other stuff with me, which is why I took my 6x12 to Overland Expo last year. Yes, I've seriously been over thinking / over analyzing this. :evilbat:
There was a time where it didn't make sense to have multiple trailers...... that day has come and gone. With the variety of things I do, it's come to the point where there just isn't a "one size trailer for all purposes." :lildevil:
I starting searching all of craigslist again, looking at other sizes of trailers...
Last weekend I found a 8.5x20 in another state, then promptly forgot I had sent an email about it, until I found a reply on Tuesday when I checked the alternate email account I use for CL stuff. That's when I started re-analyzing everything I'd already over-analyzed. The ultimate conclusion is: it just makes more sense to not spend huge $$$ on a NEW 7x16 like I want. Used ones that size don't come up very often in the "race trailer" style that I want and what I wanted in the new one might be a hard sell if I decide a BAT is needed at a later date..... so I've decided to buy a BAT now and be done with it.
The 8.5x20 is way more trailer at far less cost. It even has a roof A/C in it. It's highly unlikely I will outgrow this one, and it has already reached it's "depreciation" level.
Yep, there's not a "one size fits all needs" trailer for my activities.
I will keep the 6x12 and use it for bike trips.... hmm, maybe I need to paint the walls in it now. Dragging it around on my biking trips, the truck acts like the trailer is not even back there. Even though at times I wish it were bigger, it works well due to its small size, which also make it easier to get in to some of the free camping areas I found this past summer. A 7x14 would be nice though... :lildevil: But I need to quit buying trailers.
The 5x8 will be my local swap meet rig.
The BAT will be the long distance trip rig.
The little flatbed aluminum trailer I have will probably be put up for sale soon.
Yes, I have a sickness... too many trailers. :evilbat: