Trailer versus Truck mounted Flippac

[thebrassnuckles]

What are the benefits of each?

I have a FP that I am trying to decide what to do with.

I want to mount it on my 4runner, but its a ton of work, when I could easily toss it on a long bed toyota trailer, and call it done, still leaving my 4runner in the current state.

Pros of trailer mounted FP:

Less work
More space
Dont have to pack up if i want to go wheelin
still can easily remove the top of the 4runner in summer
can still use the 4runner bed as a bed for hauling stuff.
still use the 4runner in current config for solo trips.


Cons of trailer:
More weight on the 4banger
less mobility
less cool


pros of 4runner FP:
Flippping cool
More mobile
Less strain on the 4banger

cons of FP 4runner:
more work
less space
no more bed for hauling stuff
more difficult to remove hard top
pack up camp for I want to do anything like trail runs of store runs.more of a permanent set up.


anyone else have any more input?

thanks

[Titanpat57]

I think the FP on a cool trailer(lightweight being a priority) would be a great addition. If your going to throw 33's on the trailer and cause more weight and drag, than I think you'll be taking a step backwards.

I would design the trailer with a fiberglass nose, and open it over the back of the trailer. Once you snap a changing room on under the sleeping area, you have a sweet setup.

Get the trailer to where you're going, unhitch, and you have a awesome base camp to go and play with the 4RNR.

Good luck, Pat

[thebrassnuckles]

well I think for tires, I'd be running 32's to match the 4runner.

I have a sweet diagram of a awning that opens up fron the front of the FP to all the way around the back giving 180degrees of coverage and includes a stove jack for heat.. If i did the trailer I could do like you said and have 360 degrees and more space.

the tongue of the trailer would most likely hold a toolbox, and fuel and water storage as well.
I think for now, I will search for a trailer, I'd lke to have it on a similar body style toyota bed trailer, but if need be I could design and build a lightweight trailer to set it on.

another bous of trailer mounted FP would be the ability to have a roof rack on the 4runner for solo trips, or extra storage..

[mtnbike28]

I don't know if this will help you. Each person travels their own way.
I love my trailer when I am in camp.
But I find it a pain otherwise... I have done three two week trips with it and even with that much time, the trailer is a pain to me: going through small towns, getting gas at 1 pump stations, parking at small road side diners, etc.
Not to mention the huge hit in MPG....

Twice this year I have had to unhook it on tight trails when I had to turn around (not because of the trailer, but the trail) pushing off the side and SQUEEZING by.
One great thing about the Conqueror Compact is, it is light enough to turn around by hand on a trail... even by myself.

When I finally get to do my Continental Divide trip, I will be leaving the trailer behind. Looking at videos of the passes, makes me believe it would be a huge liability and stresser to me.

My trips are mostly point to point, so I can not drop it off and go play.

That said, if you go the trailer route... build it light!

hth

[Bergger]

I thought about getting a flippac but ended up going back to a trailer after I sold my previous one. I love my trailer. I can take it anywhere I can get my truck. For me setting up camp then being able to drive the truck to various trailheads for climbing or fishing without having to pack anything up make the towing of the trailer worth it. It's so easy to tow anyway. I rarely only stay put for one night but if I do I don't even unhook the trailer from the truck. I also like having all my stuff in the trailer ready to go and stored in the garage. A trailer is more versatile in my opinion than a truck mounted platform but most importantly it works for me. If you plan on moving camp daily for most of your trips then a truck mounted platform may be better.

[walking eagle]

I say you send me the flippac and the 4 runner topper and I'll match the two for ya'.

I may have suggested this before, but if you put the flippac on the 4 runner, you could also make a 4 runner bed trailer and have the ability to switch back and forth, best of both worlds.

[Runt]

The best answer will be based on the way you travel. Here's a little background on how we ended up where we are today...

After having owned both and camping with lots of folks with every configuration imaginable...I'm sticking with the flip pac for vehicle based travel for now. Reason? We do a lot of solo point to point travel in places where we do not see other people. Trailers are great, but they are a danger/risk multiplier on difficult routes. That kind of killed my love affair with the trailer. I would have been happy with my backpacking tent or in the bed of the truck under a shell, but my wife missed the comfort and space the trailer offered after returning to these more primitive camping modes.

Some observations...
Our camps set up and break down really fast compared to our trailer and RTT friends. It definately takes under 5 minutes to stow and secure everything for a day of driving, depending on how big our yardsale is. Relocating camp short distances can be done without putting anything away in some cases. If things get really bad and you need to get out in a hurry, two people can break camp in under 2 minutes using your sleeping bags and a bed net to secure loose cargo.

I can take the flip pac safely over obstacles that would be extremely difficult or impossible to take a trailer on with little added risk to the base vehicle.

Trailer based campers tend to run laps around their rigs or end up running around a lot to take care of common camping tasks. The layout of most trailer systems has the camper moving on arcs (or long arcs if the trailer is connected) to accomplish tasks. A flip pac or RTT on the other hand tends to be a smaller footprint with a more linear flow. Laugh all you want, but these are the little annoyances that tend to get people commenting around camp. I'm a landscape architect, so I tend to observe people's use of space and how to make it better.

One more bonus to the flip pac mounted on your, you can still tow a trailer or use the bed of the truck with it mounted. That increases utility around the house and for other outdor activities, like hauling a boat or other toys out into the wild.

Well said.....very well said. Right down to the point. Trailer vs flppack...you want alot of effort or KISS approach with comfort still included. I do not have a flip pack but I do have a trailer....a very usefull trailer that most would drool over and do not want to own another. Great trailer but I like simple....do you? That is waht you have to ask your self.