Opus 15...

[EddyArnold]

For our family of 5 a pop-up camper works really well... Not as nice, but easy to tow and enough room for everyone... Just something to consider

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[dcmdon]

For our family of 5 a pop-up camper works really well... Not as nice, but easy to tow and enough room for everyone... Just something to consider

But you don't even need to go that light.

Something like this is 2500 lbs empty.
https://www.roulottesprolite.com/produit/CLASSIC/

 

[cmb396]

Lets assume that your truck is rated to tow 7000 lbs.

Do you really think is going to perform well off road in an environment that is too difficult for a regular trailer.

IMHO - that trailer has a lot of stuff that most people wouldn't want or use. And that stuff makes it very heavy for its size.

Sure rugged is good. But if you could get a regular trailer of similar size that weighs 1500 lbs less, it would do much better with the gladiator.

Frankly if you think you want to tow 6000 lbs off road over stuff so rugged that you need a special off road trailer, then you bought the wrong truck.

I agree that it is overkill for what "most" of us will do offroad, like I said in the original post. It's an unfortunate caveat to the unit, but not a horrible option to have "if" needed.
I never said I wanted to, or needed to drag a 6k lb trailer over extreme terrain. I just said it was a smaller unit that checks all of my boxes after selling my 5th wheel.
Truth be known, if I wanted to, I'd hook it up to my modded Superduty on 37's and drag it anywhere I pleased.

 

[cmb396]

Seems like a really good point. Maybe reevaluate youre intended use. That TT is SUPER cool looking, but may be over kill for %90 of your intended trips.

just as example. My TT had the “off roa” options as part of the package I got to camp year round. I know full well thats not how i intend to use it…not going boondocking or off roading with it. But I got the under belly insulation I wanted.

So maybe really evaluate how you’re going to use it and that may guide you into in a different direction.

What is your tt?

 

[cmb396]

For our family of 5 a pop-up camper works really well... Not as nice, but easy to tow and enough room for everyone... Just something to consider

Those are very nice, and I have tried every which way but loose (for you Clint Eastwood fans) to talk myself into something like that. Have looked at the Evolution 2 in particular, as well as the OP4. Biggest downside to them is my wife wants an enclosed shower and head.
Some of the places we go to trout fish and mountain biking/hiking DO NOT have bath houses, and are boondock camping. Shes cool with that for about 2 days and thats about it.

 

[dcmdon]

I agree that it is overkill for what "most" of us will do offroad, like I said in the original post. It's an unfortunate caveat to the unit, but not a horrible option to have "if" needed.
I never said I wanted to, or needed to drag a 6k lb trailer over extreme terrain. I just said it was a smaller unit that checks all of my boxes after selling my 5th wheel.
Truth be known, if I wanted to, I'd hook it up to my modded Superduty on 37's and drag it anywhere I pleased.

I understand the emphasis on Most. I take that as implying that it might not be overkill for what you intend to do.

And that's fine.

But if you are going to get into really gnarly stuff and need such a tough trailer. All I'm saying is it might not be such a great idea to tow it with a truck that will be close to its maximum tow capacity.

A tow capacity that was set on the road. Not off road. I've probably got a lot less experience than you off road. But I've got decades towing stuff. And generally its not fun to tow at a vehicle's capacity.

Sure its safe. Its fine. But its usually not pleasant. For it to be pleasant, you want a little head room. If you already have a full sized truck, that would tow that trailer with ease.

 

[EddyArnold]

I have seen some with a shower... Not very fancy, but with a actual curtain and shower head

 

[Gren71]

What is your tt?

Forest river wolf pup 18toBL

oddly enough we’re actually on our first trip of the season right now. Virginia Beach, cold but fun!

 

[Gren71]

Some of the places we go to trout fish and mountain biking/hiking DO NOT have bath houses, and are boondock camping. Shes cool with that for about 2 days and thats about it.

in the army we used to just bring baby wipes and hit the “pits and bits” when we were on mission for a prolonged time haha maybe suggest that to her ?

 

[cmb396]

in the army we used to just bring baby wipes and hit the “pits and bits” when we were on mission for a prolonged time haha maybe suggest that to her ?

I tell her PTA, that’s all it takes!!

 

[Outside Reality Check]

I was eyeballing the OP15 too, but eliminated it from my list because it was too close to MAX limits. I am now eyeballing the RKS Purpose, a square drop with a full sized stand up shower and REAL toilet. The roof weight capacity is 1000lb, so RTT on top for the kids, there is an exterior port to run ducting up to the tent for heating. It's offroad capable too. The more I look at it the more I'm liking it. I Have not pulled the trigger yet, but may in the next 6 months. I'm still keeping an open mind.

 

[Caraholic]

First off with years of heavy equipment ops and consumer towing-
your mods can severely affect your towing. Your tongue weight, gvwr, gawr, then there’s the frontal wind resistance area… then there’s the trailer gvwr….ect ect. There’s a massive towing thread.
you have a lot going on there. Can you possibly do it stock even?
maybe with no one but you, because you’ll likely be over. This matters when the accident investigation happens. when insurance gets involved. There’s maybe some hard words in here but not without good relevance.
in the raw you have factory numbers before mods. Even then, you don’t wanna run into your max capacity because while you can tow flat and straigh, the real world is littered with turns obstacles and other drivers.
I would love to see you actually be able to do this but it’s really really on the crappy side of the numbers.
additionally even if the numbers work- will the DRIVEABILITY be what doesn’t freak you out? Remember , braking, steering, cooling and general platform stability are of utmost importance not just can I go straight and stop straight.
toyota towed the space shuttle with a tundra. They didn’t go very far or fast so use that to measure what all these numbers do and don’t mean. Would I ride with you in that set up? Meh…. Likely not. Jm2c

 

[cmb396]

First off with years of heavy equipment ops and consumer towing-
your mods can severely affect your towing. Your tongue weight, gvwr, gawr, then there’s the frontal wind resistance area… then there’s the trailer gvwr….ect ect. There’s a massive towing thread.
you have a lot going on there. Can you possibly do it stock even?
maybe with no one but you, because you’ll likely be over. This matters when the accident investigation happens. when insurance gets involved. There’s maybe some hard words in here but not without good relevance.
in the raw you have factory numbers before mods. Even then, you don’t wanna run into your max capacity because while you can tow flat and straigh, the real world is littered with turns obstacles and other drivers.
I would love to see you actually be able to do this but it’s really really on the crappy side of the numbers.
additionally even if the numbers work- will the DRIVEABILITY be what doesn’t freak you out? Remember , braking, steering, cooling and general platform stability are of utmost importance not just can I go straight and stop straight.
toyota towed the space shuttle with a tundra. They didn’t go very far or fast so use that to measure what all these numbers do and don’t mean. Would I ride with you in that set up? Meh…. Likely not. Jm2c

Appreciate the input @Caraholic! This was the sort of opinion I was looking for! I've hauled trailers all over the east from the 5th wheels I've had, 4 horse slant horse trailer loaded, my gooseneck with heavy equipment. Granted that was all with a very capable truck.
When evaluating the numbers for this unit and the jeep, I knew it would be pushing the envelope, which is why I came here to ask. Thanks again for your opinion.

I was eyeballing the OP15 too, but eliminated it from my list because it was too close to MAX limits. I am now eyeballing the RKS Purpose, a square drop with a full sized stand up shower and REAL toilet. The roof weight capacity is 1000lb, so RTT on top for the kids, there is an exterior port to run ducting up to the tent for heating. It's offroad capable too. The more I look at it the more I'm liking it. I Have not pulled the trigger yet, but may in the next 6 months. I'm still keeping an open mind.

That is pretty slick! But why are they so damn expensive?!? Very nice set up tho!


It dawned upon me last night, a friend nearby has a Black Series HQ15, and a JTR set up very similar to mine. He has pulled his HQ15 from WV to Moab and back as well as all over the state. He says it does fine with use of equalizer bar for better stabilization. He's going to let me pull it to see how it does. Comparing the specs, the black series is about 600lbs heavier than the Opus. If it seems to sketchy for a short pull locally, it definitely will on longer trips.

 

[redrider]

Seems a lot of folks think it is OK to second guess the Engineers and try to make a toy truck do big truck things.

 

[Labswine]

Those are very nice, and I have tried every which way but loose (for you Clint Eastwood fans) to talk myself into something like that. Have looked at the Evolution 2 in particular, as well as the OP4. Biggest downside to them is my wife wants an enclosed shower and head.
Some of the places we go to trout fish and mountain biking/hiking DO NOT have bath houses, and are boondock camping. Shes cool with that for about 2 days and thats about it.

My Wife's idea of roughing it is a Holiday Inn Express

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