Backcountry TT 18/22 vs 23/27?

[strow]

Hello,

I hope I am posting this in the right forum.

I am torn between the single axle 18' cabin (22' OAL) vs the 23' cabin (27' OAL) with tandem axles.

This trailer will be used a lot for hunting and will see a lot of off pavement miles. How much harder is the larger trailer to get around on maintained mountain roads than the shorter 18' trailer?

For back country and boondocking would the tandem axle or single be a better idea?

Thank you!

[Persistent]

I have a 21 foot Dutchman Kodiak Cub. It has one axle with large wheels. I have taken it into tight places and paved mountain roads.

As a general rule shorter and fewer axles is better for tight places. Unpaved mountain roads are even worse. It is not as simple as that, just generally true.

Trailers in general are problematic in those situations. The Road to the Sun in Glacier National Park is forbidden to all trailers and vehicles longer than a pickup truck even though it is paved.

4 feet is four feet. It all depends on the road builders.

[astrocamper]

I would have to believe that a truck camper would be a better solution for serious off road capability. Much easier to turn a truck around when you can't proceed forward. With a trailer you could find yourself in situations where you can't proceed forward or turn around.

If you are only going done roads you have previously scouted without a trailer than you may feel safer about towing the trailer slowly through the rougher roads.

For safety I like the tandem axels to give me a chance to slow down and get off to the side of the road.

My trailer is an Artic Fox22G. It is 24 bumper to ball but I wouldn't take it down rough roads except at a crawl.

[strow]

Thank you both for the replies!

Originally Posted by astrocamper

For safety I like the tandem axels to give me a chance to slow down and get off to the side of the road.
.

Can you explain more about your safety preference for tandem axles?

[Normal_Dave]

For back country hunting, I'd get something like this, and then outfit it to suit the trip. Cargo Craft of Texas builds these off-road "themed" trailers for a dealer in Colorado. Wouldn't take much to finish it out to sleeping quarters, kitchen.

https://www.coloradotrailersinc.com/...er-co-i2443047

Have you looked at Nash or Outdoors RV Backcountry series?
Nash 17K


Or just build your own Cargo Conversion, like I did. All 1" welded steel tubing walls and ceiling studs, standard leaf springs for extra ground clearance, trailer floor has ~20" ground clearance. Nearly bulletproof, I've taken it down some pretty aggressive forest service roads, mountain roads, favorite kayak access points.
Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers • View topic - 4 kids+ 6 bikes+ 4 kayaks+ 1 canoe+ camp stuff=7x16 CTC

Tandem axle, if you have a flat on one tire, the other three could "carry" the trailer to a safe spot to make the repair, if their is no damage to the trailer. You can also pull one wheel onto a block/ramp, and change the tire on the other one with no jack.

Tandems tend to smooth out the bumps, since they sort of "caterpillar" over rough spots instead of the bounce of the single axle. Tandems do turn a bit wider, and "drag" a wheel in a tight turn/back, but I chose tandems even though I didn't need the weight capacity. They just ride better, and seem more stable on the road. I've gotten into some really tight spots with my setup, and have managed to get out, (nearly got hemmed in at a certain Taco Bell one time... only alternate exit was the drive-thru, and that one wasn't happening).

Example of tandem axle trailer, and the connection of front/rear axles.


So more tire cost, more maintenance, but to me well worth it. I also like that they back up straighter, easier than a single axle, for those times you venture down the road, only to find a tree across it and the open spot is about 100 yards back! Now if the trailer isn't too heavy, you could un-hitch and turn the single axle trailer around, probably not happening with a tandem.

This guy has one of my favorites, simple, effective been running it over 9 years to support a fly fishing habit:
Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers • View topic - 6X12 Haulmark "Fly Fishing Camper".--UPDATED!