Anyone Towing a Teardrop?

[dtech]

Well I found this projecting continued growth - it's a big market, while at Moab a couple in their early 60s took the campsite by us, they had a Dodge travel van towing a cargo trailer, the next day out of the trailer comes a Razr and they proceeded to don the garb - suits, goggles, bandanas - everything looked brand spanking new and when talking to them later it was their 1st time out - they didn't sound thrilled about riding around eating dust.
last year I was in an area fishing , dirt roads leading to lakes and noticed 2 of the old style ATVs at the lake, packing up as I was leaving, the dirt road to the lake was 5 miles long, turning on to main dirt road one of the ATVs comes flying by me, nearly out of control fish tailing. Driving the speed limit I decided not to let his buddy pass me - I was kicking up enormous clouds of dust, everytime I slowed down a bit the guy would speed up in attempt to pass me and I'd accelerate, raising more dust, this went on for at least 10 miles, my wife were completely astounded that anyone would eat that much dust as the guy stayed close behind me, I concluded that some driving those things have to be brain dead.

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[rang19ca]

Some of the side by sides cost upwards of $40,000. Then people add monster sound systems on them. Might as well just drive the 4x4 truck.

 

[dtech]

Some of the side by sides cost upwards of $40,000. Then people add monster sound systems on them. Might as well just drive the 4x4 truck.

yeah I posted on such an experience a few yrs back, wife and I hiked about 5 miles to a remote lake on a road that was rocky, rutted and a lot of high areas, never saw pickups or jeeps on it but we fishing the lake, enjoying the solitude - the only ones there but we began to hear music blaring off in the distance, progressively getting louder and eventually saw a side by with 4 overweight occupants swilling beer and blaring the music , on the hike out we noticed beer cans littering the road that we hadn't noticed on the hike in . A number of mtn towns in CO no longer allow those things on their streets owing to the rowdy, obnoxious and often intoxicated people driving them. I'd rather hike as long as I'm able vs riding in one of those things.

 

[jflogerzi]

biggest thing is to get an adjustable drop hitch to find optimum height

 

[dtech]

Some of the side by sides cost upwards of $40,000. Then people add monster sound systems on them. Might as well just drive the 4x4 truck.

I do see a lot of them being used on roads that a truck, jeep or even some cars would handle, I remember last year camped at Big Meadows in CO and a gent likely in his late70s or early 80s pulls in with a massive motor home towing a side by, I saw him several times just driving around the campground in it with his wife, I doubt that he'd venture onto the dedicated narrow OHV trails, some are challenging and suited to side bys or dirt bikes. But I guess he was enjoying himself, I think some buy side bys as a me too driven purchase.

 

[AzScorpion]

Thought provoking question - is the rooftop tent craze on the decline ? When I was in Moab a few weeks back only recall seeing two and I saw a good variety of varying camp setups.

I continue to be amazed at how many people are towing Razors and other side bys and how many places rent those things and how many of my neighbors have one, my perilous prediction - give it a few more yrs and those things will be widely available on the used market at steep discounts.

We're in a 55+ community (the average age here is 72) and I see more Razors and side x sides here than I did when we lived up in Goodyear. Besides golf carts I see a lot of my neighbors with them and many on trailers here. There is a lot of open desert down here and I have access to some really nice trails just across from our main gate which is only 1/2 mile away. You can drive them on the road here and the registration & insurance is cheap,IIRC around $200/yr. I told Annie I'm keeping my eye out for a used one because I'm sure they'll have been well taken care of, low mileage and probably never been above 25-30 mph. lol

 

[dtech]

it is interesting - going back to a recent discussion on here about the US economy and whether people are well off - many older folks are doing well as evidenced by the ability to travel, buy toys like side bys., but for many younger folks they have far less disposable income and rely on credit. I saw something recently comparing today vs 50 yrs back and it did mention how families are smaller but houses have grown a lot in size, you see this in neighbors built post WWII - lots of modestly sized homes, contrast that with many recent developments - multiple story large dwellings and in places like Denver built so close to one another that could pass as narrow slot canyons.

 

[AzScorpion]

it is interesting - going back to a recent discussion on here about the US economy and whether people are well off - many older folks are doing well as evidenced by the ability to travel, buy toys like side bys., but for many younger folks they have far less disposable income and rely on credit. I saw something recently comparing today vs 50 yrs back and it did mention how families are smaller but houses have grown a lot in size, you see this in neighbors built post WWII - lots of modestly sized homes, contrast that with many recent developments - multiple story large dwellings and in places like Denver built so close to one another that could pass as narrow slot canyons.

Being in construction for 42 years I've seen these changes in housing over the years. Most older homes were a modest 3 bed I bath (sometimes 2 bath) home and use to be around 1,200-1,600 sq ft. Now the average is around 2,400 sq ft while most are much larger than that. It seems like everyone now needs 1,000 sq ft per person and anything less is unlivable for them.

Another thing to consider too is us older folks never had all this technology growing up. There was no need for 4-5 different streaming services, a new cell phone every 2-3 years, delivery services and don't get me started on tattoos. Back then the only ones you'd see with them were either bikers or service men where now everyone seems to be inked up from head to toe. I was in a discussion with someone once who said they'd never be able to retire and will be working until they drop. He was inked from head to toe and I said "you're wearing your retirement" to which he looked at me clueless. Keeping up with the Joneses is more important than living within their means. Sadly most don't think about retirement when they're young (they just live for the moment) and how much compounding can accumulate wealth. Too many make a lifetime of bad choices then cry poor me.

 

[TJC]

My experience has been most folks start off modestly, barely getting by. If you bright and work hard, you work your way through life living well within your means, and start to save substantially by 30. Pay the house off and get and stay out of debt. By 50 you should be saving a large percentage of what you make, as you figure out stuff is simply stuff... and who needs more stuff!

But there is the other end of things where people immediately spend everything they make, borrow, beg from responsible family members, and /or inherit. And expect to live like that forever. I have family who are poor and will always be poor. I have other who earned far more than me, and still beg family for $$ they don't need.

It's a mindset.

Personally, we are fine, and we give when we see a need, but we have learned to discern need from want, and act accordingly.

 

[bostonburner]

I have a hiker trailers midrange deluxe, they replaced it with a different model but it's a lifted version of their midrange trailer. I got the 5x9 and the only regret is not getting the 5x10 for a little extra storage. My ranger tows it like it's not even there, to the point where I don't even see a hit on milage if I stick to 55. The biggest benefit I see with the small size is I can tow it almost anywhere I can drive my truck. I've put around 10-15k miles on it since I've got it with zero issues.

 

[MXGOLF]

I prefer to be able to stand up in my living quarters. This is my new one just got in November. Killer deal. Brand new but a year old. Saved about $10,000. This one has Solar, AC, Microwave which my old soft sided one did not have. It also has two batteries and two propane tanks plus the storage area up front. It's awesome. Oh is also sets up in minutes where as my old soft sided one takes 45 minutes or more.

 

[Ranger X]

That's good to hear. I was wondering if you were going to pull the trigger and purchase one.

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On the way home from General RV in Salisbury NC - had to stop and get some lunch, not at Dick’s btw

 

[SquamishPoacher]

I pull a homemade tear drop that weighs in at 1200 lbs. You cannot even tell its back there other than the MPG drops from 24 to 20 at highway speeds.

 

[Trustable]

I tow an intech flyer explore which is between the size of a teardrop and a travel trailer. The living space is 10 feet long, 5.5 feet wide, and 5.5 feet tall with no plumbing of any kind and an outdoor kitchen. It weighs around 2500 lbs with a hitch weight of around 400 lbs fully loaded. It tows easy! No problems of any kind. I use tow/haul mode and give myself 20% ish more room to stop. No weight distribution hitch yet.

How do you like camping in it? I’ve been eying either that one or the one that is a a slot beneath it to double as a utility and camper.

 

[FoD]

We're in a 55+ community (the average age here is 72) and I see more Razors .... I told Annie I'm keeping my eye out for a used one because I'm sure they'll have been well taken care of, low mileage and probably never been above 25-30 mph. lol

Dave and Annie and a few friends checking trails for OOS* minons

*Out Of State

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