Off-road trailer

[Polymath]

We used a lunette ring on ours. The trailer side rotates 360 so it doesn't matter if the trail pitches from side to side. The truck can be pitched left and trailer pitched right and it won't matter. You won't bind your hitch ball like a normal travel trailer will on a rugged trail.

 

[kennyw]

We used a lunette ring on ours. The trailer side rotates 360 so it doesn't matter if the trail pitches from side to side. The truck can be pitched left and trailer pitched right and it won't matter. You won't bind your hitch ball like a normal travel trailer will on a rugged trail.

View attachment 508098

The only downside to the Lunette ring is they rattle a lot compared to the modern offroad hitch that acts more like a u-joint.

 

[Polymath]

I was expecting some rattle too, but I can't say i've ever heard it while driving on pavement. A good bump offroad will make it bump around a bit, but a standard ball hitch will do that as well. quick stops and starts can also get it to move a bit but it's not easy to notice. I think the only time I do notice is during back/forth parking maneuvers when the windows are down and i'm pivoting every which way to get it parked in the best not-quite-level spot possible.

 

[ktmoutfront]

Why do these things cost so much money? Is it just me or are the ridiculously priced?

Lawyers and liability insurance. And since they do not sell a lot of them, the price needs to absorb that cost also.

 

[Polymath]

For reference, I bought the old popup for $2k, and spent around $4k on steel, the axle, wheels, tires, jacks, propane lines, paint, harnesses, the winch (to raise the top) and a LOT of miscellaneous other repairs and upgrades that had to be done. That includes several thousand paid to my buddy for his labor, without which I would never have finished this project.

WAAAAAY cheaper than paying 10-15k on what is structurally an inferior product. All you miss out on is some creature comforts of the newer models. All in, these old popups are a far easier project to tackle than restring a car.