I think a big question here that I didn't see asked (unless I missed it) was what exactly are you missing from your old setup?

The only thing I can think of would be cargo space since if you already had a trailer from before you would be using that.

If that's the case why not look into roof racks and/or hitch mounted cargo trays?

something like this...

 

I have a 2 door so struggle with space even more than you. Its amazing what you can fit when you have no choice. I ended up buying an old Viking popup camper for next to nothing and ended up redoing everything. It has very little ground clearance right now but I am going to be putting a leaf spring setup on it so I should have plenty of clearance. They are very light as well. The 2 door can only tow 2k.

 

Roof racks and cargo trays are good options as long as the down sides of there use still fit your needs. Cargo racks increase your height and COG and cargo trays decrease your angle of departure. If those down sides are not an issue for how/where you drive then they are great options.

 

I do quite a bit of camping with my pops, he has a full 5th wheel camper that he pulls, but has no room for larg items. I meet him out there, I pull my 14 foot tilt bet trailer that normally has a 4wheeler, a 3room popup tent, a generator, a smoker, and random other stuff on the longer trips. Short ones I can fit most stuff in my jeep (4 door). I really want to get a smaller trailer for gas mileage and easier to pull offload. If I could find one that could fit the generator and 4 wheeler, I could make due on the other things. My goal is to get one like the survival type eventually for solo camping and hauling his stuff. Man some of those are nice!!! Getting that off the ground tent would be very nice since I end up on the river quite a bit.

 

I've been exploring some options and so far have purchased a hitch cargo tray which is also mountable (via flat "U" bolts) to my roof rails on my hard top. The rails/rack system and tray were all purchased on Craigslist and I have under $250 wrapped up in it.



I also purchased this almost like new Wells Cargo Mini Wagon a couple days ago on CL for $850 for my move from DC to Denver. It has plenty of room but not sure of the off-road potential. It would be great to carry gear to a base camp. I envision securing my freedom panels and other gear in it and chaining my hard top to it so I can run around topless. Heck, you could sleep in it in a pinch.

Has anyone heard of a person beefing up a small trailer like this. Skid plates, larger tires and perhaps an articulating hitch would be a start. It's got a GVWR of 2200lb with a Torflex suspension. I figure for off road I would keep my payload under 400lb (plus 600 curb weight) and may get some wheel adapters to run factory rims and tires which would free up needing a spare since my Jeep has one already.









It pulls great empty at highway speeds, but the HP is lacking when loaded heavily.*


I was able to fit all this crap in it.

 

The Wells Cargo might look good with a spring over and bigger tires...

 

Love my set up tows easily. uphill takes alittle more. i get 12 mpg when i tow.

 

For those that have had theM101A2 trailer, has anyone tried to paint the canopy on these things? If so how did you do it and what did you use?