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Truck VS trailer

  • Jeep + dedicated truck

    Votes: 29 42.0%
  • Jeep + 4x8 trailer

    Votes: 40 58.0%

viability of a trailer vs dedicated pickup

13K views 42 replies 36 participants last post by  mjhjeepdude 
#1 ·
I'm going to preemptively say that I probably already know the answer I'm going to get since I'm asking this on a jeep forum...


I currently have a 4 door pickup that is about 10 months from being 100% paid off. It's a midsize so has a payload of around 1500lbs. I've used the hell out of the bed for hauling things like mulch, dirt, lawn furniture, mattresses, etc. You name it, I've probably hauled it. It's served its purpose for me as a home owner.

With that said, I'd really like my next vehicle to be a 4 dr 2016 JK. I've test driven them and have always wanted a jeep. I have 2 options right now. I can either pay off this truck and keep it as a dedicated truck and then go buy a JK with no trade-in. With this option, I wind up with 2 vehicles...the truck plus the JK. The other option is to trade in the truck and get a JK and then purchase a 4x8 or so trailer to replace the pickup. This would give me $2-3k of positive equity in a trade. I would wind up with 1 vehicle plus a trailer.

In your experience with jeeps, is it better to have a dedicated pickup? or jeep + trailer. The miles are getting high on the truck (160k) and its around 10 years old. I bought it used and have put 50k of those miles on it.
 
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#2 ·
I sold my Silverado out right and purchased my JK. My truck was paid off. I'll be honest, when I'm pulling my boat, quad, hauling the trash to the dump, or anything like that; I miss my truck a lot. Taking the trash to the dump is a big ordeal because I either need to hook up my hitch rack or the trailer and all that. I'm lazy man, I hate all the extra steps when I could just toss it in the back of the truck and call it good.

With that said, is it a big deal? Not really. It does a good enough job. I have a trailer that handles all my needs outside the capabilities of my hitch rack. But if I did it all over again, I would have kept my truck for convenience and towing. Keep your truck, put liability on it, and you'll be happier. :) Also, if the jeep is going to be recreational for the most part, don't get a new one. Find like a 2012 or 2013 with the 3.6L used and that's plenty good enough. Still newish, reliable, and with the 3.6.
 
#3 ·
I have both, a 72 Chevy K10 longbed and a 5x8 utility trailer. I use the truck more than the trailer because it is just a lot easier. However, if I need to take my toddler with me or if I plan on picking him up on the way back from wherever I am going, I take my Jeep and use the trailer.

A little utility trailer doesn't cost much and sure can be useful, regardless of whether you have a truck. A lot easier to load a motorcycle or ATV in a trailer than a truck. If you have room, I'd say keep both. If not, then it's a lot closer call.
 
#4 ·
i got room... i have a 2 car garage that is too short for the truck. my driveway is 3 cars wide and 57 feet long.

I'm just impatient. =D

the reason i haven't really looked at used jeeps is because for marginally more $$, you can just buy new.
 
#5 ·
I also have the Jeep / trailer setup but would love to have a pickup for running the errands without the hassle of hooking up the trailer. If you can do it, my vote is keep the pickup.
 
#6 ·
Better yet, for many anyway, see if there is a trailer around you can rent when you need to. IF all of your hauling needs can be kept to 3500 including the trailer you are a lot better off financially with the Jeep and trailer. Less to maintain, less to insure, etc.

That being said I have a Jeep, a 1 ton truck, a full size van and 4 trailers so I'm either a biased or educated person to ask depending on how you look at it.
 
#11 ·
I agree on the trailer rental. I went a LONG time with an SUV and renting a trailer from Home Depot. It's like $25/day and you can beat the heck out of it and not worry about it ;-)

With that said, I ended up buying a Harbor Freight Trailer. I picked it up as you see it for $350 on Craigslist. No pics of it hooked up to the Jeep, but you get the point. I've used it for furniture, moving across town, Landscaping runs, etc.

Never mind the picture of my kid....but it shows the staked sides.

If you're looking to buy a new one, grab a 20% coupon for Harbor Freight from practically any magazine you read and spend a Saturday afternoon building it:drinks:





 
#7 ·
Keep the truck...2-3k equity won't pay for the inconvenience of having to hook up a trailer constantly. Plus, you'll have a spare car for emergencies (like, the mod youa ttempted didn't go well and your Jeep is in 4 pieces)
 
#8 ·
+1 more for keeping the truck. We recently went through the same thing with my F-150. My wife said there's no way I could be without a truck. We even have a 16' trailer to haul more stuff with. Although the JKU could pull the trailer, it's probably not real smart. Kept the truck and got a new Jeep as well.
 
#13 ·
was kinda in the same boat. Have a 2014 Ram 1500 crew cab 4x4 and reall wanted a Jeep. was looking at Low miles 2013-14 JKU's but wound up buying a brand new 2015 JKU Willys Love it, but dont daily drive it, need the the Ram for the payload and more creature comforts. I could never move my boat with my Jeep either.
 
#15 ·
IF you get into off roading, modding and it becomes a DD/Trail rig, it's nice to have a truck to trailer jeep to the trail head. I know it's not what you're asking but something to consider. You know your truck and a trailer to haul jeep is cheaper than buying a new truck & trailer. My vote keep truck buy Jeep.
 
#16 ·
Its really up to you. I have been truck, truck less since 1999. Been running a trailer behind my Tahoe, Land Rover and now JKU. Doesn't bother me at all. Though I do think of a truck every now and then (haven't really needed one), its just something else thats gonna sit. And IF I did have a truck, it would still see trailer time. I find a trailer easier to load and unload. The down side to the trailer is, sometimes its not hooked up when you need it. That is where the planning ahead comes in.
 
#18 ·
I would keep the truck.
 
#19 ·
Another vote for keeping the truck. I debated on same thing. I kept the truck, also have two trailers that sit in the yard growing weeds around them. The truck is just so much easier and it has already come in handy as a backup vehicle.
 
#20 ·
I have a 2005 Tundra and almost traded it in when I got my 2015 JKU but the difference in what they would give me for the truck was almost insulting. The truck is beat up but I got it new and really like it, it runs and still works for me. I agree with the others on hauling stuff with a trailer is a pain at times.

What's really cool is that with the 2 vehicles I can now mod out the truck since it's not a daily driver anymore.

I should note that the Tundra is more comfortable for long road trips (v8, long wheelbase) but the Jeep is more fun (probably because it's new).

I grew up with always having a truck in the family and it feels strange not to have one, hard to explain but that's my story. (I was on the fence between a Ram diesel 4x4 and the Jeep and think I made the better choice).
 
#21 ·
I traded in my full size this year and bought a JKU. I don't miss the truck for hauling at all but I almost never hauled in the bed of my truck anyways. It sucks to load a truck it sucks to unload a truck. You can't really haul that much weight in the bed of a truck. The beds are so cheap anymore you have to be careful not to punch a hole in them. Insurance, upkeep, and licensing a vehicle is not cheap period. Staying lean with the cash in your pocket is always a good decision. Is it really that hard to hook up a trailer no. it's easier than cleaning out the bed of your truck or lifting something heavy into the back. Good luck, Matt
 
#23 ·
If you really do use the truck a lot and can afford to keep it I probably would think that is the best route for you. For myself, I just traded in my 2500 Cummins in on a 15' JK. That was a big change for me! Going from a crew cab long bed to a little JK again. For me though, I prefer the Jeep. With a small trailer, I can do all the same small hauling I would do with my truck besides yards of dirt, ect.

Plus, now without having my truck, people no longer ask me to move stuff for them!
 
#24 ·
I traded in my Titan for the Rubi almost a year ago. I also have a 16 foot trailer that is hooked up to the jeep a few times a month to go to the dump or Lowe's. I regret trading in the truck which was paid for but wanted the lower monthly payments on the Jeep. This is the first time in a very, very long time I have not had a truck. So, I am now looking at trading in my wife's van for a F250!!
 
#25 ·
One thing I would like to add is if you decide to get rid of the truck for a Jeep and trailer, consider selling the truck privately. It's my experience dealers will screw you on the trade in value, even with the tax savings.

If it's a dealer you've dealt with before, tell them you want to sell the truck privately but put the deal through the dealership. I've done this for a couple new vehicles I've purchased and it works out as a win-win in the fact that you get top dollar for your used vehicle selling it privately AND you get the tax savings.

Depending on how often you need the trailer, my vote would be for a JKU and a utility trailer.. This is what I do and couldn't justify two vehicle expenses vs the inconvenience of hooking up a trailer. Sell the truck privately, put the deal through the dealership and use the extra funds to buy a utility trailer and lift/tires for the new Jeep.

If you do go that route, also avoid the "max tow package" unless you are buying an auto JKU.

You can get a hitch and wiring harness from Qtec for about $80. Just remember to order your new Jeep with 3.73 or 4.10 gears and you have the equivalent of "max tow" package for significantly less money.

My understanding is if you purchase an auto with max tow you get a tranny line cooler as well, so this may better offset the $500+ "max tow" package.
 
#26 ·
There is no question about the advantages of having a truck with a Jeep if you do yard work and haul things. OTOH I sold all my vehicles except the two door Wrangler and motorcycle but did go to HF for a 4X8. No problems with dump runs, appliance pick ups and errands. The trailer is light, easy to hook up and very effective. Biggest problem is going somewhere and finding something that does not fit in the Jeep so you have to retrieve the trailer but the same could happen with a Jeep/truck combination. The bonus with the trailer is you can fit a tent and camping gear in it and head up into the Colorado Mountains with all the equipment and have your Jeep to boot.
 
#27 ·
I'm not understanding how people are saying that the truck is more convenient for loading and unloading and how hooking up a trailer is inconvenient? I've had pickups (and trailers) all my life and I've always found loading things into a trailer is MUCH more convenient than a pickup bed. Trailers are generally lower with shorter sides plus you don't have to empty out all the crap that stays in your truck all the time or remove the canopy/cap if you have one for larger loads. I guess it's all what you are used to but I see more inconvenience in the truck than I do a trailer.
 
#28 ·
I am not sure what I would do in your situation. I think which ever you decide you will be fine.

My personal experience I have never owned a truck but I grew up with them and use them at work often. We always had trucks and trailers when I was growing up as well as Jeeps and Ramchargers. The trailer was better for some jobs and the truck was better for others.

For several years I have had different Jeeps and a trailer. I have found the combination to work great. The only thing I want to do is relocate my trailer jack so it will be easier to raise and lower without interfering with my 35" spare tire. My trailer is 12'x6' with a ramp in the back and on the side. This used to be my bosses trailer and he sold it to me for $75. It is really easy to both back up to and pull with my two door JK. If I have a really heavy load I hook it up to our 4.7 Jeep Commander instead.

Again either the truck or the trailer will work but only you can really decide which is best for you. If the truck is almost paid off and you can aford to have the extra vehicle that is always a nice option.
 
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