Apparently he's been towing that thing all over the desert for years and has somehow avoided any major issues. I was kinda the same in the early years with my Forester...I would go out _solo_ to places that car had no business being, and everything went fine so it just encouraged me to do it some more. 😄 I had to leave before they completed the trailer recovery, but I'm assuming he must've taken the opportunity to step up to tougher tires. Jared from Backroad Exploration will certainly cover it in his video series of the trip eventually...I'll be curious to see the conclusion of that story. Thanks for watching!
@@softroadingthewest I'd love to see the date of manufacture on the sidewall of those tires! We teardrop and where that trailer was shouldn't have caused so much havoc.
Surprised that teardrop made it that far, you have the best rig for all weather conditions, you can drop the tent and sleep on your bench in really bad wind too. That lava tube was awesome!😊
Nice to see this "Donald Non-standard" video! Highlights the very different tone between solo adventure, and traveling with a group. Really a different tone and mindset. I think it was super helpful to see that! I also enjoyed seeing the different rigs and levels of buildouts. I subscribe to 100 channels maybe, but nothing makes me enjoy my morning coffee more than finding a new Softroading one to start my day! Thx!
It was still fun having you with us...even if you did bring the storm with you. Just makes the trip that much more adventuresome. See you on the next one! George.
Not to toss hate. But a tear drop trailer thats low slung on older tires that arent offroad rated was asking for problems. But doubling down with no spares doesnt make it any the wiser.
The trailer tires were replaced and Wolfgang made it home the next day. He was in a pretty good mood about the work that was needed to repair the other damage to it. However, he built the trailer and was confident it would be ready for another trip he had coming up in a couple weeks.
He built it so yes it is repairable. He is building another on now that is more off road capable. Hopefully it will be ready for next years adventures.
It's a bummer we didn't have much time to catch up, but still so fun to unexpectedly roll together like that. I'm eager to see the rest of your Idaho adventure!
I've driven about 100 miles of that section before it's pretty cool. But that's one area of idaho you don't want to be when there's storms. One of these days you will have to make it to the sawtooths and north idaho.
One thing I learned driving for the Forest Service in Montana was that driving slow over gravel saves your tires. Those smoothed gravel roads seem like paved highways, but they will soften your tires and make them much more susceptible to failure later on.
Wow Donald just amazing I’ve sent this video to many to behold the stunning views you’ve captured That fog at 18 minutes is amazing So excited to catch this series!!
12:12 Yet ANOTHER video reminding me why dragging a frickin trailer off-road is not for me, and is, in fact, a TERRIBLE idea. Doing so adds more points of failure, all in the name of "being comfortable." 🙄. I've seen so many videos of off road trailer fails it amazes me people still do that. Plus it significantly limits where you can even go in the first place. SMDH. Mostly I sleep in the vehicle, or once in a while ground tent it. Far FAR lighter and simpler. I hate to say it, but it's getting to the point where I chuckle at people when I see them dragging a trailer off-road, and wonder when (not if) it's going to bite them in the butt.
I use my trailer all the time. Often in places that others wouldn't even think to take there vehicles let alone a trailer. But, my trailer is different than others. Made of foam on a Harbor Freight trailer and cost me under $2000.00. No way would I take a $50,000 trailer out there, I might scratch it...
As an owner of a Xterra this group looks like a great group for first timers (me dreamer) to learn with! I would've loved to go on this trip. But I'm in Iowa, 60 yr old woman & disabled. But sure would've given it a try😉. I just love your channel you keep us dreamers dreaming! Thank you sooooooo much for sharing with us. And Idaho leave him alone😂🤞🤞🤞
@@elflordsjourneys oh I know....this is my second Xterra & I just love it! Been suv camping when my body & weather will allow me. But this sure looked like great time.
I watched this right after camping in beautiful weather in the mountains in Gazelle (thank you, Donald, for turning me on to Gazelles) and within an hour id setting it up got hit with oodles of hail and flooding rain. Sooo get it with weather when out adventuring. (The floor of the Gazelle looked like a waterbed - we picked it up and moved it to a dry spot and no leaks. They rock!)
Yikes, that’s some pretty rough terrain for that trailer! All in all the video quality was superb. Thanks for the upload! I’ve watched less “ overlanding “ content lately but your channel has always been a favorite of mine. Along with Jason’s.
That was quite an adventurous trip! Gave you just about every possible situation. Goat that wasn’t your shredded tires! Looking forward to continuing across Idaho.
That wind sounded pretty loud but I’m sure the stability of the rig brings a lot of confidence. I’ve had tents blow away, I’ve yet to have my truck blow away. That camp spot looked awesome. Can’t wait for the rest of the trip.
Yep, in fact the funny thing I discovered while editing this video is that just hearing the noise of the tent in the wind makes me feel relaxed and sleepy...apparently I have ridden out so many storms and windy conditions in this thing that I now associate that sound with sleeping warm and cozy in my sleeping bag LOL. It was great to very unexpectedly run into your brother in Idaho. Hopefully see you both again in Utah one of these days!
What a fun video, save for the poor old teardrop. You take me places I won't ever get to see unless its horseback. ( or I end up getting another jeep) Love the weird rock and hoodoo formations. Happy trails!
Just another interesting, fun, educational and beautiful video! Especially liked seeing the different rig setups. Its helpful when imagining what I would want if I were out there. Thanks Donald!!
I spent much of June and July in Idaho this Summer, with a teardrop camper. Much of it was on dirt, butt my biggest issue was dust, although I did end up shaking my trailer lights to the point of failure, they were easy and inexpensive to replace. My was also a "city" teardrop and I had challenges, but luckily nothing like your trail partner. I sure love Idaho and wish it was closer to NC. I also agree that riding in groups is not my thing.
Very well done, Donald. And now we know who to blame for that one challenging day! Just kidding, of course. Believe it or not, my tent was staked down with twelve stakes and only one was still holding when you shot that video of it. Good thing it was, because otherwise I think I would've had to head to Montana to recover it!
Oh man! I know it’s easy to criticize..Time for a different suspension and some 10 ply tires for that tear drop trailer. I live in SW Idaho and that current setup looks really bad for the trails SW overland usually goes on. I like their channel too by the way. Cool video!
The trips that I take, Cal. Nev. Wy. Idaho, and Montana….. I remember the trips or hikes that involved blood or fear. I have suffered from flats about one in six trips. Two spare tires are the way to go. My battery powered Ryobi air compressor is impressive. My next purchase will be the tire repair kit. Also, working on a tire carrier mounted under my 05 GMC. The bed tent my late mother gave me was a bonus. But, the large plastic totes w yellow lids prove to be useful for many reasons. I also carry the Neosporin tubes, placed in easy to grab areas, glove box, door panels. Extra cans of raviolis and kippered snacks provide a sense of comfort. I Always have a sense of darkness when packing for my trips. Bandages, hydrogens peroxide, panty liners for extreme carnage. My super dog Scout always promotes joy.
Love it! This was a great way to start my early morning. Camped with the Shasta next to the river this weekend. I wish we had been given more time for conversation on that trip, but , in the future, remind me not to go anywhere with you on the first day of a new adventure, eh? 😂
@@softroadingthewest For some reason, the day you were with us turned out to be the worst day of the whole trip. The "Donald Effect" is a real thing! 🫥
Great video Donald. Looking forward to your solo leg of it. I read what you said about the teardrop being on a multitude of Offroad trails but I believe it met its match this time. BUT bare minimum he should have had a spare. Crap tires or not.
Oh I absolutely agree. The Forester driver in me understands pushing the limits of a vehicle, but I can't imagine hauling something like that in these conditions without a spare.😬 I feel bad for what happened to his trailer, but fortunately everyone was good-natured and embraced it as part of the adventure, and if I'm being honest, the UA-camr in me was grateful for an extra little twist in the story. 😉
I dunno? That's a two-month span, from late August on the 2023 trip to late October on the 2022 trip. I'm sure people in Idaho go out during that time span (well, I know they do, I've seen them out there LOL). And I've made countless other trips during that span of time over the years that were storm-free...but just not in Idaho. 😆 I would just swear off the state entirely but - weather aside - I had such a great time on this trip that I will absolutely return. I'll just assume my presence will yet again summon a storm when I do. 😂
Wow! Great adventure. Sorry to see the damage to the camper. Hope they were able to get back up and moving. That wind was… loud! What is s making all that sound like pots and pans hanging and banging? The tents rigging or was the truck rocking so much that stuff in the drawers we clanging? Thanks for sharing these adventures and taking us along.
At 16:11 you can briefly see the outer straps that are used for holding up the rear large window flap when it's rolled up open. The straps have plastic latches that definitely make some noise when it's windy. Sometimes when I'm expecting wind, I will gather that all together and secure it with a bungee cord, though I've become so accustomed to the various noises (thanks to the seemingly countless windy nights I've experienced LOL) that I don't even notice this any more and rarely bother trying to mitigate it. Also, the small metal latches that hold the roof closed for driving also hang loosely when the tent is deployed, so it's possible the two on the windward side may be tapping against the metal of the camper body from the wind and/or the the rocking motion.
You've outdone yourself! How did you get all that in a non-stop convoy? . I love that land, down to the Snake River Canyon. I gotta get that trail across southern Idaho, is someone sharing it?
I will be sharing it in late winter early spring if all goes well. We ran into some route issues later in the trip that I have to reroute around. Nothing too serious, but still needs a bit of tuning before I release it to the public.
Apparently he's been towing that thing all over the desert for years and has somehow avoided any major issues. I was kinda the same in the early years with my Forester...I would go out solo to places that car had no business being, and everything went fine so it just encouraged me to do it some more. 😄 I had to leave before they completed the trailer recovery, but I'm assuming he must've taken the opportunity to step up to tougher tires. Jared from Backroad Exploration will certainly cover it in his video series of the trip eventually...I'll be curious to see the conclusion of that story. Thanks for watching!
@@softroadingthewest it is kinda annoying or frustrating when people take stuff on trails like that that clearly shouldnt be. at least your forrester wasnt old and rickety like that trailer. they at l minimum should have replaced the tires before taking it on a trip like that. thats just poor planning/ preparation. I dont take my rig on trails unless i feel its in good enough condition to handle it. that teardrop clearly wasnt. regardless of what they have done with it in the past, a pre trip inspection would have told me to replace those tires.
I grew up running all over that place from Mt. Home to Caldwell to Sandpoint to Driggs That trailer has no place out there. OWHYEE county aone woud eat that thing for lunch. May i suggest you give the owner directions to CJ Strike damm and the camp grounds there.....
I feel bad for the guy whose teardrop got torn up. Did you ever hear back on how they made out with the teardrop and the group with their trip (which sounded pretty awesome)?
We had great weather once Donald left. The rest of the trip went pretty well. Have a bit of reroute to work with, but hope to have the route solid by late winter early spring for release. The trailer got out fine and should be back together soon. He is working on another trailer that should be more off road friendly. George.
It's DIY, yes. Mine turned out a little less sturdy than I would have liked (though it could easily be made to be sturdier), but for my infrequent uses like this, it has been good enough and really nice to have on evenings I'm stuck inside. I do have a video about it: ua-cam.com/video/ZZiUTkbSuS4/v-deo.html
Solo-Road said what I was thinking...re that tear drop trailer not prepared for x desert or any other off road grind plus no spare??!! Looked like a great rip otherwise. Thx
Interesting to see the topo or a wedge in a strong wind, looks like it would still be hard to get a nights sleep even with that moderate flapping. Not able to point the wedge into the wind? Any hindsight on improving the wedge with strong wind, or just take a nap later to make up for lost sleep? What was the best set up for dealing with that wind? Good video!
I parked my truck in that position because - initially - that was pointed into the wind (and yes that does help for sure). Then the wind shifted and came from the side. Then it shifted again and came from behind me. At some point you give up on repositioning. 😄 So here's what's funny about the noise of the tent. I have now spent SO MANY windy nights in this camper that, I kid you not, when I rewatch that segment where I was showing you how it does in the wind, it makes me feel relaxed and sleepy, LOL. I now apparently associate that sound with sleeping warm and cozy in my sleeping bag. Plus when it's windy, it rocks the truck and evokes that childhood falling-asleep-in-the-backseat feeling. 😄
Apparently he's been towing that thing all over the desert for years and has somehow avoided any major issues. I was kinda the same in the early years with my Forester...I would go out solo to places that car had no business being, and everything went fine so it just encouraged me to do it some more. 😄 I had to leave before they completed the trailer recovery, but I'm assuming he must've taken the opportunity to step up to tougher tires. Jared from Backroad Exploration will certainly cover it in his video series of the trip eventually...I'll be curious to see the conclusion of that story. Thanks for watching!
@@softroadingthewest no problem I throughly enjoy your videos. I love how you have stayed more of average joe overlander. I really liked expedition overland til they start building $200,000 rigs and using $100,000 dollar trailers. Same with lifestyle overland they've gotten to bougie.
He has had that trailer on a lot of backroad explorations with me. I warn him every time and it would make it no issues. This time it was too much. Probably a good thing it gave up there since the road got much worse later on. He has another trailer that he is building up that will address the weaknesses this trailer had off road. Should be interesting to see what he comes up with. We should see it next year.
I don't want to rag on homeboys teardrop trailer, but like others have stated, it doesn't appear up to the task on those rough roads. Just watching your video, the vehicles are high clearance, and so is the other trailer. That teardrop was never meant for roads like that. After some modifications, I'm sure it will be better suited for that type of travel, but IMHO, poor choice taking it out there.
I interviewed the owner during the trip (working on the video for that even now). I expressed similar skepticism about the trailer, but he explained that he'd been traveling similar routes towing that trailer for the past twelve years without issue. That interview was before this video that Donald shared. After the tire failures, I asked over the radio if he intended to buy AT tires this time around and he said if he could find them in the small town nearby, he would. I wasn't involved in the next day to fix the trailer, so am not sure if Wolfgang did find suitably rate AT tires. I am a big fan of E-rated AT tires. Have worked well for me all over North America (literally US-Mexican border to the Arctic Ocean). However, even I had a ripped sidewall on a KO2 just a couple months ago in Chloride Canyon, NM. I blame that on my daughter, who was driving. But you know what they say: Stuff happens! :-)
The guy with the tear drop trailer needs his head examined. The terrain of southern Idaho is hard as hell on trucks and SVs that were purpose built for overlanding. To drag a camp ground queen out through that is ill advised to say the least. The fact that he managed to drag the bottom off of it over such distance without noticing his mistake is all the indication I would need to not venture out on a trail with him again.
I don't actually know the conclusion to that story because I had to continue on with my own trip. I'm sure they got it out of there. Keep an eye on the Backroad Exploration channel as Jared was there filming the recovery.
Apparently he's been towing that thing all over the desert for years and had somehow avoided any major issues until this day. I was kinda the same in the early years with my unmodified Forester...I would go out solo to places that car had no business being, and everything kept going fine, so it just encouraged me to do it some more. 😄 Ultimately everyone was good-natured about the trailer issues. It added an interesting twist to the day. No harm done to the rest of us, everyone took it in stride and worked together to deal with it. 🙂
I solo 100% of the time. Though I often think it would be nice to have at least one person join me, this video is an example why I stay away from large group journeys. Don't mean to come off harsh, but the fact that a trailer like this was thought to be OK to join along is selfish of the owner and irresponsible of the others not to object. What was this guy thinking?
Apparently he's been towing that thing all over the desert for years and had somehow avoided any major issues until this day. I was kinda the same in the early years with my unmodified Forester...I would go out solo to places that car had no business being, and everything kept going fine, so it just encouraged me to do it some more. 😄 Ultimately everyone was good-natured about the trailer issues. It added an interesting twist to the day. No harm done to the rest of us, everyone took it in stride and worked together to deal with it. 🙂
You are way off base in your remark. You surely must have no idea of the experience of anyone on this crew. Wolfgang, owner and builder of the trailer, has been towing it the past twelve years all over similar terrain. While I shared skepticism about it myself, that was ultimately proven right, I would not say that Wolfgang has not already addressed the problems. He is, after all, an engineer who is quite talented with fabricating beautiful items. And he had another adventure scheduled in two weeks with his wife, with the trailer. So he headed home to effect necessary repairs and upgrades.
@@DxDOverland"experience"??? Sure sure sure..... One important aspect of "experience" is knowing the limitations of your equipment AND yourself. 😅😂 🤣 🍻
I'M from Idaho!!! What was that guy thinking??? Who brings a teardrop with zero clearance OFFROAD in Idaho??? Lol ... Idaho guarantees a storm every time.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
I dont have a lot of experience, but that trailer and it's tires looked like they had no business being out there.
Apparently he's been towing that thing all over the desert for years and has somehow avoided any major issues. I was kinda the same in the early years with my Forester...I would go out _solo_ to places that car had no business being, and everything went fine so it just encouraged me to do it some more. 😄 I had to leave before they completed the trailer recovery, but I'm assuming he must've taken the opportunity to step up to tougher tires. Jared from Backroad Exploration will certainly cover it in his video series of the trip eventually...I'll be curious to see the conclusion of that story. Thanks for watching!
@@softroadingthewest Thank you for responding. Great content as always.
@@softroadingthewest I'd love to see the date of manufacture on the sidewall of those tires! We teardrop and where that trailer was shouldn't have caused so much havoc.
Great episode and agree that the trailer was just in over it’s head. Time for a TC Teardrops.
"ST" tires = "junk". I use LT ( light truck ) tires on all my trailers. 'nuff said.
Beautiful country! Refreshing to see some "regular people" and fairly simple setups out in the real world. Looked like a fun day!
Surprised that teardrop made it that far, you have the best rig for all weather conditions, you can drop the tent and sleep on your bench in really bad wind too. That lava tube was awesome!😊
Nice to see this "Donald Non-standard" video! Highlights the very different tone between solo adventure, and traveling with a group. Really a different tone and mindset. I think it was super helpful to see that! I also enjoyed seeing the different rigs and levels of buildouts.
I subscribe to 100 channels maybe, but nothing makes me enjoy my morning coffee more than finding a new Softroading one to start my day! Thx!
It was still fun having you with us...even if you did bring the storm with you. Just makes the trip that much more adventuresome. See you on the next one! George.
Thanks again George, it was great to meet back up, glad we finally got our schedules to align! Idaho overall was amazing and I'll be back.
@@softroadingthewest Sounds good. If you ever need a guide let me know.
Not to toss hate. But a tear drop trailer thats low slung on older tires that arent offroad rated was asking for problems. But doubling down with no spares doesnt make it any the wiser.
This video reminds me why I Iike your channel the absence of big groups.
This video really shows the importance of being prepared. Hope they finally made it out
The trailer tires were replaced and Wolfgang made it home the next day. He was in a pretty good mood about the work that was needed to repair the other damage to it. However, he built the trailer and was confident it would be ready for another trip he had coming up in a couple weeks.
Great video! Sorry to see what happened to that trailer. I hope it was repairable.
He built it so yes it is repairable. He is building another on now that is more off road capable. Hopefully it will be ready for next years adventures.
@@swidahooverlanding2867 I'm glad to hear that!
Really liked the look of the red Nissan D22! Nice rig 👌
This was fantastic! It was so much fun seeing you, and an incredible suprise from George. Can’t wait to see the rest of your trip!
It's a bummer we didn't have much time to catch up, but still so fun to unexpectedly roll together like that. I'm eager to see the rest of your Idaho adventure!
Thanks Donald! Great video, excellent storytelling, and beautiful imagery. So good!
That's a big adventure. Definitely wouldn't have tried that with any kind of trailer. Thanks for taking us on the ride.
I remember George! I loved watching his vids shared on Overland Bound! One of my favorite escapes.
I lived in Idaho for several years and can attest to the various wonders. You did a fantastic job of capturing the beauty.
I've driven about 100 miles of that section before it's pretty cool. But that's one area of idaho you don't want to be when there's storms. One of these days you will have to make it to the sawtooths and north idaho.
Beautifully done, Donald! Looking forward to more. Thanks!
One thing I learned driving for the Forest Service in Montana was that driving slow over gravel saves your tires. Those smoothed gravel roads seem like paved highways, but they will soften your tires and make them much more susceptible to failure later on.
Love watching your adventures. Thank you!
Thanks for sharing your adventure!
Wow Donald just amazing
I’ve sent this video to many to behold the stunning views you’ve captured
That fog at 18 minutes is amazing
So excited to catch this series!!
12:12 Yet ANOTHER video reminding me why dragging a frickin trailer off-road is not for me, and is, in fact, a TERRIBLE idea. Doing so adds more points of failure, all in the name of "being comfortable." 🙄. I've seen so many videos of off road trailer fails it amazes me people still do that. Plus it significantly limits where you can even go in the first place. SMDH. Mostly I sleep in the vehicle, or once in a while ground tent it. Far FAR lighter and simpler. I hate to say it, but it's getting to the point where I chuckle at people when I see them dragging a trailer off-road, and wonder when (not if) it's going to bite them in the butt.
I use my trailer all the time. Often in places that others wouldn't even think to take there vehicles let alone a trailer. But, my trailer is different than others. Made of foam on a Harbor Freight trailer and cost me under $2000.00. No way would I take a $50,000 trailer out there, I might scratch it...
As an owner of a Xterra this group looks like a great group for first timers (me dreamer) to learn with! I would've loved to go on this trip. But I'm in Iowa, 60 yr old woman & disabled. But sure would've given it a try😉. I just love your channel you keep us dreamers dreaming! Thank you sooooooo much for sharing with us. And Idaho leave him alone😂🤞🤞🤞
Xterra would be perfect for this. 😊
@@elflordsjourneys oh I know....this is my second Xterra & I just love it! Been suv camping when my body & weather will allow me. But this sure looked like great time.
I watched this right after camping in beautiful weather in the mountains in Gazelle (thank you, Donald, for turning me on to Gazelles) and within an hour id setting it up got hit with oodles of hail and flooding rain. Sooo get it with weather when out adventuring. (The floor of the Gazelle looked like a waterbed - we picked it up and moved it to a dry spot and no leaks. They rock!)
Thanks for a great episode! Found insight into traveling with others. The not so great yet the very good of help on breakdowns.
Yikes, that’s some pretty rough terrain for that trailer! All in all the video quality was superb. Thanks for the upload! I’ve watched less “ overlanding “ content lately but your channel has always been a favorite of mine. Along with Jason’s.
Love seeing two frontiers on the trails
What beauty and adventure! Looking forward to seeing the rest of the trip. Best wishes!
some beautiful shots, thanks again!
Great to finally meet after years of that crazy avatar commenting on my videos! 😂 Your Frontier looks perfect on the trail!
@@softroadingthewest she is a good little scoot!
That was quite an adventurous trip! Gave you just about every possible situation. Goat that wasn’t your shredded tires! Looking forward to continuing across Idaho.
That wind sounded pretty loud but I’m sure the stability of the rig brings a lot of confidence. I’ve had tents blow away, I’ve yet to have my truck blow away. That camp spot looked awesome. Can’t wait for the rest of the trip.
Yep, in fact the funny thing I discovered while editing this video is that just hearing the noise of the tent in the wind makes me feel relaxed and sleepy...apparently I have ridden out so many storms and windy conditions in this thing that I now associate that sound with sleeping warm and cozy in my sleeping bag LOL. It was great to very unexpectedly run into your brother in Idaho. Hopefully see you both again in Utah one of these days!
What a fun video, save for the poor old teardrop. You take me places I won't ever get to see unless its horseback. ( or I end up getting another jeep) Love the weird rock and hoodoo formations. Happy trails!
Just another interesting, fun, educational and beautiful video! Especially liked seeing the different rig setups. Its helpful when imagining what I would want if I were out there. Thanks Donald!!
Awesome start to another epic adventure! The edit of this episode is masterful.✌️ 😊🖖
I spent much of June and July in Idaho this Summer, with a teardrop camper. Much of it was on dirt, butt my biggest issue was dust, although I did end up shaking my trailer lights to the point of failure, they were easy and inexpensive to replace. My was also a "city" teardrop and I had challenges, but luckily nothing like your trail partner. I sure love Idaho and wish it was closer to NC. I also agree that riding in groups is not my thing.
Another good vid Donald!
Great video. I like seeing you traveling with friends and by yourself. Keep up the good work.
wow the trailer situation 😮
Very well done, Donald. And now we know who to blame for that one challenging day! Just kidding, of course. Believe it or not, my tent was staked down with twelve stakes and only one was still holding when you shot that video of it. Good thing it was, because otherwise I think I would've had to head to Montana to recover it!
Great to meet you and hit the trails for a bit!
What a great adventure even though you guys ran into many obstacles👍
Oh man! I know it’s easy to criticize..Time for a different suspension and some 10 ply tires for that tear drop trailer. I live in SW Idaho and that current setup looks really bad for the trails SW overland usually goes on. I like their channel too by the way.
Cool video!
Thanks for watching us! George.
George makes good content and even better hay stacks.
The trips that I take, Cal. Nev. Wy. Idaho, and Montana….. I remember the trips or hikes that involved blood or fear. I have suffered from flats about one in six trips. Two spare tires are the way to go. My battery powered Ryobi air compressor is impressive. My next purchase will be the tire repair kit. Also, working on a tire carrier mounted under my 05 GMC. The bed tent my late mother gave me was a bonus. But, the large plastic totes w yellow lids prove to be useful for many reasons. I also carry the Neosporin tubes, placed in easy to grab areas, glove box, door panels. Extra cans of raviolis and kippered snacks provide a sense of comfort. I Always have a sense of darkness when packing for my trips. Bandages, hydrogens peroxide, panty liners for extreme carnage. My super dog Scout always promotes joy.
Can't wait for the next one.
Enjoyed the adventure
Love it! This was a great way to start my early morning. Camped with the Shasta next to the river this weekend. I wish we had been given more time for conversation on that trip, but , in the future, remind me not to go anywhere with you on the first day of a new adventure, eh? 😂
Indeed, I may try to figure out how I can avoid going anywhere with me on the first day also. 😂
@@softroadingthewest For some reason, the day you were with us turned out to be the worst day of the whole trip. The "Donald Effect" is a real thing! 🫥
@@sagebrushbob2321 I know it is Bob! I live it every single time. 😂
@@softroadingthewest😂😂😂
Man i love living in idaho.
Great video. Just picked my Topo up. Can't wait to get it out there.
Congrats! Enjoy!
Amazing Video Sir. I'm gonna be trying this in my 2002 f250. Wish me luck
The lava tube looks like the back drop stage for the movie "Evolution"
I hope he bought 3 tires. Great video.
Only two and used the same wheels! Luckily we did get him back to pavement without anymore issues.
The non traditional (Jeep) vehicles like the Full size pickup and Durango really intrigued me
Great video Donald. Looking forward to your solo leg of it. I read what you said about the teardrop being on a multitude of Offroad trails but I believe it met its match this time. BUT bare minimum he should have had a spare. Crap tires or not.
Oh I absolutely agree. The Forester driver in me understands pushing the limits of a vehicle, but I can't imagine hauling something like that in these conditions without a spare.😬 I feel bad for what happened to his trailer, but fortunately everyone was good-natured and embraced it as part of the adventure, and if I'm being honest, the UA-camr in me was grateful for an extra little twist in the story. 😉
@@softroadingthewest I hear you. 😄
Just got back from a few weeks in the Sawtooth Mountains. Didn't get much of a storm luckily, but had to run from wildfires twice.
Idaho loves you, she just plays rough sometimes!!!!
🤣
great video
That was an expensive lesson for the owner of three teardrop. I wonder if it can be salvaged. 😳
Is is repairable. He built it so he knows how it all goes back together.
If you roll with a trailer, you should have a trailer spare.
I love to see the variety of rigs and gear during the same. outing.
P.S. I suppose your end of summer season choice is what might bring those storms?
I dunno? That's a two-month span, from late August on the 2023 trip to late October on the 2022 trip. I'm sure people in Idaho go out during that time span (well, I know they do, I've seen them out there LOL). And I've made countless other trips during that span of time over the years that were storm-free...but just not in Idaho. 😆 I would just swear off the state entirely but - weather aside - I had such a great time on this trip that I will absolutely return. I'll just assume my presence will yet again summon a storm when I do. 😂
Wow! Great adventure. Sorry to see the damage to the camper. Hope they were able to get back up and moving.
That wind was… loud! What is s making all that sound like pots and pans hanging and banging? The tents rigging or was the truck rocking so much that stuff in the drawers we clanging? Thanks for sharing these adventures and taking us along.
Trailer made it back to pavement with no other issues.
At 16:11 you can briefly see the outer straps that are used for holding up the rear large window flap when it's rolled up open. The straps have plastic latches that definitely make some noise when it's windy. Sometimes when I'm expecting wind, I will gather that all together and secure it with a bungee cord, though I've become so accustomed to the various noises (thanks to the seemingly countless windy nights I've experienced LOL) that I don't even notice this any more and rarely bother trying to mitigate it. Also, the small metal latches that hold the roof closed for driving also hang loosely when the tent is deployed, so it's possible the two on the windward side may be tapping against the metal of the camper body from the wind and/or the the rocking motion.
@@softroadingthewest above might be posted in wrong comment?
@@swidahooverlanding2867 That was in reply to the second part of the OP's comment asking about the noise in the camper when it was windy. 🙂
@@softroadingthewest Sorry. Missed that one...
You've outdone yourself! How did you get all that in a non-stop convoy? . I love that land, down to the Snake River Canyon. I gotta get that trail across southern Idaho, is someone sharing it?
I will be sharing it in late winter early spring if all goes well. We ran into some route issues later in the trip that I have to reroute around. Nothing too serious, but still needs a bit of tuning before I release it to the public.
@@swidahooverlanding2867 keep up the great work. I'll be out there behind you -- oh that sounded creepy but not meant to be ;-)
It seams a pass/fail check system on all equipment would be implemented before taking off.
this is real and is happening
🤙
Tear drops aren't for overlanding like that.
Apparently he's been towing that thing all over the desert for years and has somehow avoided any major issues. I was kinda the same in the early years with my Forester...I would go out solo to places that car had no business being, and everything went fine so it just encouraged me to do it some more. 😄 I had to leave before they completed the trailer recovery, but I'm assuming he must've taken the opportunity to step up to tougher tires. Jared from Backroad Exploration will certainly cover it in his video series of the trip eventually...I'll be curious to see the conclusion of that story. Thanks for watching!
@@softroadingthewest it is kinda annoying or frustrating when people take stuff on trails like that that clearly shouldnt be. at least your forrester wasnt old and rickety like that trailer. they at l minimum should have replaced the tires before taking it on a trip like that. thats just poor planning/ preparation. I dont take my rig on trails unless i feel its in good enough condition to handle it. that teardrop clearly wasnt. regardless of what they have done with it in the past, a pre trip inspection would have told me to replace those tires.
I grew up running all over that place from Mt. Home to Caldwell to Sandpoint to Driggs
That trailer has no place out there. OWHYEE county aone woud eat that thing for lunch. May i suggest you give the owner directions to CJ Strike damm and the camp grounds there.....
I feel bad for the guy whose teardrop got torn up. Did you ever hear back on how they made out with the teardrop and the group with their trip (which sounded pretty awesome)?
We had great weather once Donald left. The rest of the trip went pretty well. Have a bit of reroute to work with, but hope to have the route solid by late winter early spring for release.
The trailer got out fine and should be back together soon. He is working on another trailer that should be more off road friendly. George.
@@swidahooverlanding2867 Glad to hear about the trailer. The trip you guys were on looked pretty awesome.
@@garretlewis4103 It was. I will be posting up videos of the trip as well. Just not as good as Donalds.
Hey Donald. That table you cooked on in side the truck. It's that home made, and do u have a video of the build?
It's DIY, yes. Mine turned out a little less sturdy than I would have liked (though it could easily be made to be sturdier), but for my infrequent uses like this, it has been good enough and really nice to have on evenings I'm stuck inside. I do have a video about it:
ua-cam.com/video/ZZiUTkbSuS4/v-deo.html
Solo-Road said what I was thinking...re that tear drop trailer not prepared for x desert or any other off road grind plus no spare??!!
Looked like a great rip otherwise.
Thx
Interesting to see the topo or a wedge in a strong wind, looks like it would still be hard to get a nights sleep even with that moderate flapping. Not able to point the wedge into the wind? Any hindsight on improving the wedge with strong wind, or just take a nap later to make up for lost sleep? What was the best set up for dealing with that wind? Good video!
I parked my truck in that position because - initially - that was pointed into the wind (and yes that does help for sure). Then the wind shifted and came from the side. Then it shifted again and came from behind me. At some point you give up on repositioning. 😄 So here's what's funny about the noise of the tent. I have now spent SO MANY windy nights in this camper that, I kid you not, when I rewatch that segment where I was showing you how it does in the wind, it makes me feel relaxed and sleepy, LOL. I now apparently associate that sound with sleeping warm and cozy in my sleeping bag. Plus when it's windy, it rocks the truck and evokes that childhood falling-asleep-in-the-backseat feeling. 😄
@@softroadingthewest LOL, that's a twist many don't consider.
George took you to Mordor.
Close, but not quite. If he stayed with us a couple more days he would have seen Mordor. George.
Worst pick up line; Hay baby ya want to see my algorithm.
LOL :-)
I feel bad for the dude with the trailer. I hope you guys warned him that this could happen to a trailer not built for off road
Apparently he's been towing that thing all over the desert for years and has somehow avoided any major issues. I was kinda the same in the early years with my Forester...I would go out solo to places that car had no business being, and everything went fine so it just encouraged me to do it some more. 😄 I had to leave before they completed the trailer recovery, but I'm assuming he must've taken the opportunity to step up to tougher tires. Jared from Backroad Exploration will certainly cover it in his video series of the trip eventually...I'll be curious to see the conclusion of that story. Thanks for watching!
@@softroadingthewest no problem I throughly enjoy your videos. I love how you have stayed more of average joe overlander. I really liked expedition overland til they start building $200,000 rigs and using $100,000 dollar trailers. Same with lifestyle overland they've gotten to bougie.
He has had that trailer on a lot of backroad explorations with me. I warn him every time and it would make it no issues. This time it was too much. Probably a good thing it gave up there since the road got much worse later on. He has another trailer that he is building up that will address the weaknesses this trailer had off road. Should be interesting to see what he comes up with. We should see it next year.
I don't want to rag on homeboys teardrop trailer, but like others have stated, it doesn't appear up to the task on those rough roads. Just watching your video, the vehicles are high clearance, and so is the other trailer. That teardrop was never meant for roads like that. After some modifications, I'm sure it will be better suited for that type of travel, but IMHO, poor choice taking it out there.
I interviewed the owner during the trip (working on the video for that even now). I expressed similar skepticism about the trailer, but he explained that he'd been traveling similar routes towing that trailer for the past twelve years without issue. That interview was before this video that Donald shared. After the tire failures, I asked over the radio if he intended to buy AT tires this time around and he said if he could find them in the small town nearby, he would. I wasn't involved in the next day to fix the trailer, so am not sure if Wolfgang did find suitably rate AT tires. I am a big fan of E-rated AT tires. Have worked well for me all over North America (literally US-Mexican border to the Arctic Ocean). However, even I had a ripped sidewall on a KO2 just a couple months ago in Chloride Canyon, NM. I blame that on my daughter, who was driving. But you know what they say: Stuff happens! :-)
The guy with the tear drop trailer needs his head examined. The terrain of southern Idaho is hard as hell on trucks and SVs that were purpose built for overlanding. To drag a camp ground queen out through that is ill advised to say the least. The fact that he managed to drag the bottom off of it over such distance without noticing his mistake is all the indication I would need to not venture out on a trail with him again.
Can you please update us on the trailer?
I don't actually know the conclusion to that story because I had to continue on with my own trip. I'm sure they got it out of there. Keep an eye on the Backroad Exploration channel as Jared was there filming the recovery.
@@softroadingthewest We got the trailer out without anymore issues. Keep a eye on Backroad Explorations Channel. He should have a good video on that.
You need to ritually sacrifice an Idaho Potato to the weather gods of Idaho to appease them, and give you better weather. Really!
LOL!
😂 Absolutely worth a try next time LOL
Do you need your own "private Idaho"?
Why would someone take a trailer like that off road .
Apparently he's been towing that thing all over the desert for years and had somehow avoided any major issues until this day. I was kinda the same in the early years with my unmodified Forester...I would go out solo to places that car had no business being, and everything kept going fine, so it just encouraged me to do it some more. 😄 Ultimately everyone was good-natured about the trailer issues. It added an interesting twist to the day. No harm done to the rest of us, everyone took it in stride and worked together to deal with it. 🙂
I solo 100% of the time. Though I often think it would be nice to have at least one person join me, this video is an example why I stay away from large group journeys. Don't mean to come off harsh, but the fact that a trailer like this was thought to be OK to join along is selfish of the owner and irresponsible of the others not to object. What was this guy thinking?
Apparently he's been towing that thing all over the desert for years and had somehow avoided any major issues until this day. I was kinda the same in the early years with my unmodified Forester...I would go out solo to places that car had no business being, and everything kept going fine, so it just encouraged me to do it some more. 😄 Ultimately everyone was good-natured about the trailer issues. It added an interesting twist to the day. No harm done to the rest of us, everyone took it in stride and worked together to deal with it. 🙂
Try smugging..n... dance ..nez pierce pure
Maybe next time have your rigs blessed by a priest and also carry some holy water?
LOL 😆
You couldn’t do this with an electric vehicle!!
plenty of trails back in Oregon, just sayin
nothin in Idaho you can't see here
Noobs stay Noobs for a reason.......
They can't even learn from 1st hand experience.
😅😂 🤣 😭
You are way off base in your remark. You surely must have no idea of the experience of anyone on this crew. Wolfgang, owner and builder of the trailer, has been towing it the past twelve years all over similar terrain. While I shared skepticism about it myself, that was ultimately proven right, I would not say that Wolfgang has not already addressed the problems. He is, after all, an engineer who is quite talented with fabricating beautiful items. And he had another adventure scheduled in two weeks with his wife, with the trailer. So he headed home to effect necessary repairs and upgrades.
@@DxDOverland"experience"??? Sure sure sure.....
One important aspect of "experience" is knowing the limitations of your equipment AND yourself. 😅😂 🤣 🍻
too many people, not into it.
I'M from Idaho!!! What was that guy thinking??? Who brings a teardrop with zero clearance OFFROAD in Idaho??? Lol ... Idaho guarantees a storm every time.