MTB or Toruing bike for touring with bob yak

[Kittery Rider]

Hey all, I am wondering what you all think, prefer with a bob yak.  Pros and cons of touring bike or MTB for touring.  Pulling a Bob yak.  I think I am leaning to the trailer instead of panniers.  Is a mtb comfortable and efficent enough for the long haul?  Thanks

[John Nelson]

Touring where?

For touring on paved roads in first world countries, a touring bike will always be better (mostly because it will be lighter, but for a few other reasons too). That's not to say you cannot also do it on a MTB.

[Kittery Rider]

Oh sorry, yes on roads.  The maine coast and the mountain roads of NC. thanks

[Pat Lamb]

Mountain roads of NC are steep, and you'll feel every pound.  Trailers are often heavier than racks and panniers, and it's easier to overpack (we met one guy just past the Blue Ridge Parkway who had towed an ice chest up and over on his trailer!).  For those reasons, I'd go with touring bike and panniers.

[John Nelson]

Yes, I would have recommended panniers too if you had asked. But you seem set on the trailer, and there are certainly people who prefer trailers.

[Kittery Rider]

Oh  no not set on a trailer at all.  Just looking into the touring thing and want to get as much info prior to buying more gear.  I am a backpacker with bad knees, so I understand going light is really important. Panniers over trailer?

[staehpj1]

Oh  no not set on a trailer at all.  Just looking into the touring thing and want to get as much info prior to buying more gear.  I am a backpacker with bad knees, so I understand going light is really important. Panniers over trailer?

Given that you want to go light, I'd say panniers are likely to be the best bet.  That said I have speculated that if you go with a light bicycle paired up with a light trailer and no racks, it might be possible to get total bike + load weight as low or lower with a trailer.    I don't think many riders actually accomplish that though.

For me the lightest I have managed to pack is very close to 50 pounds combined bike and gear weight sans food and water.  That is with two smallish panniers on the front and the tent on top of the rear rack.  I have not actually toured with that setup yet (I leave Saturday for a month on the Pacific Coast).

BTW on the MTB vs touring bike...
I'd suggest at least getting some fairly skinny tires with minimal or no tread if you go with a MTB.  I'd also think that if it is suspended, that would be a disadvantage and I'd want to be able to lock out the suspension.

[John Nelson]

Almost everything that could be said in the panniers vs. trailer debate has already been said. Start here (just a small sampling):

http://www.adventurecycling.org/resources/panniersversustrailer_03.pdf
http://www.adventurecycling.org/features/bigdebate.cfm
http://www.adventurecycling.org/forums/index.php?topic=4527.0
http://www.adventurecycling.org/forums/index.php?topic=8217.15
http://www.adventurecycling.org/forums/index.php?topic=6860.0
http://www.adventurecycling.org/forums/index.php?topic=4696.0
http://www.adventurecycling.org/forums/index.php?topic=6860.0;wap2
http://www.adventurecycling.org/forums/index.php?topic=2945.0

I will only offer one thought. About 3 out of 4 people you see out on the road touring are using panniers. That tells you something.

[ChromolyWally]

I've only toured on an mtb with panniers and it works so well I see no need to look into a touring bike, or a trailer.  The mtb is rigid frame, an old Specialized Hard Rock 7-speed.  Stock gearing.    Out of curiosity I once weighed my racks and panniers (Ortlieb Front and Backrollers) to compare them with the weight of a trailer (BOB Yak Plus) and the Yak was heavier by 4 pounds.  I am not by any means an ultralight tourer and have no desire to become one (bike, bags, gear, food, water, and the kitchen sink, usually weigh in at about 80 pounds), but an extra 4 pounds is too much for me, especially when panniers already work so well.  If I had a lighter bike that might not handle the weight of the panniers so well, I'd definitely look at the Yak though.  To each his/her own.

[bogiesan]

thanks for the contribution. Hardly anyone ever actually weighs their rigs, excellent data.
I will add there are two other figures worth considering: add all of your consumables such as food and water AND the rider, and then calculate the ratio of your body mass compared to the total weight you will be pushing.

[ChromolyWally]

I usually start a tour weighing about ten pounds over twice the loaded rig weight, and end the tour 5 to ten pounds under.  Wish I could keep that weight off between tours.