I prefer a FS, but I also have a rigid (that cost me next to nothing). So, if you have the room for it, having a second bike that better suits the job won't be too costly.
But I like to ride the FS for comfort, and with little room on the frame to carry gear, for the long trips I like to use a trailer.
I load most of my gear on it to keep the bike light, then I leave the trailer at camp to ride some trails. I think this works well.
But like Toby said, on the straight rides, I don't notice the trailer. Turning with it will take some getting used to, tho. (hint) It seems that packing the weight toward the back of the trailer handles better.
Another cheap and easy option- a back pack. I pack my gear in one, I just prefer to haul it on the trailer.
In the end- what ever gets you on the trails is the best idea.

Everything you decribed in my gear weighs close to 35 pounds, but I dont mind carrying a little extra weight. It adds to the challenge.
Hope that helps.

LMAO! I had to share this on Facebook!

I wish that there was a device that would lock the front brakes after ten or twenty pedal revolutions. Whoops!
[/quote]

I LOVE THIS IDEA! lol.

I go for comfort. I have ridden a DS for the last ten years (the same one, with few problems) on all types of terrain. As I get up there in age, DS is alot easier on the body, and my wife agrees.
I can carry everything I need for 2-3 nights in a backpack and a duffle on the rear cargo rack (that clamps only to the seat post to allow for suspension). I think my 'y' frame limits my packing options, tho. I also have a 'bob' trailer, but I don't have much of a need for it.
That's my 2 cents.
 

I have a homemade Bob trailer, and I love it.
Mine weighs about 10 lbs empty, and a 30 lbs load isn't much for it. With practice, you can use the chainsaw to cut the downed trees on the trail, load the wood on the Bob, then haul it to the campsite and use it for the fire

I carry Jesus sandles for the camp site. Compact, less than a pound, and they fit nicely in the pack. After a day of riding and hiking, it feels good to get out of the boots!

The small duffle works great with 2 bungees. 

For those who don't-
Geocaching- I use multi-million dollar military satellites to find tupperware hidden in the woods.
In other words, it's a world-wide easter egg hunt using the GPS sysytem.

Over a million caches are hidden world wide, waiting to be found. I do this when ever I can, and love doing this on my bike. On every terrain, either on a back woods trail or in a large city. When biking, this helps break up a trip into smaller segments and allows you to get off the bike to stretch out while you hunt for a few minutes. A fun way to use my Garmin Etrex GPS! 

Check it out at
www.geocaching.com

I'm the Waterloo/Waverly area.  Backbone allows bikes on most of the trails, but a few are hiking only.
I recently found out about Decorah and Sugar Bottom and hope to ride them before too long. There are some in the Des Moines area that I will be riding soon, as well.

Hello, I'm Dallas.
I'm from Iowa and in my mid-30's. I've been riding bikes and loving the rugged outdoors since I was 7. My first bikepacking trip was when I was 16 (way before I knew it was a sport). I loaded up my camping equip and hauled it 25 miles (all road), just because it sounded like a fun challenge. I've been hooked since.
But the flat stretches of Iowa roads became boring , so I started MT biking (mountains in Iowa? ok, off roading). The closest place for this is Backbone State Park, where they have 10 miles of MTB trails and a primitive campground. This has slowly redirected me back to the sport I now know as bikepacking.

My equipment- I have an el cheapo 18 speed, 26 inch, dual suspension Roadmaster. It has lasted 10 years and over 1500 miles on not-so-flat terrain.
As a metal fabricator, I have built my own cargo rack and 'Bob' trailer.
I never go anywhere without my Garmin Etrex Venture HC.

My next big trip is the Centennial Trail in the Black Hills National Forest, SD in the spring of 2011. I'm looking for riding buddies for this one.