I am not sure about other trailers but I can tell you that I have a BOB Yak and am very pleased with it. I pull it behind my MTB and my road bike as well as the tandem. It is a very versatile trailer and works well on single tracks and mountain trails. I don't use any panniers on my road bike only a handle bar bag and the bike handles pretty good with all the camping gear etc. in the trailer.
The differance you will feel with a trailer is the "push" on tight corners and down hills. That is the only time I feel the trailer behind. If you are on off road trails you need to use a little more caution on down hills as your stopping distance is effected.
In my three years with the BOB I have had no problems at all except I lost a hitch pin once because I didn't clip it in properly.