Im thinking about taking a Giant TCX 1 cross country. I realize I will probably need a trailer because of this. I want a bike that i will be able to ride around after the trip so I dont want some incredibly heavy touring bike like the LHT and want to keep the price below 2 grand. Any advice on whether or not this is a sound idea or any other bikes like it and good trailers?

The LHT won't be an increadibly heavy bike. It will be heavier than a racing bike. If you remove the racks, fenders and put light wheels and tires there won't be much difference from a racing bike and it will be much more useful.

If you're interested in a cross bike, just buy one with fittings for a rear rack and then you needn't bother with a trailer.

it can be one option. I'd suggest working back from the load you intend on carrying and seeing if that can fit by itself on an acceptable CX bike. If your load is light enough and you aren't a heavy person then why not get a CX bike that can adapt to touring, like the Cross-Check or similar, that when stripped to racing wheels is a decent bike. If you go straight to racing CX bikes you kind of force yourself into carrying an extra 8lbs-12lbs of trailer to save the racing wheels as well as lose the opportunity to carry gear on the front fork.
But if your load is big for one reason or another, multi-day camping comfort, then a trailer makes a lot of sense. I'd just be shy about putting racing wheels through touring loads/braking even if it was with a trailer.
I met a fellow who road about 9/10 across the US on a Cross-Check with trailer and he said if he did it again he'd do without the trailer.

Giant is a Huge manufacturer of many brands of bikes... Merida is another big factory.
so in that, popular category its pretty crowded now.

A commuter bike with disc brakes is pretty much like a cross bike now..
If you don't need the bike to be really light to race with it.

consider like a Trek Portland, or a Redline Conquest classic .. they fall in that zone..

SOMA has a touring frame too, they thought ahead .. fitting a kickstand ..

Hi,
I've been riding the steel framed Bianchi Volpe for a few years. It has handled all the poor roads I've ridden in Taiwan. Functional and quick. Front and rear braze ons too. I think the new ones go for around $1200US. Salsa's Casserole is another option. If I had to buy only one bike I'd buy this one again.

i see all sorts of bikes touring the Oregon Coast..
define 'incredibly heavy' , I doubt the frameset weighs a pound more than the crosscheck.

+1

You might be able to build a fast touring bike from the Gunnar Fast Lane for under $2000. https://gunnarbikes.com/site/bikes/fast-lane/

This is a lighter touring trailer for touring. It attaches to the axle and should work well for you.

https://www.extrawheel.com/en/3/voyager_trailer/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ijnE...embedded#at=32

If you want a general purpose, doitall style of road bike then CX will work, but I would look for one with rack and fender fittings and 2 waterbottle fittings.
Race-level CX bikes have totally clean frames to prevent the buildup of mud. Lower grade CX bikes often have more fittings. Now that disks are permitted, we are seeing some and they are a good choice but make sure the rear disk is rack-compatible.

Trailers are certainly a good touring solution on the open road. Not so good for mixing in with train and for getting through obstacles on bike paths. BOB trailers are the usual brand, pulled directly from the wheel spindle, not the bike frame.