Quote Originally Posted by Trek420 View Post
Trek only makes one touring bike? They make one of everything, I'm shocked they don't make a unicycle (maybe they do?)
No problem, there are lots and lots (and lots) of other builders to choose from
Check out V's Riv, beautiful, comfortable and light enough to do doubles on.
www.tandemhearts.com/wordpress/legolas/
The Rivendell Legolas (their cyclocross bike, which is what V. has) would cost two to four thousand dollars for a complete, depending on components and add-ons, etc. If you could get one. They've stopped making them for now.
Any other Rivendell would do well for touring- but their Atlantis model is specifically designed for heavy loaded touring. Again, a whole bike would likely run over $2,500. Seems out of the price range described.

A touring bike should have all the braze-ons necessary to attach front and back racks, panniers, and additional water bottle cages. If you plan to ride under dim light conditions you will need both headlights lights and rear lights, not just blinkies.
Most touring bikes I see in use do not have disc brakes. (I thought disc brakes were a mountain bike thing?) They do have a wide range of gearing to handle steep ascents.
You will not want to carry loads in backpacks- you'll want to have everything loaded on the bikes.

Fully loaded self-supported touring means tent, sleeping bags, sleeping pads if wanted, food, cooking gear if you want to do that, water, several tubes, clothes&toiletries, rain gear... The bike will need to be somewhat sturdy and will likely need to weigh about 25 lbs to handle medium heavy loads. Steel bikes are good for loaded touring.
Unless you are only touring in really flat areas, I myself can't see hauling 40 lbs worth of gear on a 25 lb bike and a dog/trailer combo of 70 lbs as well. This doesn't include your own weight. Well, I guess it could be done on flat routes. But then you wouldn't need disc brakes anyway.
Another consideration- will it be hot? If so, the dog would be pretty uncomfortable under the sun in a hot cramped trailer for hours at a time, bumping over the roads. Do think about whether the dog would actually enjoy the trip as much as you would enjoy having the dog along.

I humbly suggest you think of ways to make your first-time tour enjoyable and not an ordeal, so that your partner will want to do more! The second time around you will have a much better idea of what you'll want to bring and leave behind.
Why not try just an overnight lightly loaded tour with a tent etc on some bikes you already have to see how you like it before jumping in to buy new bikes? It's going to be fairly expensive for all the gear and bikes too.

Just some thoughts....