looking to buy utility trailer

[tadagio]

never purchased a trailer like this before. Would be used to haul hay, the tractor to repair shop etc (champion MT285) and other farm related stuff that won't fit in the truck bed.
Found what seems to be a nice trailer "18' long with 2-3500lb axles with brakes. It was made by Mid-Atlantic". When I go to look what type of questions? I use my chevy 1/2 (heavy duty tow pkg) ton to pull my two horse tall/wide with no problems will it haul this? What is the going price on this type of trailer. Or any other advice would be well received
Thanks in advance

 

[RobertBrown]

You're truck will pull it no problem, empty. Even if you max it out a 7,000#. You're truck will pull it. stopping it is another, more important question.
So maybe you should ask about the brakes, trailer brakes. First off does it have them? Are they on one axle or both? Are they electric or hydraulic? Hydraulic brakes are way more expensive. I'm guessing that this trailer will have electric and on one axle only.
Is that what you want?
What about the tires? Good trailer tires are expensive. If this trailer has 4 car tires rated at 750# each, you need to know that. Because if you think you can put 7,000# on this trailer and be safe well.......
The hitch: What kind of hitch do you want, for a trailer that size, a bulldog is probably the best, or the most desireable.
If this trailer has brakes and you want to use them and they are not hydraulic then you need to understand that you will have to have a controller. If your truck is not equipped then you will have to add one. if you do it your self, plan on 150$, maybe more.
It's hard to say what this trailer is worth based on what you've mentioned. A few years back I purchased an 18' with (2) 5,000# axels with electric brakes on all 4 wheels, bulldog hitch, good tires, new for 3k.
It is 81" wide, wide enough to put a car or p/u truck on. and it has 2 1/2" pipe rails all the way around 3 sides 16" high, with a spare tire and spare mount, and of couse a color coordinated jack by the hitch.

Oh yes it's got ramps that store underneath, very convienent,

 

[tadagio]

truck is already set up and pulling a horse trailer so I am good with brakes. Lots of good information thanks :thumbsup:

 

[MESSMAKER]

My neighbor bought a new Gator that sounds about the same for about 2 grand last year.

 

[George2615]

No doubt that the truck will pull it.
I don't know where you are located but trailer price will depend on your location. Here in the N.E. trailers cost more. A trailer that costs say$2500. in Ky could cost about $3200 here due to shipping costs to get it here. Dealers add that directly on top of their selling price. Generally if you live in a state where trailers are built they usually cost less.

You mentioned you are going to haul hay. Is a 7K trailer going to be up to the task?

 

[Diamondpilot]

Just remember that 7K is the total, that includes the weight of the trailer that is about 1,800# so your payload will be somewhere around 5,200# payload.

Chris

 

[dodge man]

I bought a similar trailer for a little over 2k about 3 years ago.

 

[tadagio]

Thanks for all your information, it will certainly help in my decision

 

[Bigfoot62]

RobertBrown gave you some great advice. I want to add emphasis to the tire issue. Last week, my cousin called and asked me to go pick up his tractor, a NH 3010. He was hauling it on his 16' bumper pull trailer and blew out both tires on the right side. He verified that you can't get by with a 5000# tractor, loaded on a trailer that has 4 ply rated CAR TIRES, in 100+ degree temps.
Point is, you need to figure on 6PR TRAILER tires, at the very least. 8PR would be better.

 

[bones66]

Fellows don't get aggravated at what I'm saying. I have tossed this issue around for some time. One day I'm on one side the nest day I'm on the other. I will say I have always put trailer tires on my trailers. The fact that I had a blowout last evening on my trailer make this subject fresh on my mind. Also one that I will be dealing with as I have to replace a tire or 2. Can anyone on this forum say they get good wear (longevity and even tread wear) from a trailer tire? Neither I nor any of my friends can, we would accept our car tires to develop the wear patterns that show up on our trailers. My trailer hauls less than 2000 lbs about 3 times a month no more than 30 miles each time. And then for about 9 months a year. I have used it 6-8 other times to haul an automobile or tractor short distances of less than 30 miles. My tires are not worn out but have irregular wear to them. Just wanting to fill ya in. We talk about car tires or automobile tires. Gentlemen in this classification of tire we include pickup trucks tires also. Many of these PU's have a GVWR of near that 7000 lbs on those "car tires"? Before you fire back at me too hard remember last nights deal and I realize it could have happened with car tires also. I believe we are being sold swam land and bridges over dry land by the tire manufactures! Fire away!

 

[Diamondpilot]

I can honestly say I have had much better luck with certian brands of trailer tires then others. You could not give me a Goodyear or Carlisle. I will never run them again. Got stupid this spring with Goodyears again and blew 2 of the 4 in the first 800 miles. I will also never run a bias tire again. I have not ran them for 15 years.

Greenball, Maxxis, and Gladiator have been good to me. Keep them inflated properly and balance the tires. Most do not do this but it makes a difference, I dont give a **** what the tire guy says, and they will last 5 years. After that you are playing with a live bomb due to dry rot.

Also, the best thing you can do for a trailer that sits for more than a month at a time is jack it up and put it on stands. Flat spots kill tires quickly. Does not happen on cars and trucks just because they get moved.

Chris

 

[bones66]

I can honestly say I have had much better luck with certian brands of trailer tires then others. You could not give me a Goodyear or Carlisle. I will never run them again. Got stupid this spring with Goodyears again and blew 2 of the 4 in the first 800 miles. I will also never run a bias tire again. I have not ran them for 15 years.

Put new Goodyear Marathons on my boat trailer this year but it was a have to case. My next set on this trailer will probably be car tires as it's a flat bottomed boat and I don't think weight will ever be an issue!

Greenball, Maxxis, and Gladiator have been good to me. Keep them inflated properly and balance the tires. Most do not do this but it makes a difference, I dont give a **** what the tire guy says, and they will last 5 years. After that you are playing with a live bomb due to dry rot.

Never heard of Greenball or Gladiator. I did call a dealer today. He carried Goodride and Hercules (made by Cooper). I had never heard of these either.

Also, the best thing you can do for a trailer that sits for more than a month at a time is jack it up and put it on stands. Flat spots kill tires quickly. Does not happen on cars and trucks just because they get moved.
Chris

Don't know if a month will do it but I do believe they will flat spot or something happens internally but a month seems like a short time, but you might be right.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Put new Goodyear Marathons on my boat trailer this year but it was a have to case. My next set on this trailer will probably be car tires as it's a flat bottomed boat and I don't think weight will ever be an issue!




Never heard of Greenball or Gladiator. I did call a dealer today. He carried Goodride and Hercules (made by Cooper). I had never heard of these either.


Don't know if a month will do it but I do believe they will flat spot or something happens internally but a month seems like a short time, but you might be right.

Hercules and Gladiator are one in the same. Only complaint with them is they stink, literally. Not sure why but they do.

As for flat spotting I use all my trailers every week so I have no problems but when I put the 75 or so boats we take care of for the winter they all go on jack stands. Tire issues got cut by 2/3 when we took the time to put them on stands.

Chris

 

[crazyal]

If your tires are going to be sitting for a long time then I like to put some armorall on them, just spray it on and let it soak in. I think it really helps keep the rubber from drying out.

 

[Bigfoot62]

Fellows don't get aggravated at what I'm saying.. . . We talk about car tires or automobile tires. Gentlemen in this classification of tire we include pickup trucks tires also. Many of these PU's have a GVWR of near that 7000 lbs on those "car tires"? Before you fire back at me too hard remember last nights deal and I realize it could have happened with car tires also. . . Fire away!

I can only speak for myself, but I used "CAR" tires in the generic sense. That includes light truck tires. Specifically, I was referring to the "load range" or maximum load rating of a tire. Most folks here still go by the old "Ply Rating" on tires. 4pr is a "car" tire or light truck; 6pr is a little heavier (that's what I ran on a 1/2 ton; 8pr was for medium duty trailers, etc; and 10pr (Load range E) was for 3/4 and 1 ton "real" trucks and heavy trailers. FWIW, I have 14pr tires on my fifth wheel camper trailer.

BTW, my cousin put 4 ply rating tires on a F250 diesel pickup, and they blew out too. (same guy that put 4pr "car" tires on his utility trailer) :mur:

I don't think anyone here is going to "Fire Away" at you. He asked for our opinions, and you gave yours. That's what a forum is about.

 

[Bigfoot62]

I can honestly say I have had much better luck with certian brands of trailer tires then others. You could not give me a Goodyear or Carlisle. I will never run them again. . . .

Same here. I've had very good service from Titan and TowMaster trailer tires.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Same here. I've had very good service from Titan and TowMaster trailer tires.

TowMasters are made by GreenBall.

Chris

 

[bones66]

Hercules and Gladiator are one in the same. Only complaint with them is they stink, literally. Not sure why but they do.

Stinky tire is a new one for me!

As for flat spotting I use all my trailers every week so I have no problems but when I put the 75 or so boats we take care of for the winter they all go on jack stands. Tire issues got cut by 2/3 when we took the time to put them on stands.

Chris

That's interesting.........what do ya think about just rolling them a fraction of a turn periodically?

Spoke with a trailer tire dealer yesterday about this trailer tire vs car tire. Lets for this conversation keep in mind load rating and compare apples to apples. He said of course use trailer tires on trailers. I asked about the full sized pickup truck with the GVWR's they have. Broken down they are carrying the same (aprox) weight per tire as a trailer staying within the limits of the trailer. He then used the reason as the trailer tire has a different sidewall than a vehicle tire. I responded that if they were both rated for the same weight and the major difference was the sidewall then the concern must be parking lot or close quarter cornering and not high speed or road related? He then threw out the blanket statement "I know what works for me". I almost took this as an I give up. He's a business friend and we get along well so no feeling were hurt, entirely friendly discussion. This could be a legal issue also as many things are nowadays. As Bill O'Reilly would say "What say You"?

 

[Diamondpilot]

Another issue beside the sidewall construction is a truck tire carries about 1/2 the weight 90% of the time. A trailer tire carries about 90% of the weight 90% of the time.

I have used truck tires and got no better results. I still had flats, ect.

Bottom line is trailer are just tough on tires. Only 3 things I have found that makes them last longer is Balancing them, Proper air pressure, and Keeping the weight off them when not in use.

I do not worry about my car hauler. Its about 1,400# empty with over 7,000# of tire capacity and its used every few weeks in the spring though summer. Maybe once or twice in the winter but the weight is not enough to flat spot them. A camper or boat is another story.

Chris

 

[bones66]

Another issue beside the sidewall construction is a truck tire carries about 1/2 the weight 90% of the time. A trailer tire carries about 90% of the weight 90% of the time.

I don't know any of my friends that do this 90% weight 90% of the the time. Most like me bought a trailer for more than they need most of the time just to be covered the few times they do need that extra.

I have used truck tires and got no better results. I still had flats, ect.

Bottom line is trailer are just tough on tires. Only 3 things I have found that makes them last longer is Balancing them, Proper air pressure, and Keeping the weight off them when not in use.

I do not worry about my car hauler. Its about 1,400# empty with over 7,000# of tire capacity and its used every few weeks in the spring though summer. Maybe once or twice in the winter but the weight is not enough to flat spot them. A camper or boat is another story.

Chris

I balance everything I put on a vehicle. I agree it pay dividens to do so. Air pressure???? Another can of worms ......who do you listen to the tire mfg. on the sidewall or trailer mfg.?