Who can't do without a utility trailer?

[gregfender]

I have discovered that I can't do without a trailer. I am tired of loading everything in my truck bed. My 5x10 utility trailer is the perfect platform for haling lumber, mulch, rock, block, and anything else that would mess up the truck bed.

Just an observation. I wonder who else feels like this.

 

[MoKelly]

I agree 100%. Much easier and simpler to use a small trailer vs. the bed. Plus, its better on my back.:thumbsup:

MoKelly

 

[dusty3030]

Me too. You can spot the trailer and leave it! If I'm getting a bunch of lumber or such I'd rather use it off the trailer at the project site. Might not get done that day or the next.

Lot easier to load and unload too. Getting appliances in the house I back up to the back porch and the drop gate on my little trailer lines up perfect. Wheel it straight off the trailer onto the porch and into the house.

 

[JD230511]

I also agree. I'm young ( 30 ) and don want to crawl in and out of my truck. So I have a 12x6 trailer that does most the hauling. Fire wood, helping friends move, etc. I also have a 16x6.5 ( I think can't remember exact width.) that gets the bigger stuff.

 

[bucktaker]

why do you own a truck?? min has a 8 foot bed that doesnt need extra tires, grease,lights,license

I do own a trailer.... will not dump 5 ton gravel over my truck bed nor haul equipment on it but for the size you describe a truck bed better

 

[Rancher Ed]

Interesting. We have a 12' x 80" 7K trailer, and 18' and 20' 7K car hauler trailers (plus a horse trailer and a stock trailer), and 2 crew cab long bed 1 ton diesel pickups. The trailers are great for getting hay in the summer and moving the tractors when needed (rarely), but we use the trucks for pretty much everything else. The 12' trailer has been really handy pulled behind the tractor cleaning up all the branch that came down during the snow & ice storm last month, but normally it sits most of the year.
Two of the reasons we don't use the trailers are due to the ground is soft over half the year, and trying to get a trailer positioned wherever tears the ground up a lot more that just using the trucks, and the 12' trailer can be a pain to position because of how short is it (compared to our rigs). Plus, it is easier to just use the trucks!

So aside from hauling hay into the barns in the summer, I would say we could do without the flatbed trailers pretty easily. If you had a short bed truck or the even shorter ones on some half tons, and your ground didn't turn to mud the second time you drove on it, I could see where a little trailer would be handy, especially if you had a short wheelbase tow rig to maneuver with.

Ed

 

[radioman]

90 percent of time I love trailers. easier to load, carry stuff, unload, getting extra capacity to carry awkward stuff. Also it allows me not to worry what to buy like a blazer or van as long it has towing capacity and still carry the kids.

 

[catskinner]

I haul a trailer everywhere, I'll just put tools in the truck, material in the trailer. I have a lawn cart all the way to a 28' gooseneck, about 6 trailers in all. doing firewood my 5x8 utility works great, haul it with the quad or truck, or tractor.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I do half and half. Only trailer I did not like was my GN. Hated losing my bed.

Chris

 

[s219]

Yep, I am a big fan. I've had a smaller trailer for years, but recently got a 7x16 7K landscaper to haul my tractor. Today, I picked up a 20' culvert pipe and a yard of #57 gravel. Tomorrow I will pickup a few yards of crusher run.

 

[bp fick]

Utility trailer. Absolutely. Wouldn't be without it, on the road and very useful around the place as well, when hooked to the tractor.

 

[creekbend]

I have two utility trailers, 5x8, 6x18. I also have a trailer made from the bed of a Dodge Power Wagon. I use this trailer quite a lot. I have a 3-point hitch that I hook it up to the tractor.

 

[ljohnson778]

I definitely wouldn't be without my utility trailer. Got a 20'er for hauling the tractor, but otherwise don't use that one too much.

 

[dstig1]

Certain things the trailer is better, but if i can put it in the (8') bed, I will. Much easier overall. I can get 3 yds of mulch in the bed if heaped a little. 2 face cord of split wood. A ton or two of lumber. Etc

 

[75H2]

count me in. I "want" a PU, but can't justify the expense. A trailer is much more practical. We have a 6.5 by 12 utility trailer. I bought is as a demo from a dealer for just over 1K. Other than my tractor the trailer is the most practical / useful think I've ever bought.

 

[ultrarunner]

I started my house rehab business back in 1982 with a 4 door Plymouth valiant and a 4 x 6 utility trailer that could haul 4 x 8 sheet goods with the gate down...

The combination saved my a ton of money just on registration fees...

The 72 Valiant with roof rack would routinely transport everything from Water Heaters to 60' for 6' redwood fence with posts and concrete mix...

Used the trailer for dump runs and bulk items... 30 years later I still have both... plus a couple of more trailers a van and a pickup...

I still use the little trailer the most... just so easy to load and unload and the steel deck can't be damaged... and it is easy to hand wheel around the yard...

The most expensive item so far has been a Medical Laser that cost 500K...

Oh... the I'm still using the new tires I bought for it back in 85...

 

[ccdck20hst]

Indispensable for those of us who do not have a pickup truck. About 1991 I bought my used 4' X 8" box trailer for $320. Best money I ever spent. Have had over 1,500 lbs. in it I estimate. Furniture, brush, gravel, wood chips, small boats and anything else that fits get taken move. Don't have to worry about scratching it. Recently I built 2 large work benches and a large three shelf storage rack (3' deep, 8 feet wide and about 6' in height using the Simpson Strong-Tie KWB! Workbench hardware Kit). The trailer was the perfect work platform to use. Leveled the trailer and cut the lumber using the trailer bed and sides as fence to keep everything in place as I cut it. Still would not mind owning a pickup.

 

[sandman2234]

With the purchase of my last p/u (and fifth wheel trailer), I also lost the bed of my truck. I miss it to a point that I just made a call to the previous owner to ask if he would bring the gooseneck hitch that fits the trailer so I can take the fifth wheel hitch off. I may not like a gooseneck after I try it, due to the hookup problems, but I am going to give it a shot to see if I can reclaim my p/u bed. I do like having a trailer but often I "find" stuff on the way that might not be available if I have to go to the house to grab a trailer, if I have time to do that.
David from jax

 

[rsewill]

I own a car with a hitch. The rest I rent from our friendly rental store.

 

[dstig1]

Oh sure, if you don't have a PU and aren't going to get one, then a trailer is a no-brainer. But the OP was talking about using the PU bed vs the trailer. Big difference. I still say the bed is much easier for most things. There are exceptions. Long lumber, monster loads, etc.