Who can't do without a utility trailer?

[spruce Deere]

I like my trailer an 18 foot load trail. Haul'n firewood, tractors, implements, dead vehicles, swing sets, Ball and Burlap trees, garden mulch..... The list is long.

I would have a rough go of a lot of things If it was not for my trailer. My life is easier with one

For the price of maintenance and registration my trailers usefulness FAR outweighs the cost....

 

[Diamondpilot]

I have never thought a long ramp type tailgate on a UT would catch that much wind unless it was a solid type. Seems to me the towing vehicle would break up enough of the air that any resistance created by an open gate like mine would be minimal. But I may be wrong about that.

A mesh gate will cause more drag and resistance than a solid gate of the same square footage. Its much like driving a pickup with the tail gate down will actually result in worse mpg or with a net in its place. It all has to do with pressure differentials and drag surface.

Tough to explain but I have proven it in the wind tunnel when I was getting my aerospace degree. Mythbusters also proved it on a episode. I am sure it on you tube.


Chris

 

[JDgreen227]

A mesh gate will cause more drag and resistance than a solid gate of the same square footage. Its much like driving a pickup with the tail gate down will actually result in worse mpg or with a net in its place. It all has to do with pressure differentials and drag surface.

Tough to explain but I have proven it in the wind tunnel when I was getting my aerospace degree. Mythbusters also proved it on a episode. I am sure it on you tube.


Chris

With your degree and towing experience, I have no reservations that you are telling me the straight shoot about it. And by the way, congrats on nearing 10,000 posts here !!!

 

[rsewill]

A mesh gate will cause more drag and resistance than a solid gate of the same square footage. Its much like driving a pickup with the tail gate down will actually result in worse mpg or with a net in its place. It all has to do with pressure differentials and drag surface.

Tough to explain but I have proven it in the wind tunnel when I was getting my aerospace degree. Mythbusters also proved it on a episode. I am sure it on you tube.

Chris

Unlike a closed pickup truck tailgate I would expect a six foot ramp on a trailer to offer much more resistance in the up position than if the ramp pivoted all the way from the ground to the deck. Obviously that can't be done when loaded but unfortunately my rental place doesn't have a trailer that has that type of ramp. When I bought my CUT I pulled that trailer 400 miles empty into a wind and returned loaded with the wind. Empty I got 16 MPG and loaded I got 20 MPG, the tailgate up both ways.

I used to own a couple of end dumps that were built for demolition meaning big boxes and high tail gates. We always kept the tail gates closed unlike some truckers who let them blow in the wind when empty. No way to compare mileage but nice to know your wind tunnel tests show we were doing it more economically!

 

[Diamondpilot]

Another interesting demo we did was with a wind milling propeller. Say you have a engine failure on a piston drive or turbo prop aircraft. A windmilling propeller has more drag than a flat disc of say steel the same diameter. Hard to believe but it all has to do with the propeller being a airfoil, shaped just like a wing, and a by product of lift is drag. Its called induced drag.

Long story short. If you have a 5' propeller and allow it to windmill it produces more drag than say a 5' round kitchen table mounted in front of the airplane.

Chris

 

[s219]

I have a 12' tandem axle utility trailer that gets used alot, I had the pin up tailgate/ramp on the rear,but it caught to much air going down the road. So i converted it to ramps,the tailgate was handy for hauling wood,but agrivating for other tasks. I can use the ramps for the mowers,tractors,and what nots. LUTT

I'd be curious to see a picture of your mod. I have thought about doing this to my trailer too. That mesh tailgate is like a parachute above about 45 mph. I actually feel like pulling the empty trailer is a bigger load on my tow vehicle than when it has a tractor on board.

I am impressed how strong the tailgate is on my new 7x16' trailer -- it uses thin (0.065" wall) 2" square tube, but the tubes are spaced every 12", so there are 8 tubes across the 7' width. I had my doubts, but it's proven to be quite stiff, at a fraction of the weight of my smaller trailers tailgate. The smaller trailer uses 3/16" angle iron spaced 16".

 

[lutt]

I'd be curious to see a picture of your mod. I have thought about doing this to my trailer too. That mesh tailgate is like a parachute above about 45 mph. I actually feel like pulling the empty trailer is a bigger load on my tow vehicle than when it has a tractor on board.

I am impressed how strong the tailgate is on my new 7x16' trailer -- it uses thin (0.065" wall) 2" square tube, but the tubes are spaced every 12", so there are 8 tubes across the 7' width. I had my doubts, but it's proven to be quite stiff, at a fraction of the weight of my smaller trailers tailgate. The smaller trailer uses 3/16" angle iron spaced 16".

I will try to post a pic or two in the next couple of days,there was not nothing to it, just cut off the expanded metal,center part,and welded angle iron on the ramps,which is more or less what you have after you cut out the center.

 

[lutt]

A mesh gate will cause more drag and resistance than a solid gate of the same square footage. Its much like driving a pickup with the tail gate down will actually result in worse mpg or with a net in its place. It all has to do with pressure differentials and drag surface.

Tough to explain but I have proven it in the wind tunnel when I was getting my aerospace degree. Mythbusters also proved it on a episode. I am sure it on you tube.


Chris

Thanks for explaining this in while I was out,Chris,also,mine was a four foot,not a six,as someone mentioned earlier.It would knock off 2-3 mpg's off my pickup while in tow.

 

[timswi]

My 5x10 utility is perfect for misc stuff that is too big for a 6.5 foot bed where I don't feel like dragging a tendem around...Personally, I really couln't care less about the gas mileage with a gate, all I want to do is get the load home in one piece. I've pulled this on interstates and really didn't see much of a drag or mileage difference over a load in the bed..Not that it really mattered anyway. I got there and back , that was the main thing.

 

[77bronco]

Just did the five year California renewal for my utility trailer in California for $10

It's about the only deal we'll ever get out of the CA DMV. I currently have 4 trailers with the CA perm plates, so it's much cheaper than before when trailers were charged the same fees as cars. Back then, it was 2% of the purchase price with a 10-12 year scale to a minimum of about $30/yr.
I have friends that live in Utah, and trailers that weigh less than 750 lbs empty don't have to registered or plated, regardless of the GVW. There are a few states that don't license small utility trailers.

 

[JDgreen227]

It's about the only deal we'll ever get out of the CA DMV. I currently have 4 trailers with the CA perm plates, so it's much cheaper than before when trailers were charged the same fees as cars. Back then, it was 2% of the purchase price with a 10-12 year scale to a minimum of about $30/yr.
I have friends that live in Utah, and trailers that weigh less than 750 lbs empty don't have to registered or plated, regardless of the GVW. There are a few states that don't license small utility trailers.

Prior to Michigan changing over to permanent trailer registration my little 4X8 U-bild utility trailer was $16 per year based on the weight. Then it went to $75 minimum for the permanent plate...a lot of people with home made trailers were really ticked about it, like my neighbor, somebody gave him a welded up utility trailer with a Model A axle and he still had to pay $75 for a plate for it. When he got a better quality single axle trailer he didn't bother to inform the Secretary of State he got a new trailer and he, like several other people I know, didn't want to pay for a new plate and just reused the old one, as the odds of the police checking out registrations against the actual trailer are pretty low. My 4X8 has had the stick on VIN weathered away for ten years now.

 

[ultrarunner]

It's about the only deal we'll ever get out of the CA DMV. I currently have 4 trailers with the CA perm plates, so it's much cheaper than before when trailers were charged the same fees as cars. Back then, it was 2% of the purchase price with a 10-12 year scale to a minimum of about $30/yr.
I have friends that live in Utah, and trailers that weigh less than 750 lbs empty don't have to registered or plated, regardless of the GVW. There are a few states that don't license small utility trailers.

You're right and I wonder how long it will last...

I've spoken and protested in Sacramento on Auto Related issues...

Just got a renewal for my 72 Plymouth Valiant that I bought used in 1981 for $800... the renewal is $90... needless to say I will keep it "Registered" as non-op for $18

Unfortunately... I own several cars as old as 1976 that have to be smogged forever... so I no longer license these either... it can be very difficult to find Spitfire or BMW 2002 smog parts that were only used in California!

I use a trailer at least once a week or more... mostly a lot more...

 

[77bronco]

You're right and I wonder how long it will last...

I've spoken and protested in Sacramento on Auto Related issues...

Just got a renewal for my 72 Plymouth Valiant that I bought used in 1981 for $800... the renewal is $90... needless to say I will keep it "Registered" as non-op for $18

Unfortunately... I own several cars as old as 1976 that have to be smogged forever... so I no longer license these either... it can be very difficult to find Spitfire or BMW 2002 smog parts that were only used in California!

I use a trailer at least once a week or more... mostly a lot more...

It was a real screwing when they changed the smog check rules from a rolling 30 yr exemption, to the before 1975 rule. How many of these old cars are still on the road anyway? Just one more way to get more money for the state to squander...

 

[ultrarunner]

It was a real screwing when they changed the smog check rules from a rolling 30 yr exemption, to the before 1975 rule. How many of these old cars are still on the road anyway? Just one more way to get more money for the state to squander...

It was very dishonest because the law had always been 25 years or older... then they said they needed to change it to 30 and older to secure Federal Highway Funds... it wasn't much later they eliminated the rolling exemption and made the year permanent.

My Van is a 85 and my truck a 91... they are well maintained and the van is only used when I need it for specific job as it is a mobile workshop...

I spoke at the hearings at the capital and the legislature said they were on board... in the end... they did what they wanted...

At least trailers don't have engines... so I shouldn't have to worry about my trailer being regulated off the road.

 

[Monster5601]

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.

I think the question is going to become who can afford the gas to pull a trailer...

 

[bigdad]

Three people borrow mine, and they are all policemen...so I know they will take good care of my trailer. My way of thinking is, mine doesn't do any good parked so somebody may as well get some use out of it. In the near three years I have owned mine, it has been used maybe 36 times, and it cost me $1600 with the registration plate. That means it cost about $44.50 per use, and I could rent one for probably $25-30 per use. I am hoping in the next few years I can say it paid for itself....:thumbsup:

I lent my utility trailer to a policeman and he liked it so much he started borrowing it without asking. I never noticed that he took any special care of it.

 

[Wnc3]

I have a bunch of trailers that I could not do without. Don't forget to save your money and register them in Maine:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup: $90 for five years!

Now I know why so many container chasis run Maine plates....

 

[flusher]

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.

To answer your question in the title to your post--I can--using this baby--a 2004 Isuzu NPR/EFI stakebed (8x14 ft bed by Supreme, 6.0L GMC/Chevy LQ4 engine, 4L80-E 4-speed tranny, 4.777 to 1 rear axle, 12,000 lb GVWR, 18000 lb GCWR). Found it in Dec2010 on eBay (49500 miles, $11K).

It's wheelbase and overall length are about the same as my 2001 F150 short cab/long wheelbase PU and seats 3 just like the F150. No more screwing around trying to get palletized stuff (fertilizer, seed, concrete mix, etc) into a PU bed with a forklift.



Use the 10ft aluminum ramps to load my parade tractors ( about 3500 lb load) onto the bed. Those two 5000 lb/axle ramps cost about $750 including shipping (Discount Ramps), which is about what I paid for a 5x10 ft landscape utility trailer at Home Depot in 2006.

Put an 8000 lb Warn winch on the NPR to load non-running tractors (I collect and restore old iron).

 

[JDgreen227]

I remember seeing your medium duty truck in another post here. It's a beautiful rig and you should be proud of it. However, what you pay per year for insurance and registration would probably be enough to buy a utilty trailer, plus it's not easy for a lot of us to justify keeping a large vehicle parked during the time we are not using it. The last medium duty truck I drove for a living was a '96 F800 with a 5.9 Cummins and 16 foot cargo box with a liftgate. Since I was the only driver there with a CDL, after I left my employer put it up for sale, and I would have loved to buy it but the insurance and registration would have been more than I could justify spending.

 

[Creamer]

I can't. 18 acre property with 14 underwater. I use my 5' x 10' utility trailer all the time. Firewood, gravel, mulch, building supplies, tree branches, hay, my tractor, lawnmower, you name it. I pull it with my truck or my tractor. Keeps me from getting my truck dirty and scratched. I got a tilt bed with removable sides so I can drive things on it, dump stuff off of it, leave at the site loaded, etc. I can put firewood in it with the sides on it and tarp and park outside my basement for easy access for getting the firewood in the house. I can use the tractor and pull it into a tree lot where I cannot get to with my truck.

I haul a lot of stuff in my truck and wouldn't be without it but the trailer saves a lot of clean-up effort and the tilt makes it easier loading and unloading.