Small heavy duty trailer

[TimberXX]

I love having plenty of trailer as much as the next guy, but I want something small to tow behind my wife's honda civic. I have seen trailers from both red trailer.com and harbor freight. But they don't seem tough enough. She will be towing 100 miles every month or so.

Here are the specs. Utility trailer 36 inches to 42 inches wide and 48 to 60 inches long. With a budget of 800 or less.

Any suggestions.

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[Diamondpilot]

Those little HF trailers with 12" wheels hold up amazingly well. I know of two that have been used an abused for 10 plus years with no issues.

Another good option is a snow mobile trailer.

Chris

 

[3930dave]

Depends in part how long you plan to own the car.

Older Civics were not tow rated. Present Canadian specs don't list a Tow Rating - my interpretation of that is Not Recommended.

If it was my Civic, and I was commited to towing with it, I'd swallow hard and price small aluminum trailers.

Not just Civics, but many cars today should not have a trailer harness directly spliced into the rear wiring, as the factory wire gauge is way too light to allow that.

Rgds, D.

 

[Renze]

What are you going to use it for ? i bet your wife wont haul the muck of her horses a 100 miles... average wife things dont need to be hauled in a heavy duty trailer...

 

[TimberXX]

From my manual the civic is rated at 1000 lbs.

The wife is only carrying 300 lbs tops, but I want her with a reliable trailer on the road. Heavy duty may be the wrong term, but something is a tough enough.

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[3930dave]

HF is a good price, hence popular. They are typically a bolt together trailer, so to me, (wife using) reliable would mean checking all the fasteners fairly often. You will need to add deck material to the HF trailer, so you need to allow for added $, weight.

When I say aluminum, I'm thinking something like this:

Aluma 4x6' Open Utility Trailer Stock#: 110596

For $1200 you get a fully ready to roll trailer with 1200# capacity, that only weighs 240#. You aren't presently looking for 1000# payload capacity, but mission creep sets in quick enough with trailers too....

If the above link doesn't work, it is an Aluma model 486 trailer. A bit more than you wanted to spend, but it's a fully welded trailer - no assembly needed, and strong right out of the box. I haven't used Aluma myself.

To me that doesn't seem like a terrible price (prices are higher this side of the border, so YMMV). If you haven't priced trailers before, keep looking around for New Old Stock - a dealer may have a 2013 or older for even less.

Rgds, D.

 

[Diamondpilot]

For $800 I could easily build a custom trailer that was light and strong. 400# for a 5th trailer with 12" wheels and a spare. This would leave 600# for payload.

Chris

 

[MikePA]

The wife is only carrying 300 lbs tops, but I want her with a reliable trailer on the road. Heavy duty may be the wrong term, but something is a tough enough.

It's a bit difficult to recommend a trailer without knowing 300 pounds of what. Does the trailer need sides? Does it need a ramp? etc.

 

[TimberXX]

300 lbs of plastic bins. There will be a total if two. We won't need a ramp.

 

[Diamondpilot]

300 lbs of plastic bins. There will be a total if two. We won't need a ramp.

Look at Cary On Teailers. They make a lightweight 5x5

Chris

 

[TimberXX]

The smallest I saw from them is 4x6. She thinks that is too big.

 

[Diamondpilot]

The smallest I saw from them is 4x6. She thinks that is too big.

Your going to have a hard time find one smaller unless custom built.

Chris

 

[aczlan]

300 lbs of plastic bins. There will be a total if two. We won't need a ramp.

$230 from Harbor Freight for a non-folding 40"x48" trailer with 12" tires: 40-1/2" x 48" Small Utility Trailer - 1090 Lb. Cargo Capacity
$53 for a spare tire: 12" Spare Tire and Rim
$12 for a 2" coupler (so that it can be towed with most anything): 2" x 2-1/2" Ball Coupler
$10 for extra nuts to double nut all connections (or just weld the pieces together in addition to the bolts)

To help her be seen, I would:
1. Replace the existing lights with LED lights $34: LED Trailer Light Kit - Includes Wiring & LED Trailer Lights
2. Make a "stick" for each side of the back and mount a second set of LED tail lights as seen here: Trailer Light madness - The Hull Truth - Boating and Fishing Forum so that they are 3-4' off the ground

And, if you really want to get fancy:
$30 for a spare tire holder: Trailer Spare Tire Carrier - Save on this Spare Tire Carrier (otherwise, just use a U bolt to the tongue)

Total would be $400ish before tax.

Aaron Z

 

[bigtiller]

my folks pulled one of these all over the U.S. with a full dress Harley.

2014 Aluma MCT | Thomas Bus Sales

 

[bcp]

I've seen several recommendations that you should bolt together the HF trailer frame, then have all the joints welded.

It would be convenient if the trailer could use the same spare tire as the car.

Bruce

 

[TimberXX]

my folks pulled one of these all over the U.S. with a full dress Harley. 2014 Aluma MCT | Thomas Bus Sales <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=364692"/>

Those trailers are very nice. They seem to be $2k.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I've seen several recommendations that you should bolt together the HF trailer frame, then have all the joints welded.

It would be convenient if the trailer could use the same spare tire as the car.

Bruce

I have assembled 2 HF trailers. No welding. Once the deck is installed they are plenty strong for the weights they are rated.

Chris

 

[Ford850]

I would get a HF trailer, use locktite on the bolts, and paint the assembled frame (bolts and all) to seal it up before adding the deck and lights. I also like aczlan's suggested improvements.
I bought a similar trailer at a Meijer store over 20 years ago. It's had light use, and has always been stored in a shed or barn. But still has original tires. This last year I removed the lights and adapted the tongue, added wood sides, and it is now in use weekly as a garden cart pulled by my smaller tractors and mowers. They are great little trailers.

 

[Renze]

She better change the Civic for a Wagon...

 

[handirifle]

My suggestion would be a 6x20 flat bed behind a 3/4 ton truck. Then pull the civic and a 4x4 trailer both onto the flat bed and tow it that way. Not to be snide, but personally I think using that civic to tow regularly will negate everything you ever read about a Honda's reliability.

When they rate that Honda for 1000, that INCLUDES the receiver and hitch, so that leaves about 900lbs for the trailer and payload. I bet that gas mileage goes from low 30's on the freeway, to about 12, with all that extra weight and wind drag. I will also be surprised if it will pull any hills at all in OD.

Haven't even gotten into braking on down hill grades.

I'd say it's time for a mini van for the wife.