Small heavy duty trailer

[aczlan]

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.

If his wife has a 3-400# trailer with 300# of stuff in two totes, thats not going to be much different of a load on the car than 4 big guys in the car with a pod on the roof and a full trunk...

Aaron Z

 

[handirifle]

True, but when you load those guys in the car, AND the trailer......that's what usually happens.

From the OP's first post it seemed like it would be a regular thing. Civic's not really a tow vehicle to me, but to each their own.

 

[TimberXX]

Its a once per month or once every other month. Its doesn't make sense to be driving more card than we need. I drove a pickup as a daily driver for years. I know its rough to have too much vehicle.

 

[TimberXX]

But thanks for the suggestions guys!

 

[Ford850]

Those small trailers are easy to pull. The one I described above is now pulled by my BCS 2 wheel tractor. They are so light weight your car won't notice a thing, even with a couple hundred pounds on it.

 

[The Fred]

I use a Triton single place aluminum snowmobile trailer behind a Jetta Diesel. You don't know it's behind you except for the noise. It can be lifted with one hand when it is attached to the trailer ball. I don't think it weighs 200 pounds.

I say go for it, Fred

Triton Elite5 snowmobile trailer

 

[aczlan]

I use a Triton single place aluminum snowmobile trailer behind a Jetta Diesel. You don't know it's behind you except for the noise. It can be lifted with one hand when it is attached to the trailer ball. I don't think it weighs 200 pounds.
I say go for it, Fred
Triton Elite5 snowmobile trailer

A 5' by 12' trailer that weighs 375# to carry a load that is 36" to 42" wide and 48" to 60" long?

Aaron Z

 

[The Fred]

It's long enough to handle nicely. How wide is a snowmobile? Can't remember I quit riding when I turned 100 years old.

Fred

 

[Renze]

I know its rough to have too much vehicle.

then why punish that Civic with a "heavy duty" trailer behind it ??? Dont buy more trailer than you need, or you're going to need more car

 

[MESSMAKER]

Get a H.F. trailer and don't worry. Tt is just what you need. Use it till the tires wear out(5-7 years). Sell it for what you paid for it, and buy another. They do take a few hours to put together because of the number of bolts, but it is not difficult. You also need to get a 4 x 8 sheet of waterproof plywood home for the trailer you don't have yet.

 

[bcp]

You also need to get a 4 x 8 sheet of waterproof plywood home for the trailer you don't have yet.

Build the trailer, then go buy the plywood and carry it home on the trailer.

Bruce

 

[GLyford]

I used to go camping with the back of a longbed ranger full to the top of the cap, with a few more things on the top. With the same amount of gear but now half of it in one of the HF 12" wheel 4x8's (and 20" sides) I had more power and better mileage from the reduced wind resistance. It was a lot less stressful, the truck handled better, I could see out the back window, and loading and unloading was much easier.

I now find I use the little trailer all the time around the house. I'll throw all the brush from cleaning up the yard in it and take it to the town drop-off once it's full, without having to have a partial load in the truck when I need it for something else, or leave messy piles in the yard until I'm ready to go.

 

[zr2blz]

HF 4' x 8' pulled to CA empty and back to CO with this load (best quess 500lb). Note I did weld all bolts and nuts and metal to metal that I could. This is a 2013 Sonic RS with 6 sp Manual 1.4 Turbo. Max speed going was 70 and 65 coming back (55 in CA both ways).

 

[TimberXX]

Thanks the the advice guys. I am going to pick one up and give it a shot.

 

[texasjohn]

OK, thinking of the wife and the reliability you are interested in....consider the following...
A spare tire, jack, lug wrench with long handle, teach her how to use these...maybe store all of them in a plastic pickup truck tool box.
Get a set of ropes, tarps, tie down ratchets...and make sure there are tie down points...add them if not already there in the trailer. Teach the wife how to back the trailer, both straight and on a curve...and how to tie down the load. Now, she's ready to hit the road!

 

[Diamondpilot]

OK, thinking of the wife and the reliability you are interested in....consider the following...
A spare tire, jack, lug wrench with long handle, teach her how to use these...maybe store all of them in a plastic pickup truck tool box.
Get a set of ropes, tarps, tie down ratchets...and make sure there are tie down points...add them if not already there in the trailer. Teach the wife how to back the trailer, both straight and on a curve...and how to tie down the load. Now, she's ready to hit the road!

All great advise.

Chris

 

[MESSMAKER]

View attachment 366855

HF 4' x 8' pulled to CA empty and back to CO with this load (best quess 500lb). Note I did weld all bolts and nuts and metal to metal that I could. This is a 2013 Sonic RS with 6 sp Manual 1.4 Turbo. Max speed going was 70 and 65 coming back (55 in CA both ways).

I would like to see the trailer on the white car. Is that a Lamborghini?

 

[MESSMAKER]

OK, thinking of the wife and the reliability you are interested in....consider the following...
A spare tire, jack, lug wrench with long handle, teach her how to use these...maybe store all of them in a plastic pickup truck tool box.
Get a set of ropes, tarps, tie down ratchets...and make sure there are tie down points...add them if not already there in the trailer. Teach the wife how to back the trailer, both straight and on a curve...and how to tie down the load. Now, she's ready to hit the road!

Not going to say I have never crossed up a trailer myself, but watching some people back a trailer is one of the great things to watch.

 

[zr2blz]

I would like to see the trailer on the white car. Is that a Lamborghini?

Yep.. My son's (I think he's had 4-5 years now). It's really fast and AWD with V10.