Utility trailers - what should i know?

[WM75Guy]

Sorry about my lack of clarity. I meant Texline. The factory is less than 30 miles from my place. I may try to visit them tomorrow. I'm sure they will customize for a price. I like the size of your trailer.

Kearney has an outlet in Tyler. They may be another option.

If you want to look at a Kearney the manufacturing facility is on Highway 19 on the left going south out of Emory. They have a retail location there as well.

 

[Torvy]

Thanks. That is a lot closer to my property. I will probably be in Tyler this morning anyway, but I will swing back up that way as I head home.

 

[kabong57]

Thanks. That is a lot closer to my property. I will probably be in Tyler this morning anyway, but I will swing back up that way as I head home.

A little spendy but see that Aluma now offers an Aluminum 78" x 15' trailer with a single 4K axle with brakes.

 

[Bronco82]

As others may have mentioned, pardon my ignorance but I didn't view all 13 pages, but buy enough trailer. I bought a single axle 5x10 years ago for towing my quad around thinking it would be great and all I ever need. Then I sold the quad and bought a side by side. Now the kids have toys of their own and the 5x10 is the haul brush around the yard trailer and I borrow a 6.5 x 16 galvanized tandem off a good friend for towing the toys or tractor to camp. Don't just think what you will use it for now, but what you may use it for in the future as well. And another thing I learned from this site, buy once and cry once. It may cost more than you want now, but you will have it for years and it's exactly what you want, not what you settle for.

 

[Torvy]

As others may have mentioned, pardon my ignorance but I didn't view all 13 pages, but buy enough trailer. I bought a single axle 5x10 years ago for towing my quad around thinking it would be great and all I ever need. Then I sold the quad and bought a side by side. Now the kids have toys of their own and the 5x10 is the haul brush around the yard trailer and I borrow a 6.5 x 16 galvanized tandem off a good friend for towing the toys or tractor to camp. Don't just think what you will use it for now, but what you may use it for in the future as well. And another thing I learned from this site, buy once and cry once. It may cost more than you want now, but you will have it for years and it's exactly what you want, not what you settle for.

I hear you, but I can afford to retire because I am frugal. My UTV is a tool, not a toy. In the rare instances I want to have fun with it, I will stick to my own land. Trailering it will only be for purchase and repairs (if needed). The primary function of the trailer is to move things on site and sometimes to pickup materials that don't fit in the truck bed.

Exactly what I want is a single axle utility trailer that is light enough to be pulled by the UTV, but strong enough to haul the UTV if needed.

I found a few local options that should work for me.

 

[ArlyA]

Kinda like this?

 

[Torvy]

Kinda like this? View attachment 772727View attachment 772728

Nice!Nice!! How heavy is that beast of an ATV? That is exactly the concept. Are the sides welded or can you remove them?

 

[ArlyA]

That it what I believe is called A landcaping trailer? The trailers sides are welded on and the machine is like 1300lbs. In 5 years I can't recall a time we wanted them off.

 

[Torvy]

That it what I believe is called A landcaping trailer? The trailers sides are welded on and the machine is like 1300lbs. In 5 years I can't recall a time we wanted them off.

My old one was flat, but had slots for putting up rails if needed. For me, it was handy to have high sides to carry some things, but take them down for wide things. I like your low sides, but wonder if you have an option to add higher ones if needed.

 

[JWR]

My old one was flat, but had slots for putting up rails if needed. For me, it was handy to have high sides to carry some things, but take them down for wide things. I like your low sides, but wonder if you have an option to add higher ones if needed.

My Stagecoach 14' single axle 78" wide is very much like what he is showing in post 126. If you are buying new and dealing with a well-connected dealer (to the factory) there are a zillion options and things you can change/have put on. I had brackets put on for adding side posts if/when ever wanted, particular drop-leg jack that I liked, I used expanded metal for sides so I can haul mulch and debris without adding plywood kludge sides like I used to, heavier axle, stronger tires, etc. repeating myself from prior posts. I really like the small beavertail rear end which causes the ramp to be shorter and easier to handle & makes for easier loading all the way around. These things CAN be made with short side ramps too which is often done with "landscape' trailers. I did not want that. You gotta get 'close' the good dealer/factory to really know what all options and choices are. Some websites are good but still do not list every bell and whistle that might be important to you.

 

[Jaygyver]

Just for the hallebut i'll throw in the other icing on the cake with Trailer Tires is they can withstand sitting outside much better than a truck tire. It has to do with adding more carbon black to make it UV resistant or at least it use to be.
And I really, really, suggest trailer brakes. 48 years in a semi you see stuff you don't want to.
EDIT:
Oh yeah, I have a pressure treated floor on mine but I just use the same wood stain on it I use for my out buildings. works great,but I do try to remember to throw a tarp over it because it sits for so long in our rainy part of the country.

 

[ArlyA]

No trailer is perfect... No matter what you have, 6 months later you wish you had this,,, or you got some feature you never use. On our new doo-little we do like its accessoire box.

On this trailer, it needed better positions for its D-rings to tie this machine down. I added them this fall.

 

[Blue Mule]

Also note that a 16' utility trailer and a 16' car hauler are apples to oranges. The car haulers are built with heavier frames and cross-members. They will hold up to loads far better. They still have stake pockets so you can box it in if you need to, but the open deck is nice sometimes too. If I was buying anything 16' or longer I'd skip utility trailers.

 

[EddieWalker]

Have you heard of this place in Longview? I was looking at used one ton trucks on their website and I saw this trailer on there.

https://www.etexcustomauto.com/details/new-2023-top-hat-12x77-utility-trailer/90047816

 

[JWR]

Just for the hallebut i'll throw in the other icing on the cake with Trailer Tires is they can withstand sitting outside much better than a truck tire. It has to do with adding more carbon black to make it UV resistant or at least it use to be.
And I really, really, suggest trailer brakes. 48 years in a semi you see stuff you don't want to.
EDIT:
Oh yeah, I have a pressure treated floor on mine but I just use the same wood stain on it I use for my out buildings. works great,but I do try to remember to throw a tarp over it because it sits for so long in our rainy part of the country.

The OP is looking for a single axle. I have never heard of a single axle trailer with brakes on it.

 

[Torvy]

Have you heard of this place in Longview? I was looking at used one ton trucks on their website and I saw this trailer on there.

https://www.etexcustomauto.com/details/new-2023-top-hat-12x77-utility-trailer/90047816

I'll have to take a look next time we are out that way. They have a Longview address, but are halfway to Diana. I'm sure I've driven by it before. Our normal route goes through Gilmer and down 300, so we don't go by it much anymore. Thanks for the tip.

 

[Torvy]

The OP is looking for a single axle. I have never heard of a single axle trailer with brakes on it.

If you get the heavier axle, they typically have brakes, at least that is what I am seeing.

 

[WM75Guy]

Put a 5,000# axle under it and it has to have brakes. My 2 axle Big Tex 50LA is rated for 5,000# and has brakes on 1 axle, with a breakaway kit.

This is from the Texas DPS web site.

Brakes Required​

A motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, or combination of those vehicles shall be equipped with brakes.
A trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer is not required to have brakes if:

1. its gross weight is 4,500 pounds or less; or
2. its gross weight is heavier than 4,500 pounds but not heavier than 15,000 pounds, and it is drawn at a speed of not more than 30 miles per hour.

Each power unit must be equipped with a parking brake
A motor vehicle used to tow a trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer equipped with brakes shall be equipped with service brakes arranged so that, in case of a breakaway of the towed vehicle, the towing vehicle is capable of stopping by use of its service brakes

 

[JWR]

If you get the heavier axle, they typically have brakes, at least that is what I am seeing.

I think being in Texas you have no choice but to pay attention to what they require (and I am just not familiar/can't help there.) I do know I have shopped around for single axle trailers in 2017 in PA, MD, VA and WVa and never saw nor heard of brakes on a single axle trailer. The single axle I bought in LA in 2017 [5000 lb GVWR per nameplate] was made in Texas to my specific request and it does not have brakes. The heavier Dexter axle under it has a spec for more than 5000 lbs but the nameplate says 5000 in order to avoid needless higher license requirements in some states. In 35 years of using (mostly smaller) single axle trailers I never saw one with brakes ... but that proves nothing. I can't claim to know them all.

 

[John_Mc]

I think being in Texas you have no choice but to pay attention to what they require (and I am just not familiar/can't help there.) I do know I have shopped around for single axle trailers in 2017 in PA, MD, VA and WVa and never saw nor heard of brakes on a single axle trailer. The single axle I bought in LA in 2017 [5000 lb GVWR per nameplate] was made in Texas to my specific request and it does not have brakes. The heavier Dexter axle under it has a spec for more than 5000 lbs but the nameplate says 5000 in order to avoid needless higher license requirements in some states. In 35 years of using (mostly smaller) single axle trailers I never saw one with brakes ... but that proves nothing. I can't claim to know them all.

A single axle pop-up camper we owned years ago had brakes. If I recall the weight was only around 2400#.