TSC Trailer

RichZ · May 4, 2011

Next week TSC will have a 5 X 8 mesh floor trailer on sale. It has 13 inch wheels a 4 foot ramp gate and lights. It's on sale for $579.99, $120 off from the regular price. I really don't know trailers, so is this a good buy? Can I get something similar form Home Depot or Lowes?

I've bought a few used trailers this size at farm auctions, and they always have problems, so I figured I'd spend a little more for something that should last. It won't get constant use, I'll use it when I want to transport more hay than I can get in my pick up truck bed, but less than I would put in a hay wagon, so it'll have between 40 - 50 bales in it. I'll also use it to move small equipment like my garden tractor or generators or other small equipment treasures that I might find at farm auctions.

Thanks for any info.

timswi · May 4, 2011

I've used that type of trailer for light duty stuff. They're fine as long as you're aware of their limits.

Personally, I bought a Big Tex 5x10 with ramp and 18" metal sides. It's very well built and can handle about 2000# of payload. Without brakes on the trailer you do have to watch the load and adapt the driving accordingly. My trailer was around $1200. Now it's too small for everything I own, gotta buy an 18' tandem

Keeping that one as a utility trailer for light use.

tornadowatchranch · May 4, 2011

my bales are about 80# 40 x 80 is 3240 which is alot of weight for a trailer that size. I would check the weight ratings before I dropped the cash.

wallace · May 4, 2011

These trailers only have a 1500lb axle under them so your pay load will only be aprox 1000lbs.
This trailer is manufactured by Carry-On and it is the same brand that Lowes carries.
I am also a full line Carry-On dealer. we will not sell a mesh bottom trailer. reason is just walking on them tend to bend the floor. I would recommend that if you purchase it to put a piece of plywood down.

northwind318 · May 4, 2011

TSC sell a round tube frame trailer with a wood deck,they usually are on sale for around 850.00 .They measure 6x10 and this would handle your hay bales.

Bird · May 4, 2011

RichZ said:
Next week TSC will have a 5 X 8 mesh floor trailer on sale. It has 13 inch wheels a 4 foot ramp gate and lights. It's on sale for $579.99, $120 off from the regular price. I really don't know trailers, so is this a good buy? Can I get something similar form Home Depot or Lowes?

I've bought a few used trailers this size at farm auctions, and they always have problems, so I figured I'd spend a little more for something that should last. It won't get constant use, I'll use it when I want to transport more hay than I can get in my pick up truck bed, but less than I would put in a hay wagon, so it'll have between 40 - 50 bales in it. I'll also use it to move small equipment like my garden tractor or generators or other small equipment treasures that I might find at farm auctions.

Thanks for any info.

Rich, I'll let you decide whether it's a good deal or not, but you can see it on the Carry On website and you can see that Lowe's current price is "$688 formerly $728". I bought one of them from Lowe's on March 22 when it was on sale for $498.

I would agree with Wallace that a thin sheet of plywood is a good idea, although I haven't done that yet. I bought it primarily to haul a little Toro ZTR mower.

timswi · May 4, 2011

I left out the marine plywood suggestion....That realization hits pretty quick once you have a grate floor and place any concentrated weight on it.

Diamondpilot · May 5, 2011

As said they are made by Carry On. Not a bad trailer but I do not care for steel floors on any trailer, of any make, solid or mesh.

Chris

Bird · May 5, 2011

timswi said:
I left out the marine plywood suggestion....That realization hits pretty quick once you have a grate floor and place any concentrated weight on it.

I was in Home Depot earlier today and they didn't have marine plywood. It's been many, many years since I bought any marine plywood, and as I recall, it was quite expensive. So I'm experimenting. I bought a sheet of regular quarter inch plywood and coated both sides with Thompson's Advanced Honey Gold Water Sealer than I already had on hand.

I'll let it dry overnight and put it on the trailer tomorrow. Now I'd trying to decide . . . Do I drill a half dozen holes and put short bolts through with big washers both on top and bottom, or do I drill pairs of holes and use zip ties to hold it down and in place?

Skyco · May 5, 2011

northwind318 said:
TSC sell a round tube frame trailer with a wood deck,they usually are on sale for around 850.00 .They measure 6x10 and this would handle your hay bales.

The frame isn't tube, just the top rail.

Skyco · May 5, 2011

Bird said:
I was in Home Depot earlier today and they didn't have marine plywood. It's been many, many years since I bought any marine plywood, and as I recall, it was quite expensive. So I'm experimenting. I bought a sheet of regular quarter inch plywood and coated both sides with Thompson's Advanced Honey Gold Water Sealer than I already had on hand.

I'll let it dry overnight and put it on the trailer tomorrow. Now I'd trying to decide . . . Do I drill a half dozen holes and put short bolts through with big washers both on top and bottom, or do I drill pairs of holes and use zip ties to hold it down and in place?

I've used pressure treated plywood with good success...the Lowes/Home Depots around here usually have it.
Another option is the oiled plywood concrete form sheets...

RichZ · May 5, 2011

Thanks for all the good suggestions. I went to TSC to look at the trailer today, and I think it'll be fine for my needs. I'll pick one up Saturday. It's not as good as a deal as Bird got, but I need it now, and it's cheaper than it is at Lowes right now or the regular TSC price. I'll bolt a piece of marine plywood to it, and I think it will be fine. My local lumber yard carries marine plywood.

mrutkaus · May 5, 2011

Had exact one for 8 yrs or so, when i got it it had 12" wheels. just had a flat. no problems.

Mike

bcp · May 5, 2011

I read once that marine plywood was no more weather resistant than exterior plywood. It was simply exterior plywood with repaired (filled) knots in the interior plies, instead of leaving hollow spots.

Anyone know for sure?

Bruce

amigauser · May 5, 2011

bcp said:
I read once that marine plywood was no more weather resistant than exterior plywood. It was simply exterior plywood with repaired (filled) knots in the interior plies, instead of leaving hollow spots.

Anyone know for sure?

Bruce

Marine Plywood Versus Interior Plywood

Appears it is just void free and is also NOT pressure treated to resist decay as it just uses exterior grade glue. Regular pressure treated is probably better for a trailer deck.

MESSMAKER · May 5, 2011

It's a fine trailer. Tons of them running around. Easy to get parts for. Put some plywood in the bed and you will be fine(regular sheating plywood will last several years and cost about $30. Pressure treated will last forever, but cost you about $100. You will need a couple sheeets. Not made to haul tanks or bolders, but mulch,lumber,and lawn mowers will be fine.

schmism · May 6, 2011

the way i see it your after one of 2 things

1) a cheep trailer that you can toss a 1000 lbs of lawnmower on and whatever else light stuff

2) your after a little utility trailer that you can use for all those tasks that you dont want to take your big tandam axle version for.

if 1) then go HF for $400

4' x 8' Utility Trailer - 1720 Lb. Capacity

if 2) then neither the TSC or HF version is going to be a good choice and look for a proper 4x8 or 5x10 with 15" tires and a 3500lb axle. A new version could be had for about twice the cost of the option 1 version, but really its way more than twice the trailer. Many can be found on your local CL for roughly the same money as what a new option 1 is.

Bird · May 6, 2011

Yep, Steve, I used to have a little 4 x 8 Big Tex trailer and it was considerably better quality, and of course cost more.

And Messmaker, you're right, of course that you need 2 sheets of plywood to have a complete solid floor in the trailer, but I decided to just go with one sheet. Maybe I'll change some day, but right now I don't foresee hauling anything except my little Toro ZTR, so I just centered the one sheet of plywood, leaving about 6" of mesh on either side.

RichZ · May 6, 2011

Thanks, Bird. I was going to ask that very question. I was wondering if I could use one sheet of plywood in the center,or if I had to get a second sheet to cut to fill the one foot gap. I guess for now I'll try it with one sheet centered on the trailer.