Utility trailers - what should i know?

[oldpilgrim]

 

[ArlyA]

I don't know anyone who's not using trailer tires, on there trailers. If I did, then I'd specificity not follow them on the highway.

 

[ultrarunner]

My box trailer is the one I use the most of 5 trailers and one of the reasons is low deck height with ramp making it a joy to load.

It has 14" tires and was not pleased with the durability and capacity of radials offered in 14".

This was not a problem when Bias Ply were common.

After digging in I found the ideal tire...

It is made for VW campers with high load carry capacity 14" rims...

Most of the VW campers on the road do not have proper tires for the vehicle rated capacity.

 

[Surshot]

My tractor trailer 7x20 and my mower/XRV trailer 6x12 are two very different trailers. However they have a few things in common:
2x8 floor boards
an A frame hitch
Dual axles
Trailer tires
Spare tires
Trailer tongue jack
Wheel bearing buddys
Side and tail lights
One is 10k and the other is 7k. The 10 is a drop tail with mid reinforced heavy drop ramps, electric brakes and a brake battery backup. The 7 has a double reinforced drop gate at the wheel tracks for the XRV, full cab, plus the Skag Zero turn 52” wide deck.
Get what you want and what you can use. Make sure you get front and back chain strength hookups for chaining down that tractor, you do not want it to join you in the cab. I do not trust straps on equipment, on a flat bed trailer.

 

[extractr]

I used to own a small single axle utility trailer I bought for $300 from a former co-worker. It was just for hauling stuff to the dump. I have, then, basic experience with trailering, but I need more knowledge to find the right one.

I figured out I cannot afford a big trailer and the truck it would take to move my tractor. I need a smaller one that can haul purchases home like a SxS (2800 lbs +/-), attachments I may buy in the future, and to help move things around the property. (trailer will be moved by pickup, tractor and SxS). Minimum size will need to probably be 6'x 12'.

Things I need to know:
pros and cons, given my needs, of 1 axle vs 2 axles
Must-have features...I simply don't know what I don't know
Recommendations on manufacturers and retailers
Tires - is it worth getting upgraded tires for predominantly off-road uses?

Any other advice is welcome. I have 2-3 months to figure out what I need. Thanks!

Most trailers are rated on weight by x amount per axle. Average for double axle is 3500 per but single axles can vary. Make sure it is attached when you load/unload tractor. On tires, the more ply, the more weight tolerance. 10ply eat cactus for lunch.(what I use). Unless you are limited by room or hp, consider a 16'. Also, the shorter the trailer the harder it is to back up. Craigs list is a good source for used or new. Bulldog hitches are the best and safest. Happy trails!

 

[LouNY]

View attachment 754358

That's one way to get the job done.

 

[dh206]

Any other advice is welcome. I have 2-3 months to figure out what I need. Thanks!

Much like others here, I have more than 1 (2 to be precise)
I have the original Lowe's (Carry-all) 5x10 garden trailer with fold down single ramp. It's single axle, wood floor, about 4 years old, single fold-down gate/ramp, and the perfect size for taking my ZTR in for service or picking up misc lumber, plywood, or even a load of firewood. Because it's single-axle and has no brakes, it's both super easy to tow, but also weight limited to about 1200 lbs. It's not strong enough to carry my Kubota BX 2350 with FEL, but I'll use it for whatever load it will fit because it's so easy to tow. (towing vehicle = VW Touareg with 7500 lb capacity, TDI). The paint is kind of crap, but other than that it's a decent work horse. The BX fits just fine as long as I remove the FEL.
I also have a 1980s vintage International trailer, double axle, electric brakes, brake-away emergeny brake controller, with twin fold fold-down tailgate/ramps. I got this used off of Craigslist and transferred the title at a local title shop/used car dealer. It has GVW of 5000 lb, which matches up with the Touareg rather nicely. I had to get a brake control-unit for the VW, but no big deal. It's a lot heavier trailer, obviously, and is about 8x14', which is a good size. It has very solid tubalar steel rails and several tie-downs inside the trailer which are perfect for the BX including FEL and even a rear attachment. I can drive the BX up on the split-ramp rear tailgate, chain it down with load binders and go. It's also good for an extra-heavy load of firewood, 4-6 cubic yards of mulch, a bucket of crushed gravel, or whatever. (I put down a tarp, but it has plywood sides that the previous owner installed, so mostly stuff just stays where it ought to and the tarp is just to keep stuff from falling through the edge cracks and tailgate). Being a double axle, and weighing more than 2x the carry-all empty, it's a little harder to muscle around, whereas the garden trailer I can just pick up and drag around the driveway.
My original plan was to sell the 5x10, but it's still quite useful.
No special features of either, other than with a double axle you need electronic brake controller and a yearly inspection. The little guy requires no annual inspection.

 

[jyoutz]

I used to own a small single axle utility trailer I bought for $300 from a former co-worker. It was just for hauling stuff to the dump. I have, then, basic experience with trailering, but I need more knowledge to find the right one.

I figured out I cannot afford a big trailer and the truck it would take to move my tractor. I need a smaller one that can haul purchases home like a SxS (2800 lbs +/-), attachments I may buy in the future, and to help move things around the property. (trailer will be moved by pickup, tractor and SxS). Minimum size will need to probably be 6'x 12'.

Things I need to know:
pros and cons, given my needs, of 1 axle vs 2 axles
Must-have features...I simply don't know what I don't know
Recommendations on manufacturers and retailers
Tires - is it worth getting upgraded tires for predominantly off-road uses?

Any other advice is welcome. I have 2-3 months to figure out what I need. Thanks!

If you are going to be hauling anything heavy, a two axle trailer with brakes is highly recommended. Wood floor is best to keep things from moving around.

 

[jyoutz]

What's wrong with the Big Tex? Their HQ is not too far from our place.

Nothing wrong with them.

 

[jyoutz]

Really? I think a single axle trailer is much more challenging to back up than a tandem axle.

I agree. And if hauling anything heavy, they are much safer in the case of tire failure.

 

[jyoutz]

Without knowing the frame parameters of these two trailers, your number of axles is of no consequence. You can build a good or poor trailer with any number of axles.

Yes, but a dual axle is far safer when a tire failure occurs.

 

[Little Red Tractor]

I bought a single axle Big Tex with a load weight of about a ton. I only bought it for "just one thing." Boy was that a mistake.
Buy a 2 axle trailer. It'll be worth it over the long haul. The car-hauler from a previous post has a lot of merit for all the reasons specified thare.

 

[ultrarunner]

The reality is it's the story of the Three Bears... you need several to have just the right one for the task at hand...

 

[mtretick]

I’ve seen some very knowledgeable posts and the ones who write the best responses have recommended a bulldog hitch. My question is why? They seem much more difficult to hook up and I’ve seen a couple bust into pieces if they got bumped while backing up to them. They do seem solid once they’re hooked up but rather fragile and somewhat difficult to use. I have both kinds on my trailers and I really kind of prefer of a good old latch type coupler. I would seriously love to know why people prefer the bulldog hitch.

 

[JBF43]

In Ontario Canada, Trailer Tires MUST BE Trailer Tires and identified accordingly on the sidewall.

Same here in Fl where I live.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Same here in Fl where I live.

Where did you find that information? I have lived in Fl all my life and have never heard any such, not saying it isn't so but I would like to know where that information is located.

 

[rocco611]

a Local trailer mfg here in Cali was selling trailers for a while. the trailers were really cheap , but were shod with used car tires.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

a Local trailer mfg here in Cali was selling trailers for a while. the trailers were really cheap , but were shod with used car tires.

There used to be several small trailer manufacturers around here and about 90% of their trailers had LT tires on them, one of my trailers has LT tires on it and I can't tell you how many RV's I have seen with LT tires on them.

 

[coast40]

I used to own a small single axle utility trailer I bought for $300 from a former co-worker. It was just for hauling stuff to the dump. I have, then, basic experience with trailering, but I need more knowledge to find the right one.

I figured out I cannot afford a big trailer and the truck it would take to move my tractor. I need a smaller one that can haul purchases home like a SxS (2800 lbs +/-), attachments I may buy in the future, and to help move things around the property. (trailer will be moved by pickup, tractor and SxS). Minimum size will need to probably be 6'x 12'.

Things I need to know:
pros and cons, given my needs, of 1 axle vs 2 axles
Must-have features...I simply don't know what I don't know
Recommendations on manufacturers and retailers
Tires - is it worth getting upgraded tires for predominantly off-road uses?

Any other advice is welcome. I have 2-3 months to figure out what I need. Thanks!

Don't buy this... Found today on TBN.

 

[scaredychicken]

I have a 2006 DOUBLE A flatdeck utility quad trailer 7x12 (manufactured in Northern Alberta, Canada) - 7 ft wide between the wheels (lower profile and centre of gravity), by 12 ft long deck, single axle with 3500 lbs capacity. It is capable of hauling 3 full sized quads (4 ft wide, 7 ft long) side to side across the trailer. I have also hauled my BX23S tractor, loader, backhoe combination (weighs about 2800 lbs), and it fits. Granted there isn't much room to spare in length. The Silverado pickup, or the Nissan Murano can transport it around, and my Arctic Cat 4x4 quad (650 lbs) can not only ride ON it, but it can also PULL it around the yard, loaded up. it has 2x4 pockets along the edges, in case sides are needed at some point. It has full sized highway rated tires, wooden 2x6 inch deck planks. It is convenient and easy to haul, pulls along nicely, you hardly notice it. The ramps are for light to moderate duty, and they are now beginning to bend after years of use (I am re-inforcing them) - the ramps are stored, hidden under the deck. I will keep this trailer, it is so useful, and friends borrow it regularly.

I have also hauled a Chevy Cavalier, a Pontiac Sunfire, a Honda Fit, a Chevy Chevette, a Mazda pickup, and a VW Golf, as well as lumber, siding, dirt, and garbage ... it is a good trailer, and I bought it 12 yrs before I had my tractor. For general utility, it is great. Most of those vehicles noted were in the 2400 - 3000 lbs weight range.

My next purchase however ? - I would definitely like a 22 - 24 ft long, 7 ft wide (min), tandem axle CAR HAULER trailer at this point. An EQUIPMENT trailer (heavier duty) would be an optional second consideration, but probably more than i would need. I have a number of vehicles that I'd like to move around from time to time. In spite of what I just noted above, I think that it would be much wiser for me to have a tandem axle for moving vehicles and my tractor. Imagine a blown tire on the single axle, when you are hauling a vehicle or the tractor ? It would be difficult to replace a flat tire with the spare, due to all of the weight on the 1 remaining tire. At least with tandem two axles, four tires, if you blew out one of the four tires, you would still have a fighting chance, even if only to limp the trailer off the road and out of the way, while you sorted out the spare.
- tilt trailer would be great for my needs, but much more money
- a winch is planned for my next trailer, as that would make loading easier, especially if you had to move a non-running vehicle

I want/need a trailer of that length because I have classic vehicles etc that are 19-20 feet long. Although the wheels would likely fit on a 16 foot long trailer, I certainly don't want the ends of my El Caminos hanging over either end. Tandem axle trailers are far more stable on the road, especially when carrying a load - less prone to the trailer wobble that single axle trailers are known for.

I have no current need for a cargo trailer. I have PREVIOUSLY thought about a horse / cattle trailer (they are extra heavy though) to haul my quad around ... it would essentially be hidden from view (theft prevention). Decided against that, as only the truck could move it.

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