What brand trailer?

[Superduper]

Thinking of purchasing a small enclosed cargo trailer. Anywhere from 5x8, 5x10, 6x10..... maybe 6x12. No bigger.

Wonder if you guys can share your opinions and personal experiences on the various brands out there. I have heard haulmark is junk. What is your experience?

 

[jeffsw6]

I don't know the "West Coast brands" but Haulmark is definitely NOT junk. They and Wells Cargo are pretty much the top dogs when it comes to quality but they are also the most expensive.

Don't buy from Home Depot or someplace like that. If you go to a trailer dealer, don't be afraid to order something customized by the mfr. Get the options you want, it is easier and cheaper in the long run than buying off the lot, wishing you had got X Y Z, and then trading up later.

If you tell more about your use maybe you can get more useful suggestions. I use my enclosed trailers, 6x12 3500# and 8.5x20 10400#, for mowers and stuff, band equipment (drums/speakers/etc), just helped a friend move yesterday, might help another friend haul a car with the big one next week.

In the bigger trailer, I spent extra money for two rows of E-track, ten heavy D-rings in the floor, better plywood walls (the thin stuff gets torn up), spare tire and mount, loading lights, and an electric tongue jack and rear stabilizer jacks. These are all great for me and I will not buy another enclosed trailer without them. I got a winch also that is useful but I could live without it. I forgot to buy radial tire upgrade, and I regret that, because bias ply tires don't last very long and that is the default for most trailers.

Hope this helps!

 

[Superduper]

I don't know the "West Coast brands" but Haulmark is definitely NOT junk. They and Wells Cargo are pretty much the top dogs when it comes to quality but they are also the most expensive.

Top dogs, really? I don't know one way or another but I do know that a few haulmarks advertised here locally looked pretty beat up with big dents all over like they were really thin so I did some googling and found some comments that they were among the worst in quality. Just trying to do my due diligence here before plunking down my hard earned money.

Brands I see advertised on C/L (which I presume would be local to our area) are:

haulmark
wells cargo
carson
pace
cargo mate
patriot
challenger
look
US Cargo
Continental Cargo
Challenger

There are also lots of "brand new" ones offered for sale by dealers, but they don't list the brands although in the pics, they look similar or same like the rest. Prices are quite variable for the smaller ones which seem to start at $1,650 all the way to $3600 or so. That seems quite the range.

 

[jeffsw6]

It's not hard to beat up any enclosed trailer. They are all covered with pretty thin sheet metal. If you don't bang into your trailer with materials, run it into things, etc. most will look nice for many years. Mine have been hailed on a bunch of times lately (nearby tornadoes) and didn't pick up any dents and I hit small, low-hanging tree branches all the time without any damage; but they are not box trucks or cargo vans, they are made to be light-weight and cheap.

Paint lifetime does vary widely. You'll also notice that Wells Cargo has the best "waterproofing" system, the roofs can be made from one piece of sheet metal instead of several joined together. Wiring is another thing that is done better on Wells Cargo and Haulmark than other brands I'm familiar with (which is only about half the brands you listed) as most makers use the fastest assembly method possible, also the most prone to failure -- skotchloks and cheap wire with little or no use of conduits.

As you've seen, price also varies widely. My Gatormade 8.5x20 was ~$8000, a similar Haulmark was going to be over $12k, Wells Cargo was about $15k! The difference in quality is not THAT big but it is certainly there.

You ought to post a little about what you plan to do with the trailer. I am guessing you aren't using it to move your JD3120 since the size of trailers you mentioned are too small.

 

[Western]

I have a 28' Haulmark and it has been great, bought it in 05 for $7200 from a dealer ( outside St Louis) near the manufacturing plant and saved over $1200 vs local.

We also have one Pace and one Wells Cargo, both are 14' I believe. We use them to haul equipment to jobs.

I honestly cant say which is better quality, in most respects they are the same. Things I would look at are warranty, floor material, side wall material and especially the door mechanisms if its cabled then decide what fits your needs. BTW myy 28' had torsion axles and I like them, also got the heavier one with 5500#axles, get the heaviest axle you can fit on it and run 10 ply tires.

 

[HHR]

Aluma trailers seem to be built the best and hold up to heavy use very well.
alumaklm.com
Pace has been out of business for a while now.

Our 5x8 Aluma enclosed trailer only weighs 600 pounds and has a 3000 pound axle. This lets me tow it with smaller cars and still have load capacity left.

 

[jeffsw6]

Most mfrs can do better side wall material if you custom order. On my 8.5x20, for example, the default was like 3/8" or something pretty light. I upgraded to 3/4" and it should last a long time even with my heavy use and sometimes abusive helpers. It adds some weight but IMO is worth it if you don't want to be real careful of your inside walls.

 

[edlegault]

A nephew of mine had his enclosed trailer broke into and contents stolen. The walls were literally just very thin sheet metal and could have been cut with a good pocket knife. For his replacement (for his work) he got one with plywood lining and then he built a cage out of welded rebar throughout the interior, including the doors to make it more difficult to gain access. He has had some holes punched in it, but so far after 7 years nothing stolen.... don't forget to fasten tires/wheels and hitch/chains with locks to deter theft of whole trailer.

 

[raptor749]

Have an 01' Haulmark 8.5 x 20 , black in color , with .040 exterior walls , dealer said thicker wall sheets would not show wrinkles on colored trailer ,true i've seen colored thin walled trailers , sides look like @#$% . My trailer has hauled atvs , cars , utvs , race cars , furniture . Wash monthly, and wax twice a year. Keeps it looking great . No complaints. Good luck and buy the largest one on your list. You'll fill it fast !!!!!!!!!!!!:thumbsup::laughing:

 

[Western]

I had to add to my earlier post about my Haulmark.( remembered this while driving to work) It has seemed that The Haulmark (mine) has had more trouble with the screws coming loose on the nose, or front of the trailer. I have to re-tighten so many I finally replaced them all and used a medium grade loctite to keep them in. Side walls and rear have done excellent.