Buying a UTILITY TRAILER Need Advice? Also can a 12ft or 14ft Haul a Car?

[goodoleboy]

I am buying a new trailer and have to have it by this friday due to picking up a large air compressor..This is my 5th trailer in ten years but sold the last one due to an offer i couldnt refuse.

The trailer will be used for just general use around the house yard trash, various material, lawn equipment, etc Just stuff we men tend to buy. I want to use this trailer and get my moneys worth of use out of it. Which brings my questions.

1. What is the largest size to still be considered "handy to have around" instead of a pain in the Rear to hookup and tow.

2. Can a 12ft or 14ft dual axle trailer Long enough to Haul a car if needed? I doubt i will be hauling anything like that but if I would like to know..

3. How hard is it to move a dual axle, side to side, with a "wheel jack/caster" on the front by hand? NOTE: I will not be lifting the trailer just rolling it around, Before I welded a good large rubber caster with 360"turning radius on my old 5x12 and it moved real easy on that single axle trailer but no idea if a dual axle would be harder..I am trying to maneuver by hand and park it in the shop.

4. People with 16' or longer trailers...Do you ever use the entire 16' of the trailer much?
I don't think I have ever purchased 16' long lumber in the ten years i owned a house.

Here are my options as far as sizes I can choose from

All are 76" wide (6'4"wide)
76"x10
76"x12 choice of 1 or 2 axles
76"x14 choice of 1 or 2 axles
76"x16

 

[CrownHawg]

You never said what you would be pulling this trailer with. That would pretty much dictate what you can "handle", but I would think a 16ft trailer would be pretty short for hauling a car (unless it's a Mini Cooper). I've never complained about my trailer being too big, but I guess overkill can come into play. I have several trailers, but the one I use the most is my 21 ft dovetail car hauler, I can get 4 full sized wheelers, my JD 4120, or any car or truck made on it.

 

[BruceWard]

Most small cars are 14' long. A SUV or 1/2 ton Truck will be 18' to 20' long.

I would not consider any utility trailer shorter than 16'.

 

[ace10]

Moving a 2.0 to 2.5K lb dual axle steel flatbed trailer by hand is gonna be tough. Your 5X12 single axle probably weighed no more than 400-500 lbs.

It's two entirely different classes of trailers. Anything that can handle a car or tractor or whatever is going to have brakes and substantial axles. It sounds like you're looking at light-duty utility trailers.


You don't mention if the 76" width is between the fenders, or the max of the deck. You cannot drive a car between the fenders of a 76" wide trailer, unless it's a deck over.

 

[goodoleboy]

You never said what you would be pulling this trailer with. That would pretty much dictate what you can "handle", but I would think a 16ft trailer would be pretty short for hauling a car (unless it's a Mini Cooper). I've never complained about my trailer being too big, but I guess overkill can come into play. I have several trailers, but the one I use the most is my 21 ft dovetail car hauler, I can get 4 full sized wheelers, my JD 4120, or any car or truck made on it.

Hi I did have that information posted Ill post it again for you

"The trailer will be used for just general use around the house yard trash, various material, lawn equipment, etc Just stuff we men tend to buy."

I had a 8.6" wide x 20ft trailer I got and resold the same weekend and it was to big...Storage is a problem and moing it by hand would be the highest priority since it will be need to be parked and pushed with a caster wheel on the front..

 

[goodoleboy]

Moving a 2.0 to 2.5K lb dual axle steel flatbed trailer by hand is gonna be tough. Your 5X12 single axle probably weighed no more than 400-500 lbs.

It's two entirely different classes of trailers. Anything that can handle a car or tractor or whatever is going to have brakes and substantial axles. It sounds like you're looking at light-duty utility trailers.


You don't mention if the 76" width is between the fenders, or the max of the deck. You cannot drive a car between the fenders of a 76" wide trailer, unless it's a deck over.

the 6x12 trailer owned and i moved by hand had a weight of 1100 lbs according to the certificate of rogin/ title... I rechecked the manufuacuters website also and it says 1100 lbs also...The trailers I am looking at are of the same build except having a another axle adding to the weight and whatever the extra 2 -4 ft will add.

 

[ace10]

the 6x12 trailer owned and i moved by hand had a weight of 1100 lbs according to the certificate of rogin/ title... I rechecked the manufuacuters website also and it says 1100 lbs also...The trailers I am looking at are of the same build except having a another axle adding to the weight and whatever the extra 2 -4 ft will add.

When you wrote this...

...
3. How hard is it to move a dual axle, side to side, with a "wheel jack/caster" on the front? Before I welded a good large rubber caster with 360"turning radius on my old 5x12 and it moved real easy on that single axle trailer but no idea if a dual axle would be harder..I am trying to maneuver by hand and park it in the shop.
...

I was picturing something like this....

Carry-On Trailer Mesh Floor Trailer, 1600 lb. Capacity - 0190326 | Tractor Supply Company


Good luck with your decision.

 

[2458n]

I am pretty fair sized and a double axle trailer with normal sized tires - 15'' would be to much for me to handle. A trailer large enough to safely haul a car,truck,or tractor will be to heavy to handle as you describe.

 

[foggy1111]

I own a 16' dual axel "car trailer" with 15' tires and a wood deck. It has a two-foot beavertail. It will haul my tractor and loader...but I will have some overhang if I want to take a rear implement along. I suppose an 18' trailer would be better as an all-around trailer - if you have the right vehicle to pull it. Mine suits me just fine, as I have a medium size SUV to pull it.

I suppose my trailer weighs about 1500 to 1800 lbs....and with a front dolly wheel added.....I would not be able to locate it by hand without about two more people to help (and then the ground better be flat and hard).

I think a 16' is the minimum size for a car trailer. Mine is 84" wide at the deck and has removable aluminum fenders for car loading. I hope this helps.

 

[CrownHawg]

Hi I did have that information posted Ill post it again for you

"The trailer will be used for just general use around the house yard trash, various material, lawn equipment, etc Just stuff we men tend to buy."

I had a 8.6" wide x 20ft trailer I got and resold the same weekend and it was to big...Storage is a problem and moing it by hand would be the highest priority since it will be need to be parked and pushed with a caster wheel on the front..

I was actually referring to your tow vehicle not what you would haul ON it. An S10 pickup is not gonna like a tandem axle car hauler. For a standard 1/2 ton pickup, 18 ft tandem would be near capacity. You're not likely going to move a trailer that can haul a car around by hand either.

 

[jbos333]

I have a 18' Hurst 7000 GVW trailer with wood deck and 12" sides. It has a full width fold down ramp covered with expandad metal. I bought it new for around $2000.00- about the going rate around here. Some things I have noted:

Just barely fits my small IH 234 with loader and a brush hog or other 3 pt. attachment lengthwise.

Ramp angle too steep for a regular car to be loaded without extensions.

Sides prevent a car door from being opened on trailer.

7000 GVW will not accomodate much larger of a tractor than I already own. So if I upgrade tractor, I will have to upgrade trailer (and in my case, truck too-1991 F150 w/5.0 liter engine).

 

[Benbovac]

i agree it also depends on what you have to pull the trailer with, i personally would go the biggest you can pull/afford.

 

[TRR]

I have a 16', 7000# dual axle trailer, wood floor. I've hauled my kubota with a 5' bushhog all around the local area, but it hangs out the ends. I've put my daughter's car on it and a 2' storage box behind the car and hauled it from Florida to Montana. Also hauled 3 other vehicles. I haul pieces of steel (which come in 20' lengths) they hang out both ends. The trailer is to heavy to move by hand.

When you put something on the trailer you have to be sure the trailer is balanced properly. The guide I've always heard is 10% to 15% of the total trailer weight should be on the tongue. I'd rather the tongue be a little heavy than a little light. So whether you can haul a car on a 12 or 14' trailer really depends on how the car's weight is distributed and where it needs to sit on the trailer to provide the proper tongue weight. A 16' trailer gives you a little more room for positioning. The ramp length and the car's ground clearance will determine if you can get the car onto the trailer. Jeeps are no problem, cars low to the ground are a problem (raise the tongue of the trailer to reduce the angle between the bed and the ramps).

IMO a 16' length is probably the best length for a trailer. It's kinda like Goldilocks - not to short and not to long. I can't think of anything over 20' that an individual is likely to haul so that will fit on the 16' with a short overhang on both ends. The 12 and 14 are going to limit you some, but you know your application and limitations better than we do.

I also started hauling the trailer and tractor with a Dodge Dakota pickup. Lasted a couple of years before I had to replace the truck. Check your weight ratings for your tow vehicle as well. A number of people who pull trailers a lot all over the county try to stay under 80% of what the manufacturer's weight rating is. Makes the trucks last longer.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

Most manufacturers recommend that any trailer over 1000# GVW be equipped with electric brakes. There are some very nice electric brake controllers on the market. All my towing rigs have electric brake controllers installed.

Loading a vehicle on a trailer is a matter of trailer capacity and length. I have a '97 Jeep Grand Cherokee that will fit on a 16' trailer, but it weighs 6300 lbs. dead empty. With the weight of the trailer, that would exceed the load limits of most receiver hitches, though the Jeep has a Cat IV hitch that would work. Cat III hitches have a 5000/500# weight limit. Loading the Jeep on a trailer would push the 8000 lb. heavy trailer limit. Heavy trailers can only be towed by trucks with commercial plates.

 

[foggy1111]

Most manufacturers recommend that any trailer over 1000# GVW be equipped with electric brakes. There are some very nice electric brake controllers on the market. All my towing rigs have electric brake controllers installed.

Loading a vehicle on a trailer is a matter of trailer capacity and length. I have a '97 Jeep Grand Cherokee that will fit on a 16' trailer, but it weighs 6300 lbs. dead empty. With the weight of the trailer, that would exceed the load limits of most receiver hitches, though the Jeep has a Cat IV hitch that would work. Cat III hitches have a 5000/500# weight limit. Loading the Jeep on a trailer would push the 8000 lb. heavy trailer limit. Heavy trailers can only be towed by trucks with commercial plates.

Hmmmm.....I believe your 97 Jeep would weigh more like 3750 lbs. (according to the spec's). I have a 2011 JGC Overland and it "only" weighs 5500 lbs. The new 2011 Jeep tow capacity is 7200 lbs for the 4x4. Not too shabby. :thumbsup:

 

[Marlowe]

I've got a 16' tandem with 76" between the fenders. I put my daughter's Taurus on it once. I thought that would be a piece of cake. It barely fit the width but I could have got in on a 14' trailer. I'm not sure how it would have balanced on a shorter trailer and tongue weight is as important as anything else when towing. Honestly what you are looking for is not made. Nothing big enough to safely carry an average car can be easily maneuvered by hand. Of course that would depend on your definition of easy. My 16' trailer is way too much to move by hand, and barely big enough to carry a mid sized vehicle.

 

[MossRoad]

I moved this to the "trailers and transportation" forum with a redirect from the original thread that will expire in 30 days.

You will get more relevant responses here.

 

[goodoleboy]

I was actually referring to your tow vehicle not what you would haul ON it. An S10 pickup is not gonna like a tandem axle car hauler. For a standard 1/2 ton pickup, 18 ft tandem would be near capacity. You're not likely going to move a trailer that can haul a car around by hand either.

The truck is big enough..

Alot of folks are saying they cant be moved easily..Has anyone tried moving one with a "wheel' on the tounge area and on concrete? Its really easy woth the last few trailers i owned and welded wheels to..
I think you thinking I am asking about lifting and setting the hitch onto the ball?

 

[dstig1]

I'm with everyone else - moving anything that big by hand will not be a reasonable thing to do, if even possible. Mine is 16' 10k wood deck. No way I can do anything with it by hand. And 16' is actually short for my Kubota L-series tractor. I could really use 20' to be able to balance the load better, but this is what I have for now. (look at my avatar for reference on sizing vs my tractor...)

If you need that size, and still need it super light, your only option is aluminum, and that gets very spendy, but it can be done.

And you will still need enough tow vehicle to pull the load.

 

[timswi]

I have borrowed the neighbors 14 ft tandem (86" wide, i think) and my RTV and by BX23 with FEL and BH barely fit length wise. Hard to balance the load and get good tie down points.

He mainly hauls quads with it, so it works for him.

Can't move that by hand either. A quad can drag it all over the place though. Don't know what kind of toys you have laying around.

Aluminum is a good option, but at least twice the proce..think $4500-$6000 depending. They sure are nice though.


As others have said, 16 ft is the minimum and 18 ft is probably ideal for general vehicle hauling. You can go bigger, but you get all that goes with that.