What trailer to get for my Jeep Cherokee Sport?

Groo · May 20, 2012

a heavy duty single axle would be best, but you are more likely to find a tandem axle.

Dmace · May 21, 2012

denverdave66 said:
I don't plan on pulling it much, maybe to take it in to get serviced, I am afraid if I load a 16' trailer with wood it would be too much weight. I have a transmission cooler already I am a rural mail carrier lots of starting and stopping in a day's time. Sounds like I just need to buy myself an old farmtruck 4x4 dodge pickup to pull it with.

You can overload any trailer with firewood, the trick is to know approx weight. You can go with a 12 or 14 ft trailer as well but I highly doubt you will be happy with a single axle trailer. If your use is so limited, rent a trailer when needed. My local Taylor Rental has a 14 ft 8k dual axle equipment trailer with surge brakes (no controller needed) for $88 per day.

Groo said:
a heavy duty single axle would be best, but you are more likely to find a tandem axle.

I'm curious why you feel a single axle would be best. Sure it's lighter but it will really load the rear of the tow vehicle and tend to sway more at higway speeds.

Diamondpilot · May 21, 2012

Dont buy a trailer to just take it for repairs and such. If it needs to go that much you bought the wrong tractor. If it needs repair have them come get it. Most dealers can do this for $100 or so. Thats 15 trips or more using your budget. Remember, trailers need tags, tires, maintenance, ect.

So do you really need a trailer???? I can rent a trailer like you would need in my parts for $30 for 24 hours of use.

I do agree though, if you are going to buy one get at 16' for balance, tandem 7K trailer. Its common and you have room to grow with it.

Chris

jejeosborne · May 21, 2012

Diamondpilot said:
Dont buy a trailer to just take it for repairs and such. If it needs to go that much you bought the wrong tractor. If it needs repair have them come get it. Most dealers can do this for $100 or so. Thats 15 trips or more using your budget. Remember, trailers need tags, tires, maintenance, ect.

So do you really need a trailer???? I can rent a trailer like you would need in my parts for $30 for 24 hours of use.

I do agree though, if you are going to buy one get at 16' for balance, tandem 7K trailer. Its common and you have room to grow with it.

Chris

OMG, diamondpilot, dmace, and I all agree for the first time ever. Tandem axle for safety and easy to distribute the weight and rent if not using it more than once a month.

denverdave66 · May 21, 2012

I was also wanting it to deliver firewood, but my neighbor has a 16' trailer and I am sure he would let me borrow it to take my John Deere to get it serviced.

Groo · May 21, 2012

Dmace said:
I'm curious why you feel a single axle would be best. Sure it's lighter but it will really load the rear of the tow vehicle and tend to sway more at higway speeds.

???? why would a single axle load the rear end of the tow vehicle more? that makes no sense.

I've never dealt with bad sway, and I've hauled some pretty heavily loaded single axle trailers. I fact, my experience (and I've hauled many many trailers from single to 8 axle trailers) says multi-axle trailers tend to be more troublesome since there are more options to have alignment troubles.

Dmace · May 22, 2012

Groo said:
???? why would a single axle load the rear end of the tow vehicle more? that makes no sense.

You say you've hauled all these different trailers yet can't see how a single axle creates more tongue weight...?
It's impossible to perfectly balance the load over one axle, especially with a short trailer, so either it will be tongue heavy or light. A tandem axle is 10 times easier to balance as tandem mounts do most of the balancing.

some zilch · May 25, 2012

Dmace said:
You say you've hauled all these different trailers yet can't see how a single axle creates more tongue weight...?
It's impossible to perfectly balance the load over one axle, especially with a short trailer, so either it will be tongue heavy or light. A tandem axle is 10 times easier to balance as tandem mounts do most of the balancing.

i have absolutley no problem correctly and safetly loading a single axle trailer. my 6x12 is rated at 3500lbs; as per the axle, the tires can take more. i would have no problem putting a 2500lb tractor on it, and pulling it with my reg cab/short bed/4cylinder toyota truck. you just have to be smart about things. nothing dangerous about it.

jejeosborne · May 25, 2012

some zilch said:
i have absolutley no problem correctly and safetly loading a single axle trailer. my 6x12 is rated at 3500lbs; as per the axle, the tires can take more. i would have no problem putting a 2500lb tractor on it, and pulling it with my reg cab/short bed/4cylinder toyota truck. you just have to be smart about things. nothing dangerous about it.

The problem dmace and others are concerned about is with a short 12' trailer, a tractor with a loader has a center of gravity too far back to get adequate tongue weight. I have to pull my b7800 all the way forward on a 16' trailer to get just enough tongue weight with my loader on. I guess one could lift the loader over the back of the truck but I don't think that is safe or legal.

bcp · May 25, 2012

The problem isn't the single axle, it is that single axle trailers are usually much shorter. A 16ft single should be no harder to balance a load on than a 16 tandem.

Bruce