My new space saving eco-hauler

[hawkeye08]

Very nice setup... thanks for sharing and including pictures. It really makes that trip enjoyable I bet.

 

[locknut]

I can see this thread going waaayyyyy off topic.

Locknut, what make is your new trailer? That looks like a quality built aluminum trailer, not not like those cheap snowmobile trailers you see sometimes.

The brand is Aluma,built in Iowa. The closest dealer that had one in stock was 400 miles away in Eldorado,Wi. Me and a friend spent 7 hrs polishing the Aluminum,don't ever want to do that again . I paid around 800 more than what my old trailer cost,but I was ticked that the powder coated steel trailer deteriorated so quicky in 4 yrs.Every sharp edge was rusting,as though the powder coat shrunk and pulled away from the steel.
I don't mind the veer-off comments-all are welcome.I'm probably the furthest thing from a tree-hugger there is,but I'm all for saving space and spending less for fuel to get the job done.I was spending $75 to fill the Explorer up and this one is $45 with the smaller tank,and this one will go twice as far on a tank.That's a big savings.

 

[Piston]

What did you use to polish the aluminum?

 

[cockeyedMFer]

Been wanting to get something smaller and better fuel economy for a while now.

Nothing wrong with that. Nice rig. If you're regularly making 40+ mile trips with the trailer, it will pay off soon.

 

[David_Kb7uns]

And that's part of the US's problem. We have not weaned ourselves off cheap energy and want to have and haul big toys.

Locknut looks like he has the appropriate mix of tools. Now how about some chains?

The toy hauler concept was brought about by people wanting to move living quarters and equipment with one trailer instead of using two and burning twice the fuel. They are being used by many people these days and not just the ATV off road crowd. You will see them at horse shows, dog shows miniature scale train events motorcycle touring people and hunters.

David Kb7uns

 

[cockeyedMFer]

The toy hauler concept was brought about by people wanting to move living quarters and equipment with one trailer instead of using two and burning twice the fuel. They are being used by many people these days and not just the ATV off road crowd. You will see them at horse shows, dog shows miniature scale train events motorcycle touring people and hunters.

David Kb7uns

Sure, that makes sense. But generations ago this stuff was thought of as a luxury for the super rich. I support our freedom to choose, but our culture is increasingly centered around "earn-buy-use-discard-go into debt-buy larger". There's a lot of hidden costs to consumerism.

Just something to think about when we make our purchases.

 

[locknut]

What did you use to polish the aluminum?

Mothers brand in a red plastic bottle.Used almost two bottles.Found out after we finished that Mothers makes attachments called Powerballs,three different styles for buffing,kinda expensive though.

 

[timswi]

And that's part of the US's problem. We have not weaned ourselves off cheap energy and want to have and haul big toys.

Locknut looks like he has the appropriate mix of tools. Now how about some chains?

Lighten up on the rest of us. If locknut's set up works for him, fantastic (and it is a nice rig) but it doesn't work for all of us. Just because the rest of the world taxes their fuel and $5.00 per gallon more than we do is one of the many reasons I don't live in the rest of the world. Some may call my stuff "luxury items" but I don't. Each piece of equipment serves a purpose..even our travel trailer. I can afford it, so I have them. If I couldn't, I wouldn't....And no, I'm not some filthy rich type, We just played the game right starting in early adulthood, ergo we can live comfortably now. I have no guilt whatsoever.

 

[dodge man]

Looks like you are underpowered to tow that trailer, better start looking at diesel trucks. And yeah, you need about 400 lbs of chains and binders to hold that thing down.

All joking aside, that is a really nice looking trailer. I've seen that brand of trailer before in a car hauler and they are very nice and high quality.

 

[wolfpack2]

You do realize that the Escape Hybrid is only rated to tow 1000 lbs. I wouldn't want to trash a hybrid transmission by towing with it. The cost to repair it may not justify the fuel savings. Not to mention the regenerative brakes are not rated to stop that much weight. Be careful if you plan to tow often.