"Handiest" size for a Utility Trailer?

goodoleboy · Jun 10, 2006

\"Handiest\" size for a Utility Trailer?

I am in the market for a utility trailer. I want one that can be used for a multiple chores including delviering square bales.moving two ATV's, yard trash, material, lawn equipment, etc.. I want to use this trailer and get my moneys worth of use out of it. Which brings my question.

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

I think if I get a 16ft dual axle it will be more of a hassle since you cant move them by hand, they are harder to pull etc.. I think I would talk myself out of using it when needed since it would be a pain to hookup.

But if I go with smaller trailer It may be to small for some jobs and ill regret not having the dual axles and extra length.But I think it would get used more since hookup would be simplier.

Whats the best size for all around use pulling with a 1/2 ton?

5x8, 6x10, 6x12 6x16?

goodoleboy · Jun 10, 2006

\"Handiest\" size for a Utility Trailer?

I am in the market for a utility trailer. I want one that can be used for a multiple chores including delviering square bales.moving two ATV's, yard trash, material, lawn equipment, etc.. I want to use this trailer and get my moneys worth of use out of it. Which brings my question.

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

I think if I get a 16ft dual axle it will be more of a hassle since you cant move them by hand, they are harder to pull etc.. I think I would talk myself out of using it when needed since it would be a pain to hookup.

But if I go with smaller trailer It may be to small for some jobs and ill regret not having the dual axles and extra length.But I think it would get used more since hookup would be simplier.

Whats the best size for all around use pulling with a 1/2 ton?

5x8, 6x10, 6x12 6x16?

ronjhall · Jun 10, 2006

Re: \"Handiest\" size for a Utility Trailer?

I built a 4' 2"X 8' 2" trailer with removable 3' sides a few years ago. It has been the handiest trailer I have ever owned. I has a 3500 lbs axle. This allows me to carry a yard of top soil or 3 yards of mulch. If I was to do it again I would make it wider. This would allow me to put the riding mower on it. Instead of having to load it on my 16' X 7' car hauler.

ronjhall · Jun 10, 2006

Re: \"Handiest\" size for a Utility Trailer?

I built a 4' 2"X 8' 2" trailer with removable 3' sides a few years ago. It has been the handiest trailer I have ever owned. I has a 3500 lbs axle. This allows me to carry a yard of top soil or 3 yards of mulch. If I was to do it again I would make it wider. This would allow me to put the riding mower on it. Instead of having to load it on my 16' X 7' car hauler.

GregMVT · Jun 10, 2006

Re: \"Handiest\" size for a Utility Trailer?

When we bought the house we are in a few years ago I got one of the trailers from Home Depot. It will fit 2 atv's and is a tilt bed rated for 1 ton. The front and back are easily switched so they will lay flat for a longer bed length. At the time it was a pretty decent price, haven't checked recently but I'm sure they've gone up a bit. Also it sits kind of low so it's easy to load brush, etc on it. It pulls fine behind my S-10 pickup or the tractor /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Greg

GregMVT · Jun 10, 2006

Re: \"Handiest\" size for a Utility Trailer?

When we bought the house we are in a few years ago I got one of the trailers from Home Depot. It will fit 2 atv's and is a tilt bed rated for 1 ton. The front and back are easily switched so they will lay flat for a longer bed length. At the time it was a pretty decent price, haven't checked recently but I'm sure they've gone up a bit. Also it sits kind of low so it's easy to load brush, etc on it. It pulls fine behind my S-10 pickup or the tractor /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Greg

WhyNot · Jun 10, 2006

Re: \"Handiest\" size for a Utility Trailer?

My brother and I bought a used 6x16 landscape trailer from a guy that needed to sell it real bad. At first I thought it was too big for our need's and wanted to sell it to make some extra $ and buy a new smaller one. Now after 5 year's of owning it I don't know what we would have done with a smaller one as far as hooking it up it is still light enough that you can move it front to back pretty easily but side to side more than a few inches is tough due to the dual axle's. Hope this help's with your decision /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

WhyNot · Jun 10, 2006

Re: \"Handiest\" size for a Utility Trailer?

My brother and I bought a used 6x16 landscape trailer from a guy that needed to sell it real bad. At first I thought it was too big for our need's and wanted to sell it to make some extra $ and buy a new smaller one. Now after 5 year's of owning it I don't know what we would have done with a smaller one as far as hooking it up it is still light enough that you can move it front to back pretty easily but side to side more than a few inches is tough due to the dual axle's. Hope this help's with your decision /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Bird · Jun 10, 2006

Re: \"Handiest\" size for a Utility Trailer?

When I lived down in the country, I bought a single axle 5' x 10' tiltbed trailer that was the handiest one I ever owned. It was mostly used in the immediate area for hauling brush, trash, riding mower, and once even a Kawaski Mule, but I towed it to Washington State once, made temporary 4' sideboards of plywood, and hauled a load of furniture and boxes back to Texas with 2800 pounds on that axle. Then a few months later, my brother bought a 6' x 16' two axle trailer with removable steel ramps and both trailers stayed at my place because I had a convenient place to park them on a concrete slab. So I had the best of both worlds. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

And now that I'm back in town, I just have this little Big Tex trailer. I just bought it to use on our last move, and to haul my little Toro ZTR.

Bird · Jun 10, 2006

Re: \"Handiest\" size for a Utility Trailer?

When I lived down in the country, I bought a single axle 5' x 10' tiltbed trailer that was the handiest one I ever owned. It was mostly used in the immediate area for hauling brush, trash, riding mower, and once even a Kawaski Mule, but I towed it to Washington State once, made temporary 4' sideboards of plywood, and hauled a load of furniture and boxes back to Texas with 2800 pounds on that axle. Then a few months later, my brother bought a 6' x 16' two axle trailer with removable steel ramps and both trailers stayed at my place because I had a convenient place to park them on a concrete slab. So I had the best of both worlds. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

And now that I'm back in town, I just have this little Big Tex trailer. I just bought it to use on our last move, and to haul my little Toro ZTR.

Bob_Skurka · Jun 10, 2006

Re: \"Handiest\" size for a Utility Trailer?

I had a 6x14 that was a sweet little trailer. Dual axle 7000# gvw. Just big enough, but not too big. It was a great size for hauling my tractors (some did overhange a bit) but it also was small enough not to get in the way too often. I used it to haul mulch and other things too. It was lightly built and broke several times eventhough it was not technically overloaded.

Unfortunately it got too small for me (I bought a tracked vehicle that is slighly wider than 6' so it would not fit on my little trailer) so I ended up looking for a new trailer. I never found what I wanted so I had one built for me. My new trailer has a 7' wide bed but is still just 14' long. Dual torsion axles (much nicer than leaf springs) with a 7000# GVW. To make sure this one would not break like the other one, it is made with heavy wall box steel frame and supports. I also had a partial rail instead of a full rail to make it easier to load/unload wide objects. The rear lip is dual box steel tubes for extra strength the front edge is angle iron and box steel. The side rails extend only to the rear of the wheel's fenders but are used to reinforce the fenders. There are also angle iron extenders that reinforce the front and rear of the wheel wells, as well as one under the top center of the wheelwell where people tend to use it as a step. In addition to the rail there are also plenty of places to attach tie down hooks. The licese plate has a flexible mount to prevent bending, the lights are protected by angle iron that extends slightly past their sides. Side marker lights are protected by "u" channel steel. The wiring is all tinned copper, and waterproofed with shrink fittings. Sweet little trailer, and heavy duty too.

Bob_Skurka · Jun 10, 2006

Re: \"Handiest\" size for a Utility Trailer?

I had a 6x14 that was a sweet little trailer. Dual axle 7000# gvw. Just big enough, but not too big. It was a great size for hauling my tractors (some did overhange a bit) but it also was small enough not to get in the way too often. I used it to haul mulch and other things too. It was lightly built and broke several times eventhough it was not technically overloaded.

Unfortunately it got too small for me (I bought a tracked vehicle that is slighly wider than 6' so it would not fit on my little trailer) so I ended up looking for a new trailer. I never found what I wanted so I had one built for me. My new trailer has a 7' wide bed but is still just 14' long. Dual torsion axles (much nicer than leaf springs) with a 7000# GVW. To make sure this one would not break like the other one, it is made with heavy wall box steel frame and supports. I also had a partial rail instead of a full rail to make it easier to load/unload wide objects. The rear lip is dual box steel tubes for extra strength the front edge is angle iron and box steel. The side rails extend only to the rear of the wheel's fenders but are used to reinforce the fenders. There are also angle iron extenders that reinforce the front and rear of the wheel wells, as well as one under the top center of the wheelwell where people tend to use it as a step. In addition to the rail there are also plenty of places to attach tie down hooks. The licese plate has a flexible mount to prevent bending, the lights are protected by angle iron that extends slightly past their sides. Side marker lights are protected by "u" channel steel. The wiring is all tinned copper, and waterproofed with shrink fittings. Sweet little trailer, and heavy duty too.

RobertN · Jun 10, 2006

Re: \"Handiest\" size for a Utility Trailer?

I have two. They fit different needs though.

We have a 5x8 utility with sides on it. We had a mom/pop landscape business going for a while(I went back to hi-tech while my wife continued with landscape design). In order to haul all our stuff, the trailer worked out well. It was very nice not having to get a mower in the back of the truck; the trailer sits pretty low. In fact, we often use the trailer to haul dirt bark ect, when the truck would work just fine. The trailer is easier to load/unload.

I have hauled a dirt bike in it; I could fit five in there. I did haul an older Honday Odessey buggy in there; I could fit that and one dirt bike. A quad is not much smaller than the oddessy; to haul two quads one would have to stand up.

When we got the trailer, the first thing we did was add 10 extra rope hooks all the way around. It had 3 on each side. It sounds like a lot of hooks now, but it does allow for tying just about anything off.

We have a 16' 7000lb flatbed too, for the tractor. It has ben THE HANDIEST thing. I have hauled my Kubota, my Farmall-A, Dad's Ford 2N, an S150 and S1856 Bobcat(S185 was too hevy; never again), ASV RC30, 36" ride on roller compacter, 48' ride on roller/compacter, 12' 16' and 20' pipe and lumber, a subaru, a s10 blazer, a '70 Bronco, swingset, motorcycles, retaining wall block, flagstone, fence posts, award winning Cub Scout floats, hay bales, and morevarious stuff.

Both trailer hook up pretty easy. The 16' backs a lot easier than the short trailer; I have a dent in the right rear of my truck bed from that 8' trailer jack knifing in a nano-second on me...

The 16' pulls like a dream.

We have pulled both with my 3/4 ton and my wifes 1/2 ton. If the 16' is loaded heavy, I prefer the 3/4 ton. If it is light to moderately loaded, the 1/2 ton is fine(rides better too).

If I had to give one up, it would be the smaller one. The Kubota fits on the 16'. And, since I have a truck with an 8' bed, I can haul most stuff the trailer would hold in the truck.

RobertN · Jun 10, 2006

Re: \"Handiest\" size for a Utility Trailer?

I have two. They fit different needs though.

We have a 5x8 utility with sides on it. We had a mom/pop landscape business going for a while(I went back to hi-tech while my wife continued with landscape design). In order to haul all our stuff, the trailer worked out well. It was very nice not having to get a mower in the back of the truck; the trailer sits pretty low. In fact, we often use the trailer to haul dirt bark ect, when the truck would work just fine. The trailer is easier to load/unload.

I have hauled a dirt bike in it; I could fit five in there. I did haul an older Honday Odessey buggy in there; I could fit that and one dirt bike. A quad is not much smaller than the oddessy; to haul two quads one would have to stand up.

When we got the trailer, the first thing we did was add 10 extra rope hooks all the way around. It had 3 on each side. It sounds like a lot of hooks now, but it does allow for tying just about anything off.

We have a 16' 7000lb flatbed too, for the tractor. It has ben THE HANDIEST thing. I have hauled my Kubota, my Farmall-A, Dad's Ford 2N, an S150 and S1856 Bobcat(S185 was too hevy; never again), ASV RC30, 36" ride on roller compacter, 48' ride on roller/compacter, 12' 16' and 20' pipe and lumber, a subaru, a s10 blazer, a '70 Bronco, swingset, motorcycles, retaining wall block, flagstone, fence posts, award winning Cub Scout floats, hay bales, and morevarious stuff.

Both trailer hook up pretty easy. The 16' backs a lot easier than the short trailer; I have a dent in the right rear of my truck bed from that 8' trailer jack knifing in a nano-second on me...

The 16' pulls like a dream.

We have pulled both with my 3/4 ton and my wifes 1/2 ton. If the 16' is loaded heavy, I prefer the 3/4 ton. If it is light to moderately loaded, the 1/2 ton is fine(rides better too).

If I had to give one up, it would be the smaller one. The Kubota fits on the 16'. And, since I have a truck with an 8' bed, I can haul most stuff the trailer would hold in the truck.

KentT · Jun 10, 2006

Re: \"Handiest\" size for a Utility Trailer?

I also like the 6.5'x14' size. I have a 7000lb medium-duty one with tandem axles and brakes -- too heavy to move by hand, since it weighs about 1650 lbs or so.

I had a 12' single axle and it was too small. The 16' size was too big for where I need to park it. I've yet to find the 14' one too small for my needs...

But, it depends on the size of equipment you're dealing with...

KentT · Jun 10, 2006

Re: \"Handiest\" size for a Utility Trailer?

I also like the 6.5'x14' size. I have a 7000lb medium-duty one with tandem axles and brakes -- too heavy to move by hand, since it weighs about 1650 lbs or so.

I had a 12' single axle and it was too small. The 16' size was too big for where I need to park it. I've yet to find the 14' one too small for my needs...

But, it depends on the size of equipment you're dealing with...

KubotaSteve · Jun 10, 2006

Re: \"Handiest\" size for a Utility Trailer?

My dad has 2 trailers, a 6'X10' trailer with sides and a 7'X18' car trailer. We also have access to a 4'X8' trailer and an enclosed 5'X8' trailer. I've used all of them and the 6'X10' is the best all around. The car trailer is heavy and awkward trying to park in a store, the small 5'X8' isn't big enough and the enclosed trailer is just a hassle unless it is raining /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif.
If you all ready have a 1/2 ton p/u then you should get something larger than a p/u bed 4'X8'. I like the 6'X10' trailer because you can haul lumber up to 12' long and in a pinch even go 16' if you run it up part of the way on the tongue. You can put 4'X8' sheets of sheetrock and still have room on the side for some other lumber. I just went an picked up two yards of mulch in it the other day and probably could have gotten 3 if needed. Funniest part is the trailer is part homemade as it was originally a pop up camper the we bought for $100 and stripped down and replaced the floor with decking boards.

KubotaSteve · Jun 10, 2006

Re: \"Handiest\" size for a Utility Trailer?

My dad has 2 trailers, a 6'X10' trailer with sides and a 7'X18' car trailer. We also have access to a 4'X8' trailer and an enclosed 5'X8' trailer. I've used all of them and the 6'X10' is the best all around. The car trailer is heavy and awkward trying to park in a store, the small 5'X8' isn't big enough and the enclosed trailer is just a hassle unless it is raining /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif.
If you all ready have a 1/2 ton p/u then you should get something larger than a p/u bed 4'X8'. I like the 6'X10' trailer because you can haul lumber up to 12' long and in a pinch even go 16' if you run it up part of the way on the tongue. You can put 4'X8' sheets of sheetrock and still have room on the side for some other lumber. I just went an picked up two yards of mulch in it the other day and probably could have gotten 3 if needed. Funniest part is the trailer is part homemade as it was originally a pop up camper the we bought for $100 and stripped down and replaced the floor with decking boards.

California · Jun 10, 2006

Re: \"Handiest\" size for a Utility Trailer?

( I got one of the trailers from Home Depot. ... a tilt bed rated for 1 ton. The front and back are easily switched so they will lay flat for a longer bed length. ... Also it sits kind of low so it's easy to load brush, etc on it. It pulls fine behind my S-10 pickup or the tractor -Greg)

I like mine too. On these the tongue can be extended plus both front and back panels laid flat. I've carried 16 ft long rolled carpet, fully supported, on this tiny '4x8' trailer.

I use it all the time in the orchard behind either the tractor or the Subaru for hauling props, harvest ladders, and boxes of apples. At only 500 lbs empty its easy to push to its storage location, and the little Subaru tows it fine on the highway fully loaded.

This meets every need here except one: My tractor will never leave the neighborhood because I don't own anything big enough to carry it, or pull it.

For a really light trailer, sized for a 3200 lb tow vehicle, this Home Depot model is ideal.

California · Jun 10, 2006

Re: \"Handiest\" size for a Utility Trailer?

( I got one of the trailers from Home Depot. ... a tilt bed rated for 1 ton. The front and back are easily switched so they will lay flat for a longer bed length. ... Also it sits kind of low so it's easy to load brush, etc on it. It pulls fine behind my S-10 pickup or the tractor -Greg)

I like mine too. On these the tongue can be extended plus both front and back panels laid flat. I've carried 16 ft long rolled carpet, fully supported, on this tiny '4x8' trailer.

I use it all the time in the orchard behind either the tractor or the Subaru for hauling props, harvest ladders, and boxes of apples. At only 500 lbs empty its easy to push to its storage location, and the little Subaru tows it fine on the highway fully loaded.

This meets every need here except one: My tractor will never leave the neighborhood because I don't own anything big enough to carry it, or pull it.

For a really light trailer, sized for a 3200 lb tow vehicle, this Home Depot model is ideal.