"Handiest" size for a Utility Trailer?

Tom_H · Jun 11, 2006

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

I got a Snow Bear from Home Depot for $600. It may be same as the poster above. It's 5'x8' when the side and end panels are up. The rear panel can be repositioned as a ramp and the front panel can drop as well. This increases the length to 13'. The bed pivots on the axle so a subCUT or GT can drive straight on. The bed can be repositioned on the axle in 3 differing positions. The side panels are removable. Trailer weight is about 500 lb. and GVW about 2200 lb., tow vehicle rated about 3500 lb. Tongue can be repositioned to longer and shorter lengths, or removed for storage. It's a versatile model. Shortcomings: single axle, no brakes.

Tom_H · Jun 11, 2006

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

I got a Snow Bear from Home Depot for $600. It may be same as the poster above. It's 5'x8' when the side and end panels are up. The rear panel can be repositioned as a ramp and the front panel can drop as well. This increases the length to 13'. The bed pivots on the axle so a subCUT or GT can drive straight on. The bed can be repositioned on the axle in 3 differing positions. The side panels are removable. Trailer weight is about 500 lb. and GVW about 2200 lb., tow vehicle rated about 3500 lb. Tongue can be repositioned to longer and shorter lengths, or removed for storage. It's a versatile model. Shortcomings: single axle, no brakes.

ultrarunner · Jun 11, 2006

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

Way back before every family had a pick-up or SUV... someone in the extended family always had a homemade box trailer. A small trailer was cheap to keep, could haul camping supplies. Remember those bumper clamp-on trailer hitches? I have a neighbor that built a very nice cabin in Tahoe using only his 1960 Station Wagon and Box Trailer to haul ALL of the building materials.

I have three trailers... each for a different need. A small 4.5 x 6 Box trailer, 5 x 9 stake trailer and my heavy duty 10 foot car/BX23 hauler.

The small box trailer gets the most use. It is low to the ground, easy to load, has a steel deck and the back gate is a fold down ramp. It is light enough and small enough to easily rool around the yard. I vowed long ago that I would never again attempt to wrestle another side by side refrigerator into a pick-up!

The most expensive item I ever hauled with the box trailer was an Eximer Eye Laser valued a 1.5 million for the Hospital where I work. The most expensive vehicle hauled with the car trailer was an original 1966 Ford GT40 to the Monterey historic car races. Sometimes you need to work with what you have.

ultrarunner · Jun 11, 2006

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

Way back before every family had a pick-up or SUV... someone in the extended family always had a homemade box trailer. A small trailer was cheap to keep, could haul camping supplies. Remember those bumper clamp-on trailer hitches? I have a neighbor that built a very nice cabin in Tahoe using only his 1960 Station Wagon and Box Trailer to haul ALL of the building materials.

I have three trailers... each for a different need. A small 4.5 x 6 Box trailer, 5 x 9 stake trailer and my heavy duty 10 foot car/BX23 hauler.

The small box trailer gets the most use. It is low to the ground, easy to load, has a steel deck and the back gate is a fold down ramp. It is light enough and small enough to easily rool around the yard. I vowed long ago that I would never again attempt to wrestle another side by side refrigerator into a pick-up!

The most expensive item I ever hauled with the box trailer was an Eximer Eye Laser valued a 1.5 million for the Hospital where I work. The most expensive vehicle hauled with the car trailer was an original 1966 Ford GT40 to the Monterey historic car races. Sometimes you need to work with what you have.

Bird · Jun 11, 2006

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

( Remember those bumper clamp-on trailer hitches )

I'll bet a lot of our members have never seen one. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif That's what I had on my first car; a '46 Chevy.

Bird · Jun 11, 2006

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

( Remember those bumper clamp-on trailer hitches )

I'll bet a lot of our members have never seen one. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif That's what I had on my first car; a '46 Chevy.

midlf · Jun 11, 2006

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

Yeah, but those hitches were used on cars that had REAL bumpers.

midlf · Jun 11, 2006

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

Yeah, but those hitches were used on cars that had REAL bumpers.

Highbeam · Jun 11, 2006

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

I have two trailers, my big ol' tractor hauler which is not what you want and my small utility trailer. The small one is 4x8 so that a full sheet of plywood drops in to make the floor, with 2 foot side walls for a second sheet, and then the front 2 foot wall and the back 3 foot door leave me a scrap of ply. I bought it second hand for hauling my dirt bike and for various honey doos. It has a single mobile home axle and no brakes. I don't mind that there are no brakes but the mobile home axle makes tires hard to find.

The best part of the trailer is that I can move it by hand. This makes it very convenient to store in a little tight spot or to hitch up. No cranking the tongue jack or lining up to the ball, I highly recommend a single axle, lightweight, trailer for this reason.

The back door is hinged at the bottom to drop down into a ramp. I stretched the back door to 3 feet so that the angle is not to great. Large motorcycles (Yamaha Vmax) barely clear.

Backing up small trailers is always much harder than longer ones or boat trailers. I was forced to learn on this little trailer and now I can plant the tractor hauler on a dime.

For two ATVs you might need more length. A typical bridge on our trail systems is built 4 feet wide so any four wheeler that I will ever own will be less than 4 feet wide. The length will get you though. I have seen four wheelers transported upright on their rear end to fit more in the vehicle so length shortcomings can be made up for with creativity, the front axle up on ramps for example. ATVs weigh about 500 lbs each so the combined weight of two plus the trailer will put you up near a ton which is above the limit for many half tons without trailer brakes.

Dargo · Jun 11, 2006

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

I guess the size is all relative. I'd consider your "big ol" trailer to be the right size utility trailer. I find my 18' trailer is great for general use and hauling a couple of ATV's without crowding. On concrete I can still move it around by hand. However, I am not able to jockey around my 30' gooseneck trailer with dual wheel tandems by hand. I'd consider that trailer (about 6500 pounds empty) too big. Otherwise, I'd consider an 18' bumper hitch trailer just right for a utility trailer. I can use it for most anything, a 1/2 ton pickup can easily haul it, and I can even use my UTV's to pull it around. I guess size is relative. I had a 4' X 8' trailer I gave away because it was just too small for anything other than a yard cart.

dubba · Jun 11, 2006

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

( I can even use my UTV's to pull it around )

Sometimes I think people don't realize what you can do with a UTV.

Middle of winter, no weight in the back of the gator, but the camper was in the way /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

txdon · Jun 11, 2006

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

5'X10' .

if it is at least 5' wide, pallets can be placed on it easily as seen in the picture. The steel sides makes hauling sand/gravel/mulch easy. A golf cart also fits nicely inside. I can move it by hand. I hook-up and go all the time with it!

bg71361 · Jun 14, 2006

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

I have a 6x8 single axle I made, that works great for me. It will hold 3000# easily, it will also accomodate most midsize(compact) tractors with a mid mount 60" mower.
My 2 cents!
Bill /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

goodoleboy · Jul 7, 2006

Re: "Handiest" size for a Utility Trailer?

Update: Got one about a month back, wife got tired of me looking and told my best friend "make sure he buys a trailer before he comes home today." I gotta say I got a great wife.

I chose a 6.4"x14' trailer with 12" side rails.. Its Buck Dandy brand out of Texas... I opted for a removable 4ft gate ($150) and new tires and wheels for ($70) and for an extended wrap C channel tounge frame ($50), which goes around the front wheels of the trailer, Grand total $1050.
Didnt think I would ever spend that much on a single axle trailer. But with steel prices I dont expect them to come down.This is not the exact trailer but looks just like it.It also came with a swingback jack so i dont have to turn the handle a bunch of times.

Ive used 5-6 times so far and it pulls great no "walking" on the road. So far we hauled 3 atv's going to various riding spots.
When the Family goes to the farm we Load up the riding mower, ATV, Whatever supplies, cooler and the plastic dog kennel with the lab(tied down of course). This trailer makes life so much simpler when we go riding not having to disconnect my buddies 5x10 so we could laod mine in the bed of his truck. It also Saves me from using those dangerous ramps on a tall 4x4 truck.. My 6 month old son likes to lay on the deck with a blanket and uses his baby toys in the shade..

I could have gone with a 83x16 with gate for the about $200 more and strongly considered it. But since my truck is older. If worse comes to worse, and I break down on the side of the road with $15,000 worth of atv's.I can pull this trailer with my car even though i will taxing it. It weighs about 1500lbs empty. I Figure I wont be hauling any cars since we have AAA. I guess later down the road if I need a larger trailer ill borrow my Brother in laws,but this one is about perfect I can move it around by hand (still heavy).

One thing I got to get use to is the trailer being wider than the truck..One really has to pay attention on two lane roads. Which is mostly where this trailer travels to get to the farm and most places we ride atv's.

The underside of the trailer is not painted so I primed the bottom of the trailer. I purcahed some oil based implement paint and I am going to paint the bottom with a brush and the wood decking to exthends the floors life.. I plan on using a hardner on the paint to give extra durability. I will post some pics of the actual trailer and the new underside paint later.

Thank you all for the valauble opinons and the TBN site.

Dargo · Jul 7, 2006

Re: "Handiest" size for a Utility Trailer?

goodoleboy said:
The underside of the trailer is not painted so I primed the bottom of the trailer. I purcahed some oil based implement paint and I am going to paint the bottom with a brush and the wood decking to exthends the floors life.. I plan on using a hardner on the paint to give extra durability. I will post some pics of the actual trailer and the new underside paint later.

Thank you all for the valauble opinons and the TBN site.

You have the right idea. I did the same thing on the underside of a trailer I had that wasn't painted on the bottom. Several people told me to take the deck off, turn the trailer over and spray it properly. Duh! C'mon now! We are talking about the underside of a trailer!! Good paint brushed on the underside to prevent rust is just perfect in my book. Good luck!

Bedlam · Jul 7, 2006

Re: "Handiest" size for a Utility Trailer?

Used motor oil sprayed under the trailer will also help. I made a spray gun with a siphon hose type sand blaster. Works great. usually place newspaper under it, lift it with the tractor, and spray it. lots by the springs etc. then let it drip.and the papers absorb the excess.

Dargo · Jul 7, 2006

Re: "Handiest" size for a Utility Trailer?

Bedlam said:
Used motor oil sprayed under the trailer will also help. I made a spray gun with a siphon hose type sand blaster. Works great. usually place newspaper under it, lift it with the tractor, and spray it. lots by the springs etc. then let it drip.and the papers absorb the excess.

Shhh! The EPA morality police will be after you. You know, some of that toxic oil could drip off of your trailer and kill every creature in your county.

czechsonofagun · Jul 7, 2006

Re: "Handiest" size for a Utility Trailer?

4'x8'x1.5' is my trailer. The picture is without plywood sides yet, but it can take 40cf of sand, with front and back gates folded down I can load it full of fence boards.
The ultimate test was when guy dumped in it a bundle (60) of half round fence posts. It went on one wheel and back on two - but nothing broke to this guy great surprise - and my huge satisfaction

I built it myself and couldnt do without it anymore.

Bedlam · Jul 7, 2006

Re: "Handiest" size for a Utility Trailer?

Hey Dargo I think it drips less oil than a lot of cars Ive seen parked in the parking lots LOL.Thats why I have most of it drip on the papers first. At least adds some good to it.But your right..

RobJ · Jul 7, 2006

Re: "Handiest" size for a Utility Trailer?

I made a 5x12 and used it for years. Not heavy enough for my tractor (generally 10' is the longest with the light material, I added an extra 2 feet). Recently sold that one and built a 7.5x14 sled type. Removable sides, love the loading feature. First tow with the tractor this weekend and all went well.

should have made it longer but that would have caused other problems.