I'm open to suggestions at this point

   / I'm open to suggestions at this point
  • Thread Starter
#11  
Bob_Skurka said:
Mike, I order all my truck boxes with transluscent top panels. 2 lights will make your eyes hurt. A transluscent fiberglass top plus 2 lights will make it easy to see whatever you are looking for.

Bob what you say makes good sense. I have seen many a UPS truck with translucent top and they let a lot of useful light in.
 
   / I'm open to suggestions at this point
  • Thread Starter
#12  
Bird said:
Mike, as to when trailer brakes become necessary, there are lots of opinions, but one old federal recommendation was to require trailer brakes any time the weight of the trailer exceeded 40% of the weight of the tow vehicle. Not a bad recommendation in my opinion.

You mention a 3500 pound axle (singular). Now I certainly don't know for sure, but when you talk about 3/4" plywood floor, building shelves (and of course they need to be built to keep the merchandise from falling off the shelves when underway), and an enclosed trailer which means walls, roof, and doors, plus the merchandise, the weight starts adding up pretty fast. Maybe a single axle is enough, but I wouldn't bet on it.

You may also want to consider a trailer with shock absorbers. I don't know how important they will be for your merchandise, but I learned long ago that I wouldn't want an RV without shocks.

Almost any RV supply place will have locks for the coupler when the trailer is not coupled to the car.

Bird I'm going to consider tandem axles but I wasn't aware that trailers even had shocks available as an option. Thanks for the tip!
 
   / I'm open to suggestions at this point #13  
Pineridge,

Many of the trailer manufacturers make merchandise trailers to order. These are geared more towards let's say going to a Nascar race and selling merch but I'm sure you can get a custom rig to fill your needs. I had a Wellscargo concession trailer that was built like a tank. Tell them what your towing with and they'll point you in the right direction. Pace American, Wells Cargo come to mind as well known brands but there's many out there.

I personally dealt with Wells Cargo and they are A++ to deal with.

Good luck!
TomK
 
   / I'm open to suggestions at this point #14  
PineRidge said:
Randy the SUV has a Hidden Hitch. I'm sure it's a class II, rated at 3500 pounds GTW & 300 pounds TW.

Toyota recommends trailer weight not exceed 3000 pounds for the Highlander. It is already equipped with the trailer prep package.
Gross combination weight (trailer & load) 8485 pounds.
So if my math is correct I can safely stuff 5485 pounds of weight in a trailer weighing no more than 3000 pounds. This should cover our needs nicely with margin to spare.

Mike, I do believe that you are seriously miscalculating and/or misunderstanding Toyota's ratings. I just looked at the specs for the 2007 Toyota Highlander and, with the trailer towing package, it's rated to tow a 3500 pound trailer but in every trailer tow rating I know of that is the GROSS weight of the trailer and it's contents.

And a Gross Combination weight is trailer, trailer contents, the car or pickup itself, the occupants, other contents, etc. In other words, the entire vehicle and trailer.

I don't know what year model your Highlander is, but I just looked up the Hidden Hitch for the 2006 Highlander and sure enough it's rated for 3500 lb GTW (Gross Trailer Weight; i.e., trailer and contents) and 300 lb. tongue weight.
 
   / I'm open to suggestions at this point #15  
Mike,
I have a friend that has 2 Wells Cargo enclosed trailers and just loves them.
One has leaf springs and the other has a torsion axle. He says the torsion axle is the way to go, it tows absolutly great. There both single axle but I'm sure the same would apply to dual axles. If you have a Wells Cargo dealer near you, I would definitly check them out.

Bill
 
   / I'm open to suggestions at this point #16  
Bill, I don't know how their prices compare, but I'd agree with your friend that the Wells Cargo trailers are definitely nice trailers. And the torsion axle might negate the need for shocks.
 
   / I'm open to suggestions at this point #17  
PineRidge said:
Recently the wife and I opened a store within Hartville Market Place and herein lies our problem. We have no inside space for a stock room to replenish merchandise that is sold through the day.

We started by loading the SUV to the gills with excess merchandise but it's just not handy loading and unloading when the store is closed. Nor is it an easy way to find an item that may be at the bottom of the pile.

I have begun to research closed trailers that can carry a rolling inventory that will be readily accessed as needed throughout the day. And since I have very little knowledge of closed trailers I am counting on some of you that may be using just such a trailer yourself.

Here are some of the options that we think to be of importance but are not absolutely necessary:

dual rear doors instead of a ramp, that swing open for easy loading purposes.

A 32" wide side mounted man-door.

2 interior lights w/switch.

3500 pound axle.

Light curb weight.

Tongue jack.

A way to lock the coupler mechanism when trailer is not coupled to the car.

3/4" plywood floors

I would like to have an interior width of at least 68" and a interior length of somewhere around 11 feet with an interior height of 78".

Roof vent.

Breakaway kit.

15" 6 ply tires.

Exterior DOT lighting with side marker lights.

How important are things like front stone guards? coupler ball size?

When and where do electric brakes become necessary?

Don't think we need a ramp or dropped axle since most of our packages are about the size of a toaster and a bit heavier.

I'll most likely need to build some shelving within the unit for organization.

Is there anything else you guys recommend or dis-like in a trailer?

You may want to check out this place.
MSI Trailers / Mobile Structrures Inc.
They make trailers for just about anything.

Our trailer brakes have a small, 12V motorcycle battery in a little box mounted to the frame rail. According to the manufacturer, it charges through the trailer plug. If your trailer breaks away, the motorcycle battery activates the brakes.

As Bird stated, if your trailer is only rated for 3500 pounds, and you start adding stuff, the usable weight goes way down.
 
   / I'm open to suggestions at this point #18  
Bird, I have another friend that just had an aluminum equipment trailer custom built and the builder also used torsion axles. He hauls an L5030 w/fel and a 96" mower with no problems. I don't know about the prices on the Wells Cargo either, but I think Mike should check it out while he has nothing else to do :D .

Bill
 
   / I'm open to suggestions at this point #19  
I have a Wells Cargo Enclosed Snowmobile Trailer. It is a single axle (5500#) with torsion suspension and brakes. Its 15'X8'. Full ramp in back, single angled ramp in front, one man door, vent, and a fueling door. I paid out the nose for it ($5800 OTD). I sold the snowmobile long ago but I'll keep the trailer forever. I use it for all sorts of stuff. It is REALLY well made. I have some buddies that have similar trailers (different brands) and laugh at how much I paid for it (which I agree was allot), until we park them side by side. The difference in fit and finish and how theyve held up over the years wipes the smirk right off their faces........Hutch
 
   / I'm open to suggestions at this point
  • Thread Starter
#20  
Bird said:
Mike, I do believe that you are seriously miscalculating and/or misunderstanding Toyota's ratings. I just looked at the specs for the 2007 Toyota Highlander and, with the trailer towing package, it's rated to tow a 3500 pound trailer but in every trailer tow rating I know of that is the GROSS weight of the trailer and it's contents.

And a Gross Combination weight is trailer, trailer contents, the car or pickup itself, the occupants, other contents, etc. In other words, the entire vehicle and trailer.

I don't know what year model your Highlander is, but I just looked up the Hidden Hitch for the 2006 Highlander and sure enough it's rated for 3500 lb GTW (Gross Trailer Weight; i.e., trailer and contents) and 300 lb. tongue weight.

Bird you just might be right there.I'm going to give the dealer a call in the AM and see what he says.
 

Tractor & Equipment Auctions

Tubing A500 Grade C 6in. SQ X 1/4in. X 28ft. (A50860)
Tubing A500 Grade...
80in HD Tooth Bucket with Side Cutters ONE PER LOT (A51039)
80in HD Tooth...
2021 Ver-Mac PCMS-3812 Solar S/A Towable Trailer Message Board (A49461)
2021 Ver-Mac...
2003 Big Tex 10PI 16ft. T/A Pipe Top Utility Trailer (A49461)
2003 Big Tex 10PI...
2009 IC Corporation PB105 Passenger Bus (A48081)
2009 IC...
2025 12v Diesel Fuel Pump w/ Flow Meter (A48081)
2025 12v Diesel...
 
Top