replacing 6x12 enclosed trailer, options?

[jeffsw6]

I want to replace my 6x12 enclosed trailer sometime this year. My current one is a cheap brand and I've used and abused it heavily for several years. I'm tired of hitting my head on the roof and worrying about being over-weight, etc. I also want electric brakes. I keep wearing out the brakes on my tow vehicle real quickly and it's because of this thing.

Anyway, I got a quote from Gatormade that looks about like this:
6x12 V-nose, single 5200# axle w/brakes, 7' inside height, ramp door
radial tires plus spare with mount
3/4" plywood walls with two rows of E-track
LED lights, dome light, roof fan/vent, outside loading lights
electric tongue jack
battery and box for accessories

The total came to $4500 plus sales tax. Looks like a good price to me but I thought I would ask.
Also I was thinking about changing to 2 5/16" coupler instead of 2". This would save me a few minutes whenever I change trucks since my other trailer is 2 5/16".

EDIT: diamondpilot, should I ask if disc brakes are available as an option? Is there some caveat to having them that has to do with going in reverse?

 

[Diamondpilot]

I personally would not want a single any bigger than a 3500# axle. I would go with 2 3500# axles. The cost should be about the same since the running gear is cheaper and you will also be 4" or more lower for easier loading. Resale will be much easier down the road along with safer towing got now.

As for disc brakes, they are the only way to go but they do cost more upfront. Nice part is service is a breeze, parts are cheap, and brakes in reverse that are effective. You do need one additional wire for a optional back up solenoid.

Chris

 

[droptop]

It looks kinda expensive to me, check out the trailers on Ebay to get a price reference. Also I thought that Gatormade were cheaply made trailers.

 

[jeffsw6]

I personally would not want a single any bigger than a 3500# axle.

Could you elaborate on this? More brakes or easier weight distribution? Flat tires? The reason I thought 1 x 5200# would be better for me than 2 x 3500# is I use the 6x12 in some really tight alleys, and turning in/out of them is tricky. I assumed a tandem would be significantly harder to maneuver in those tight spots than a single. Cost is not really my biggest concern.

On the load floor height, I get what you mean about that. My 10K is on 5200# axles and has 7'6" box and the ramp is easy to push things up, even real heavy items. I am guessing a single 5200# will be essentially similar in load floor height and 7'0" box will have only a slightly shorter ramp. The worst thing for me to load is a rack of amplifiers (band stuff) that weighs around 400# and I can load it by myself very easily into the 10K.

Also what is the function of an "optional back up solenoid" for the disc brakes?

It looks kinda expensive to me, check out the trailers on Ebay to get a price reference. Also I thought that Gatormade were cheaply made trailers.

I have quite a few add-on options. I would guess that is almost $1000 of the price.

I have a 8.5x20 Gatormade box trailer already and it is great for the price. Good enough that I am interested in a second one anyway.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I would want the redundancy of tandems. Figure with a single and a blow out or bearing out the having a 5,200# trailer behind your 5,500# truck can get hairy.

A backup solenoid simply is a $35 device that takes a signal from the center pin of a 7 pin round that blocks the flow of hydraulic fluid to the brakes when backing up. They are so effective that you can not back up a 5,000# trailer with a 4x4 Expedition without it working.


Chris

 

[jeffsw6]

I don't think I understand how the trailer disc brakes work! I didn't even know they had hydraulic fluid, is it like an electrically-operated hydraulic system? Why would the brakes be applied when the trailer is going in reverse, do they need the wheels to roll forward, after you've stopped to change into reverse, for the rotors to free themselves of the brake pads?

Trying to figure out if this would be a good or overly-complex thing for me.

What do you think about maneuverability of 2x3500# vs 1x5200#, is it going to be a big difference, or no? I have had a blow-out on my 1x3500# and I was glad it happened at low speed. I pay MUCH more attention to my trailer tires now -- I check the air in all of them once a week, all treads are fresh, I have spares, etc. Learned my lesson!