Small Trailer Help

[Panik]

So apparently my google-mojo is busted and I would appreciate some input.

With a family of 6 we have four 96 gallon trash cans that semi-regularly need to be emptied. Curbside pick-up is out as we are in the country. While I am not old I'm getting past the point of being willing to lift those trash cans in and out of the back of my pick-up to empty them at the remote site across town. I do have a 20' equipment trailer, but that's a wee bit cumbersome to use just to move a couple trash cans across town.

What I would really like is a well built, small (4X5'ish) board deck trailer with high (possibly solid) sides I can neatly park in my driveway so that I can just leave the cans in the trailer and hook-up and go when they need to be emptied. My problem is that everything I am finding is either oversize for my specific needs and/or is of the bolt together variety.

Although it is way over built for my needs the closest thing I've seen are the Ohio Steel utility trailers Home Depot has for customer rental and as far as I know there is no outlet for their purchase. Unfortunately, I also suspect that what I might like and what I would be willing to spend for a mostly single purpose trailer are two very different things.

 

[Cat385B]

Build or buy a tray for your tube hitch receiver.

 

[jjp8182]

Depending on how urgent your need you could always watch for Home Depot to sell one of their used trailers.

Like pretty much every other rental company Home Depot does sell their used rental equipment (at some point).

Granted finding some items will probably take some time/effort.

 

[Panik]

Depending on how urgent your need you could always watch for Home Depot to sell one of their used trailers.

Like pretty much every other rental company Home Depot does sell their used rental equipment (at some point).

Granted finding some items will probably take some time/effort.

That's a great idea.... was planning on running by the local HD for some supplies and will ask the rental desk about the idea. Thanks!

 

[jjp8182]

That's a great idea.... was planning on running by the local HD for some supplies and will ask the rental desk about the idea. Thanks!

That's also a great idea - would love to hear what you find out when you ask. I usually just check their website on occasion to see if anything interesting is being sold at the local stores.

 

[Diggin It]

Harbor Freight, Northern Tool and similar places, maybe farm and ranch type stores all sell small trailers, usually $500 or less. Some are kits you assemble. You can add whatever custom sides or rails you want, even a ramp if you wish. Mine are both considerably lower than a pickup bed.

U-Haul might sell used stuff sometimes too.

A search for 'trash bin trailer' finds stuff like this:

But they're all either AU or UK, none in the US that I can see. If you're handy, maybe you can make one like that.

 

[Wakey]

I like the Herbie Curbie type bins like Diggin posted for the wheels. They are handy around the yard also. The one’s the trash companies use are nicer due to heavier construction and larger wheels. Perhaps you could get one used?

Your idea about leaving your current cans in a trailer seems like a good one.

 

[ruffdog]

I think the OP is looking for something like this:

Small but mighty trailer - trailers - by owner - vehicle automotive...

 

[Rebeldad1]

craigslist for small utility trailer. bought a 5x8 for $200 years ago. hardly use it..... still have it.

 

[travisbb]

Now is not a good time to buy a trailer. A few years ago I bought a 3.5' X 5' utility trailer for around $200 Canadian. Prices have certainly gone up! I expect supply is low. When I was looking that was pretty much the smallest trailer I found that wasn't wildly expensive and built solely for off-road use.

Looking for a used small utility trailer is probably the easiest plan right now -- if you can find one. If you can weld I expect you could build one reasonably cheaply.

 

[California]

I think the OP is looking for something like this:

Small but mighty trailer - trailers - by owner - vehicle automotive...

That's Harbor Freight's 40x48" trailer. I own two of them. One exactly fits an IBC tote so its devoted to watering.

For the trash can application get the version with 8" tires. Weight capacity is sufficient for garbage cans (1/2 ton) and its lower to the ground.

These are easy to assemble, just 2~3 dozen bolts, and cut up one sheet of 3/8 plywood for floor and sides. (If you need overhang to fit your garbage cans, then a heavier floor). I recommend buy a 2" hitch for it to match other trailers.

 

[Panik]

Now is not a good time to buy a trailer. A few years ago I bought a 3.5' X 5' utility trailer for around $200 Canadian. Prices have certainly gone up! I expect supply is low. When I was looking that was pretty much the smallest trailer I found that wasn't wildly expensive and built solely for off-road use.

No it is most certainly not the best time to buy trailer, but needs be what and when they are.....

Been keeping an eye on FB marketplace for a small trailer and other things but it's been kinda dead around here. After I posted this morning and had some more coffee I had resigned myself to going and getting a Harbor Freight bolt together trailer and likely modifying to fit my needs.

With it being Sunday and the trailer dealers being closed I swung by Tractor Supply and Home Depot on the way to HF just to see if they had anything interesting in the parking lot and struck out. Hit Harbor Freight and they had exactly one bolt together trailer in stock and when the manager brought the two boxes it came in to the front it was pretty apparent they had literally been dropped off the back of a loading dock a couple times..... the entire end of one box was missing. Thanked him kindly for the effort and said no thank you.

On the way home I passed our local Lowes and drove through the parking lot and I'm pretty sure I just got incredibly lucky. Packed in middle of their 5x10 and 5x12' trailers they had exactly on 3.5'X5' mesh bottom Carry-On trailer. I've never seen a trailer that size on any of the lots (big box store, equipments dealers, etc) in our area.

Bought it and just got home from doing a test run to the remote site. The four cans fit pretty much perfectly and it just small enough that it can live with the cans on it on the elevated pad next to our garage door. It's also small enough that once I replace the expanded mesh with deck boards this winter I can use it with the tractor for moving things like my tree watering tote around the property.

I appreciate all the suggestions folks!

 

[ultrarunner]

Pictures?

 

[Panik]

Pictures?

Sorry..... hate having to pull pics from the phone to the laptop. While it doesn’t really need it, there’s a Jack stand in the bed of my truck that I’m going to add just cause I don’t like trailer tongues laying on the ground

 

[JJT]

If 96 gallon containers are too big, why not switch to 32 gallon trash cans? We're a family of 2, we fill two 32 gallon containers in 3 weeks. We also generate about 1 can of recycling in 3 weeks. We do compost everything we can.

 

[Panik]

If 96 gallon containers are too big, why not switch to 32 gallon trash cans? We're a family of 2, we fill two 32 gallon containers in 3 weeks. We also generate about 1 can of recycling in 3 weeks. We do compost everything we can.

A couple reasons and honestly no snark here...

1) I've got a Z71 truck with 31.5" tires and while I'm 6' the bed is somewhere above my navel... I don't even really want to try and man-handle cans into the back of my truck anymore whether it's a 96ga or a 32 if they're full of heavy stuff. I've done my fair share of manual labor and I'm trying to be nicer to my body than I used to. I've had a bulging disc and no cartilage in the right knee since my 20's. To be frank, I'm honestly hoping once the zero turn is payed off to be able to convince SWMBO to let me get a grapple for the BX so I don't have to handle brush as much.

2) We're a very busy blended family of 6 with 3 autistic youngins... Wife's in grad school and I tend to work 50hr weeks and like it or not we produce a fair amount of waste. I don't want to have to go to the remote site more than once a week and don't want more trash cans in our drive than the 4 we already have.

3) Given the above, it's also a reasonable excuse to buy a small trailer that I can also use in combination with my BX to accomplish yard work - (mainly hauling a 50ga watering rig for tree planting)

In other news the wife and kids came home from Nana's and my oldest, who loves mowing and dragging brush referred to my new trailer as being "cute" Let's see if I teach him how to drive when he gets older, LOL.

AND

Dang I have forgotten how difficult it is to back a small trailer.... it's a pain even with a back up camera. LOL!

 

[ruffdog]

For people that have to move big trash bins around, the trash tamer might help:

Trash Tamer

 

[ultrarunner]

Could start a new thread on disposal...

One 20 GALLON waste management tote half full most weeks... two residents...

 

[bcp]

If they have wheels, you only need a hitch, not a trailer.

hitch haul garbage at DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo. Privacy, Simplified.

duckduckgo.com

Just don't forget about it and drive to town.

Bruce

 

[California]

If they have wheels, you only need a hitch, not a trailer.

hitch haul garbage at DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo. Privacy, Simplified.

duckduckgo.com

Just don't forget about it and drive to town.

Bruce

Good idea, but he said he has to drive across town to the collection point.