utility trailer question

Sigarms · Mar 30, 2006

Looking at getting a 6'x12' untility trailer for around the house.

Any big advantage to getting a 4 wheel model compared to a 2 wheel model?

One I'm looking at is rated for 3500 lbs. Will be using it for moving wood, plants, cut trees, rocks and some equipment here and there. Will be running around the pasture and back yard with it as well.

Anything to look out for or stay away from?

Thks

MLinOleMiss · Mar 30, 2006

Load placement and balance are the major issues in the single axle vs. tandem axle question.

GaryM · Mar 30, 2006

With four tires on the ground instead of two you should make shallower ruts in soft ground. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

KentT · Mar 30, 2006

A related question for those who have 4-wheel utility trailers...

Is it realistic to think that I could use a tongue jack to hold the trailer while I load it with the FEL, then connect to the trailer to haul it to where I want to dump the load?

This doesn't really work for a 2 wheel trailer, since tongue weight/load balance are so tricky... or at least I haven't figured out a reasonable way to do it.

If I could do that, I'd consider buying a bigger, dual-axle utility trailer. Right now, I use my little trailer attached to my garden tractor, and that's slow going, though still faster than hauling one FEL load at a time...

EddieWalker · Mar 30, 2006

When you say "4 wheel model" are you talking about two axles or a wagon design?

The reason I ask is that I think a large wagon would be a huge advantage over a normal trailer. Just unhook and leave it when your done. No tongue weight issues and easy to hook up yourself.

It would be stable and easy to pull with your tractor, or even an ATV. TSC and Northern Tool have models that would work great and don't cost too much. Especially since it's just for around the farm.

Eddie

KentT · Mar 30, 2006

Eddie,

I'm thinking one of the small off-road trailers with wide, high flotation tires, something like this one:

It it really practical to load one of these, then hitch it up and move it?

Highbeam · Mar 30, 2006

You can certainly load a single or tandem axle trailer with the FEL. Just be sure you start loading near the tongue to prevent the teeter totter effect. Another risk is bumping into it or in some other way sideloading the tongue jack and bending it.

For 3500 lbs or more I would look at a tandem axle with brakes. For 1000 lbs or so I use a 4x8' single axle.

These utility trailers are the ones most often overloaded with things like bricks and a little gravel on the way home.

Sigarms · Mar 30, 2006

www.texasbraggtrailers.com/Single%20Axle%20Intro..htm

This is what the trailer looks like. The one I'm looking at has the top bar about 4 feet (about twice as high from the one in the pciture) over the base with wire mesh going around the entire trailer. Figure with the mesh it would be great for mulch and such that it wouldn't fly out of the "box".

Tubular steel design is "beefy" (sp?), seems like a rock.

Buddy gave me a call, knew I was looking for a used one.

Need to get rid of some debris this weekend and this may save a lot of wear and tear on my truck bed, plus can haul more with it.

This was last years model, color is the same as my truck for what thats worth /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Single axle, brain flatuation on that one on the first post.

Guy told me it was rated to 3.5k lbs. Looks very sturdy, but...if I'm looking, once in a while a dual axel will come up from a customer.

Price on the new one is around $1200 for a 6x12, this is a "new" price, not a "used" price, "twin" gate in the rear that comes up 5'.

NEVER had a trailer before and just wondering the pros and cons to this single axle.

Thks

KentT · Mar 30, 2006

( These utility trailers are the ones most often overloaded with things like bricks and a little gravel on the way home. )
I'd be looking to use it ONLY at home. I don't need anything over 3,000 lb capacity.

I have a dual-axle 7,000 lb utility trailer with brakes for on the road use. Basically I'm looking at moving a lot of topsoil and such around the place...

dieselsmoke1 · Mar 30, 2006

Be sure to chock the wheels if you plan to load it unhooked. A trailer that sits peacefully on a slight incline will take off like a rabbit when a scoop or two of dirt is added.

SPIKER · Mar 31, 2006

if you are planning on moving dirt mulch ect, I would try & find a dump type trailer, there is a inexpensive you build it type that HOMIER sells for around 299 and holds 1 or 2 tons with 4 wheels turfs and had mand jack hyd cylinder to dump the load, built like everything else in china. I think it requires the user to build the box/deck as it is a frame & lift only thing plywood box of sometype to hold the load you will use.

it is similar to THIS one ebay
/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

mark M

KentT · Mar 31, 2006

Sigarms,

That looks liike a tough trailer, and pretty well suited for your described needs. The wire mesh sides will certainly come in handy --- but it will also limit "over the side" loading of things also.

If the price is right, I'd say "go for it"...

I didn't mean to hijack this thread...

KentT · Mar 31, 2006

( if you are planning on moving dirt mulch ect, I would try & find a dump type trailer, there is a inexpensive you build it type that HOMIER sells for around 299 and holds 1 or 2 tons with 4 wheels turfs and had mand jack hyd cylinder to dump the load, built like everything else in china. I think it requires the user to build the box/deck as it is a frame & lift only thing plywood box of sometype to hold the load you will use.

it is similar to THIS one ebay
/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

mark M )
Thanks for those leads. The one on eBay looks like what I was thinking of...

I want something to pull with the tractor, and I can't back a 4-wheeled wagon...

Been there, done that, never did win the T-shirt. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Jagmandave · Mar 31, 2006

I have a 5' X 8' single axle trailer like that, I use it all over the place and it's handy as can be. One problem with it tho, you can't carry anything longer than the 8' cause you can't drive it with the tail gate down, but it's perfect for what I do with it. And 4'X8' stuff fits flat no problem........

I haul my ZTR with it from my country place to my house in town to mow, the ramp makes it easy to load. It also makes it a great trailer to move stuff with since it's so low and you can easily roll stuff up the tailgate......

You can only load it when it's hooked up to something, but I'm not sure I'd want to load any trailer unless it was hooked up solid to something........

pennwalk · Apr 2, 2006

Is it realistic to think that I could use a tongue jack to hold the trailer while I load it with the FEL, then connect to the trailer to haul it to where I want to dump the load? 

Kent,
I think you will find that it is really a pain to hook up a loaded trailer. There are systems that you can buy that help to line up the hitch with the ball but I don't know how well they work. There are heavy duty ball mounts that pivot from side to side and angled brackets that line up the tongue with the ball as you back up. Trying to back the ball under the tongue is hard.

I have a Karavan aluminum trailer. It is sort of a compromise. It is 7x10. I don't need it to be so wide and I wish it was longer. I love that it doesn't rot or rust.It is nice that it is a little lighter than steel. My T100 will tow something like 5k and the trailer is rated to haul about 2500. pretty light duty. My Yanmar weighs about 1600. I can load the bush hog in the bed and the tractor on the trailer and the whole package tows easily.

Chris

pennwalk · Apr 2, 2006

I can't back a 4-wheeled wagon... 

Me either! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif But the truly amazing thing is that there are guys who can. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Chris

Sigarms · Apr 2, 2006

Ended up getting the single axle 6'x12' couple of days ago.

No complaints, since its my first trailer of any sort, learning all the "fun" things about them, like backing them up and backing the truck up to it (I've learned already make the ground as level as possible). Hate to admit it, but also forgot to raise tha jack (not sure of propper name) ALL the way up (I thought it was /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif) and had to go over a hill. BIG bump and a chunck of ground later, I learned my lesson.

Filled it twice yesterday with brush/trees. Wish I would of bought one last year when we first bought our new house. "Back then" I made a piece of plywood into a sled to haul things around that were to big to get into the truck bed. Wasn't pretty, but it worked.

Per yesterday, the trailer is worth every penny, only now I wished I got it sooner.

I will agree that after unloading the trailer twice, that a "dump" trailer may of been a better idea, but I do like the size I got and it can move my mower no problem.

pennwalk · Apr 2, 2006

Anything to look out for or stay away from? 

I hate rust so I spent more for an aluminum trailer.

My Karavan has removable wood sides which does come in handy if you want to carry something bigger than the trailer like a shed or a gazebo.

Look at how the ramps work. On mine the ramp is full width and the slats are close enough that you can roll a small wheel machine on like my troybilt chipper/vac. The ramp folds up so I can't overhang the back unless I upbolt the ramp and load it in the bed. I have seen ramps that slide up under the floor of the trailer but I'm not sure what you do for a tailgate.

Trailer lights are a pain if someone had a better system It would be worth something to me.

Check out how you grease the hubs some/many trailers have a grease zerk on the outside but there are different systems and I'm not sure which is best.

There are different types of axles and springs.

There is an outfit called Champion trailer that sells trailer parts. It would be nice to have a trailer that had boat trailer parts which are somewhat corrosion resistant.

Chris

Bird · Apr 2, 2006

( I can't back a 4-wheeled wagon )

Actually, it's not difficult at all; just takes a little practice.

EddieWalker · Apr 2, 2006

( I can't back a 4-wheeled wagon... 

Me either! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif But the truly amazing thing is that there are guys who can. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Chris )

I had to learn how years ago. It was an oportunity to make some overtime, or go home early. If you go really, really slow and watch the front tires real closely, it will come together for you.

What's always impressed me is the guys who can back in a set of doubles!!!!!

Eddie