What trailer to get for my Jeep Cherokee Sport?

[jeffsw6]

i have absolutley no problem correctly and safetly loading a single axle trailer. my 6x12 is rated at 3500lbs; as per the axle, the tires can take more. i would have no problem putting a 2500lb tractor on it, and pulling it with my reg cab/short bed/4cylinder toyota truck. you just have to be smart about things. nothing dangerous about it.

The tractor isn't really the hard part, it's the fire wood. Load a few thousand pounds of fire wood onto a trailer and then drive 1/4 mi and realize the rig is hard to control. Now you get to spend the next 20 minutes shifting fire wood around, a lot harder than 3 minutes moving the tractor and re-securing it.

Besides that, a tandem has one significant advantage over a single axle trailer, and that is more stability when accelerating and braking. A single axle's tongue will dive more when you brake, which causes the truck frame to act like a lever and pull weight off its steer tires, which is what creates wrecks.

No one is saying it CANNOT be done, but in terms of used trailer prices, there won't be a big difference. The bigger trailer sure as heck will be more useful to him if he makes much money selling that wood, because he may decide to buy a bigger truck so he can haul more of it at a time. You can get fire wood for FREE around here, as much as you want, just wait for a storm to knock down some trees and then drive around picking it up out of yards. Tree removal companies here actually CHARGE TO HAUL IT AWAY! So anyway, in my area, the bigger trailer you have to haul tree waste with, the more extra money you can make picking up free wood to store and cut for winter.

 

[denverdave66]

Well, I have decided to wait on buying a trailer, my neighbor has a 16' tandem axle trailer and I am going to see if we can work something out he has a small field that would take me about an hour to brush hog maybe I brush hog it for him when he lets me borrow his trailer or buy him a case of beer. Seems like where I live you can buy a brand new 16' utility trailer for around $1,400 and used ones are still around $1,200. I will wait around and not be in a hurry to buy one and someday get one for less than $1,000

 

[KubotainNH]

If your use is so limited, rent a trailer when needed. My local Taylor Rental has a 14 ft 8k dual axle equipment trailer with surge brakes (no controller needed) for $88 per day.

These guys are getting picky with who they rent to now. The one near me will only rent if the vehicle will meet the towing limits.

I've had 3 Cherokees and 1 Grand Cherokee all with the 4.0. The Grand towed the best. On occasion I tow a popup single axle camper in the 3500 pound range with my 99 Cherokee, it's a handful for it and needs a sway bar. My Honda Odyssey tows the camper much better and that is close to it's max tow rating. Also, the rear springs on Cherokees are pitiful, it takes very little to make them squat. Trailer brakes are a must have if towing with the Jeep, the brakes are weak.

 

[jeffsw6]

Nothing wrong with keeping an eye out for a used trailer. Keep in mind that some used ones may not have working brakes or lights. Lights are easy to fix, brakes obviously can be more involved. Trailer tires for 3500# axles are not ridiculous but don't be surprised if they cost $100ea for radials. Break-away brake batteries also fail if not charged regularly.

There can be several expenses to buying a used trailer. I would not buy a $1200 used trailer if I could get a new one for $1400 unless everything was perfect including the tires.

The other thing about buying new is you have the opportunity to order mfr options such as tie-down points, stake pockets, LED lights, etc.

Personally, I think for hauling fire wood, you would want a stake bed. I don't know what rules apply to hauling loose wood on an equipment / landscape trailer, but a guy who dumps wood and brush on my neighbor's land drives all around town with no sides/tarp/etc. and I think his operation is very dangerous. If his crew ever wrecked with a load of wood it could fly all over the road and hit cars.

 

[Groo]

If you are towing near the vehicle limits, you really should be using a WD hitch regardless. If you load the trailer too nose heavy, you just crank the WD springs a bit more.

As for a tandem axle being easier to balance, maybe if it a torsion axle it might make a very slight difference, but a walking beam is no different than a single axle; unless you have it tipped beyond the beams' range of motion, at which point, you've got bigger problems.

Honestly, what is so hard about not overloading the nose of a trailer? especially with firewood. Hook up the trailer when loading it and when the nose of the tow vehicle is pointed skyward, toss some wood on the back of the trailer. or better yet, just look at how high the stack is in the various areas:confused3:

My tow vehicle when I was overloading the single axle trailer was a short Wrangler. Heck I loaded that little 10' trailer way to heavy several times, (once to the point that the tire rubbed the side and blew out) but I kept the excessive weight balanced. Its not that hard.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Well, I have decided to wait on buying a trailer, my neighbor has a 16' tandem axle trailer and I am going to see if we can work something out he has a small field that would take me about an hour to brush hog maybe I brush hog it for him when he lets me borrow his trailer or buy him a case of beer. Seems like where I live you can buy a brand new 16' utility trailer for around $1,400 and used ones are still around $1,200. I will wait around and not be in a hurry to buy one and someday get one for less than $1,000

Get a new one for that price difference. 4 new tires alone are $400 and 9 times our of 10 I find used trailers need bearings, brakes, wiring, boards,ect. There is no free lunch with a used trailer.

Chris

 

[MESSMAKER]

I would agree on the used trailer thing. If it looks like it may need work, It will. I would have no problem with a single axle trailer. They are easier to move around and hook up as well as being lighter to pull. The problem is that the trailer,loader and box scraper will end up being over 12 feet long. might as well get a 16 foot tandem if you are going that far. A 14 foot single axle would be super easy to overload.