Need A Utility Trailer

[Halligan]

Nice build, good ideas. If you don't mind answering, what was the cost?

I can't remember the exact amount off the top of my head but around $2000-$2300 seems about right. I'll have to dig up the paperwork. My trailer is stouter than your typical HD, Lowes, TSC trailer so the price reflects it.

 

[BruceNorEast]

"Off topic; KD0AXS is that a callsign??? If so, de W8KI here "
Well then 73 to both of you, de KA1KXL

 

[Jutt77]

I can't remember the exact amount off the top of my head but around $2000-$2300 seems about right. I'll have to dig up the paperwork. My trailer is stouter than your typical HD, Lowes, TSC trailer so the price reflects it.

Thanks, yeah that's not bad with the all of the added bits.

 

[Knots]

I have a Big Tex 5x10 single axle. I paid a little more, but got a little more than the trailers out in front of the big box stores.

The BT has 15" wheels and is heavier built. I bought it for hauling motorcycles and tractors too, so it's not a dedicated wood-getter. I made some plywood sides for it to use when hauling wood (especially the split stuff).

So, filled to the top of the plywood with fairly dry, split wood it is at its limits and is starting to wag the dog on my 1/2 ton. It's a good compromise for my needs.

 

[Ashful]

Ditto on uHaul and tandem trailers. I rent a tandem once or twice a year, whenever I have enough cords felled and bucked to make a half dozen trips with truck and trailer loaded. I love not looking at or maintaining my own heavy tandem.

The tandem rented from uHaul is not as heavy as others, but at $40 for the uHaul vs $90 for other local rentals, it's sometimes the ticket.

I've tried 3000 lb single axle trailers for hauling wood, but they just don't work for this task. You will always run out of weight capacity WAY before the trailer is full ( or even half full). Go with brakes and a 9k lb tandem axle trailer, or one of the 5k lb singles with brakes at a bare minimum. Just be very careful with load balancing and tongue weight. Aim for tongue weight = 10% of trailer loaded weight.

 

[bigbarf48]

Whatever you get, don't overlook trailer brakes when you start getting up there in load capacity. How much you can haul is second in line to how much you can stop safely and reliably

I'd be wanting trailer brakes, especially towing with an SUV. Never underestimate the extra braking force it takes to halt a 3-5+ thousand pound load

I can move exactly 1 cord with my 2000# utility trailer and the bed of my 3/4 ton dodge. 1/2 cord in the trailer, 1/2 cord in the bed. I could probably fit more in the bed, but 1 cord works just fine

If you're in a situation where you have a need to move lots of wood in few trips (wood lot far away, etc) get a large tandem axle trailer, you won't regret it. If you don't have that need, a smaller trailer will do just fine

 

[Halligan]

I can't remember the exact amount off the top of my head but around $2000-$2300 seems about right. I'll have to dig up the paperwork. My trailer is stouter than your typical HD, Lowes, TSC trailer so the price reflects it.

Update, I looked up my trailer paperwork and I paid $2,075 for it back in October 2012.

 

[blades]

sometimes you have to look at the practicality of size vs weight vs getting in and out of somewhere. I had a good scrounge area a couple years back, very soft ground conditions if you got off the small access road. Very tight to get turned around to get out again. With the small 4x8 it was no problem. With my 16 ft. 5ton unit , well, just no way to get turned around as that unit weighs in a around 2k naked. 16'x8' deck +3' beavertail+ 3' or so for the front A frame and coupler. It isn't something you can uncouple and move by hand.
One thing that is extremely handy to have is a front mounted hitch, might look a little strange to some, but you can stick a trailer in places easily that would be a nitemare trying to back it into, fancy cameras not withstanding. Particularly handy with larger heavy trailers.