Nazarethk5
1/2 ton status
Hey I'm in the market for a trailer I can use to haul cars around. I don't know a whole lot about trailers so what should I be looking for? I figured you guys would know. Thanks.
CK5
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Buying a Trailer?
- Thread starter Nazarethk5
- Start date
I'm no guru but from a little experience with my trailer I'd get extra tie downs and look at the fender width. Cars are easy because they'll all fit but your wheeler may be wider (outside of tire measurement) than the inside of the fenders. In this case you'd either want drive over or removeable fenders.
What are you looking to haul, and what will you pull it with?
How far? How often?
The trailer requirements for hauling a Miata are different from having to haul 3 Suburban's at the same time.....etc.
How far? How often?
The trailer requirements for hauling a Miata are different from having to haul 3 Suburban's at the same time.....etc.
What he said and a quality braking system. Should have brakes on at least one axle of the trailer and a brake-away system.
Nazarethk5
1/2 ton status
Biggest thing I'd be hauling would be my k5, its on 38s that are 12.5 wide but mostly sedans. Won't be used everyday, won't be making long trips. So I'm looking for at least 1 axle that has brakes, a brake a way system and fender types? What about the weight ranges and all?
You're gonna have the option to do dual 3500lb axles (7k trailer) or dual 5k axles (10k trailer).
With the 7k trailer, you will be very close to your limit with the blazer. If you can afford to go 10k, do it, you will always find something bigger you want to put on there.
With the 7k trailer, you will be very close to your limit with the blazer. If you can afford to go 10k, do it, you will always find something bigger you want to put on there.
Nazarethk5
1/2 ton status
Alright I appreciate it thanks.
If you find a trailer that is the right price you can always upgrade the axles later.
My new trailer (well new to me) has 3500k axles in it, I am buying a 5k idler axle and will buy brakes in a couple months, get it set up and then buy another 5k idler axle and eventually put brakes on it too.
Get a trailer that uses 4" channel though. The smaller ones aren't really good for our heavy trucks
On the fenders you can just use some square tube to make them drive over, should not affect they way you load cars if done right
My new trailer (well new to me) has 3500k axles in it, I am buying a 5k idler axle and will buy brakes in a couple months, get it set up and then buy another 5k idler axle and eventually put brakes on it too.
Get a trailer that uses 4" channel though. The smaller ones aren't really good for our heavy trucks
On the fenders you can just use some square tube to make them drive over, should not affect they way you load cars if done right
Adventurous 4x4
1/2 ton status
Pa law, both axles must have brakes. If it is 7000 pound or above both must have brakes. Never checked on trailers with lower weight ratings but I know 7 and above need them. If you are hauling your K5 and other heavy cars or trucks get a 10k. I love my PJ Trailers Buggyhauler. It is 10k with a 18 foot flat deck. From what I was told they can be ordered with a beaver tail now which would make car loading easier. The wide deck and drive over fenders are nice to have. Mine was built the way I wanted it and it cost me $3450 out the door.
I bought it here. Great people. http://www.fayettetrailersales.com/
Here is info on it. http://www.pjtrailers.com/detail.cfm?ID=B5
I agree with what Wayne said. PJ's are nice trailers, 2 of my friends own them and I have towed them more then once. I also 2nd just going with a 10k and be done with it, with the K5 and some spare parts or equipement you can get closer to max load then you may think.
Another thing to keep in mind when looking at load cap's is, you have to take into account the weight of the trailer as well. For example, I own a Hudson 10k tilt deck, awesome trailer, too narrow for fullsize trucks though
, the trailer weighs approx 17-1800 so you have to subtract that from the total load cap. Meaning my 10k trailer is maxed with a 8200 lb load on it, or overloaded by almost a ton if I put 10k on it.
Brakes on both axles are the only way to go in my book, especially if you are towing with a med to light truck. Definetly get a good brake controller for the tow rig as well, I wouldn't pull any decent load with out one.
I would also look for a 2 5/16's ball mount or even a pintle hitch, I know pintle's are clunky but their pure beef makes up for it to me. I tow our equipement all over MD, VA, DC and southern PA so I have a little expierence with this.
The only other thing I can think of is, make sure you are using a good quality hitch on the tow rig, the best trailer, tie towns and brakes wont help if the POS hitch comes off of the tow rig.
Another thing to keep in mind when looking at load cap's is, you have to take into account the weight of the trailer as well. For example, I own a Hudson 10k tilt deck, awesome trailer, too narrow for fullsize trucks though
, the trailer weighs approx 17-1800 so you have to subtract that from the total load cap. Meaning my 10k trailer is maxed with a 8200 lb load on it, or overloaded by almost a ton if I put 10k on it.Brakes on both axles are the only way to go in my book, especially if you are towing with a med to light truck. Definetly get a good brake controller for the tow rig as well, I wouldn't pull any decent load with out one.
I would also look for a 2 5/16's ball mount or even a pintle hitch, I know pintle's are clunky but their pure beef makes up for it to me. I tow our equipement all over MD, VA, DC and southern PA so I have a little expierence with this.
The only other thing I can think of is, make sure you are using a good quality hitch on the tow rig, the best trailer, tie towns and brakes wont help if the POS hitch comes off of the tow rig.
my dad bought a goose neck from a place in PA, cant remember the name of the place. he paid much less than a name brand trailer, and the any difference is this one is cruder looking. we've had it 6 years and haul hundreds of load of farm equipment. they also make smaller trailers. I'll try to look up the place
measure the longest vehicle you have and make sure you check the bumper to bumper length and see if it clears the deck length with room to spare. that was my first mistake.
next was should have got a dove tail would have made laoding much better of cars.
the best thing i did was torsion axles. rides much lower than leaf springs. and much smother . as each wheel is independent.
then 10k weight was much better in the end han a 7k trailer. and dont forget the rule is weight of trailer empty AND and load on the trailer must not exced the gvw of the trailer. like my trailer was 2800 empty. then that left me 7200 load to haul. fit a 1ton 4x4 truck up there and thats basicly it. no more load on here with out being over weight.
we have a trailer / tow section here with good info. or you can go to our sister site www.towrig.com for good info and help.
read read and measure 2-3 times before buying. and if possible take your rig there and see if you can load it and see how it handles it in the lot.
next was should have got a dove tail would have made laoding much better of cars.
the best thing i did was torsion axles. rides much lower than leaf springs. and much smother . as each wheel is independent.
then 10k weight was much better in the end han a 7k trailer. and dont forget the rule is weight of trailer empty AND and load on the trailer must not exced the gvw of the trailer. like my trailer was 2800 empty. then that left me 7200 load to haul. fit a 1ton 4x4 truck up there and thats basicly it. no more load on here with out being over weight.
we have a trailer / tow section here with good info. or you can go to our sister site www.towrig.com for good info and help.
read read and measure 2-3 times before buying. and if possible take your rig there and see if you can load it and see how it handles it in the lot.
