Where to look

ND4SPD · 10-11-2003, 10:27 PM

for a trailer? Not sure if I want to go brand new or one that's already set up. Not looking to purchase one right away, probably gonna wait 'til spring. However I'd like to start doing my homework and see what's out there so I can plan accordingly.

TIA

G-Force Junkie · 10-12-2003, 9:09 PM

Open or enclosed? Most of the bigger name like Pace, Highway, Carson, Haulmark, etc have web pages. Post what your looking for so we can better get an idea of what you need to look for.

ND4SPD · 10-13-2003, 9:58 AM

Enclosed trailer. As far as size goes, I don't need it to hold more then 2 bikes. A little extra room for gear/tools never hurts obviously. Just something to start out with...

G-Force Junkie · 10-13-2003, 11:54 PM

For two bikes, 6 x 10 minimum. A sportbike is about 7 foot long end of wheel to end of wheel. Will leave room for some small gear, but probaly not lets say a generator or something. 6x12 is only a little bigger, but a whole lot more usable room. You can probaly find pics of Conqs old 6x12 and I believe Redriders trailer is 6x12 also. an entry level 6x12 around here is about 3-3.5k Naturaly your going to pay for more options, most which are well worth it. Side door are pretty much manditory if you got two bikes in there. Dual axl towes much nicer and usualy standard on most 6x12's and bigger, but not always. Depending on you tow vehicle, I would recommend electric brakes on anything 6x12 or bigger. Another big difference between cheap trailers, and better trailers, is construction. Take a peek at the frame, cheaper ones are bent sheetmetal, better ones are box tubing, angle iron, or I beams. Wall framing is bent 'Z' sheetmetal on cheaper ones, 1x1 box tubing on better ones. Flooring is 1/2' plywood on cheaper ones, 5/8 or 3/4' on better ones. Most use leaf spring suspension, better ones use rubber dampened Torsion suspension. Cheaper ones use thin .022 aluminum exterior skin, better ones use .030 or thicker. Personaly I wouldnt pay extra for tie down points...you'll probaly end up putting your own in anyways. Hope this helps, I went through all this a while ago...and ended up buying a 21' Toyhauler instead

Mike

ND4SPD · 10-14-2003, 7:48 AM

Thanks for the rundown. I'll be looking around for something over winter, looking at all my options. My tow vehicle is a Ranger, so I can't go with anything too big. It has the 4.0 & 411 gears, and a towing capacity of almost 6000lbs, but I'd like to stay below that so it doesn't struggle

Red Rider · 10-14-2003, 7:57 AM

GFJ is right, I have a 6 x 12 single axle. *The extra length gives me room to store stands, toolbox, etc. and still have room to get around with two bikes loaded. *A couple of good sources for new and used trailers are Cycle Trader magazine (lots of ads for trailer dealers, too) and the Wera board .

Good luck...

ND4SPD · 10-14-2003, 9:23 AM

Quote:

Red Rider : GFJ is right, I have a 6 x 12 single axle. *The extra length gives me room to store stands, toolbox, etc. and still have room to get around with two bikes loaded. *A couple of good sources for new and used trailers are Cycle Trader magazine (lots of ads for trailer dealers, too) and the Wera board .

Good luck...

Wow, there's some nice one's for sale on that board.

Must.....resist........

HondaGalToo · 10-14-2003, 9:29 AM

Yup, 6x12 single axle if you want to put 2 bikes in it. Does your Ranger have a towing package in it? I'm guessing it does since they claim it'll pull 6000 lb. The bigger radiator, oil cooler, correct axle differential? Automatic? Just asking, because when I had a Ranger (a '94) it was rated for just 3000 lb, and the most they'd go at the time was 5000 lb if properly set up. I'm sure you checked all that out already, but figured I'd ask anyway. Has anyone else out there towed that large a trailer with a 6 cyl? My Ranger (6 cyl 4 L, 5 speed manual) struggled with a landscape trailer, but I'm guessing things have changed?

I would also think about electric brakes even though they aren't required on a 6x12.

ND4SPD · 10-14-2003, 9:42 AM

Yeah, the truck has pretty much all that except the hitch. Even the wiring harness is there. I'm gonna do some work to the truck too to give it a bit more juice. Probably a custom chip, intake and exhaust to give it a good torque boost

Baketech · 10-14-2003, 9:48 AM

Lots of great tips and advice in this thread already.....but I'll add a vote for the 6x12 if you are looking at the small end of the enclosed trailer spectrum.

For 2 bikes, 6x12 is the only way to go. The 6x10 is a sucker bet....I know this because I have one. It will hold 2 bikes, but not much gear....the 6x12 gives you way more functionality with very little added weight and cost.....

If I had it to do again, I would buy a 7x12 dual axle with brakes.
But, if my tow capacity were limited, and I was doing infrequent towing, I would get the 6x12.....

Edit:
Ditto on the tie down thing....don't pay extra to add D-rings, they will never be where you need them....save your coin to buy some E-track.

HondaGalToo · 10-14-2003, 9:58 AM

Yup, etrack. Don't leave for the track without it! Also, removable chocks are nice to have. The PitBulls are the best and your rotors won't hit them. The trailer place by me designed a bracket to hook PitBull chocks into etrack. If you want info on that, let me know, as they will ship.

slowpoke · 10-14-2003, 10:42 AM

Yeah, check out newspapers too if you're looking at used ones. I found a 6x12 (97 model) Interstate in decent shape for $1200 a while back. It needed some cleaning up and a spare tire but it's in basically good shape and doesn't look too bad since I removed all the crud and sticker residue from the sides. With the spare, wheel chocks and tie downs I've only got ~$1300 in it. By the way, I've got a GMC Sonoma with a 4.3L six and it pulls it just fine, just have to keep it in 3rd, not OD. The only thing is, it's taching ~3000 @ 65mph. I've taken it down to Hocking Hills to see how it handles inclines and it did OK as long as some moron didn't stop in front of me right at the bottom of a steep hill! Even then it would get up to ~40mph pulling uphill. I'm still debating if I want to pull it to Fla. or not though, gas milage sucks if you go over 65mph.

HondaGalToo · 10-14-2003, 10:56 AM

Yup, I turn the OD off when towing. It says to in my manual.

Do get a spare tire if the one you end up buying doesn't already have one. If you get a single axle (advisable with a 6 cyl) another thing to think about is jack stands for the back so that you can unhitch it but still walk around in it and load and unload. We're getting the built in jack-stands that swing up out of the way for added security even though we have a dual axle and have loaded/unloaded unhitched.

Get the drop-down door as opposed to the doors that swing open in the back. That way you don't have to fuss with ramps.

As I think of more stuff, I'll add it. We can help you spend your hard earned $$$$, no problem!

ND4SPD · 10-14-2003, 11:18 AM

If I end up going new, should I have the manufacturer install the extras or should I just get it completely stripped and add my own stuff?

HondaGalToo · 10-14-2003, 11:26 AM

If you want to save money, you could do it yourself. I installed extra etrack in mine...it's not hard. If there isn't a metal support to bolt it into where you want it, it's just a matter of drilling through the plywood floor and putting large fender washers underneath. If you don't feel like messing with it, have them do it. The place that set up our trailer built shelves for it. They're really nice, but, in hindsight, I could've done them myself for a lot less. For me, it always depends on my timeframe...whether or not I have the time to do it before I need to use it!

ND4SPD · 10-15-2003, 9:37 PM

One more question....is there a big reason to go with one brand vs. the other?