Trailer Advice for Newbie's

[sheepdog000]

I'm looking to purchase a trailer for hauling wood back to my house from wherever I'm cutting at.. I would be using my Jeep Cherokee to tow it with. I was looking at the single axle trailers from Harbor Freight & TSC that were around $700 - $800 and have been told that they would never hold up to the weight of a large load of wood. I have been told be a few different people that a tandem axle trailer is the way to go. I'd like to get some input from the experts in here that have been hauling wood for a while and aren't trying to sell me a trailer. Any help would be appreciated. I'm tired of tearing up the inside of my Cherokee by putting wood in the back, not to mention the repeat trips due to limited space. Thanks in advance.

 

[smokinj]

I run a single axle that's rated at 3000 lbs That's a cord of most wood. More than I want to do in a day! ;-)

 

[firefighterjake]

Single or tandem axle . . . I think Smokinjay has it right . . . whatever you get . . . make sure the axle/suspension is rated to handle the weight.

My home-built trailer hauls a little more than a 1/3 cord of wood -- probably closer to a 1/2 cord . . . I've hauled enough wood now that I know how much to load before stopping . . . which isn't always easy when you just want to toss on a couple more pieces.

 

[zzr7ky]

+1 somokinjay!!

 

[timfromohio]

I went through a similar debate about 6 months ago and would up getting a 5x8 heavy duty trailer - according to the manufacturer, the axle rating of 3,500 lbs is derived from the fact that stock it doesn't come with trailer brakes - I had brakes put on and they told me it was good for a bit more. It has 15" wheels and heavy load rated tires and I built up plywood sides to about 40" on the sides so I don't have to worry about small pieces falling out. I think I've loaded it to about 3,000 pounds worth which is plenty to deal with once home (unsplit rounds). I initially thought I'd go for a tandem axle, but there's a tradeoff between capacity and manueverability and storage. The 5x8 is easy to get into tight spots and I can store it in the extra garage over the winter. The tandem would have hauled more, but for me, the storage and ease of moving it around made the 5x8 single axle, albeit heavy duty, win out.

I purchased a Quality Trailers brand thorugh a local deal. It took a couple of weeks to get one with the brakes.

http://www.qualitytrailersinc.com/

 

[bpm44]

My advice here would be once you get it don't loan it out unless you have to. I loaned mine out to a neighbor exactly once. He shut the wiring for the lights into his tailgate - sliced thru it. Loaded it too full to save time - broke a spring. Backed into a stump and busted a light. All this after saying how careful he'd be. Acted like it was no big deal and didn't offer to fix it or pay. Never again. I have since moved and don't have him as a neighbor anymore.

As a side note, once I made the repairs I had my puppy out with me, tied to the trailer. I was splitting and tossing into the trailer and I thought she was munching on some bark as she usually does. Nope, she ate the new wiring...

 

[EJL923]

Ive been in the trailer hunting mode for quite some time now with nothing to show. In short, cheap and quality just dont go together as far as trailers. If you want something to haul some wood, it takes some dough. If you want something you have to make multiple trips with, there are plenty people on craigslist selling their homemade trailers for the cost of a few supermarket trips. The hunt continues.

 

[gpcollen1]

I got this Bri-Mar 5 years ago and love it to death. I got the drive up landscape gate for mine. I put some PT sides on it to extend them to about 3-4 ft total. 5x8x3 gets you a cord of capacity. I can roll large logs right up the landscape gate and throw the smaller stuff on top. I full load of green wood is technically too heavy for this unit as it probably weighs in at 4-5000 lbs but I have done it. Just take my time driving home on back roads. When I move my wood to my wood shed, I load about a cord at a time in this baby, up my driveway and then back right up tot he shed. I could not survive without this beauty for sure. Love my wood chariot...

Find something like it for sure...cost me around $1150 back 5 yrs.

http://www.bri-mar.com/trailerdetail.php?modelsid=115&categorysid=6

 

[gpcollen1]

Here is my big boy with one side off and the gate off too. I do this when loading wood and moving it from piles to shed. easier to access and move...

 

[gpcollen1]

Moves wood from here...

To here...the wife calls it pallet island but I call it $$$

 

[gpcollen1]

Trailer porn...posing with my 1964 Feathercraft [1954 Evinrude 5.5HP] and my canoe [12.5ft]...

 

[Highbeam]

Leaving an outboard motor outside in sight of the road like that would get it stolen FAST around here. Those puppies are expensive, easy to resell, and easy to walk away with. A crack heads dream.

 

[gpcollen1]

Leaving an outboard motor outside in sight of the road like that would get it stolen FAST around here. Those puppies are expensive, easy to resell, and easy to walk away with. A crack heads dream.

Though you see some daylight back there, that boat is barely visible from the road...and where I live, I feel comfortable leaving some stuff outside. I especially don't feel like taking the motor on and off every time I use it. That said, the motor is coming inside for the winter. Funny thing is, the only item ever stolen was some guy jacking some of my wood with my neighbor trying to chase him down. More realistic pic of where the boat is...and trailer..though leaves will be gone soon...

 

[semipro]

One thing to consider that is especially an issue with home-built trailers is weight distribution. If you don't have enough down force on the trailer tongue when towing the trailer will oscillate back and forth until you drop your speed. It can get so bad it shakes your truck from side to side.

However, if the axle is too far back, like many boat trailers, backing can be a pain.

LED trailer lights are real nice.

I got tired of replacing lens/lights and mounted mine magnetically to prevent damage. They'll get knocked off and end up hanging by a small rope I installed as a safety leash. I haven't had to replace a light or lens since doing this.

If you get a trailer with a surge brake system you need to keep in mind that the brakes don't work in reverse and you can lock them up if you back up a hill.

 

[semipro]

Leaving an outboard motor outside in sight of the road like that would get it stolen FAST around here. Those puppies are expensive, easy to resell, and easy to walk away with. A crack heads dream.

Though you see some daylight back there, that boat is barely visible from the road...and where I live, I feel comfortable leaving some stuff outside. I especially don't feel like taking the motor on and off every time I use it. That said, the motor is coming inside for the winter. Funny thing is, the only item ever stolen was some guy jacking some of my wood with my neighbor trying to chase him down. More realistic pic of where the boat is...and trailer..though leaves will be gone soon...

Beautiful property CT (the woods)!

 

[gzecc]

I personally have a true (between the wheels) 6x10 single axle with a ramp. I think its the ideal size trailer. A tandem is great but expensive and usually bigger.
Don't for get higher upkeep $. I usually take smaller loads when transporting wood for two reasons. First, I don't want to over work the trailer, second I don't want to over work my car (xterra). This free wood gets expensive after buying an expensive trailer, log splitter, transmission, brakes etc.......
Look on CL, there are always good trailers for sale. There are also some pieces of crap!

 

[SolarAndWood]

Another vote for the single axle. 5x8 5,000 lb axle LR E tires with a hydraulic cylinder under the bed if possible. I have two tandem axle trailers but this is by far my favorite wood scrounging trailer.

 

[dvellone]

I bought a trailer this past Spring after a bit of shopping around and my suggestion would be to refer to the towing capacity of your vehicle, then get the trailer that you're rated to tow. You might find that you'll narrow your choices a bit and maybe save your transmission as well!