Trailer

[piper_chuck]

I just got off the phone with the guy selling this trailer: <a href="http://raleigh.craigslist.org/for/705183448.html" target="_blank">http://raleigh.craigslist.org/for/705183448.html</a>
It's made by Cargo Craft <a href="http://www.cargocraftinc.com" target="_blank">http://www.cargocraftinc.com</a> . Seems like a good price and he says it's in good condition. The only downside I've seen so far is that it has leaf springs rather than a torsion axle. While I was searching last night I did happen across a kit that would allow installation of shocks on a leaf spring axle trailer <a href="http://www.shockwarehouse.com/site/mon_retrokit.cfm" target="_blank">http://www.shockwarehouse.com/site/mon_retrokit.cfm</a> , but I have no idea if it would fit this trailer and how well they would do compared to a torsion axle.

You could also look into having one leaf removed to soften the ride of the trailer, the spring rate is the issue, shocks won't do squat for that. Granted this will lower the max. weight capacity but it is for the boats so you that shouldn't be an issue. You should also contact your nearest trailer places (there's a bunch in NC) to inquire about upgrade trade ins and even torsion conversion. You could actually just cut the last bottom (shortest) leaf leaving just enough to make up the space between the axle & the leaf spring stack to reduce the spring rate. Anyone who is good with a set of torches can zip the ends off without damage to the next leaf. With a 1500GVW that's also not alot to start with. B)

Thanks, I'll keep these things in mind. I didn't know if it was that the springs were too stiff, or that there was too much bouncing after the initial bump. I agree 1500GVW isn't much, but that's definitely lots of boating stuff.

I am making a few calls this morning to some of the nearby trailer dealers. I agree, there are bunches around here. Trying to call ones outside the Raleigh area, the prices tend to be lower once you get away from yuppieville.

 

[piper_chuck]

You can get a trailer from Harbor Freight and build it up the way that you want it or if you can get away with a tiny trailer, the motorcycle ones could be a way to go but pricier.My new (to me) Marcury Mariner doesn't have a lot of room so I'm looking at car-top carriers as an option instead of pulling my trailer.

Car top carriers will kill your gas mileage worse than a small trailer. Those cheap Harbor Freight style trailers will bounce like a buckboard, wouldn't recommend it. As far as a pop up tent trailer, unless you also plan to sleep in it, would you want to trust your expensive collection of boats to something that can be broken into with a razor knife?

What people do with the pop up trailers is gut them. The only thing left is the metal or fiberglass shell and the framework that allows you to lift the cover to standing height inside. This is actually an interesting option because it provides open shade, sorta like an E-ZUP.

I had one of them back in the 80s. Worked great till I hooked it up to my cutlas at 4 in the morning and forgot to latch it. It came un latched going down the hill and nearly passed me before going off the road and flipping end over end. Looked like a scene from the road runner. Good thing is that everything was packed so tight that nothing was hurt too bad. Hammered the tongue back out sorta straight and kept on going.

Oh yes, those 4 am departures to get a good spot at the pond...

 

[FloridaScaleBoater]

I just got off the phone with the guy selling this trailer: <a href="http://raleigh.craigslist.org/for/705183448.html" target="_blank">http://raleigh.craigslist.org/for/705183448.html</a>
It's made by Cargo Craft <a href="http://www.cargocraftinc.com" target="_blank">http://www.cargocraftinc.com</a> . Seems like a good price and he says it's in good condition. The only downside I've seen so far is that it has leaf springs rather than a torsion axle. While I was searching last night I did happen across a kit that would allow installation of shocks on a leaf spring axle trailer <a href="http://www.shockwarehouse.com/site/mon_retrokit.cfm" target="_blank">http://www.shockwarehouse.com/site/mon_retrokit.cfm</a> , but I have no idea if it would fit this trailer and how well they would do compared to a torsion axle.

Chuck, I wouldn't beat myself up too much with this Torsion/leaf spring issue.

When I first started out in this hobby I purchase a small frame from Wal-Mart built a box on it out of 1/2" plywood it ended up being 4' high by 4' across, by 6-1/2' long had the little 12" tires on it.

I would load 6 boats in it all support equipment and nver had an issue

This trailer I'm descibing made races all over the state of Florida for probably 5 years, then made a trip from Florida to California made races from Santa Barbara to San Diego, Legg Lake in L.A. Needle's, Las Vegas.

And then made the return trip to Florida.

I'd say I got my money's worth out of it, and never had a problem

So, if the trailer is a good buy at $1000.00 and has leaf springs, I'd jump on it.

You can alway convert it to torsion axles later

Rick

 

[piper_chuck]

Thanks Rick, I do tend to beat myself up when shopping for things like this. I'm not likely to buy another soon, so I want to make the best choice I can. I still haven't ruled out the idea of doing what you did, buying a trailer frame and building a wooden box on top of it. I suspect that would be cheaper and I could add extra access such as a hinged top.

Meanwhile, I'm making some calls to the local dealers and then I'll decide. I've already found one that has a 4x6 coming in on a trade in sometime this morning. They're supposed to call me back this afternoon, once they've got the trailer in hand.

 

[Preston_Hall]

View attachment 8123
View attachment 8124

Here are some pics of my 6x4 Trailer - aluminium checker plate and galvanised chassis. It tows easily behind my Subaru Wagon.

Interesting setup. Haven't seen anything like that in my searches so far. I like the opening lid, eliminates having to stoop in one with a fixed roof.

Something like that is what I have seen. A taller trailer is kind of useless for most people if you think about it.

Go to Northern Tool and get a trailer and build it kind of like the previous.

 

[moparbarn]

chuck, buy a trailer that fits your needs, sizewise. converting leaf to torsion suspension is a piece of cake. northern tools has bolt on torsion axles in all weights & sizes. matching the axle stub to your wheel brgs. & hubs would be easy. been there, done that.

 

[piper_chuck]

View attachment 8123
View attachment 8124

Here are some pics of my 6x4 Trailer - aluminium checker plate and galvanised chassis. It tows easily behind my Subaru Wagon.

Interesting setup. Haven't seen anything like that in my searches so far. I like the opening lid, eliminates having to stoop in one with a fixed roof.

Something like that is what I have seen. A taller trailer is kind of useless for most people if you think about it.

Go to Northern Tool and get a trailer and build it kind of like the previous.

Thanks for the input. I did some sketching this afternoon and I think I can build a fairly simple enclosure that'll give plenty of room for safe transport combined with easy access, by having a hinged lid. I'm beginning to think this may give me more options than a prebuilt trailer. I still need to resolve some questions, such as what to use for lifters for the top, but the plan may be coming together...

 

[piper_chuck]

chuck, buy a trailer that fits your needs, sizewise. converting leaf to torsion suspension is a piece of cake. northern tools has bolt on torsion axles in all weights & sizes. matching the axle stub to your wheel brgs. & hubs would be easy. been there, done that.

Thanks. I browsed their parts and found lots of choices.

 

[moparbarn]

you could also hinge an enclosed trailer, if the price was right. but with either choice, the gas struts for your van's rear door come to mind......check the local auto parts store. fairly inexpensive, too

 

[piper_chuck]

you could also hinge an enclosed trailer, if the price was right. but with either choice, the gas struts for your van's rear door come to mind......check the local auto parts store. fairly inexpensive, too

It's probably best that I don't start salvaging parts off of my wife's minivan to build my toy trailer. When I decide which way I'm going, I'll check the parts store.

 

[piper_chuck]

Still considering my options and watching ebay and craigslist, but whatever I choose, I don't want to end up like this person: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_Xygo2054Q

 

[TampaTim]

Still considering my options and watching ebay and craigslist, but whatever I choose, I don't want to end up like this person: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_Xygo2054Q

Price is out of line,but this would work....

http://tampa.craigslist.org/for/721036856.html

 

[jetpack]

Something I've been considering is a motorcycle trailer for my boats. You wont be able to fit a table in it, but it's sprung for its own weight and shouldnt be a problem hauling behind a car. Watertight and lockable, light enough to push by hand down to the pond, long enough for an 1/8th scale and a built up rack you can stack more than two or three boats in one and still have room on the side.

 

[piper_chuck]

Drum roll please! After thinking about building my own, perhaps upsizing to a 4x8 or 5x8, or even gutting an old tent trailer and gutting it, the winner is a 4x6 Wells Cargo. It's got torsion axles, 15" tires, and is in good condition. The price was reasonable, and I won't have to do lots of work to get it ready to take to the races.

The 5x8s were ruled out because when loaded, would exceed the towing capacity of the Sebring. I might have gotten away with it, but considering the price of gas, the next new car will probably be smaller, not larger. Building my own would have been a fun adventure, but I certainly have other things I can with the time I would have spent building a box on wheels. The tent trailer idea is about the same. The concept is actually quite good, but I'm not ready to spend weeks removing rust from the frame, repainting, and gutting the interior only to end up towing a relic from the 70s down the highway.

So, here's the new wheels:





Thanks for all the input.

 

[Don Ferrette]

AWWWWW! Ain't it cute! Reminds me of the old car commercial when the woman pulls up to the gas pump in a Gremlin and the attendant says "Hey lady, where's the rest of your car!"

Hey Chuck, where's the rest of your trailer!

Seriously though Chuck, you'll be glad you got it. B)

 

[piper_chuck]

I hear ya Don. The guy I got it from warned me that I need to have a spare tire when traveling. Otherwise, if I have to leave it by the side of the road to get a tire repaired it'd be easy for someone to just pick it up and haul it away. In fact, I worry about the same thing at races, so do you mind if I wheel it inside your trailer for the night? The little thing will feel much more secure that way! :lol:

 

[Don Ferrette]

I hear ya Don. The guy I got it from warned me that I need to have a spare tire when traveling. Otherwise, if I have to leave it by the side of the road to get a tire repaired it'd be easy for someone to just pick it up and haul it away. In fact, I worry about the same thing at races, so do you mind if I wheel it inside your trailer for the night? The little thing will feel much more secure that way! :lol:

The spare tire is a must have for any trailer. Also a small scissors or bottle jack & lug wrench kept with the trailer. B)

 

[MEAN GREEN]

not bad chuck for the spare call Carolina Rim and Wheel if its a 15 the whole thing will cost adout 75$

Gav

 

[FloridaScaleBoater]

Get yourself a Gorrilla lock for the coupler, a long chain, put it through the spokes of the wheels, and around the nearest tree, and pad lock the ends together.

 

[Don Ferrette]

Get yourself a Gorrilla lock for the coupler, a long chain, put it through the spokes of the wheels, and around the nearest tree, and pad lock the ends together.

Agreed! The Gorilla lock rocks, got one for mine. B)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/GORILLA-2-C...sspagenameZWD1V