Choices on a trailer

6stringjeep

New Member
Joined
Sep 28, 2010
Location
Winston Salem Area
Have never towed, have a truck that's no issue. Don't know what to look for in a trailer. A guy pm'd with this

Its a 2007 Load Trail 20' wood deck 24' over all I believe with two 5500 lb axles electric brakes. Everything works great it has new tires on it only because I had them replaced under warranty due to a crappy tire that was stock on the trailer. Its in great shape it does have some minor surface rust but thats it.
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We have a tj on stock axles, 33's. Know we will go larger at some point. 3/4 tons or one tons, 36-38's. Don't know what to look for as far as how wide, long. What will have the best manners being pulled? A set rule on how long, weight? Does the trailer need to have brakes on the axles and I have a box in the cab too? What size axles does that trailer need to have for my current and future plans? Anything else I'm over looking?
 
If all you will ever tow is a TJ that trailer will never fail you.
Actually 24' is a good length for any single vehicle. two 5500 lb axles would be good for 11k of trailer weight. (BTW this is by no mans gospel but every time I have priced axles they ame in even k weight designations, never seen 5500lb axles...not aying hey aren;t out there)

Yes brakes are needed.

The longer a trailr is, the more options you have to load it and get it balanced...time and experience will maximize your road manners.


BTW what kind of truck you towing with.
 
Personally thats a lot of trailer to be sitting on 5500# axles. I'd ask how heady the trailer is empty. Could explain why he had tire issues. (see below) someone probably tried to save 10$ and was running lighter C rated tires meant for a 3500# axle.

You didn't say what you were towing with, but based on your load an 16 or 18' trailer is plenty. Unless you think you will be hauling larger trucks or items. 24' is a lot of trailer to be dragging around all the time. Now if you have a diesel and want to fit in, you should probably just get a goose neck now and get it over with.

5500# axles are usually 6k axles with 6 lug wheels, ~heavy D or E 15" tires. If its a Dexter axle it can likely be upgraded to 6k 8lug with a drum/idler swap. Its a common upgrade on a smaller trailer because you get the bigger brakes.

You didn't mention the width, you should get at least 80" watch out as many equipment trailers are narrower. And bring your own tape measure when you go look at it. I've seen people measure the outside of the railing cause it was easier, and it adds 4"
 
yager said:
Personally thats a lot of trailer to be sitting on 5500# axles. I'd ask how heady the trailer is empty. Could explain why he had tire issues. (see below) someone probably tried to save 10$ and was running lighter C rated tires meant for a 3500# axle.

You didn't say what you were towing with, but based on your load an 16 or 18' trailer is plenty. Unless you think you will be hauling larger trucks or items. 24' is a lot of trailer to be dragging around all the time. Now if you have a diesel and want to fit in, you should probably just get a goose neck now and get it over with.

5500# axles are usually 6k axles with 6 lug wheels, ~heavy D or E 15" tires. If its a Dexter axle it can likely be upgraded to 6k 8lug with a drum/idler swap. Its a common upgrade on a smaller trailer because you get the bigger brakes.

You didn't mention the width, you should get at least 80" watch out as many equipment trailers are narrower. And bring your own tape measure when you go look at it. I've seen people measure the outside of the railing cause it was easier, and it adds 4"
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He says the deck is 20', overall trailer is 24', so trailer weight will be up there but not nearly what youre thinking it would be. He also says its deckover, so width shouldnt be a big issue unless its too wide, not too narrow.

A 20' trailer is more than plenty for your tj and being deckover should be plenty wide enough for future plans.

Duane
 
i copied exactly what the first guy sent me. it was "timk578" - think he listed a pic of it in for sale somewhere.

another guy "arsonfnder" sent me this:

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/for/2008068352.html

like i said i have no idea on spec's. someone could tell me its got ABC axles rated at whatever. ive never bought a trailer so i have no idea what to look for. are the axles stamped with a weight they are rated for? hate to take the word of someone to find it was bs. very noob questions but how do i tell if there are trailer brakes on it? do they look like drum brakes?

was checking out some other sites and it seem that a lot of people use the "Tekonsha P3Electric Brake Control" this a good control box? other options?

tires, should they be a certain load rating? think my budget would be max 2k but really would like to be around 1500-1800$. will have to then tag it, get weighted tags on our truck, etc. is that budget even in the ballpark?

oh and i have a tundra, let the flaming begin lol. i would tow four or five, maybe six times a year. ws area to ure maybe more regional places when the jeep is more built. the longest trips pennsylvania or arkansas. tried to look at diesel trucks six mos ago but no one wanted to sell one new.

thanks for the info
 
A 16 ft. car trailer plus the tounge is what I had. I had it built with 6 lug axels because the wheel bearings were a lot bigger and so were the axel spindles. But I had it sprung on 3,500 lbs springs per axel so it would ride better. I pulled this trailer over 80,000 miles and never had a problem. When I had the trailer built, I had him to move the axels back 1 foot farther than normal and the tounge was 5 and 1/2 feet long. This made the wheelbase between the trailer and the rear axel of the tow vehicle longer than the wleelbase of the tow vehicle. It pulled and backed like a dream! The trailer was also 8ft. 6in. wide with a dovetail and pullout ramps. A friend of mine bought it 2 years ago and swears it's the best trailer he has ever hooked to.
 
16'-18' works well for most rigs without being overly difficult to navigate tight driveways or parking lots. With a 1/2 ton truck you really do need to consider the weight of the trailer in addition to the weight of your Jeep. Also, I would strongly recommend brakes on both axles and a good brake controller. I use the Prodigy but the P3(?) gets good reviews as well, just more $$. Don't forget to save money for quality straps or chains.
 
6stringjeep said:
So brakes on both axles
Good brake box
16-18' long
Min 80" wide

-- How do I tell if there are brakes on both axles or even one
-- any brand that's better/worse
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If there are brakes drums on both axles them most likely there are brakes on both axles. If it's just hubs then no brakes.

My 22' trailer will haul my xj and the kids buggy. A 20' will allow for you to put a bunch of stuff on the front as well. It will be heavier and a little more of a pain and this being your first trailer and towing experience I wouldn't go that big. You will just need practice. I really mean that. Drive around with it empty for about a month. Take it everywhere with you. You'll learn backing, parking swinging corners a little wider, getting in and out of gas stations etc.

Also a deck over will sit higher and the rig will be more in the wind. You could easily do 16' as I have towed my xj on a 16' trailer. You'll have room to move a tj around for weighting as well.
 
6stringjeep, I am a believer in building as strong a trailer as you can, since it will be hauling an expensive toy and if something happens could cause an accident. I would not pull a car hauler with 3500lb. axles so I think the 5500lbs. will work great for your jeep. I have seen tons of blowouts on 3500lb axles due to the low load rating on the tires they come with. If you have a 2007 or newer Tundra you will not have any issues with that trailer and your jeep. I ordered a custom 24"x8.5" enclosed trailer with tandem 7000lb brake axles to haul a razor and our CJ. It weighs in at 13000lbs loaded and my 2009 tundra has pulled it back and forth to mountain city and harlan plenty of times without any problems. Good luck
 
jodyfj40 said:
I ordered a custom 24"x8.5" enclosed trailer with tandem 7000lb brake axles to haul a razor and our CJ.
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I could be wrong but I thought that the widest trailer that you can run is 96" without having a wide load sign. I would not recommend a trailer wider than 8' for your first big trailer. Some of the roads and bridges around here are barely 16' wide and it gets a little tight when you meet a 18 wheeler. Just my $.02.
 
My experience suggests figure out the size you need and add at least 2 extra feet. I haul my 86 burb on my 20 footer with room to spare for a grill and some smaller items. I wish I had a 24 foot deckover. Once you get one at some point you will need more trailer LOL. Get rub rails and stake pockets when you buy it or add it. Allows you to add removable sides and gives you many tie-down points.
 
kinlawk said:
I could be wrong but I thought that the widest trailer that you can run is 96" without having a wide load sign. I would not recommend a trailer wider than 8' for your first big trailer. Some of the roads and bridges around here are barely 16' wide and it gets a little tight when you meet a 18 wheeler. Just my $.02.
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State Law is 8'6" or 102" total width
 
thanks for clarification on the law horny toad. The reason we had to go with such a wide trailer to to get the door wide enough to fit the jeep through. If using an open trailer and you don't mind driving over the fenders, 8' would be the way to go.
 
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