enclosed trailer references

BRUISER

BRUISER

silent.. but deadly
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Mar 17, 2005
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anyone have any suggestions on places to go for an enclosed trailer

thinking 18' or 20' with 8.5' floor width.

needs to be able to carry 5000lbs inside it

thanks
 
Anything you find new anymore despite the name just about most certainly comes from three medium shitty manufacturers in south Georgia, they are all similar built to kaufmanns. So anyway there's a decent price break-those trailers are all 1" steel box tubing 24" centers walls with lauan interior and ~.035 exterior walls, mediocre-at-best wiring, then there are the "custom" trailers that are 3x the price but are built similar to tractor trailers with riveted al spars and a shit ton more bracing, better wiring, thicker walls etc. In my opinion if you're getting a non high end enclosed just make sure it has good tires and real dexter 5200 + lb axles otherwise they are all just about the same.

So, in short all of the different "brands" you see on craigslist are coming from the same half assed guys in south Georgia. Make sure it has good tires and axles.
 
I enjoyed dealing with Thomasville trailer when I was shopping. That said I have decided to make the trip to georgia and buy from diamond cargo when the time comes.

I found that I don't save much buying from diamond on a factory trailer but I'm getting a semi custom trailer and can save about 3k and still get a better built trailer.
 
The diamond I specd is built on 12" centers floor wall and roof. Has a one piece roof and .040 exterior metal. 3/4 plywood walls and few other structural upgrades all for less than a freedom on 24" centers with pieced together roof, .030 metal and luan walls.
 
And with all those "upgrades" comes weight!
My brothers 27" enclosed (all the bells/whistles + genset, tools, cords, etc.), while sporting a 10K# gvwr & 15" craptastic "E range" tires... will fawking SHRED brand new tires like wet crap paper when it gets within 1000# of 10K# at highway speeds (even 55mph doesn't work).

Either pack it VERY lightly (why have it?) *OR* make damn sure the axles & wheel openings will support nothing less than a a 6-lug 16" rim and an LT235 *OR* purchase stock in Maxxon/Carlisle/etc...
 
I looked at a ton of them. Like it was said above, most all are from GA and all really the same. I have had a Diamond, and it was decent, but again its all the same when you don't buy a really expensive one.
 
braxton357 said:
Anything you find new anymore despite the name just about most certainly comes from three medium shitty manufacturers in south Georgia, they are all similar built to kaufmanns. So anyway there's a decent price break-those trailers are all 1" steel box tubing 24" centers walls with lauan interior and ~.035 exterior walls, mediocre-at-best wiring, then there are the "custom" trailers that are 3x the price but are built similar to tractor trailers with riveted al spars and a shit ton more bracing, better wiring, thicker walls etc. In my opinion if you're getting a non high end enclosed just make sure it has good tires and real dexter 5200 + lb axles otherwise they are all just about the same.

So, in short all of the different "brands" you see on craigslist are coming from the same half assed guys in south Georgia. Make sure it has good tires and axles.
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This. Most of the ones coming out of Georgia are shit. Ramp doors bend or fall off, frames bend, sides buckle.

I think Haulmarks are still made in Indiana. Get a 24ft Edge with either two 7k axles with discs, or three 6k axles. Put some Sailuns on it and rock out. The trailer should weigh 4-5k with nothing in it. It'll probably be 12-14k fully loaded.

BRUISER said:
8.5' floor width
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Nothing is going to be that wide. They're 82" between the fenders, same as any other lowboy trailer. They'll be 96" to outside of box and 102" to outside of fenders. If you need wider than 82", you need ramps to get up and over the fenders.
 
My ATC aluminum is 24’ with storage cabinets, rubberized floor, side escape door and 10k gvwr weighs 3500lbs.

I would have loved more bells and whistles, but towing behind a 1/2 ton meant I needed pretty bare bones. I’ve loved it though. And I agree with Will, sub 20’ will get claustrophobic quickly.
 
I’d accept the fact you are buying crap trailers and opt for the upgraded axles and tires. The $ you save on the crap trailer versus a custom trailer, you can replace it every several years and still be $ ahead.


Use it for a few years and post it on Craigslist for the same $ as you paid.

Then go buy a new one. :D

That’s my plan if I can ever finish my buggy.
 
Talk to David Whitley at Oliver's. He seems very happy with his. Not terribly long either.
 
shawn said:
Nothing is going to be that wide. They're 82" between the fenders, same as any other lowboy trailer. They'll be 96" to outside of box and 102" to outside of fenders. If you need wider than 82", you need ramps to get up and over the fenders.
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I have seen a lot that are 8.5' inside or close to it... the fender wells end up inside the trailer. that way you have more room to get out of vehicle when inside the trailer.
 
Yeah, DOT max is 102" to the outside of the body. Any bigger than that is overwidth. Clear inside from wall to wall is probably in the neighborhood of 7'-6" or 7'-8", assuming an outside wall that's about 2" thick. The fenders stick in about 6" on the interior and about 2" on the exterior.

Correction: I put a tape to mine once I got home. It's 8'-4" outside and 8'-0" clear inside. 83" between fenders. Fenders project an inch each side.
 
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My 4410 car is 87” outside tire to outside tire and with the trailer’s removable inner fender it drivers right in. Strap the vehicle down then slide the fender back in.
 
BRUISER said:
I have seen a lot that are 8.5' inside or close to it... the fender wells end up inside the trailer. that way you have more room to get out of vehicle when inside the trailer.
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For reference, I've got an 8.5 wide by 7.5' tall 24' and I have to climb out the window of El camino because door hits fender Wells. Just depends.
 
I had a Horton 16x8 with torsion 5200# axles... I hauled it all over working out of it. It was a pretty good trailer. Some fuck heads stole it and I replaced it with an 8 1/2 x 20 bendron tighten. It is a piece of shit. I really really regret not getting a Hercules now. I have held off really outfitting my current one because it is such a pile.

My advice... Go try and look at a couple 3 or 4 year old trailers. See how they are holding up. That is the difference in the quality. Get a little more trailer than you think you need because it will not be enough. Also, get more axle than you need. You are better off using 50% of your axles capacity than 80 or 90. Also... There is a giant, hugemassive difference between an 8' trailer and an 8 1/2' trailer. I cannot see around the 8 1/2' trailer without tow mirrors. I have to do a crazy ivan to see if anyone is behind me. Not sure how tall you are but get the 6 1/2' high trailer if you plan on walking in it a bunch. Good luck with your purchase.
 
I put tens of thousands of miles on a Horton in 2006-2008 and it held up great. Seemed to be much better built than other enclosed trailers that I looked at.
 
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