5x8 cargo trailer questions

[stinkity stoink]

I figure this would be as good a place as any for this.
I have a handyman business that i run. It is just me and I pretty much do everything and often need more tools than I can carry in my pickup. Lately I have been looking into buying a cargo trailer to carry everything. I al limited in space that’s why I say a 5x8. I am finding out there is a ridiculous amount of
Trailer manufacturers and like everything some seem good and some seem bad.

I am going to look at one that seems to be built like a little tank. According to specs it seems very nice. 16” O.C. floors , walls and roof. It says with all tubing. I just can’t find much about the company. It is called vnose trailers, they are out of NY. Has anyone ever heard of them. https://www.vnosetrailers.com/pages/5x8-v-nose-brand-a18136-html/

Thanks
Dave

 

[Bretny]

I live 15min from there poughkeepsie location. Its just a lot with a bunch of trailers..like every other trailer "manufacturer" when i checked there price they seamed prety reasonable.

Theres about 2 or 3 other trailer places in poughkeepsie. Hudson river truck and trailer, trailer king Theres also a guy in cairo ny that was well priced.

 

[Hilltopmasonry]

Seems decent....I like that it has plywood interior walls because most cargo trailers has cheap laminate that you can punch right through it.

I like the screwless exterior which makes it nice if you want to letter it up

Does it have brakes? Because I would highly recommend getting a trailer with brakes


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[stinkity stoink]

Seems decent....I like that it has plywood interior walls because most cargo trailers has cheap laminate that you can punch right through it.

I like the screwless exterior which makes it nice if you want to letter it up

Does it have brakes? Because I would highly recommend getting a trailer with brakes


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It doesn’t have brakes...I haven’t seen to many in that size with brakes.

 

[Hilltopmasonry]

It doesn’t have brakes...I haven’t seen to many in that size with brakes.

I had a 5x8 without brakes and will say that depending on how much weight you have in there and if your tow vehicle is anything less than a full size truck i would recommend getting brakes.

Any sort of weight in the trailer will give you a very noticeable amount of push when you hit the brakes and will cause you to increase your stopping distance, especially going down hill

Of course this all depends on how much weight you plan on carrying in the trailer




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[mike93lx]

Make sure you get a high enough roof that you don't hit your head

 

[jask]

Check with your DMV out here that trailer would require a breakaway brake system. Every couple years Commercial vehicle enforcement does a blitz in this area ( usually in spring ) and when they do there is usually a line of white van guys and small contractors with trucks and trailers being towed.. wrong insurance, expired tags on trailers, bald tires etc. and they always have a set of scales because it is really easy to get a little trailer like that WAY overweight, without brakes on the trailer you need to use a reduced percentage of the tow vehicles legal limit.
That is a really nice size of trailer but you might be successful enough to outgrow it do you have room to store a 12 or 14? also... we all know someone in the trades that has had a trailer rip off, if your buisness can afford it you might want to think about buying and installing an alarm and GPS tracker that alerts you if the trailer decides to get up and go.

 

[metaleltr]

I personally wouldn't want a trailer less than about 12 feet long. The longer it is the easier it is to back up.

 

[Bluedodge]

5 x 10 minimum so you can get sheet goods in there without hassle. As mentioned above, 78" or taller so ya don't bump yer noggin'.

 

[Hilltopmasonry]

Usually brakes are required for more than 3000 lbs gross, but you have to check with your state since they are all different


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[Lucid Moments]

Just as a note trailer brakes are easy enough to ad if the trailer you want doesn't have them, and are worth having IMHO. Check out e-trailer.com they have almost anything you could want for trailer stuff.

 

[stinkity stoink]

Thanks everyone, a lot of things pointed out I still need to consider.

 

[CraigStu]

I would take a tape w/ me and check that 8ft dimension. It would be a real pain if a 4x8 plywood or whatever won't fit.

 

[mike93lx]

Just as a note trailer brakes are easy enough to ad if the trailer you want doesn't have them, and are worth having IMHO. Check out e-trailer.com they have almost anything you could want for trailer stuff.

As long as the axle has brake flanges

 

[steves_001]

I did the same exact thing for awhile a few years ago. I had a "cargo pro" brand which was similar to haulmark they tell me. It was 5x8, ramp rear and a side door so I could get to things without dropping the back. Sheet goods fit fine, it was a slightly rounded nose. I made shelves for both sides and a nail/screw shelf near the front door.
I really enjoyed having it vs dragging stuff out of the back of a truck.
I have a 6x12 now, no longer do handyman stuff but if I did, I really think I'd go back to the smaller trailer just for easy of manipulation.

I also had ordered it with a higher roof so I could stand up inside. It fit in the garage ok with an 8' high door. (no vent)

The one you have linked would work out real nice.

 

[Bretny]

You will be hard pressed to find that small of a trailer with brakes. In NY brakes are required if the gvw is over 3klbs. Even the 6.5x12ft landscape trailers dont come with brakes.

I would make sure it has a 3,500lb axle if your going to load it. Im not sure on the break away laws. Judging by its 15in wheels i would say it does but you never know.


Also look into the federal/state DOT laws before you letter the trailer or truck. The fines for being commercial and not having the proper things are very high.

 

[c4cruiser]

I think the V-nose design make take away some floor space as would the side door. That door may be handy for quick entry compared to the rear ramp door, but it's just another easy way for somebody to break in. Unless you need the ramp door for a hand truck, I would go with rear barn doors or a single door. Those designs may be cheaper.

The trailer features show the axle is a 3500 lb Dexter axle so adding brakes shouldn't be a problem. But if your tow rig doesn't have a trailer brake controller, you will have to add one. Get a Tekonsha "Prodigy" unit. You can also get a plug-and-play wiring harness for the controller from them.

For size, think about whether or not you may need more space later on. Maybe a 5x10 or even a 6x10 might be a better choice. The weight capacity may not change much, but the interior room will!! Also check with the dealer to see if they could add a 120v outlet to a side wall. That could help with better lighting, small power tools, battery chargers, etc.

 

[turbodave]

I've got a 6x10 Interstate V-nose. Pretty similar to the one shown in features.

The measurements don't include the "V" so our 6x10 is actually 12' in in the center, plenty of room for sheet goods.

The ramp door is nice if you're loading wheeled equipment, or using a hand truck. Otherwise it's in the way and those cables that pull it up are great to trip over (I use a pool noodle over ours so people see them).

The side door is handy and I wouldn't get one without it, makes it easier to load and access things. The one you showed has an RV style latch - the pros to that are it opens from the inside and the outside, so if you wanted to camp in the trailer it's a possibility. The downside to the RV latch is security, these are pretty easy to pick or get into through other methods. Ours has the bolt style lock just like the rear doors do so you secure it with a puck lock, but no way to latch the door from the inside.

The vent is nice, they get hot inside in the summer, just keep an eye on it, over time that plastic gets brittle, wouldn't be surprised if in 10 years it need to be replaced.

Ours is rated at 3k capacity, has a 3500lb dexter axle and 15" tires. I think it weighs around 1300lb empty, so 1700 is the capacity. Just think about what you plan on hauling and remember that adding size and options takes away from what you can haul unless you go up to a heavier axle rating.

I tow mine with a 3/4 ton pickup, don't really notice the lack of brakes on it with that. I've moved it empty with my minivan, just around the neighborhood, I would want brakes if towing it with anything smaller than a 1/2 ton truck.

 

[NeubCont]

Had a 5X8 and quickly realized it was a mistake.
Grew out of it.
I agree with previous posters about brakes and ceiling height.
Also with a shelving area it became "top heavy" where it felt like it was going to flip.
So therefore I would go tandem wheels.
D.O.T. And the po-po became an issue as well

 

[K'ledgeBldr]

For your "sole proprietor" business I would strongly consider a Sprinter van. Granted it doesn't give you the flexibility of having transportation w/o tools, but a trailer can certainly be a big hinderance when there's limited space.

Trailers being stolen is all to common- and when it's full of your livelihood that makes for a really bad day. At least a van can be locked/secured/alarmed.

 

[Bretny]

Getting a vehicle to replace a trailer may be dollar foolish. More maintenance, insurance and can be stolen just the same as a trailer.

 

[stinkity stoink]

I thought about a van ,but it just isn’t practical. I just paid off my ram 1500 and plan on keeping it for quite a few more years .
My neighborhood is pretty secure ,but I do know things happen. I also have never had a need to go on a highway (except to purchase materials) so I rarely go over 40 MPH... My truck is 5 years old and has 24,000 miles on and 10,000 of it is probably for personal use.
I really don’t think I will overload it. The problem is I’m getting up there in age and climbing in and out of a truck bed is beginning to grow old. Plus I would like to be able to use the truck for personal use without having to empty it.
Since I bought the truck I have had a lot of my tools stored in it almost all the time with only a bed cover on it and so far the only time I lost tools was when I left the tail gate open by mistake .
I am trying to find something used ,but they apparently hold their value pretty well, plus the 5x8’s have a low ceiling height. The one I posted in the link has a 6’ interior height which will be perfect for me (5’11”).
Thanks for all the input as I am still learning and don’t just want to jump in and make a mistake.

 

[Hilltopmasonry]

Personally in your situation i would keep the truck and get the trailer like you are planning. The truck will handle the trailer fine without brakes as long as you dont overload it and be mindful when going down hills.

As mentioned earlier you can add brakes later if its an issue, plus side about trailers is they are cheap. Plates, insurance and maintenance are really low.

It is nice being able to hook and unhook the trailer as needed keeping your main vehicle clear of tools.

Backing in and parking the trailer can be a pain depending on where your jobs are, citys are a pain even with a small trailer but if your projects are more in the open then its a non issue

I used to tow a 5x8 enclosed trailer w/o brakes with a 4 cylinder s10. It was ok for the flatlands of chicago, not ideal but it worked. A full sized truck would have been much better


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[gemniii]

<snip>https://www.vnosetrailers.com/pages/5x8-v-nose-brand-a18136-html/

Thanks
Dave

That looks very much like the inexpensive 7x14 10K I bought last summer.
Things to look out for:
How is the top vent sealed? On mine they just poured a pool of sealant around it. It leaked a little under heavy rains at first but stopped.
What are you going to do for "hold downs"? D-rings? E-track? They install or self install? I had etrack installed on the side and bolted 4 D-rings down on the floor.
Can you get a locking bar for the side door also? It was about $100 extra on mine but I considered it well worth it.
The cheap license plate holder on mine (looks exactly like yours) looked like it would fall off quickly, I put a couple of rivnuts in to give it better hold.
On mine they scrimped (or missed putting in) some screws in the side, I had them install a few more.
Get some Red & White Conspicuity DOT Tape for the perimeter.

 

[metalmagpie]

I vote for 5x10 over 5x8. Had both.
I second the suggestion you get a 3500 lb axle.

metalmagpie

 

[jscoggin]

I also stress bigger is better but if going with a 5x8, make sure you measure before buying. I made a mistake on a previous trailer purchase, bought a 5x8 and assumed that it was truly a 5x8. Interior space was actually more like 4'10"x7'8". I could never use it for sheet goods which drove me nuts. My next enclosed trailer will be at least a 7'x12'.

Trailer brakes and double axles are a great upgrade as well. Trailer brakes for obvious reasons and the axles for weight but also for allowing redundancy in the event of a failure. I had a wheel bearing fail on a 110 degree day on the side of a crazy busy highway where the wheel came almost completely off of the hub. There was no way to limp the trailer at all because it was a single axle and one hub was now digging into the concrete. It was an open trailer with dirt bikes in the back so I wasn't leaving it there either. That was a miserable experience and every trailer since has been dual axle. I also am more proactive with preventative maintenance.

 

[d300]

Although it is a cute little trailer, if your business is even moderatly successful then you will quickly out grow it. Buy the biggest unit that you can based on your trucks capacity.
From personal experience; I used a 14' trailer for many years and I can say that trailer brakes are highly desirable. If you load up a single axle trailer then you have to pay attention to load bias or it can hurt you. Install an electric jack up front. Use cargo doors in back. Although I had a side door I never used it because it wasted too much space inside.
Last item, change trans fluid and filter every 30k no matter how good it looks.

 

[captmoto]

Seems decent....I like that it has plywood interior walls because most cargo trailers has cheap laminate that you can punch right through it.

I like the screwless exterior which makes it nice if you want to letter it up

Does it have brakes? Because I would highly recommend getting a trailer with brakes


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A 5 x 8 won't need brakes. I doubt the cargo capacity of that trailer is over 2000 lbs. OP mentions he has a truck so the trailer won't overpower the truck.

 

[ATC]

A 5 x 8 won't need brakes. I doubt the cargo capacity of that trailer is over 2000 lbs. OP mentions he has a truck so the trailer won't overpower the truck.

This exactly. Arguing over brakes on a single-axle 5x8 trailer is stupid.

 

[Ign]

Just as a note trailer brakes are easy enough to ad if the trailer you want doesn't have them, and are worth having IMHO. Check out e-trailer.com they have almost anything you could want for trailer stuff.

This. If you can operate a ratchet you can install trailer brakes.

Actually it's the wiring where most guys will f it up but then again it can't be any worse than how they come new - death to ScotchLoks!!!

 

[stinkity stoink]

I pulled the trigger yesterday..... I kept looking for used ,but felt for the extra $400 a 6’ interior height and side door were worth it. It seemed the used ones hold value pretty well.
I will hopefully have some pics after I set it up. ....

 

[KEH]

Very good looking trailer. You are wise to get one high enough to have good headroom inside.

KEH

 

[mike93lx]

Nice. Now you just need a ball mount with the right drop to level it out

 

[rburke65]

No experience with trailers, but I think you’ll outgrow the 5’x7’ quickly. Be car3ful...a guy down the road had all his tools in a trailer and the thieves just back in a truck, and took everything in a minute.

 

[mike93lx]

Kind of interesting that everyone is so concerned about outgrowing a small trailer when the guy is already operating the business out of a truck that he is also keeping. It isn't like he just started

 

[Partsguy57]

Seems decent....I like that it has plywood interior walls because most cargo trailers has cheap laminate that you can punch right through it.

I like the screwless exterior which makes it nice if you want to letter it up

Does it have brakes? Because I would highly recommend getting .....

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[stinkity stoink]

i bought some trailer locks for it ....

It has no brakes...

I have been operating my business out of a pick up for several years..I’m getting tired of climbing in and out and not being able to carry all I need. Plus now I can use my truck again for other things.

I started on some shelving today.

 

[Bretny]

Nice trailer!
How where those guys to deal with?

You should register that trailer in Maine if your state allows and/or costs alot like NY.

 

[LifeLongWNYer]

To each, his own on the brake issue.

I have 4 trailers, 2 with and 2 without brakes. In my opinion, unless you NEED them, based on the GVW of the trailer, they are just one more thing to maintain. Now, they are requiring a "break-away" switch and a battery on the trailers with brakes so that IF the trailer becomes disconnected from the towing vehicle, the brakes automatically come on. First of all, the safety chains are supposed to keep the trailer connected to the towing vehicle, if the trailer comes disconnected. Second, I am not exactly a "spring chicken" but in all my years, I can recall exactly one accident in which the trailer became disconnected from the pickup towing it. I'm sure others on here have seen some, but I am "just saying..." Thirdly, unless the cable for the break-away switch is shorter than the safety chains, it won't apply the brakes when/if the trailer comes uncoupled.

So, if you have brakes, you need a controller on each towing vehicle, also, the battery on the break-away system needs to be charged when you tow the trailer, because if you are stopped, and the cops discover that your trailer battery is dead, you will get a ticket for "inop brakes."

I know there is a wire in the RV trailer wiring protocol for charging the battery, and if you use the trailer a lot, you probably will be all set, but I know from experience that when I hook up to a seldom used trailer, the battery is always dead. If your trailer is wired to the ATA wiring protocol, there is no power to the trailer which is hot all the time and can be used to charge the battery.

I don't know if they make box trailers, but the last flat bed trailer I bought was from Racemaster, in Oswego, NY. I ordered the trailer, and asked them to make it as large as they could, without it requiring brakes, they enlarged one of their standard designs and charged me a pittance over the price of a standard size.

Also, unless you will be pulling the trailer a LOT, and are concerned about the wind resistance cutting into your mileage, the "V-shaped" front end wastes a lot of space. If you will be going short distances on infrequent trips, as opposed to daily, long trips, it isn't worth it.





.

 

[Hilltopmasonry]

Thirdly, unless the cable for the break-away switch is shorter than the safety chains, it won't apply the brakes when/if the trailer comes uncoupled.





.

The break away cable is not supposed to lock the brakes if the chains grab the trailer and keep it attached to the tow vehicle, it is designed for the event that the chains fail and the trailer takes its own coarse down the road away from the tow vehicle

I understand what you’re saying about the brakes being more of a maintenance issue however it all depends on the size of the tow vehicle and how much weight he plans on carrying in the trailer

The OP has a full-size pick up so no brakes on the trailer won’t be an issue however if he had a small or midsize SUV with an overloaded trailer going downhill he would definitely want brakes.





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