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Cargo trailers - recommendations on build/features

dcg9381

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We recently "downgraded" our RV to a truck camper. Largely because we're not retired, kids are mostly out of the house and the mere process of moving a 40' 5th eventually got to be such that I wouldn't consider moving it if we were gone under a week.

I've got a 2015 3500 Ram diesel, dually, so payload and towing is not an issue. I'm getting the truck setup with the appropriate hitches necessary to do a hitch extension as the camper extends behind the truck.

I think I'm looking for something in the range of 15'-20'. I know that want an 8' wide cargo trailer, as the 6-7' trailers can't be seen in the mirrors. I do have a rear facing camera.

I've never owned one of these before, but I bet you guys have. Thoughts on what to look for?
 
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lowerthanu

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Sep 22, 2012
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Hudson, WI
I would recommend one with an interior height of 7'. Many of the smaller trailers are 6' or 6'6" if you are planning on getting a UTV some need the taller height door. Also v nose will tow better than a flat nose. Also a side access door is always handy to have.

I personally prefer Featherlite trailers. You pay more up front but they last forever and hold there value very well.
 

bradpac

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Central TX
I would recommend heavier axles 5200lb instead of 3500lb that will give you more flexibility in how you can load it since tongue weight will be something to think about with a big camper on the truck. Some manufacturers also offer an extended tongue which may be something to think about with a camper sticking out the back as well.
 

tomtomgt356

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*******, GA
I second the larger axles (5,200lb min) because they are easy to overload since you have so much space.

Since you have a truck camper and will be getting in and out of the back, get a set of stabilizer jacks on the rear so you can load/unload without being connected to the truck.
 

ToddG

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Watch out you don't exceed your cargo capacity on the truck. I know you have a dually, but truck campers can weigh tons, particularly the big ones like Host. Most trucks are close to their limits with just the camper and adding tongue weight to the mix puts them over the limit.
 

ZX3ST

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STL
What do you plan to haul in the trailer? For example, car haulers and toy haulers are usually set up a little differently, and carry their own set of recommendations than your standard cargo trailer.
 

PoorUB

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Fargo, ND
I think I'm looking for something in the range of 15'-20'. I know that want an 8' wide cargo trailer, as the 6-7' trailers can't be seen in the mirrors. I do have a rear facing camera.
I am pretty sure you will be able to see a 7X14 behind a camper. Maybe not the whole unit, but enough to back it up.

You need to figure out what you plan to haul and go from there. Also any good trailer sales will let you hook up and at least let you take a look how much of the trailer you can see in the mirrors.

I don't know why everyone is recommending 5,200 pound axles, we don't even know what you are hauling!
 

kbeefy

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Harington, Eastern Washington
Personally I would stick with 8.5' wide and 8' tall door, if it's a ramp.
I have had 5 or 6 enclosed trailers, 7' high ceilings would be my minimuim. My current one is 8' and I love it.

Is this going to haul things with wheels, or just camping gear? Even a big cabover fills up fast.

I hated towing with a hitch extension. I sold my cabover and bought a shorter one because of it.
 
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dcg9381

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Is this going to haul things with wheels, or just camping gear? Even a big cabover fills up fast.
The right now case is dirt bikes / Rhino ATV. I'm making sure it'll fit a buddies 4-seat RZR. I assume if we're talking about hauling cars that we're looking at a "race trailer" kind of thing. Although that's possible, we wouldn't be doing that very often.
 

kbeefy

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If you want to fit a rzr go 8.5" wide. They will fit between the wheel wells and you can still open the door and get out.
And make sure you have at least 7' ceiling height. I had 6'6" in a snowmobile trailer and my sxs would barely fit in the door because of the box over the door spring. With 8' ceilings it fits with room to spare.
 
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ZX3ST

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You can get car haulers that aren't decked out to be a "race trailer". IE you can get them with plain unfinished interior and without cabinets and junk. I'd consider that here. They'll typically be 8.5ft wide (102in total overall exterior width) and around 81-82in clear between the fenders.

OK my thoughts on dirt bikes and/or ATVs

* Standard interior height is usually 6ft-6 or so. Most places will make them a bit taller as an option. More height = more towing surface area. Don't go taller than you really need to. As mentioned, remember to consider the torsion spring for clearance purposes.
* You'll probably want to strap miscellaneous things to the walls. Make sure to get 16in stud spacing. Standard is usually 24in.
* E-track or L-track on/in the floor (either surface mount or recessed mount based on your preference). These offer an abundance of tie down options.
* Extended tongue. This will help keep from banging your camper on the corner of the trailer in sharp turns.
* I've found that v-nose doesn't really tow any better, but they do have a little benefit of extra storage room. They do present additional surface area to cross winds. V-nose tend to make it more difficult to attach a weight distributing hitch, and precludes you from running a toolbox on the tongue, if that's your thing. I prefer a standard box.
* Don't automatically get heavier axles. Figure what you'll actually haul and try to stay around 80% of the axle ratings. They ride much smoother that way. This is especially true for torsion axles. 5200lb axles on a 16ft trailer is likely overkill, but maybe not as much on a 20ft.
* Bogey wheels. These go by different names depending on who you talk to but they're little steel rollers positioned near the rear corners. Helps to keep from dragging the trailer frame when you inadvertently high-center the thing. This happens more often than you might think, especially on longer trailers. I'm really surprised they're not more common.
* Interior lighting. You can go as basic or advanced as you like, but it makes load/unload in the dark so much nicer.
* Power tongue jack. Your shoulder will thank you.
* Consider a trailer that's less than 10k GVWR. Many states (TX included) require a CDL if your truck/trailer combination GVWR is over 26k. A 14k trailer will probably put you over that limit with your dually. This is not tied to your loaded weights, but by the GVWR stickers on your rig(s).
* If you have the option, get the thicker exterior sheet metal. They're harder to ding and don't warp nearly as bad in the heat.
* If you're carrying fuel, make sure to have appropriate venting installed, if it doesn't come from the factory that way. Gas fumes are heavier than air. So your intakes will generally be front-top, and exhaust will be rear-bottom.


Trailer prices are through the roof right now, assuming you can even find one. Good luck with that part.
 

Greenlawnracing

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Edmond, OK
Torsion axels, 16 on center frame, and rivet less siding. An 8.5 wide means you’ll probably get a car hauler.

I had a 2005 H and H 16x7 that I sold two years ago for close to what I paid for it new.

Theyve changed hands so I don’t know if the quality is still good.

Something like this:



Aluminum if you really want to open your wallet. YOLO!


 

Lucid Moments

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Watch the insulation. I bought a (used) Continental Cargo 24' V nose trailer to haul my race car. Found some rot in the interior walls. Ripped it apart and they had used regular fiberglass batting as insulation. The kind that is meant to go into a 2X4 framed wall stuffed into a 1" gap. I doubt the insulation was anything close to what was claimed and it sucked up water like a sponge and held it against the steel wall frames and wood interior. Lots of rust and rot. Replaced it with blue board which is what should have been used in the first place.
 

NUTTSGT

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My roof is a one piece roof with a rear wing. Keeps the rain/weather off the rear door/seal. It's a place to have the factory mount LED loading lights.

4' side door, mine is a double door, worth the $500 upgrade.

Fluorescent lights ? Have them mounted at an angle in the wall/ceiling corner rather than down the center. You'll need less trailer height.

If you're going to do it, do it right if you plan in keeping this trailer, I'd consider the 20' over the 16' trailer.

Being in Texas, consider spending the money to atleast insulate the ceiling. If I had a place to park my trailer inside to work on it, I'd have it stripped out and add insulation to the walls/ceiling.
 

Masheen365

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South GA
Might consider trying to get it directly from the manufacturer. When we were looking for a small cargo trailer last year we lucked out in that a few different manufacturers are about 45 minutes away in Douglas, GA. We met a guy there who had driven down from Maine to pickup a snowmobile trailer because it saved him a few grand, even with travel expenses.

The same place also made a few different brands. They asked what website we saw the trailer on and that’s what decal they slapped on it before we left the lot. Rock Solid, Cargo USA and Diamond Cargo where the three they had (I think that was it).
 

p00p

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42.4974° N, 82.8964° W
Torsion axels, 16 on center frame, and rivet less siding. An 8.5 wide means you’ll probably get a car hauler.

I had a 2005 H and H 16x7 that I sold two years ago for close to what I paid for it new.

Theyve changed hands so I don’t know if the quality is still good.

Something like this:



Aluminum if you really want to open your wallet. YOLO!


if you dont mind, how much did your trailer cost?
 

Greenlawnracing

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Oct 4, 2017
Messages
324
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Edmond, OK
if you dont mind, how much did your trailer cost?
I bought it for about $5000, sold it for 4000. Keep in mind, that was 15 years ago. They have certainly gone up in price since then.

in my now outdated experience, some of the regional brands offer the features that big companies like Haulmark Have for a fraction of the price because they don’t have the transport cost.
 
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dcg9381

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* Consider a trailer that's less than 10k GVWR. Many states (TX included) require a CDL if your truck/trailer combination GVWR is over 26k.


Trailer prices are through the roof right now, assuming you can even find one. Good luck with that part.

Thanks for your thoughts here.. Lots of good points. I've got lots of time to shop before needing to buy one.


One correction, Texas doesn't require a CDL for GVWR over 26k. Texas requires a Class-A license - you can get those non-commercial. They are an unusual category and not all DPS offices handle them the same. But yea, you've got to show up with a rig, take a written test (sometimes more than one depending on how misinformed the DPS is) and a driving test.
 

GLTHFJ60

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Oct 31, 2013
Messages
821
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Durham, NC
You can get car haulers that aren't decked out to be a "race trailer". IE you can get them with plain unfinished interior and without cabinets and junk. I'd consider that here. They'll typically be 8.5ft wide (102in total overall exterior width) and around 81-82in clear between the fenders.

OK my thoughts on dirt bikes and/or ATVs

* Standard interior height is usually 6ft-6 or so. Most places will make them a bit taller as an option. More height = more towing surface area. Don't go taller than you really need to. As mentioned, remember to consider the torsion spring for clearance purposes.
* You'll probably want to strap miscellaneous things to the walls. Make sure to get 16in stud spacing. Standard is usually 24in.
* E-track or L-track on/in the floor (either surface mount or recessed mount based on your preference). These offer an abundance of tie down options.
* Extended tongue. This will help keep from banging your camper on the corner of the trailer in sharp turns.
* I've found that v-nose doesn't really tow any better, but they do have a little benefit of extra storage room. They do present additional surface area to cross winds. V-nose tend to make it more difficult to attach a weight distributing hitch, and precludes you from running a toolbox on the tongue, if that's your thing. I prefer a standard box.
* Don't automatically get heavier axles. Figure what you'll actually haul and try to stay around 80% of the axle ratings. They ride much smoother that way. This is especially true for torsion axles. 5200lb axles on a 16ft trailer is likely overkill, but maybe not as much on a 20ft.
* Bogey wheels. These go by different names depending on who you talk to but they're little steel rollers positioned near the rear corners. Helps to keep from dragging the trailer frame when you inadvertently high-center the thing. This happens more often than you might think, especially on longer trailers. I'm really surprised they're not more common.
* Interior lighting. You can go as basic or advanced as you like, but it makes load/unload in the dark so much nicer.
* Power tongue jack. Your shoulder will thank you.
* Consider a trailer that's less than 10k GVWR. Many states (TX included) require a CDL if your truck/trailer combination GVWR is over 26k. A 14k trailer will probably put you over that limit with your dually. This is not tied to your loaded weights, but by the GVWR stickers on your rig(s).
* If you have the option, get the thicker exterior sheet metal. They're harder to ding and don't warp nearly as bad in the heat.
* If you're carrying fuel, make sure to have appropriate venting installed, if it doesn't come from the factory that way. Gas fumes are heavier than air. So your intakes will generally be front-top, and exhaust will be rear-bottom.


Trailer prices are through the roof right now, assuming you can even find one. Good luck with that part.

I'd echo all of the above, but add one point. Go gooseneck instead of TAG, it will be just as stable as a 5th wheel.
 
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dcg9381

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I'd echo all of the above, but add one point. Go gooseneck instead of TAG, it will be just as stable as a 5th wheel.

I really love how 5th wheel and goosenecks haul, but this trailer is being added to a configuration with a truck camper, so I can't use the bed. Have to use a 24" hitch extension (supertruss) - which requires a second frame mount hitch below the factory 12k hitch (you use both).
 

510ebl

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Jan 20, 2015
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Southern New Jersey
Referencing post #12 above…The usual issue is the camper hitting the nose of the trailer when turning b/c it is wider than the truck bed. Definitely consider ordering a longer/extended trailer tongue. The drawbar extension does NOT remedy this situation, just delays it.
 
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