Enclosed trailer?

[Farmer888]

Just looking for some opinions, Parents And me are moving 3 hrs away, Have quite a bit of stuff to take. The new place doesn't have much as far as a garage right now, we want to get an enclosed trailer to move then probably store our shop stuff (welders tools etc) Have a small car to move too and compact tractor.
Dad used to build open aluminum trailers, and me and him would both like a aluminum enclosed but a bit much $$ to afford. We're think 8.5x18 foot steel frame trailer with ramp door. standard with 3500 lb axles but We would go with the 5200 pound upgrade since I think the 35s are just too light for a trailer like that.
Anyone have a trailer like this size? I wan't to tow it with a half ton older 2003 dodge 1500 5.7, I think it might be a bit much but it's all flat running. After moving is done Might use it to start a mobile repair/welding trailer out of it but that's down the road.

If we wen't aluminum It would have to be a narrower 7x18 and then can't really get cars in it

 

[mike93lx]

I can't imagine going that big and using 3500lb axles. Seems crazy unless you are hauling around only super light stuff.

5200lbs and brakes on both axles.

 

[seber]

What you are asking for is an enclosed car hauler. Big money.

 

[signcrafter]

I moved 6 hours a few years ago. Moving company did all the house stuff so I just had garage stuff. I bought a 7x16 with dual 3500 axles. It fills up fast and gets overloaded fast. I have a lot of stuff but I've made probably a dozen trips so far and have 2 to 3 more to do still. I also have a f250 that pulls it great. I would not want to pull it fully loaded with a 1/2 ton.

 

[Farmer888]

What you are asking for is an enclosed car hauler. Big money.

Yeah pretty much, Did build and price on a local trailer place.. looks like $13,500 before taxes. I was more into renting one to move big stuff then buy a smaller more affordable one to keep. But Dad wants the bigger one and he's paying for most of it. Not much used out there and the whole covid pricing has used stuff right up there.

 

[Farmer888]

I can't imagine going that big and using 3500lb axles. Seems crazy unless you are hauling around only super light stuff.

5200lbs and brakes on both axles.

Yes that's my thought, not much payload so we'd definitely go with the heavier axles and brakes on both for sure

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

From experience with both a travel trailer and a tent trailer , you want twice as much axle capacity as the weight you would want to carry. The third axle on the 8' tent trailer was a 3500# . You get the idea.

 

[mike93lx]

From experience with both a travel trailer and a tent trailer , you want twice as much axle capacity as the weight you would want to carry. The third axle on the 8' tent trailer was a 3500# . You get the idea.

Huh? Third axle?

If you over spring the suspension, it's going to ride rough and you are adding a lot of unnecessary weight.

 

[Ign]

No help on the actual trailer but 52's are kind of a shifty compromise. The bearings are identical to 6k's but you get a crappy 6 lug bolt pattern.

Just skip the middle man and go 8 on 6.5" and be done.

I've owned a PJ car hauler with 52's since '05 and basically wanted to upgrade to 8 lug ever since. Thankfully, mine came with 16" wheels so I can run LTs rather than being stuck in the literal CF of 15" choices....because none of those choices are good.

 

[MJK]

I have a trailer of the type you mention - 20' and 10k. Bought it used, cheap and ugly on Craiglist. It is very handy for everything you mention.

I agree with Mike93LX. Electric brakes on both axles are a must. 5200lb axles make it much more useful.

IMO, it will easily do what you want it to do for moving and storing household stuff. We do this all the time. If you floor load it to load nose to tail with normal household stuff, a half ton should be fine. I've accomplished this in a pinch using a 4.7L V8 Toyota SUV as the tow vehicle. I suspect a 3,000 lb car and a similar weight tractor will be OK if they were properly loaded and were a dedicated trip. Weight distribution bars and anti-sway hitches can give you some additional comfort level.

If you plan on kitting out the trailer with shelves, attempting to stuff to the rafters to minimize trips, or hauling heavier combinations of stuff (example: car + tools + race weekend supplies) - that I would not want to do without my 3/4 ton.

 

[mike93lx]

No help on the actual trailer but 52's are kind of a shifty compromise. The bearings are identical to 6k's but you get a crappy 6 lug bolt pattern.

Just skip the middle man and go 8 on 6.5" and be done.

I've owned a PJ car hauler with 52's since '05 and basically wanted to upgrade to 8 lug ever since. Thankfully, mine came with 16" wheels so I can run LTs rather than being stuck in the literal CF of 15" choices....because none of those choices are good.

What am I missing? There are lots of 16" 6 lug wheel options

https://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-Trailer_Tires_and_Wheels-sz-6_on_5~1%7C2_Inch-pc-16_Inch.aspx

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

Huh? Third axle?

If you over spring the suspension, it's going to ride rough and you are adding a lot of unnecessary weight.

It was a used trailer, it cost a income tax return cheque , so not much. The axle spindle was damaged when I got it. So I replaced the 1500# with a 2000# then had to replace it with a 3500#. If an axle bends, it's too light duty. Springing is a different topic. I've had even more experience, as in breakage, with springs. The trailers are named, Backroads, I, II, and now III. Leaf springs don't weight much,.

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

If you want to build a trailer and wish to avoid the expense of aluminum, thin wall,.060, one inch square tubing is cheaper and quicker. I used it for a safari rack for my utility trailer. On a RV forum another fellow used it for framing a camper.

 

[NUTTSGT]

For an enclosed trailer I would think an 18' trailer would be an old size. Try looking for a 20 footer.

 

[Grogg]

Depending on where you live in Ontario, if your needs are simple, you might want to check out some trailer builders in the Mennonite areas. They seem to have more reasonable pricing and tend to build their stuff on site (so more stock)

One option for steel to increase corrosion resistance is galvanizing. I'm sure you know how much our province loves to salt the roads from fall to spring.