garandman
Well-known member
I paid $279. The cheapest trailer next was $600. For a trailer I'll use six times a year it didn't pay.
Harbor Freight Trailer - Experiences Please
- Thread starter edl
- Start date
I have had the original 1,720 trailer for about 6 years and it has about 4,000 miles on it. Although I did buy the parts from Harbor Freight to convert this trailer so it could become foldable. I did paint the trailer and hardware prior to putting it together. We use it to haul material and for a our camping gear. I made walls for the side using T&G about 36" high and a metal top to protect items from weather. I can go from a folding position to hitched to the Jeep in about 20 minutes with the sides and top installed.
Jay
I've had the 4x8 folder with larger wheels for 4 or 5 years. It's held up fine, even on a 3000mi trip. I built 2x4 stake sides out of scrap laying around. Like others said, pulls better with a load. For the price I couldn't find anything on Craigslist. I'm happy.
egnorant
Well-known member
24 years and holding up well! Used it for general stuff with a non-folding 12" wheel model and it was just the thing for scooting stuff around. Then it was called into service to bring a Buffalo to Texas from Montana. Did it without a hitch!
Eventually thing need repair and the tail lights got replaced and put in conduit rather than hanging loose. Paint started looking bad so I blasted it and touched up a few welds and gusseted the spring mounts. Added a spare tire mount and a fold down support for the tongue Repainted it with new larger fenders and 14" wheels.
It handled a 2 week, 6000 mile coast to coast (twice) trip last year and just got back from Florida last week!
Been used for car shows, hunting trips, travel, hauled behind cars, trucks, ATVs, lawn tractors and handled them all well.
Here is a picture after 1500 miles in California.
I have special holes and notches that allow me to swap the clamshell carrier, generator, tool box in under 5 minutes.
It is a tool, it does the job, I approve!
Bruce
Eventually thing need repair and the tail lights got replaced and put in conduit rather than hanging loose. Paint started looking bad so I blasted it and touched up a few welds and gusseted the spring mounts. Added a spare tire mount and a fold down support for the tongue Repainted it with new larger fenders and 14" wheels.
It handled a 2 week, 6000 mile coast to coast (twice) trip last year and just got back from Florida last week!
Been used for car shows, hunting trips, travel, hauled behind cars, trucks, ATVs, lawn tractors and handled them all well.
Here is a picture after 1500 miles in California.
I have special holes and notches that allow me to swap the clamshell carrier, generator, tool box in under 5 minutes.
It is a tool, it does the job, I approve!
Bruce
maxpower_hd
Well-known member
I had one for several years myself. It was given to me used. I mostly used it for leaves and lawn mowers. But I also used it for hauling Harley's. I was not at all comfortable with it's stability and strength when moving a $20K-$30K bike on it. I ended up welding everything that folded and that was bolted plus I added support up the middle of it where the wheels would ride. I made it at least stable but still would only recommend it for very light use. I had the 12 inch tires. I had to replace them due to dry rot. I had to replace the flooring but I think that was from the original owners poor choice of regular plywood. I used PT marine plywood. The sides are hard to keep on because of the poorly made clamp holders that come with the trailer. The fenders aren't strong enough to stand on. Before I welded it the trailer couldn't keep a ground from the front to back so I had to rewire the whole thing and run dedicated ground wires to the lights. The list goes on. It will work but it will also get replaced.
For $400 I upgraded to a Big Tex with a built in ramp and it is a LOT more trailer. Plus now I can see it in my mirrors. I have no issues with the strength of this one. It really is night and day.
Keep in mind trailers are like anything else. Once you use it you will find more uses for it. So get the best one you can afford up front and you won't wish you got something else.
For $400 I upgraded to a Big Tex with a built in ramp and it is a LOT more trailer. Plus now I can see it in my mirrors. I have no issues with the strength of this one. It really is night and day.
Keep in mind trailers are like anything else. Once you use it you will find more uses for it. So get the best one you can afford up front and you won't wish you got something else.
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jimgood
Well-known member
I had one of the smaller ones (40 1/2" x 48) I used to haul tools and tires to the track. I used it for about two years and it never failed me. I sold it to someone else that is still using it as far as I know. It would be about 10 years old now. Maintain it and don't over load it and it should be fine.
Ditto.
Ran an individual ground to each light. Wire loom for the entire harness.
Jay
Do you "lock" the trailer in the unfolded position when using it? It would be impossible to use the bolts under the plywood, but the carriage bolts on the side behind the fenders could possible be bolted.
Has anyone gotten a 20% or 25% off coupon from HF to work for their trailers recently? I'm going to be making my purchase soon but it seems ever coupon code I use doesn't apply to the trailers anymore. I could have sworn a year or so ago the coupons always worked.
I got a 20% off coupon to work on the $300 folding 4x8 trailer. Most of the coupons have fine print saying they don't work on trailers, but some of the coupons don't have that fine print. It might be hit or miss if the cashier accepts the coupon.
My final cost was $240.
Somewhere I read that using 3/4" plywood doesn't allow the trailer to fold properly, so I bought cheap 19/32" CDX and stained it for the decking. Mine folds, but we'll see how well the floor holds up.
I cut notches in the plywood sides and screwed them to 1"x4" boards that fit into the stake pockets. This allows full 4x8 material to be loaded without intrusion from the side boards. There is a tiny 1/4" gap in the stake pockets, but that shouldn't be a problem. Maybe 3/4" plywood sides would take up that slack when combined with the 1x4, but I'm not sure. I used 1/2" plywood for the sides since I had it laying around and already cut to the correct height.
I really wanted a 2" coupler, but never found one that had the correct bolt hole placement. Instead, I used the supplied 1 7/8" coupler and had an extra stinger laying around, so just had to buy a 1 7/8" ball for it.
My brother in law gave me one of the little HF 4 x 8 folding trailers for Xmax back in 92. Yes, it has 8" wheels and metric wheel bearings. That trailer has been used hard since then. I have put about 5 floors in it, 3/4" plywood. I make the sides 1 foot high out of 1/2" plywood. It has hauled camping stuff, bicycles, motorcycles, furniture, sheetrock, plywood and mulch from Iowa to Florida. From Michigan to Colorado, and Texas to Canada. The little 8' wheels work pretty good. Just the good tires, Load range C and keep them aired up. Repack the wheel bearings every couple of years too. I carry a spare wheel, bearings and some grease just in case.
Overall, not as fun as a 53 chevy pickup, but almost as handy.
Jim_Z
Overall, not as fun as a 53 chevy pickup, but almost as handy.
Jim_Z
I picked up one of the super duty folding trailers last weekend, I had a coupon that did not say it excludes trailer but the manager said that all coupons now exclude the trailers even if an older one still floats around with out the disclaimer. I guess they were losing money on them or something. I've yet to put it together but will soon. I plan on building stake sides for it using treated decking boards. I plan on re-greasing the bearings right away, will Lucas Red 'n tacky grease be a good grease to use?
csp
Well-known member
If the red n tacky says it's a high temperature bearing grease, then yes it will work well.
If it isn't specified as high temperature don't use it. Those little 8" wheels spin a lot faster than the wheels on the vehicle towing it at any given speed.
If it isn't specified as high temperature don't use it. Those little 8" wheels spin a lot faster than the wheels on the vehicle towing it at any given speed.
I got one a year ago. I needed a landscape trailer for my business and it was what my wife would let me buy. I love it wish it was bigger but pulls my 42" 600 lb zero turn, a 90 lb push Imower weed wackers blowers gas etc.great. I got the higher weight limit and 12" tires that are rated for 85 MPH. I tow it with a 1/2 ton pick up or my GMC envoy. The smaller vehicle is actually better with it. But the pickup does well too. I have had it at highway speeds but not for a long trip. Biggest issue is don't do it empty. It will bounce around like crazy. I saw a guy at a rest stop towing a fifth wheel camper and the HFT trailer behind that with his Harley on it so I assume he is extremely confident in it's highway abilities. It's a great little trailer only issue has been the sheet metal brackets that go on the wheel wells. I am looking to bend up some 1/8" steel to replace those that broke.