Tow-N-Store Trailer

[Ryan]

Check out this craziness... The folks at Tow-N-Stow have developed a multi-use trailer. If you don't have a pickup, it's great to use for trips to the hardware store or nursery. And when you ...


To read the rest of this blog entry from The Garage Journal, click here.

 

[Ryan]

 

[OldCarGuy]

Now that's what I call thinking outside the box!

I saw this folding trailer at my local Sears store earlier this year. That looks like a clever idea. To store, you remove the front and rear tail gates. Then turn a crank and it folds to a width of 28” for storage. That can then be rolled through a normal door. The bed is 62' BY 79” and can carry 1,000 pounds. The current sale price is $1300.00. It may sound like a lot of money. But you have to see it in order to recognize that it may not be that bad of a value...

Watch the following short video to appreciate how it works.
http://s7.sears.com/e2/eVideo.jsp?video=Sears/Videos/CraftFold24201.swf


http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_07124201000P?keyword=trailer#descriptionAnchor

 

[stick004]

yeah really... who wants to find a new place for the stuff in your loaded up cabinet when you suddenly need to go pick up something.

That's why trailers are for hauling and cabinets are for storing the **** you just hauled home.

 

[Stephenw]

Dumb idea. You have to unload all your junk from the shed to use your trailer.

 

[onempty]

I think they are hoping people wont think too much into it. Because you guys are 100% correct. No one will want to empty it to use it as a trailer. I would guess that most people who buy it will use it as a trailer or a storage unit but not both. JMO

 

[MC]

I think they are hoping people wont think too much into it. Because you guys are 100% correct. No one will want to empty it to use it as a trailer. I would guess that most people who buy it will use it as a trailer or a storage unit but not both. JMO

Agreed and its too expensive for either...

 

[jmack]

I think this is a pretty clever idea. Clearly not great for someone that is going to use the trailer every weekend, but the target market is normal people that might have a need for a trailer a few times per year. For example, I don't have a pickup, but do a ton of projects in the spring a summer for which it would be great to haul materials from HomeDepot. But the rest of the year, I have no need for a trailer, so being able to set it up as a shed is great.

Very clever

 

[twostory]

This would be a good solution for someone who needs a trailer, but is not allowed to store a trailer on his property (HOA rules, etc).

 

[fotoflojoe]

I think this is a pretty clever idea. Clearly not great for someone that is going to use the trailer every weekend, but the target market is normal people that might have a need for a trailer a few times per year. For example, I don't have a pickup, but do a ton of projects in the spring a summer for which it would be great to haul materials from HomeDepot. But the rest of the year, I have no need for a trailer, so being able to set it up as a shed is great.

Very clever

I think it's pretty clever too.
One thing that ***** though; You're effectively paying for registration, insurance, and excise tax on a storage cabinet.

 

[JB740i]

I agree with OCG that the fold up trailer would be a good value for someone with no space to store a regular trailer. Too bad they didn't have it available with $4.00 gas was everywhere so they could push it also for people who wanted a truck but could only afford to fuel a car.

It's unfortunate for both that ya gotta have a license for small trailers like these. Either would get old really quick to have to pay for a tag every year if you were only using it once or twice. Seems like pricing a U-haul trailer might make more sense in either instance.

 

[cravej]

... would get old really quick to have to pay for a tag every year if you were only using it once or twice.

My trailer has a 5-year registration sticker, but I'm sure that is different in other states.

 

[1320stang]

What trailer registration?!? (I guess that's why the roads **** so bad here)

 

[boiler7904]

If I wanted a cabinet, I'd buy a cabinet. If I wanted a trailer, I'd buy a trailer. Not going to take the time to unload the cabinet, convert it to a trailer, haul my stuff, clean the trailer, convert it back to a cabinet, and then reload the cabinet every time I needed to haul something.

JB is right. You can get a lot of days local rental from Uhaul for $1300. Even renting a truck from Uhaul, Lowe's or Home Depot is going to be cheaper in the long run if you're only using it a couple of times a year at most when you figure in original purchase price, tags, insurance, maintenance, and excise tax in some states.

I think a 12x6x5 ft tall tandem axle Uhaul trailer was about $50 including tax for the day with unlimited local mileage the last time I rented one. A 14' truck wasn't much more.

 

[Stephenw]

I think a 12x6x5 ft tall tandem axle Uhaul trailer was about $50 including tax for the day with unlimited local mileage the last time I rented one. A 14' truck wasn't much more.

The little trailer from U-Haul, 4x6, is about that size. It rents for $14.95 a day.

 

[FiftyCalAl]

stupid idea just to **** money from yuppie types

 

[e-tek]

stupid idea just to **** money from yuppie types

Bingo!


My trailer: nearly every weekend in the spring the kids and I take the loaded up Merc to the city dump, about 20 minutes away. A renovation in progress certainly keeps it busy. $86.00 to insure it for 7 months.

 

[redsky49]

Bingo!


My trailer: nearly every weekend in the spring the kids and I take the loaded up Merc to the city dump, about 20 minutes away. A renovation in progress certainly keeps it busy. $86.00 to insure it for 7 months.

Ahh... Now that's a patina

 

[phartman]

No trailer? Build your own from leftover parts: '54 Chevy truck fenders, '40 Ford tailgate, '37 Ford lights.

Pete
Richmond, VA

 

[A_Pmech]

Ahh... Now that's a patina

Yeah, except I see a little bit of that patina eating a hole though the bottom right corner of the bed!

I'm surprised E-tek. Your truck has fewer holes than my '80 C-20.

 

[evil_twin]

Who needs to unload when you can just remove the shelves and stomp on the gas pedal

 

[Willy Victor]

Registering a trailer in Mi. is a one time shot, cost me $75.


Willy

 

[e-tek]

Who needs to unload when you can just remove the shelves and stomp on the gas pedal

That would make a GREAT promo video!!!

"Look how easy it converts from a storage shed..." CrAsH

 

[JB740i]

Now that's what I call thinking outside the box!

I saw this folding trailer at my local Sears store earlier this year. That looks like a clever idea. To store, you remove the front and rear tail gates. Then turn a crank and it folds to a width of 28” for storage. That can then be rolled through a normal door. The bed is 62' BY 79” and can carry 1,000 pounds. The current sale price is $1300.00. It may sound like a lot of money. But you have to see it in order to recognize that it may not be that bad of a value...

Watch the following short video to appreciate how it works.
http://s7.sears.com/e2/eVideo.jsp?video=Sears/Videos/CraftFold24201.swf


http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_07124201000P?keyword=trailer#descriptionAnchor

http://www.searsoutlet.com/Fold-Up-...ails.jsp?md=ct_md&cid=944&pn=1&ps=50&pid=1615

It's in their outlets now and going for $639...

 

[logical]

Someone has clearly stolen my "goldfish bowl that doubles as a hat" idea. I need to call my lawyer.

 

[Costner]

I have a solution that takes up even less space for the two or three times a year I need a trailer.

Step 1: Obtain trailer from uncle's house.

Step 2: Use trailer as long as I need to.

Step 3: Park trailer back at uncle's house.


Note that this solution doesn't require any registration or taxes, there are no fuel surcharges, there is no concern about storage space, and the rental fee is zero (although I tend to leave a six pack in the fridge as compensation).

When I find a trailer with all of these same features for the same price... I'll be sure and pick one up.

 

[knudsen]

Interesting design... probably useful to someone, somewhere. I just buy the $700 or $800 10 ft trailer at the local DIY store. I get the one with the mesh ramp/gate and a wooden deck, and it's still under a $1000. Meets my trailering whims and only costs a few bucks a year to register in Indiana, home of corn fed womens.

 

[Jay H 237]

This would be a good solution for someone who needs a trailer, but is not allowed to store a trailer on his property (HOA rules, etc).

Yes! Same thought I had.

I had a 5' x 9' utility trailer I made years ago that was kept stored under my parents deck in the backyard since no trailers were allowed to be kept on the property. I eventually sold it since I didn't use it often enough plus the land slopes towards the back yard and had to use the Wheelhorse tractor to pull it around the house and down into the backyard behind it. The driveway is on the opposite side of the house and not able to access the backyard or deck area that way due to retaining walls. It was a pain getting it in and out of it's storage location and to an area where it could be hitched to a vehicle.