Small trailers, who uses them??

rangerdanger

rangerdanger

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Hey, everyone, looks like I have a car!!!! The '93 Jeep Grand Cherokee we looked at, looks like we're pulling the trigger on it. Can't wait!!!

Anyway, I was thinking of investing in a small trailer to use with it. Nothing fancy, just a small, light trailer that I could use to haul gear or brush on small side jobs. The Jeep would have no problem hauling it I believe, since, like I said, it would just be for brush mostly or landscape materials, nothing the Jeep couldn't handle.

So would you view this as a wise investment. I believe it would pay for itself in time, once Dad starts to pass a few small jobs my way.
 
I have a 6X12 trailer that I use when I need to haul stuff. It doesn't get used very often but it's paid for ($500) and doesn't cost me anything to leave it parked. I think the tag is about $15 per year.
 
I bought one of those assembly required ones from Harbor Freight. Light a quad can tow it and it's 4X8. Paid about $300.00 plus wood for it and it's a 1/2 ton... My DR fits on it, Quad........ The hitch set up is the weak point. If you can find one like it with the single bar tongue it will turn sharper. I also bought the steel side kit for 100.00. Works real nice and one guy can move it around easy even loaded if balanced right ;)
 
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Awesome!! I may have to go with an assembly kit, as it sounds cheaper, plus we have a ton of wood that we had cut from our logs stored up in our firewood barn. It's perfect for the deck of a trailer!!
 
For that Jeep I'd say a 4X8 or 5X10 would be as big as you'd want to go. Keep your eyes open on Craigslist, the newspaper and the freebie 'Thrifty Nickel' weeklies.
 
For just brush and debris that Jeep will easily pull a 6x12. Really about as small as I would think about for brush as well! Do everything you can to get a single wheel, it's lighter and easier to move, something in a pipe trailer.
If you load it up with blocks only fill it about half as full as you think it should be and see how it pulls it. Then you have an idea of how to load it in the future.
A buddy of mine got some of the rope cinches, sorry, I can't think of the name. You run a length of rope through the pulley, hook the other side and pull it as tight as you can. It locks itself and is easily unlocked. Really the cats meow for small loads of brush! Through a tarp over the top, set up the rope pulls and lock it all down!
For equipment, you will have to look at the manufactures recomended tow weight, subract the trailer weight and figure it from there.
A lawn mower or maybe even a mini should work.
 
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Thanks everyone!!! I think I'll be looking for something in the 8' to 12' by 4' to 6' range, single axle.

But I'm curious for those of you that use a non-dumping trailer, big or small, what are some tricks for unloading. I got an idea from Dad when he first started with a company in Arizona. They would lay two or three pieces of rope across the bottom of the trailer before loading any brush and tie one end off on one side of the trailer. When it came time to unload, you grab the loose end and pull, and usually with two guys, you could flip the whole pile off the side of the trailer. Quick and easy.
 
For a flatbed that would work. But if you want to get more on the trailer then something with about 2' sides will be easier to load and haul more.

I use a rope, chain or strap that is about 2,5 times longer than the bed of my trailer (12' trailer = 30' rope). Before loading I'll put a small loop in one end of the rope (bowline is easy) and lay the rope down the length of the trailer with the loop just hanging off the back and the rest of the rope coiled up on the trailer tongue. The first 4-5 pieces in the trailer need to be cut to fit crosswise almost the full width of the trailer. These are your skids that will carry the rest of the load out, put one good, strong piece across the very front of the trailer.

Load the rest of your load however you like. Chop it down, whatever. When it's time to unload, take the rest of your rope from the trailer tongue and throw it over the load to the back. Run it through the loop in the other end of the rope and then tie it off to your puller vehicle (or worst case a solid anchor). Pull the load off the back (or drive out from under it) and then untie the rope. If you tied the bowline correctly it should untie fairly easily and the rope will slide right out from under the pile. I prefer using a spliced eye rope or tow strap and a steel carabiner rather than a bowline. Easier to unhook.

Some guys like using an old tire in the front of the bed with a rope or chain running out the back, but after you unload the tire is under the pile. I prefer not fighting to unbury my gear.
 
I used to remove the sides and lay a tarp on the deck or lay a tarp inside the trailer... fill with debris. Then from side or front of trailer, one guy on each corner and sort of roll the material off with the tarp. Used to do the same with my pick up for pine needles.... And I also have the tilt bed option that I rarely use.
 
How about a dump trailer? I think the last thing you need at the end of the day is some kind of hassle at the dump getting your trailer unloaded.
 

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As I don't always have the option of having something to hook a rope or chain to, my mothers trick works well for me.
Take two of the larger branches (I have a 16' trailer) and lie them on the bottom big ends to the middle. Then stack on top of that. It goes very well with two, but I ussually do it by myself, grab one of the two branches on the bottom and roll the whole pile of the side. Work front to back if you are alone, with two grab in the middle of each branch.
 
Ahh, we are obviously talking about different size loads. You guys are talking about 4-500 lb loads, I'm usually packing 1000-2000 lb loads or more.
 
I am talking BRUSH Brian, I haul the chunks on another load usually. A medium Elm around here takes two trips for brush and one for the chunks. Depending of course.
 
You just aren't chopping down the brush enough. ;)

And yes, save the big wood to put on top. 1) It's harder to chop the brush when wood is mixed in and 2) the wood helps keep stuff from flying off. You can either tie the load down or throw a tarp over it and tuck the tarp under big logs at the corners.
 
I've never done so but I've heard of laying a 4 by 4 across the front with the rope under and out the back . Drive an old axle in the ground ,tie on the rope and drive off .Prybar the axle out of the ground untie the 4 by and retrieve your rope. Be on your way . Might work,might not .
 
Yeah, we all hate it. But it's part of the price we pay starting out from scratch and paying our dues. And it builds character.
 
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