This borrowing a trailer thing has me all messed up. I hate borrowing stuff. Now I want to buy a trailer. I see 16' tandem axle trailers brand new going for $2000. Are these any good. What do you all recommend I look for when buying a trailer? I want to go as small and cheap as possible.
How about something like this?
http://sacramento.craigslist.org/car/575466564.html
To me that looks like a great deal! With an LJ, you may need the longer trailer, but it is great they offer the 16' and 14' models too! If I only had a truck to tow it! I was thinking about buying one and keeping it at John's... 😎
I don't have a truck to tow it, just the motorhome. I see myself trading my Honda in on a diesel truck in the next year.
The down side of me buying a trailer is that it won't get much use. I don't need to trailer to the local trails......wait.......people seem to break stuff when they wheel with John around here.......the trailer might come in handy. 😏
Looks like a good deal to me too. Almost too good to be true. Make sure you fit between the wheel wells you'll squash those if you have to drive over them. Check the weight of the Jeep to make sure the trailer is rated high enough. Remember that the 7k is gross. My 4Runner on Larry's trailer pretty much maxes it out. Of course you don't want it rated too high or you start having to worry about your license.
"Justin" wrote: people seem to break stuff when they wheel with John:
Don't follow me...You won't make it 😀
"Bender" wrote: Make sure you fit between the wheel wells you'll squash those if you have to drive over them.
Justin can weld. He could build ramps over the wheel wells to drive over them.
"JohnDF" wrote: [quote="Bender"]Make sure you fit between the wheel wells you'll squash those if you have to drive over them.
Justin can weld. He could build ramps over the wheel wells to drive over them.
There are definitely ways around it, but you start piling on the cost of steel and the additional weight to beef things up and you may end up wishing you'd bought one that would work in the first place. Seems like one of those things that could get out of control quick.
Is this turning into a trailer queen club??? Even Brad is talking about a trailer 😲
We will see who is a trailer queen when you want to borrow my way cool trailer. 😎
"Justin" wrote: I don't have a truck to tow it, just the motorhome.
I asked in the Hammers topic, but I think it was over looked. Does your motorhome have the towing capacity to tow a Jeep on a trailer? Most in that size range have only 5000 lbs capacity which isn't enough for the combination. Some are even limited to 3500 lbs, depending on how the motorhome was built. My guesstimate is your LJ on one of these trailers would probably weigh in about 6500 lbs.
Tow ratings are guidelines. I've exceded tow ratings by huge ammounts without issues. I used to tow a 24' stock trailer filled with cows using a Ford 1/2 ton, regular cab, short bed pickup with a 6 cyl motor 😲
"JohnDF" wrote: Tow ratings are guidelines. I've exceded tow ratings by huge ammounts without issues. I used to tow a 24' stock trailer filled with cows using a Ford 1/2 ton, regular cab, short bed pickup with a 6 cyl motor 😲
Until you're in an accident, someone gets hurt or killed, and some lawyer sues you for being criminally negligent by being knowingly overweight. Yeah, one can get away with it, I've done it before too, but it's a gamble.
As far as trailers go, for the load you're intending to carry, brakes are required. Legally you only need brakes on one axle, but if you find a trailer with brakes on both axles it would stop better.
If the trailer uses a standard ball hitch, I'd look for one with the larger ball, 2 5/16" I think it is. It's can be hard to find a normal 2" ball and drawbar rated for the GVWR of the trailer.
You'll want the wider bed width, I think that's 83" which generally puts the overall width of the trailer at the 102" maximum.
Be sure to get a spare tire. On many trailers its optional.
You'll need a brake controller on your tow vehicle unless it has one built in already. Many new trucks have it. I've heard Tekonsha's Prodigy controller is one of the best.
"FAM" wrote: Until you're in an accident, someone gets hurt or killed, and some lawyer sues you for being criminally negligent.
I live on the edge 😉
"JohnDF" wrote: [quote="FAM"]Until you're in an accident, someone gets hurt or killed, and some lawyer sues you for being criminally negligent.
I live on the edge 😉
Deciding to drive an overloaded vehicle is one thing. Would you want someone else's overloaded vehicle anywhere around your family on the highway?
Another thing about trailers I considered before buying one (sorry don't have it any more) - Many people prefer wood decks versus steel decks. When wet, the steel decks can get slippery, and in the summer can be pretty hot if you need to crawl under your Jeep to tie it down.
"troyman" wrote: http://sacramento.craigslist.org/car/579301633.html
Thanks
I saw that one and thought I would look at it if it was still available on my next day off.
"FAM" wrote:
I asked in the Hammers topic, but I think it was over looked. Does your motorhome have the towing capacity to tow a Jeep on a trailer? Most in that size range have only 5000 lbs capacity which isn't enough for the combination. Some are even limited to 3500 lbs, depending on how the motorhome was built. My guesstimate is your LJ on one of these trailers would probably weigh in about 6500 lbs.
Yeah, it's set up to pull a heavy load.
"JohnDF" wrote: Is this turning into a trailer queen club??? Even Brad is talking about a trailer 😲
Moab, Hammers or greater trips when I hit 5 weeks/yr vacation - which is coming up.
My wife has been talking about letting me get one too 😀
"JohnDF" wrote: Tow ratings are guidelines. I've exceded tow ratings by huge ammounts without issues. I used to tow a 24' stock trailer filled with cows using a Ford 1/2 ton, regular cab, short bed pickup with a 6 cyl motor 😲
where's larry when u need him! 😂 he would so dis-own you if he had read this. 😂
i tried to convince him once that it would be ok for me to tow my 71 c10 chevy loaded with spare parts using my 89 corolla from antioch to rancho and he bout took my head off!!! 😂 those were the good ol days. 😂
Can't school an old cowboy about pulling things with a pickup truck 😀
"JohnDF" wrote: Can't school an old cowboy about pulling things with a pickup truck 😀
I was raised in a rural area too and have hauled some insane loads in a half ton and mini truck. One load of hay was so heavy if I tried to accelerate much the front tires came off the ground, and I drove about 40 miles that way. I'm not kidding. I was young and invincible at the time and thought it was fun.
To advocate intentionally driving an overweight vehicle is absolutely irresponsible.
I've said enough and won't comment on the overweight issue any further.
"Justin" wrote: This borrowing a trailer thing has me all messed up. I hate borrowing stuff. Now I want to buy a trailer. I see 16' tandem axle trailers brand new going for $2000. Are these any good. What do you all recommend I look for when buying a trailer? I want to go as small and cheap as possible.
How about something like this?
http://sacramento.craigslist.org/car/575466564.html
That trailer is perfect. My Jeep is 83 1/2 inches wide and your Jeep is no where near that. You would fit on it with no problem. Your Jeep weighs about 4000 pounds, so you are fine on the weight.
Watch out talking about towing your Jeep, next thing you know, everyone will be calling you a trailer queen and you will want to hack up your Jeep and you won't be be one of the cool kids anymore 😂
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