help buying a trailer.

[mr.tech]

Ok I have been putting off buying a trailer for about a year now and am about ready to step up to the plate. I have a 83 FSJ truggy waighing in at 5000 lbs. it is locked so flat towing is a real white knucle event.

Now after looking I see I can get a used trailor for around $650 to $1000. I will be pulling my jeep with a 91 Ford F-250 300 I-6 5spd manual and 4.11's. What are some things to look for when searching out the right trailor. I am on a tight budget (being only 17) and I realy dont care about looks. I am undecided about full brakes or surg brakes, and have heard mixed opinions about each. the surg sound nice cause they dont need a controler and will work with some one elses truck (that may not be wired for trailor brakes).

This trailer will also serve as a utility trailer as well. I frequently haul large loads of scrap metal and other large objects. Also this summer I am moving from TX to AR (7 hours one way on bumpy curvy rouads) and will need to move all my tools (basic fab tools welder 3 big tool boxes, 60 gal compressor, oxy-tourch, band saw, press, drill press, bender, bench grinders, hoist, engine dollies, bolt bens, parts washer, ext. and about 20 boxes of other odds and ends and that isnt even counting my personal things like cloths, bed, dressor, ext.).

So as you can see I am looking at more of a utility trailer than car hauler.

please post pix of your trailer and any other usefull info you may have.

thank you
-Chris

[SolidAxleDurango]

You do not want surge brakes. Get electric.. Wire your truck and stop giving a crap about anyone else.

The only place surge brakes have a place, IMHO, is on a boat where the axles are submerged regularly.

With that much weight on the trailer, you'll really be pushing a 7k trailer (2 std 3.5k axles). 5K + about 1700 for the trailer itself... It'll work - and be withing weight range, but ask yourself if working at max capacity for it's life is really what you want to to do.

Deck material? The never ending debate.. Metal vs wood... There IS NO answer... It's like the auto vs manual debate... Blonde vs brunette.....

[KS Toy]

You do not want surge brakes. Get electric.. Wire your truck and stop giving a crap about anyone else.

The only place surge brakes have a place, IMHO, is on a boat where the axles are submerged regularly.

With that much weight on the trailer, you'll really be pushing a 7k trailer (2 std 3.5k axles). 5K + about 1700 for the trailer itself... It'll work - and be withing weight range, but ask yourself if working at max capacity for it's life is really what you want to to do.

Deck material? The never ending debate.. Metal vs wood... There IS NO answer... It's like the auto vs manual debate... Blonde vs brunette.....

Pretty much sums it up. Also, if you have any money left over maybe you could get a spell checker. :flipoff2:

[hpi_jeep]

Pretty much sums it up. Also, if you have any money left over maybe you could get a spell checker. :flipoff2:


way better than his last post that he deleted. took me about 10 times to understand what he was wanting.

i know it is a little more money but maybe you should look into a small goosneck type trailer. it is a little more money up front but IMO is worth every dollar.

[NJ]

I dont mean to hijack, but would the benefits of the gooseneck really matter with a trailer thats only 16-18 feet long? Most, if not all of the goosenecks I have seen are quite a bit longer (20-30+ feet).

[mr.tech]

Well I have pulled goosenecks in the past and although going down the road they pull better getting them into tight spots is not. Where I am moving this summer there is not enough room to manuver a gooseneck easaly. Plus I hate having the ball in the bed (had one in my old truck and it was always pissing me off). and cant aford the hidden hitch kind.

[R290]

You want brakes on "both" axle's, electric can be fine tuned when the trailer is empty and when it's full. 15" min tire size, 16" would be better as you can get used truck tires cheap. FYI two 5,000 lbs axles does not equal a 10,000 trailer, I see trailer rated this way, but if you read Dexter's web site (major axle manufacure) they say 2 6,000 lbs axle make a 10,000 trailer. Suspect this has to do with uneven loading and going over bumps as one axle will have to carry more than it's fair share.

Here my trailer, after this load I got some load range E tires :eek: :D
Yes it's a dump

[TornadoTJ]

That's gonna be a lot of weight to tow behind a '91 I6 300.

[R290]

That's gonna be a lot of weight to tow behind a '91 I6 300.

I loan it to a friend and he fill it that full:mad3: Ya fourth gear might work going down hill:D