I gave in yesterday and bought a Carry On 5 1/2 x 10 Trailer from Tractor Supply. A friend's wife works there part time so he was able to hook me up and able to use her employee discount. It is not the best out there but is perfect for my needs and reasonable as far as price. My 4 x 8 Snowbear does not have a ramp and is too small for my zero turn. It is a great little trailer for firewood and for now I am planning on keeping it.
Naturally Carry On used to make 5x8's on a 3.5k axle, but they have discontinued. Looks like Liberty still makes 5x8 - but of course dealers are hard to come by - have to make an appointment, drive about 60 miles to get there, and they are a bit over my 2k budget.
The one I just picked has a 3500 lb. axle. Gross Vehicle Weight Rating 2,990 lb. Empty Weight 914 lb. Maximum Load Capacity 2,076 lb. Not sure why gross weight is 2990 but guessing it is for registration reasons. Heck my little 4x8 had 2500lbs of old concrete on it when I did a yard clean-up ; I knew it was a lot but never guessed it was that much until I drove over the scale at the dump.
The trailer weighs 900 lbs. Subtract that trailer weight from the gross/ max weight and there is your capacity.
I get that , wasnt sure with a 3500 lb axle that leaves around 500 lbs out of the equation. Wasn't sure if this might be for weight and state laws that might put it into a different class where maybe it might require brakes or something like that.
This is from the Connecticut State website about trailer registration. I am just guessing that this might be the answer at to why gross weight is 2990. Brake Equipment - Any trailer with a GVWR of 3000 lbs. or more will be assumed as intended to carry such weight and therefore shall be equipped with a braking system operating on all wheels.
Realized that as a TSC Neighbor's club member, I get 1 free trailer rental for free per quarter. I'll have to see how that works, but since that is where I buy most of my pellets, could be the deciding factor. For the most part that could mean I could go with a lighter duty trailer, Sure, if I decide to get a 1.2 ton load of pellets from elsewhere, I would have to load a 1/2 of it in the Explorer and the other 1/2 in the trailer, but that is doable. Thanks again to everyone for their advice, insights and general information!
I've owned several smallish trailers. Here’s one I recently fixed up. Complete new floor frame, new paint, etc. Still need to wire the lights in. I like the wider trailers (this one is 6.5' x 10') because they are better to haul small equipment in. The extra room makes a big difference. Most 4x8 trailers i see are quickly sold to get a bigger trailer.
Nice rebuild. Like the high sides and the paint and new floor.. I wish my 5x10 was wider but got it on a trade.
Thanks. I have a CAM 5x10, and kept running into issues with mowers being too wide with the deck on or a bagger, etc. I have videos of the rebuild on my YT channel. Part 1: Part 2:
I order my 3 tons of wood pellets before Aug 15 every year and get Free Delivery so a trailer for Pellets would save $0.00 :-( Got 3 tons coming this Saturday!
That works, but it is really cool to be able to go get 3 ton on your own, could do 4 if Menards could figure out how to push the first 3 forward!
Nice job on the rehab! Since I am supremely unlikely to get a quad or riding lawn mower, smaller is better for me. However, I am looking at 5x8 more, just because they are more plentiful and I'm guessing they would be more stable. I am super good at over researching and being a looky-looky before I finally do something (or not) Nobody offers free delivery for 2 tons - and very few deliver in this area at all. I can get overpriced NEWPS from Agway (at $299/ton and who will deliver for a price), or overpriced GS from Aubuchon's (who I am unsure if they deliver - I'm inclined to say not) or get reasonably priced MWPs from TSC (and my local one doesn't deliver). And, I want a trailer more for other things - if it were just for pellets, I'm perfectly alright in getting my exercise.
Hi BB I picked up a small used Harbor Freighty Trailer for $50. The my friend help me put up the wood sides and I got a trailer hitch for my RAV4. I can haul pellet stoves, pellet grills and brush to the dump and 1/2 ton of 3/4” inch landscaping stones easy peasy because we built a fold down back gate with 2x6s the right width apart fir the escalara to roll right up into it! It also fits right next to the front steps next to the driveway for out of the way storage too. BTW The new grill in the trailer in the picture below is the large GMG Peak / Jim Bowie Prime Plus with dimensions 56” long X 31” wide X 22-1/2” high and weighs 212 lbs !!!
Ha Hard to beat for the price. Small but certainly better than shoving brush and what-not into the back of the RAV4. Also a great size if you wanted to use behind a garden tractor.
I got a new sofa for the basement and they wanted $150 to take away the old sofa! After I got down from the ceiling and they left I thought, That small trailer works great for taking this old 8 foot couch to the dump for Free, if I cut it in half using a sawzall for the wood and an air cutter for the springs and fabric! See below, it fits perfectly now!!
