Pickup Truck, Trailer, Or Both!

I know in the end only I can answer this question for myself and each person is different but I like to get different opinions and perspectives. I do a decent amount of DIY home improvement and DIY projects. I like building things of wood. Mantles, floating shelves, rustic coffee table, etc... I am constantly at the lumber yard or big box store pulling my hair out because I cannot get something home. This past weekend was 3 door slabs that wouldn't fit in my Santa Fe, trip home was a PITA! We just recently moved so we are doing some fixing up so I've been back and forth to these places little more then usual.

Always wanted a pickup truck, something about it not to mention the sheer convenience of being able to bring home lumber, materials, Firewood with ease or at will. On the flip side they are expensive and eat lots of gas. I work about less then 6 miles from home. So I thought about a utility trailer, much more cost effective and of course much more affordable. But it has its drawbacks at well. I know for some not having a pickup truck isn't an option, you tow large items or live very rural and need one. Am probably about 10yrs late on having either one as I've certainly needed one or the other dozens upon dozens of times over the past decade from fixing up my prior home, to landscaping, to DIY projects, etc.... But better late then never, right?

 

What is the tow rating on your Santa Fe? Looks like there are several different packages from 1k to 5k out there. If you can go up to 3.5k I'd get a good single axle 6x10 or 6x12 trailer and skip the truck...At least for now. If you decide it isn't working out it's hard to loose much money on a trailer...So you could flip it and get a truck....Or keep it.

 

I'm a both kinda guy. Scrounging firewood sometimes finds me driving up to :45-1 hour away. I like to be able to get as much as possible each trip. Then when it's landscape time, I can get a trailer full of mulch and move it to the designated area and unhook, then mulch when convenient. There are many similar scenarios like this. Moving splits for example.

And for camping trips I ether use my cap for weather proof stowage or sometimes haul the scooter.


So it is a very subjective question you ask.

 

Just my quick pro con list


A trailer can hold more than a pickup.
It can be easier to load.
It's an extra registration maintenance etc.
You need a place for it to live when not in use.
It's cheaper than a pickup.
Not as convenient for smaller things.
Pai to tow around
No place to throw your empty beer cans....No gun rack.

 

Are you from Saskatchewan?

 

Chicks don't dig trailers the same way they do trucks.

 

Having a truck is great.

 

Ny! gun racks were a have to have when I was growing up!

True!
The uglier you are the higher the lift kit needs to be!
I get more looks withy bumper dragging towing with my TrailBlazer

 

only if the tow vehicle is rated for it

 

You can get the trailer now and then a truck later. I use both, drag the trailer around when I know I am heading to a big haul.

 

Volume, I can fit a bedroom set them some on my trailer.
I put my sawmill on my trailer(20 foot track), scrap metal like old oil tanks etc. Save gas and time not messing with a 8 foot box.

 

Same here in Saskatchewan growing up, gun racks were in everyones trucks.

Little side story, dad had one in the old '74 3/4 ton Dodge water truck. He'd drive to a gopher patch, get me set up in the back for a nice high shooting position, and then stretch out in the truck with a farmer type newspaper. When the shooting slowed down, he'd drive to another area! Good times growing up.

 

Thanks Everyone!

 

Currently just have the pickup, but a trailer is soon to follow.

I cut and split offsite so the trailer would work to bring in scrounges and to bring home
seasoned wood for the shed.

I also have other plans for the trailer now that the open space nearby is being developed
leaves and yard debris need to get the town dump.

I think it's worth the registration and the space it takes.

 

Being so much lower to the ground, trailers are easier loading anything.
A trailer will Outlast three four or more trucks, my trailer is 25 years old the only maintenance is Grease, tires and a new set of light every couple years when I smack into something.
Some vehicles I have had came with hitches, I have had to buy 2 or 3 for other vehicles but, the same trailer I paid 600 bucks for 25 years ago.
In Michigan trailers no longer are required to be registered and new tags purchased every year, one plate is for the life of the trailer.
There's a lot good things about having a pickup though, especially scrounging wood you don't have to go home and get your trailer if you see something you can get.
You can get in and out of the woods better with a pickup.
I always liked having a good dry place to have my tools, gear, whatever out of the weather, in my blazer, my Tahoe, my Jeep.
I recently bought a new rolling tool cabinet, no need for a trailer and it happened that it was raining that day I went to pick it up, no problem, fit in the back of the Jeep out of the weather.
If I could afford it I would have my Jeep, a pickup and trailer

 

I am lucky-I have a truck and a trailer. I have told friends of mine many times that should at getting a trailer. They don't, mostly because I think they are scare of driving with one attached.
Let's make this comparison-my truck is a Toyota Tundra. It has roughly a 4' x 6.5' bed. I don't know what the GVWR is, but let's say I can haul a 1500 lb payload.
An inexpensive ($1,000) 5x10' 3000lb trailer can haul a ton or better, and has more room for lumber, etc. It can be pulled by most SUVs or a compact pick up.

 

I think for now I will be looking at getting a 5x10 trailer. I can store it in my yard for now by manually moving it there or attach to my riding mower and pull around back. Eventually I'd like to look at a pickup truck, maybe not as big as I originally wanted maybe a smaller midsize truck. Thanks again!

 

Sounds like a good plan for you. You won't be burning the extra gas all the time like with the truck, but then you will have the trailer when you need it. Look for a good quality trailer, don't just go looking for the cheapest one you can find. Like most everything else, you get what you pay for.

 

A 5x10 will be sweet. You'll wonder how you ever got along without it!
All you'll need are a bunch of ratchet straps!