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Posted by: Bing
it will get the job done for local short hauls
those trailers do have a purpose,,,,,,but if you are looking for a trailer to hang on to,,and maybe have some resale value , you might want to go one step further and get a 5x8 with the ramp and the rails for 500
like the one under my 400 on my pic page
better value
Posted by: Bing
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Originally posted by: mikestoyz
okay, I was looking at the pictures wrong. THe trailer can stay hitched to the car while it tilts...DOH.
So even with the 12" tires, you dont think it would be good enough for a 150 mile round trip at about 75 MPH once a month?
Im not too concerned with resale value, as I see one on Ebay right now that is 3 years old going for 158 and it still has 24 hours left. But even then, Im not too concerned with resale.
Main thing is safe for 75 mph for 75 miles, Cool for a few hours and 75 miles at 75 mph back home.
It would work.
Posted by: Bing
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Originally posted by: RidinLCWA
Be wqry of HF trailers. There are many horror stories, esp of wheel bearings locking up.
the 5x8 i used to have I bought at HF,,,it was well built. Wish i still had it.
Posted by: Bing
good reading
Posted by: Dragginbutt
Anyone who buys a new trailer and doesn't grease the bearings right away is just asking for trouble... I don't trust anyone there... Just do it, it is cheap insurance. As for the tires...and speed... You need to check the speed rating on them.. many are rated for a maximum of 45 miles an hour... Sure you might get away with faster speeds, but take it from someone who has had a blowout at high speed on a trailer.... NOT FUN...
Posted by: BlackandRedWarrior
You should hitch it to a vehicle before you load it. That will stop that. I wouldn't load ANY trailer without it being hitched. You never know what the weight shift is going to do to it.
Posted by: natron1
Hey Mikestoyz, go over to the utility atv section. Up in the search box type in folding trailer. You will see a post and threads all about the Harbor Freight trailer; that I tried to be as fair as possible. Even though I do love the trailer. As it says, this year I put about 2000 miles on it with no trouble. Also it comes with bearing buddies. As to the break away hitch or tilting loading bed. Well It SUCKS! The trailer at 8 foot is a little short for stopping in time, when it levels out. Anyhow I have never seen any tilting trailer work well when its raining as the muddy atv tires just spin on the wet ply wood. I have no problem in any weather or terain using the ramps I made out of the front and rear stakes for the bed. In a couble of weeks I'm going to tear down the axils for winter maintinence. I"ll post back to that thread (utility atv) as to the condition of the bearings. And the rest of the trailer after a complete inspection.
Posted by: natron1
Hey mike with my new post to doctorturbo you will find the post(folding trailer) on the top page of utiity atv fourm.
Posted by: Cheapass
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Originally posted by: Sean99TJ
A lot of sporting goods stores sell skateboard grip tape....it is made to adhere to wood, is pretty much permanent and will cure the slippery problem of wet plywood.
They also sell no-skid paint. Essentually a thick tar-like paint full of sand. Dries clean, gritty, and no-skid. I used it on my bumper step, and it works terrific. Even with muddy boots, no more wrecked shin from slipping off the step.
Posted by: LittleBill
i have the 12inch series from HF, i used to drive my rancher up after tilting the bed back on the trailer, the only problem was it would slam down so hard, i knew i was going to break it if i kept doing it, the bars that it slams into are the only bars that connect to the car, and are somewhat thin, i ended up building ramps into the back of mine, now people constantly come over and look at my trailer, i have about 900 miles on mine since this summer all at speeds around 70-75 with no problems, the tires and bearings get warm, but never hot, don't worry about the trailer people just want to justify spending 900 bucks for the same thing
Posted by: LittleBill
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Originally posted by: Sean99TJ
The smaller wheels of course spin faster...so lubrication is the key. You need to grease them well and often. I am getting a pair of bearing buddies (boat trailer style) for mine so I can just hook up the grease gun and pump a little every so often.
these trailers also have zerk fittings on the inside of the hub, my only issue is never doing bearing before how much grease to put in, i put in 4 shots per side but thats completely guessing
Posted by: LittleBill
my ramps are made out of 2x8 and about 3 feet long they are bolted to the back of trailer via a 8" heavy duty gate hinge, i was going to add a another hinge and another 3' of ramp but i really didn't need it, i will get some pictures later its snowing quite bad here
Posted by: maggiesboy
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Originally posted by: mikestoyz
thanks for all the info guys. Im either thinking I have to build ramps, or get a shock absorber of some kind(probably a hood or hatchback lift shock)to dampen the tilt bed from slamming down.
Or you could just load nice and slow. Good throttle and clutch control, just like see saw events at an atv rodeo!
Posted by: Sean99TJ
The smaller wheels of course spin faster...so lubrication is the key. You need to grease them well and often. I am getting a pair of bearing buddies (boat trailer style) for mine so I can just hook up the grease gun and pump a little every so often.
Posted by: Sean99TJ
Quote
Originally posted by: natron1
Hey Mikestoyz, go over to the utility atv section. Up in the search box type in folding trailer. You will see a post and threads all about the Harbor Freight trailer; that I tried to be as fair as possible. Even though I do love the trailer. As it says, this year I put about 2000 miles on it with no trouble. Also it comes with bearing buddies. As to the break away hitch or tilting loading bed. Well It SUCKS! The trailer at 8 foot is a little short for stopping in time, when it levels out. Anyhow I have never seen any tilting trailer work well when its raining as the muddy atv tires just spin on the wet ply wood. I have no problem in any weather or terain using the ramps I made out of the front and rear stakes for the bed. In a couble of weeks I'm going to tear down the axils for winter maintinence. I"ll post back to that thread (utility atv) as to the condition of the bearings. And the rest of the trailer after a complete inspection.
A lot of sporting goods stores sell skateboard grip tape....it is made to adhere to wood, is pretty much permanent and will cure the slippery problem of wet plywood.
Posted by: RidinLCWA
Be wary of HF trailers. There are many horror stories, esp of wheel bearings locking up.
Posted by: mikestoyz
Has it worked out okay? I plan on getting the folding one, but putting plywood across it for increased stability.
My question invovles loading... I think you can tilt the trailer on its back for loading and unloading, but if you load it up in the air when you drive the ATV on, does the trailer tounge slam to the ground? What about unloading? does the rear end of the trailer slam down?
Thanks for all input.
Posted by: mikestoyz
okay, I was looking at the pictures wrong. THe trailer can stay hitched to the car while it tilts...DOH.
So even with the 12" tires, you dont think it would be good enough for a 150 mile round trip at about 75 MPH once a month?
Im not too concerned with resale value, as I see one on Ebay right now that is 3 years old going for 158 and it still has 24 hours left. But even then, Im not too concerned with resale.
Main thing is safe for 75 mph for 75 miles, Cool for a few hours and 75 miles at 75 mph back home.
Posted by: mikestoyz
Ive done some googling of the trailer. Ive only seen 2 cases of bearing failure. And one of them was from bearings being torqued to 90 ft/lbs BR>
Ive seen some people with the 8" tired trailers hauling at 95 MPH and talk about how well they do.
The main complaint is that the licence plate will get bent if you use the stock location if you tilt the bed of the trailer down.
Posted by: mikestoyz
yeah, I have heard the metal is somewhat thin...What did you build your ramps out of, and do they connect to the trailer? Any pictures?
Posted by: mikestoyz
that would be great if you could get some pics. Good idea about the gate hinges...
Posted by: mikestoyz
thanks for all the info guys. Im either thinking I have to build ramps, or get a shock absorber of some kind(probably a hood or hatchback lift shock)to dampen the tilt bed from slamming down.
I was thinking either some sort of grip tape on the bed, or maybe some 1x1s drilled into the bed for traction if I go with the tilt bed option.
Posted by: ragnredneck
hello again! as far as tires go...i have another homemade tariler (actually my first 1, ,my sister,my friend,my brother in law n i built)its size 5 x8 . we have 14 inch tires(we can also stick 15 inch on it too with no probs) on it n the rims n tires came froma a nissan 4x4 truck with a 6 lug bolt pattern! we had the trialer since 2000 n i have tires from pep boys n we tow the snot out of it liteetly. we used it to trash,quads,trikes, i had on there one time 2 engines, a couple ot trannys n 2 big tool chests n it toiwed no problem! my friend even used it long stiance with no prob,he loved it! they say u are not supposed to use car tires on a trailer but i dont see a prob,used car tires r way cheaper than traielr tires!
also when i repack my bearings i do it usually every spring, i pack the snot out of the hub to the grease uually overflows out of the seems when i put it back together thenb wipe the acces off with a rag! use marine grease(waterproof) or i used wolfs head red packn greaee too! u can use reguallr grease too!
