All About Cargo Trailers

[AltTransBikes]

I've been shopping and I'm looking to learn all about cargo trailers that I can. Circumstances dictate I get this done pretty much as soon as I can.

Would appreciate thoughts, experience and opinions on the matter particularly regards to pro/con on brands/models, sizes, electric brakes, or other resources on the subject.

Off the top I've been thinking 6x8 or 6x10, not exactly sure yet. The TV will be a 1 ton, full frame van with a V8.

Thanks for any input.

 

[arizonatruck]

Depends on what you are going to put in the trailer. Is it going to be your main living quarters or will that be the van itself?

In my design, the first thing that I did was make sure I had bed of some sort and a way to store water and food with a way to prepare the food. The bed that I am building is about 2 feet tall (20 inch legs with a 2x4 on it's narrow side) by 2 feet wide by 6 feet long. I am 5 foot 10 inches tall, so it fits great, a lot better than the back seat of my super duty.

In my 20 footer I have a bench that was used for working on kart racing engines, that is where I cook and eat as well as store food and water. I have yet to get some sort of stove, but while out in the forest and there is not a burn ban, i can cook via a wood burning fire. Plus, I like being outside anyway. I even have an area for my tools when I get some work wrenching on vehicles. Plus access to my own tools for the vehicles.

 

[highdesertranger]

hey aztruck is that you over on the tear drop forum? alt trans I really can't help much on the cargo trailers. I was looking to go that route myself but couldn't find anything to fit my needs. so I have decided to build my own toy hauler. as of now I am in the design stage. highdesertranger

 

[Patrick46]

I've got a bit of experience I can share here...

YES, and important question is how much do you plan to haul, space and weight wise?? Will you need a double axle job, or will a single suffice??

Me...I had a 6' x 10' box...but sold it shortly after I got it.

(long story)...
So, now I'm getting me my 12 footer.

My next one will have a V nose, as they offer more interior room, and they actually cut the wind better for improved fuel economy.
I like dual barn doors on the back. Mine had a beaver tail, which is nice for loading a motorcycle or quad, but the problem I have with those is that if you need to get something outta the back of the box, and it's raining out....then everything inside gets wet! (we get alotta rain out here, so that's a legitimate concern.)
Also, if you drop your beaver tail...then all the world can see just what you've got inside.
I like barn doors, because if you wanna get something out of it, you can open just the one door...even just alittle bit, grab whacha want, and close 'er up! Everything stays dry and secure.
You can still open them all the way up if you need to load something big, so that's not a concern to me.

I plan on building mine into a mobile workshop/toyhauler/living quarters.
On the driver's side wall, I'll have a fold down bed/workbench. A small bathroom in the V nose, and a shallow counter/kitchen set-up on the passenger side.
I'll also have a full awning on the side too.

btw...AZTruck...you CAN have a cooking/warming fire regardless of burn bans!

 

[AltTransBikes]

Thanks for the replies.

arizona: I plan to use the trailer for cargo and live in the van.

highdesert: Designing your own toy hauler sounds so great, something I can only aspire to but maybe someday.

patrick: Still working out size but thinking 6x10. I'll be hauling mainly bicycles and bike tools. The bikes break down size wise, basically frames with wheels, handle bars and pedals off. The parts "nest" well for travel. Bikes and bike tools are not excessively heavy per se but I don't have a handle yet on total laden weight. I was thinking single axle and yes I like the V nose design, barn doors and the idea of a side door.

Wondering how desirable is it to have electric brakes?

 

[Patrick46]

I live out on the West Coast of Oregon, and seeing that I will have a bit of weight in mine, plus the fact that everywhere we go out here you hafta cross over a mountain, I won't be without electric brakes.

Now, if I was just hauling bicycles and I lived in the midwest.....nah, not so much.

 

[masterplumber]

I'm just building mine so take my random thoughts for what they're worth.
First, I've had about every kind of camper over the years and have liked/hated them all for different reasons. About the closest I've come to perfection was my last truck a "95 Ford Power stroke crew cab with a Four Wheel pop up towing a 7x12 tandem axle v nose cargo trailer full of tools and my KLR 650. The truck finally wore out and the camper didn't fit the new truck. Also, I didn't like having to tow the trailer when I was at home working, which was most of the time. So now I have all the tools in the truck and a new to me 6x12 single axle v nose I'm building into a toy/cargo hauler/camper. I will upgrade the axle to 4200 lbs as the 3000 lb axle will be at max GAW when both my and my buddy's KLRs are on board. I live in Colorado so even with a 1 ton tow vehicle I wouldn't be without brakes on anything over 1500 lbs. I went 6x12 as a 7x12 is actually 8'6'' wide at the outside of the fenders - too wide for some roads such as the back way out of Zion NP. Also harder to get around on the back roads I like to frequent. 5' wide actually tracks almost perfectly behind a tow vehicle but is too narrow for most to be comfortable inside of. At 6' tall I'm running my beds the long way - plan on a fold up sofa on each side so I still have full cargo carrying ability, with a board that goes between to make a full king size bed when the wife is along. Kitchen is up front in the v nose. I'm keeping it as simple as possible while still hopefully being fully functional even if I need to live in it long term while working away from home. I'm also using 4 small windows mounted high up instead of 2 larger ones - will give plenty of light but be almost impossible to break and crawl through. I hope all this rambling helps. When I get a little further along I'll post pictures and do a build write up. Good luck on your project!

 

[AltTransBikes]

Thanks MP, brakes are a concern for my use. Look forward to any pics you post!

 

[arizonatruck]

How can you legally have cooking and warming fires with a burn ban. I don't use cookstoves for heating. I'm talking in a fire pit of some sort, like you dig while camping.

btw...AZTruck...you CAN have a cooking/warming fire regardless of burn bans!

...
Yes, I am over on the tear drop forum.

hey aztruck is that you over on the tear drop forum?

...

I prefer brakes on the trailer, especially my 20 footer. When it's at 7,000 or 8, 000 pounds it really helps. They used to not be hooked up. It really helps. The electric brakes are best, in my opinion. When electric brakes go bad, you don't have anything to leak and make a mess. With brakes on the trailer, it puts less wear on the tow vehicle.

 

[BLACKSHEEP54]

I had a 6 x 12 with rounded bullnose built for me in 2011 by Xtra-Tuff in Georgia...had it built with 6'-6" interior height, pre-wired for 30amp electric, single axle, flush RV style door lock.....I finished out the interior myself, i.e. wall/ceiling insulation/paneling/carpet/and then furnished it to my taste for full time living. I got the double barn doors in the back. Put 280 watts solar on the roof. Net empty weight is 1200 pounds, and did not get electric brakes. But I am in the Midwest mostly, and pull it with a 4wd half ton Suburban. If I was going to be in steep grade mountain country, think I would WANT electric brakes!!

 

[arizonatruck]

<body>
I currently am building out my 20 foot aztex trailer, it's about 15
years old.&nbsp; It's got the dove tail rear door, but the door
isn't the rv style latch.&nbsp; I have a large bench up front that
was used for motorsports and a few cabinets.&nbsp; I have more than
enough storage.&nbsp; I also plan on working out of it.<br>
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target="_blank"><img
src="http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac42/dougmicheals/Trailer/th_HPIM2130_zps470a1da9.jpg"
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href="http://s884.photobucket.com/user/dougmicheals/media/Trailer/HPIM2136_zps10cbed31.jpg.html"
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src="http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac42/dougmicheals/Trailer/th_HPIM2136_zps10cbed31.jpg"
alt="side door photo HPIM2136_zps10cbed31.jpg" style=""
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href="http://s884.photobucket.com/user/dougmicheals/media/Trailer/HPIM2135_zpse619e6e4.jpg.html"
target="_blank"><img
src="http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac42/dougmicheals/Trailer/th_HPIM2135_zpse619e6e4.jpg"
alt="tools and side bench photo HPIM2135_zpse619e6e4.jpg"
style="" border="0"></a><br>
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href="http://s884.photobucket.com/user/dougmicheals/media/Trailer/HPIM2131_zpsa70a2f4b.jpg.html"
target="_blank"><img
src="http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac42/dougmicheals/Trailer/th_HPIM2131_zpsa70a2f4b.jpg"
alt="from rear photo HPIM2131_zpsa70a2f4b.jpg" style=""
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href="http://s884.photobucket.com/user/dougmicheals/media/Trailer/HPIM2132_zps8f17c87f.jpg.html"
target="_blank"><img
src="http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac42/dougmicheals/Trailer/th_HPIM2132_zps8f17c87f.jpg"
alt="repurposed cabinetry photo HPIM2132_zps8f17c87f.jpg"
style="" border="0"></a><a
href="http://s884.photobucket.com/user/dougmicheals/media/Trailer/HPIM2133_zpse1d44960.jpg.html"
target="_blank"><img
src="http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac42/dougmicheals/Trailer/th_HPIM2133_zpse1d44960.jpg"
alt="abive cabinetry photo HPIM2133_zpse1d44960.jpg" sty=""
border="0"></a><a
href="http://s884.photobucket.com/user/dougmicheals/media/Trailer/HPIM2134_zps6592f6f3.jpg.html"
target="_blank"><img
src="http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac42/dougmicheals/Trailer/th_HPIM2134_zps6592f6f3.jpg"
alt="rear of trailer photo HPIM2134_zps6592f6f3.jpg" style=""
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I am currently building up my 20 foot aztex trailer. It has cabinetry, benches and I put an old bathroom cabinet and sink area. I plan on using for work as well as living in.

 

[Vic.]

Whoa. That's a trailer? Looks quite spacious.

 

[arizonatruck]

Sorry about the way the post came out. It's 8.5x20 exterior dimensions, but it's 8.25 by 19.75 interior. That is about 163 square feet of interior space. I am going to eventually take out the fiber board in favor of the 1/4 in or less type covering so that I can have less weight and it look better. It's also a work trailer, will also be racing out of it when I have the money. I'll ad pictures as I can, my camera takes very large photos. My side door is the one I'm trying to figure out how to do. It's the bar lock, not rv lock.

 

[arizonatruck]

I can put a bar type lock on the inside, but I don't want to be able to have the outside bar lock be able to get latched on me, so that I have a hard time getting out of the trailer. I may be being a bit paranoid, or maybe claustrophobic.

 

[Patrick46]

I can put a bar type lock on the inside, but I don't want to be able to have the outside bar lock be able to get latched on me, so that I have a hard time getting out of the trailer. I may be being a bit paranoid, or maybe claustrophobic.

HA!!! I had this very thought with my trailer.

My trailer had both a RV style flap door lock/latch (accessable to people inside & outside) on the trailer's man door, PLUS it had a bar lock on it too. If I'm inside asleep, what's to keep someone from throwing the bar across the door and locking me inside?? (just the bar alone would keep me in...doesn't even hafta be padlocked!)

so, I figured out that if I had the bar in a down position, or opened up all the way backward, and put an additional lock hasp there, and PADLOCK the bar there, then nobody could close the bar across my man door locking me inside.

(I hope you understood that poor description) :-/

maybe this'll work on your trailer door!

 

[arizonatruck]

That looks like it just might work. The top most visible picture is the inside of the door. A bunch of buddies and I guarded the mobile version of the vietnam memorial in november 2012, we used this trailer for a bunk house. One of the local residents had a couple of showers that she let us use so that we didn't stink so much.