cargo trailer?

[Queen]

I'm looking for a 5x8 used cargo trailer and it seems they are as scarce as hens teeth.   I'm not looking to build it out and won't be using it a lot but I need it for a trip into Mexico and it seems you can't bring in rentals.  Anyone have any ideas


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Have you checked with rental places like Uhaul?  They do sell off their fleet now and then.  Around here (middle of nowhere IL) there are plenty of used cargo trailers, they are widely used by tradesmen and farmers so the used market is pretty brisk.

 

[mothercoder]

I wanted to see what the smaller Bravo trailers were going for so after a little web surfing found this dealer:
http://www.superior-trailer.com/all-inventory/cargo-trailers

For Wells Cargo, this dealer in Pa. is close to one of their manufacturing plants:
http://www.carrsofpa.com/

Another Wells Cargo dealer a bit closer in Md.:
http://www.creightonstrailers.com/home
(50 East toward the beach, just before reaching Salisbury)

An idea that might help with build out is the use of RTA cabinetry (ready to assemble). Delivered flat pack like Ikea, and then assembled with built in connectors.
http://www.cabinetgiant.com/kitchen_cabinets/cabinets/rta-cabinet-info.html
https://www.rtacabinetstore.com/
https://www.thertastore.com/


Not made of 'particle board'. Might save on handyman labor costs.

Wow!!  Thank you for all the research.  I'm heading out from work right now but you can bet I'll be looking at this tonight.  Thank you so much!

 

[Cammalu]

Have you checked with rental places like Uhaul?  They do sell off their fleet now and then.  Around here (middle of nowhere IL) there are plenty of used cargo trailers, they are widely used by tradesmen and farmers so the used market is pretty brisk.

Queen I'll do that. I wasn't sure if they had some central auction place they sold off that stuff or what. I guess if push comes to shove I can buy new and resell as soon as I get back to recoup some of the money. Thanks


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[Queen]

Queen I'll do that.  I wasn't sure if they had some central auction place they sold off that stuff or what.  I guess if push comes to shove I can buy new and resell as soon as I get back to recoup some of the money.  Thanks


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If I remember correctly, most trailers and box vans are sold off locally, the newer vans and trucks are sold off at auction (like Bobs new van).  Those trailers of theirs are heavy but built to take abuse!

 

[masterplumber]

I'm not sure if U haul sells their trailers due to liability reasons. At least that is what I was told once. And other than an old one that was posted here a while back I can't recall seeing any - they are pretty distinctive compared to other cargo trailers. 5x8 cargo trailers are hard to find even new unless you order it. 4x8 exist but they are tiny - 4' tall. I would step up to a 6x12. That is a very common size, followed by 6x10. They are still light and easy to tow with any full size vehicle. Most are light enough for smaller vehicles also, but hard to see behind in the mirrors with a smaller SUV or small pickup. If you're not in a huge rush, just check the ads daily - they go fast when they do popup. I was about to order a new one after looking for a few months, when all of the sudden there mine was on the local Craigslist, for less than half of new and it was only 2 years old at the time.

 

[Queen]

Masterplumber - you are correct, I just did a search on the U Haul site and their FAQ specifically says they do not sell used trailers, only trucks and vans.

Sorry Cammalu, my bad.

 

[akrvbob]

Here's one of the consistent problems with this forum, perfection becomes the mortal enemy of good enough.

You bring up a perfectly good trailer that will last you 20 years, but someone tells you this other trailer will last 25 years so don't buy that other piece of junk.

Of course the perfect trailer is out of your price range so you become paralyzed. Apparently, the trailer that is close and you can afford is no good.

Sometimes they really are no good and you shouldn't buy them so it becomes confusing. But more often it is just a nuance and personal preference that does much more harm than it does good. It is slightly better but not that big a deal.

I bought a cheap trailer from these guys and after 6 years I still heartily recommend them: https://www.trailersplus.com/

They are in all the big cities, so one will be nearby. I have no idea who makes the axles but I found them to be plenty good enough.

I find it very hard to believe that Dexter is the only decent trailer axle on planet earth and all the others are junk that will fail in the first 6 months.

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

Here's one of the consistent problems with this forum, perfection becomes the mortal enemy of good enough.

I find it very hard to believe that Dexter is the only decent trailer axle on planet earth and all the others are junk that will fail in the first 6 months.

I can agree with your sentiment to an extent.  At times it does seem as if people are being railroaded towards a particular view.  I was only seeking to inform.  My view on Dexter axles and I probably should have clarified it a little more.  They aren't all that expensive to begin with, certainly not all that much more than cheap ones.  So when a company doesn't use them, it just leads me to believe they are cutting every corner possible and that is solely my opinion.  I've obviously not researched every brand and i'm sure some people make a decent trailer with out them.  But when you can get a trailer in the same price range that uses them, why not go with the better axle?

At the end of the day, everyone on the forum gets a lot of advice and different opinions and then has to make the best decision for them and their situation with the info they've received.  I think this forum does an excellent job of that.  If everyone just agreed with the OP's original idea, choice, decision or what not, then why even ask the question?

Pace makes trailers are on the cheaper end of the price range and they use them.  
http://trailernation.com/trailerstore-search-result/?listing_id=1731

 

[jimindenver]

Along the same lines you can't assume that something is wonderful just because it one item you value. A trailer is the sum of it's parts not just a axle.

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

^Very true. That's when I advocate a little research once you've narrowed your field of vision down to a few brands. Keeping in mind every product in the world has some positive and negative reviews. I try and find instances where there are a landslide worth of negative or positive reviews over a multiple of different sources. Not always possible and eventually you have to just make the decision that's best for you. Everyone's mileage varies even when two people have an identical product.

 

[johnny b]

I just did a quick comparison:

Interstate (trailersplus.com) 6x12, no brakes, cheapest model.....$3300. At their Warrenton, Va dealer.

Wells Cargo (http://www.carrsofpa.com/) comparable 6x12 model.....$2700. At Muncy, Pa dealer.
Wells Cargo 7x12, with brakes.....$3100.

Both brands advertise Dexter spring axles....(torsion being extra cost option).

Research via the web has made the process of choosing both more and less confusing. Reading all the specs and feature lists at least gives you some ammo when going to the dealers' lots. A bunch of printouts in a folder lets the salesman know you've done a little homework.

 

[johnny b]

After reading over my last post I think it could be construed as a ‘dig’ at Bob’s advice on ‘trailersplus.com’…..this was not my intention and I apologize if taken that way.

I’ve decided to generalize what to look for in a ‘small’ cargo trailer to be used by a ‘Dweller’.

·         One piece roof, no seams…preferably aluminum but galvanized ok as well.
·         Sealed floor…road dust/crud getting in from underneath sucks.
·         15 inch wheels & tires.
·         Spring style axle is cheaper and easier to repair. Torsion style is a bit smoother ride and is ‘independent suspension’, though not as well suited for        off-road use. Spring type can also be fairly easily modified to add ground clearance.
·         Brakes…I prefer electric with the emergency breakaway feature. Surge style ok, too.
·         If looking at 6’ x 12’ size, I would opt for 7’ x 12’. All the 6 footers I’ve seen (and some 7 footers as well) with a single axle are rated at 2990#           GVWR even though they have a 3500# rated axle. An extra few hundred pounds of payload can be important, plus another foot of   width.    Look for a GVWR of 3500# when shopping for a single axle trailer. (If going 7x14 and up, go tandem axle).
·         The only wires visible under the trailer should be for the brakes, but if the rear light wires are under there, they should be attached well to the frame rails, and any wires passing through drilled holes should be with grommets. Sloppy wiring hanging under a trailer is my sign to shake my head at the dealer and walk away.

Hope that helps….feel free to add to this list.
 
A bit off topic……..Weatherman’s calling for a big Nor’Easter to hit us tomorrow night into Tuesday…6 to 10 inches for DC, more for north of us. I guess New England will get hammered again…they’ve had a fairly ‘normal’ winter while DC has been very mild to the point of an early bloom forecast for the cherry blossoms…ooops!  :blush:

 

[Ballenxj]

Well, one thing this thread has taught me is that I probably paid too much for my trailer. Oh well, spilled milk.

 

[JIM PETERSON]

Well, one thing this thread has taught me is that I probably paid too much for my trailer. Oh well, spilled milk.

Newbie to this group -- finally figured out me confirmation code was languishing in the spam folder (which I never look at and regularly delete) but I am a bit surprised to see what folks are willing to pay for an *empty* cargo trailer. In 2015, we paid $4,200 for our '94 33' fifth wheel and it has been our fulltime home for almost 17 months and counting. All we had to do was move in. We jammed 22,000 miles our first year out and have now settled into a more leisurely -- and sustainable -- routine. Now we stay longer in fewer places -- more sustainable, even less stress :exclamation:  and a LOT cheaper. We tow our house with a 2000 F350 that I bought in 2012 for $10,500 and paid for while I was still working. We were already living in an '89 (28-1/2') that I was able to sell for $2,200 so for only $2,000 more we got a rig which is five years newer with electronic ignition (for water heater and reefer) and 4-1/2' longer = so much more room than we had before. I'm a builder too and I kinda' get that but older travel trailers are super cheap and most of us will be *very* hard pressed to come up with a more efficient interior layout. 
sailingondryland.com

 

[SoulRaven]

 but I am a bit surprised to see what folks are willing to pay for an *empty* cargo trailer.

Allow me to provide a scenario which might make this a little more understandable.  In Sept 2016, I had 
1. plans to purchase a scamp or casita 
2. plans to retire on Jan 1

I made those plans known to my employer, and they laid me off.  (OH, yeah, hindsight and monday-morning quarterbacking are 20-20)... So, what I had money for was an empty cargo trailer.  I did NOT at the time know enough to purchase a used trailer, and had no friends who did.  

An empty cargo trailer was my best option at the time. I'm sill using it, and still quite happy.  For every point of view, there is a counter point of view that is quite valid.  It DOES require an open mind to see it.  

Oh, and welcome to the forum.

Pat

 

[ArtW]

I bought my first Travel trailer off thrifty nickel for $600
I bought my current one new
Neither one has the best layout, with far more storage than I need, and overhead cabinets in the way
A cargo I could have set up to my own needs / taste

 

[jimindenver]

Jim

On RV forums I often see people say buy your second rig first. That's kind of hard when you may not have the experience to know what your second rig may be. I had the benefit of using different solutions at longer term camping before I went full time but even then I thought long and hard of if my travel trailer was the best solution for me now. Without that experience the best you can do is imagine how it will work out for you in your head and go from there. Your current trailer wasn't your first and Pat may end up changing his mind on the cargo trailer.

Something to consider is cargo trailers can be more stealthy, weigh less and be outfitted to match ones needs without things they may not need that are already in a travel trailer. I can also tell you it cost me some cash to make it so I can take my trailer over the rougher areas, much harder to do than with a cargo trailer.

 

[NomadMike]

I have a 7x20 cargo trailer on order. I can tell you from owning used travel trailers to a new fifth wheel that i sold last year, that for me the sub par quality of factory built rv's have turned me to the building out of a cargo trailer. I seriously doubt that i will ever own another factory rv ever again. This trailer will be built by me, exactly as i want and need. The rv industry imo is trying to make as much profit as possible with little concern for quality.

 

[Queen]

I love how some manufacturers say "Amish Built" like that's some special quality thing. Around here the Amish will make stuff as crappy as they can get away with because we don't matter, we aren't Amish so we aren't important to them. It's just the way they do business and they aren't ashamed of that.

So yeah, if I end up with a trailer, it'll most likely be a cargo trailer, I can do as much or as little as I want to do to make it my own.

 

[JIM PETERSON]

I made those plans known to my employer, and they laid me off.  (OH, yeah, hindsight and monday-morning quarterbacking are 20-20)... So, what I had money for was an empty cargo trailer.  I did NOT at the time know enough to purchase a used trailer, and had no friends who did.

Pat

Employers definitely live on their own one-way street. They seem fairly insistent that we give at least two week notice but some companies have been known to provide security escort to your car once you give that notice. My wife won't be eligible for early SS until Feb 2020 so she quit her job to travel with me. She ended up giving about 3-1/2 weeks notice but she fretted every day that her boss might let her go before she wanted to leave. As it was, both our last days at work were the same day   I was allowed to leave early with full pay for the day, stopped at Jim's Alibi to get one beer (and was served two -- early happy hour). She had to work a full hour of overtime on her last day so I took a nap in the truck 
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I do like the 'stealth' feature of cargo trailers and thought Randy Vining's setup was just IT for a number of years, but I've been RVing all my adult life and guess I'm kinda' spoiled on the creature comfort front. That said we live seriously offgrid -- all solar; no stinking genset -- and hate RV parks . . . especially the ones which don't allow rigs more than 10 years old and don't allow *homebuilt* rigs of any age. But let the economy slow down a bit and suddenly they let anyone in with a pulse. 
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sail4free
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