What brand cargo trailer for powsible future conversion

[WalkaboutTed]

The search function won't give me what I need, so I'm going to ask a redundant question.  Hubby is looking at getting a 7'x14' cargo trailer in the next six months or so. So we have plenty of time to find something, possibly even used.  Initially it will be used to store household goods, but it likely will be used as a simple camping trailEr.  We will install an overhead fan and some solar to run the fan.  Tandem axles and the ability to mount the above fan and panels are needed with the 7'x14' size. What brand would those of you in the know recommend?  This way we can keep our eyes on the market. Thanks,
Ted

 

[bullfrog]

The big question is how much is the weight is a concern and price. Big difference between aluminum and steel. Trailer companies seem to build a good reputation then start to cut corners. Be sure what your buying is built the way they used to.

 

[kaBLOOnie Boonster]

Rather than consider the trailer as a whole, you might want to give close inspection to a couple trouble spots in trailers, and then argue that the rest of the trailer doesn't matter so much, if you can upgrade the trouble spot.

For instance, the 32" wide "RV Door" on my cargo trailer has been quite a hassle to me, especially when a high wind grabs it. It has no frame! It is just a laminate with aluminum trim glue to all four edges. Then the aluminum trim is pop riveted to the hinges. And there is no reinforcement around the lock. The "deadbolt" just goes into lightweight aluminum trim around the outside of the door. Why even put a lock on these things?!

The trailer is made by Look, and the door by a supplier, Riverside Laminates in California. No matter what the reputation of the trailer brand is, they may use the same cheapie door made by the same supplier, Riverside Laminates.

So I would consider the old-fashioned cargo style door instead of these so-called "RV doors," if the ugly cargo door actually has an internal frame. Ask the dealer about that. Either door is an option.

The other upgrade that you can do to any brand of trailer is to use heavier leaf springs. You can buy them from eTrailer or go to any trailer/welding repair shop to take care of that. For instance, my new springs are rated 50% higher than the springs that came from the factory, which matched the GVWR of the trailer. And one of them broke in two years!

So I'm not sure I would pay attention to the general reputation of a trailer brand, since that is mostly just hearsay anyway.

And I think making the whole trailer out of aluminum is an internet meme that is more about enhancing self-esteem of the buyer than it is about saving weight.

 

[wagoneer]

If you can find a used 8x6 wells cargo your good to go.

 

[Swan]

My 6X12 cargo trailer is made by Express

how its made >

Torsion Drop Axles - Rubber/Independent suspension
Rectangle tubular steel construction - welded all four sides
Main Frame Runner 2 x 3 tubing ⅛" thick
Crossmember 2 x 2 tubing 14 gauge
Tube uprights 16" on center (1"x 1" & 1"x 2" 16 gauge tubing)

 

[John61CT]

Wells Cargo
WeeRoll
Featherlite
InTech
Carry-On

Besides this forum, also TNTTT, hundreds of threads with more discussion.

Google with the SITE: keyword

 

[tx2sturgis]

I bought a new Carry-On 6x12 single axle back in December of 2016, it's a 2017 model.

It was cheap, and it's made cheap. The primary concerns so far, have been the lightweight Z-channel frame uprights, and the shoddy wiring which is concealed in the walls. Not to mention a million staples holding the interior paneling on. 

The under-floor cross members are thin C-channel. The underside of the plywood floor is painted, a very light coat, with black spray paint, not sealed.  

And the ramp door hinges use a welded zerk fitting which falls apart the first time you try to grease the hinges, but there is a label that says they must be greased every 30 days! Huh?

The 'galvalume' barrel roof is a two piece, with a bead of silicone exposed to UV....I expect that wont last very many years before leaking. 

It's all cheaply made, and cheaply done.

It does have a Dexter axle, pretty much the only quality piece on the entire trailer. But that axle has no brake backing plates, so if I want to add brakes, I have to change out the entire axle.

Mine has the cargo side door with solid bar-locks, but the bolts that hold those on are simply threaded into the frame....they could be easily unscrewed if someone had the right tool. 

I can't recommend them, but on the other hand, I have nothing to compare it to....

 

[Watch_Cowspiracy]

I'm also in the market for one. I stopped by a trailersplus dealet and they were really pushing the Interstate brand. Seemed pretty sturdy, has good craftsmanship, and good leak protection. But they cost a pretty penny compared to some other brands.

I'd love to hear the thoughts of Interstate cargo trailet owners though.

 

[John61CT]

Buying based on price will always get you cr^p.

A quality product will always seem outrageously priced compared to what most people buy.

The difference will only get narrowed at huge volumes, never niche markets.

 

[wagoneer]

Thank you John, it just does not pay to cheap out on an important purchase, go secondary market (used) go through the whole thing. The best thing about this method is if it does not work out you will get your money back re-selling it. It's like yah I bought this piece of junk and I don't like it you wanna buy it?

 

[tx2sturgis]

As a follow-up, yes, the trailer I bought was cheap, and is made cheap. 

But it fit my budget at the time. And, where I live, pretty much all the trailers are like this, in this price range.

Like your first RV, or your first car, your first cargo trailer might be a starting point...

It's like buying tools from Harbor Freight vs Craftsman or Snap-on....it all depends on your budget and intended use. 

Keeping in mind my intended use: hauling the bike, portable comm trailer, it works fine for that. 

But would I wish to convert it into a full time 'tiny house'? Probably not.

 

[DannyB1954]

When I went cargo trailer shopping the adds all were for a bare bones unit. Any options and the price went up dramatically. You want to stand up? extra. You want a window? extra, You want a side door? extra. After I looked at everything, I bought a used short toy hauler trailer. By the time you buy the stove, refrigerator, doors, windows, insulation, holding tanks, toilet, heater, water heater, furnace, etc. it would cost a fortune to build an RV. It wasn't worth it to me to re invent the wheel. I got a Keystone Hobbi 220. for about $10k. It has an upper aluminium frame fiberglass sides. like this one Being a toy hauler most things fold out of the way to make room for toys. The bath and kitchen are about the only things that you can't move.

 

[WalkaboutTed]

The reason for the cargo trailer is so we can get rid of the $96 a month storage unit. I'm for dumping everything wholesale, but Hubby wants to keep stuff. So in the short run, the trailer will be used for storage, but we're looking ahead for possible conversion. We have a place to put it here in NM for no extra charge. That $96 a month will add up over the years.

A toyhauler won't do.
Ted

 

[RoadtripsAndCampfires]

We recently bought a 7x16 Interstate RoadRunner cargo trailer and are very happy with it. I did a post today on the misc. vehicles section I think and gave a lot of tips on insulating it. It came with electric brakes for its dual axles. We bought the ramp door version because sometimes I use a walker plus we want electric bikes and want to wheel them in instead of lift them up onto a bike rack at 70 pounds each.

We researched trailers for 4 years before we recently bought.

 

[WalkaboutTed]

I've been looking at the Interstate brand, too, but there is so much info out there,most not relevant. So much digging!

Thanks, RC! I'll be watching your threads.
Ted

 

[RoadtripsAndCampfires]

In April we purchased a 2018 7'x16' ramp door non-V dual axle Intertate LoadRunner cargo trailer. I had visited about 4 trailer places as well as some online reearch. They make lesser models and one wider and built even stronger. You get what you pay for - mine was about $8k and I could have gotten the same size elsewhere around Denver for about $6k but the LoadRunner was what we thought was best for us.

I've had to patch holes and was not happy with the spray job under and a few rust places. The rust wasn't bad and came off easily. I primed all the galvanized steel with spray can primer. If I did it again I would rent a paint sprayer and probably save half what I spent on aerosol cans.

It's getting close to being able to put together a progres report video. We have been filming but not spending anytime with the videos or putting anything up at all. But we thought a quick hey this is what we are doing and using would help so I am starting to work on that.

Our trailer has a max GVWR of 7,000 because of the dual axles.