My Harbor Freight folding trailer adventure and review

[LastResort]

Assembly only, I'm sure.

* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

[Sideshowbob]

Welding? Who knows, at least they employ a bunch of Americans.

[Garandman]

Originally Posted by LastResort

Assembly only, I'm sure.

Don't be - a LOT of products are being "onshored" or "reshored" because.

1. Shipping costs are going through the roof.
2. Lead times for Chinese products have been too long and unreliable.
3. Chinese quality is indifferent.

If you can automate the processes to hold down labor content, US manufacturers can compete by being a lot closer to the market.

[banman]

Originally Posted by Garandman

Yeah, most tow vehicle threads settle on a suggestion to buy a turbocharged diesel pickup, just in case. The auto manufacturers don't help as many of them give minimal or no tow ratings in the US. Official tow capacity of the WRX in the US: zero. Subaru Australia: 1200KG (2,640 lbs).

The Aussies are obsessed with towing, I think. *Every* car around here, no matter how small, has a towbar/trailer hitch.

You should see the crap they do with offroad trailers (skip to the ~3:00 mark):

Gunshot Cape York Conqueror UEV-440 - YouTube

Gunshot Cape York Conqueror UEV-440 - YouTube

[Damn Yankee]

I bought the same HF trailer and haul my ATV on it. So far I've taken it out to camp twice - 77 miles each way, about 65 of that on the highway. I find it rides great at 75mph. I think I need to have the tires balanced, the fenders bounce like crazy. My ATV weighs about 500lbs wet.

As a bonus, the trailer tilts if you leave the pins for where the tongue folds out. Drive the ATV right on, once you get the technique down. And I have 3M stair tread asphalt traction stickers in the mail because the ATV tires slide on the untreated plywood. I didn't even put the lights on it, as in GA, if the tow vehicle's lights are visible, you don't need trailer lights, and I don't have a trailer harness on the Pathfinder anyway.

[Sideshowbob]

Originally Posted by LastResort

Assembly only, I'm sure.

Originally Posted by Sideshowbob

Welding? Who knows, at least they employ a bunch of Americans.

Originally Posted by Garandman

Don't be - a LOT of products are being "onshored" or "reshored" because.

1. Shipping costs are going through the roof.
2. Lead times for Chinese products have been too long and unreliable.
3. Chinese quality is indifferent.

If you can automate the processes to hold down labor content, US manufacturers can compete by being a lot closer to the market.

Carry On got back to me via email:

Good morning, around 85% of the material we use is made in America, all the trailers are assembled in America, thanks.

Bonus!

I really like my little carry on. I want bigger tires for it, but that's only because I now tow it behind a lifted Jeep.

[Davenow]

Yeah my fenders bounce like crazy too. I think it may be my wheels/tires not being completely true. Im gonna have them balanced and see if it helps. If they are not straight, Im gonna call HF for replacements. They are really good about that sort of thing.

[Davenow]

Originally Posted by Sideshowbob

Which is only a $175 cheaper than the Tractor Supply 4x6 one already assembled with bed sides and mesh floor, which has a higher capacity.

Or only $225 cheaper than the Tractor Supply 5x8 one already assembled with larger tires, bed sides, tailgate, and mesh floor, which has a higher capacity.


Not saying this isn't a neat little trailer, just throwing it out there for comparo sake. Obv neither of the TSC ones fold at all.

Its no cheaper or no more expensive. Because it folds. TSC doesn't offer a folding trailer. Which means TSC doesn't offer a trailer I could use. I HAVE TO have a folding trailer, I have no where else to keep it. Its a folding trailer or buy a pickup truck. The trailer is worlds cheaper than a truck so its folding trailer for me


Also I would argue the higher capacity point. This trailer is 5X8 and it has sides. (I built sides) Larger tires would be nice, and like next summer I plan on going to 5 lug hubs and doing 12" car tires on cast alloy wheels. Although I may have to scrap that idea if it is way heavier, because it would make folding it and standing it up less realistic.

I am also going to weld the joints, and I am going to get some thin sheet steel and make the center beams a box instead of a C beam. That should only add about 5lbs. It would only be 2 3"X48" strips of like 1/16th.

[Davenow]

Originally Posted by Damn Yankee

I bought the same HF trailer and haul my ATV on it. So far I've taken it out to camp twice - 77 miles each way, about 65 of that on the highway. I find it rides great at 75mph. I think I need to have the tires balanced, the fenders bounce like crazy. My ATV weighs about 500lbs wet.

As a bonus, the trailer tilts if you leave the pins for where the tongue folds out. Drive the ATV right on, once you get the technique down. And I have 3M stair tread asphalt traction stickers in the mail because the ATV tires slide on the untreated plywood. I didn't even put the lights on it, as in GA, if the tow vehicle's lights are visible, you don't need trailer lights, and I don't have a trailer harness on the Pathfinder anyway.

That is how I have been getting the bike on and off. I use a black car ramp to let it tilt down onto, so it doesn't smash the lisc plate. I push the bike up on and hop onto the trailer, then SLOWLY inch forward till the trailer comes down fairly gently. I don't like doing it that way, so I am going to get a cheap ramp.

[VpointVick]

Originally Posted by Davenow

Yeah my fenders bounce like crazy too. I think it may be my wheels/tires not being completely true. Im gonna have them balanced and see if it helps. If they are not straight, Im gonna call HF for replacements. They are really good about that sort of thing.

Maybe a bit of a sidetrack, but interesting on this note.

I used to live in Camarillo, CA, where HF's HQ is, and back in the day they used to have an annual "garage sale" where they would sell all of their scratch and dent stuff and other returns for cheap. My dad and I got a number of killer deals there over the years.

At some point they realized that they could make more money selling that stuff in lots, and now all of that stuff ends up on eBay after it's been bought by somebody that's bid on an entire lot of returned items.

</hijack>

[Damn Yankee]

Originally Posted by Davenow

That is how I have been getting the bike on and off. I use a black car ramp to let it tilt down onto, so it doesn't smash the lisc plate. I push the bike up on and hop onto the trailer, then SLOWLY inch forward till the trailer comes down fairly gently. I don't like doing it that way, so I am going to get a cheap ramp.

If the stair tread grip doesn't help a LOT (my left front tire went off the front of the trailer the second time I loaded the ATV because I couldn't get to the tip point without hauling ass, and the ATV slid when I locked the brakes on the plywood - scared the FFFFFF outta me ), I'll be buying ramps.

[Sideshowbob]

Just notch a set of 2x6's at the end.

Edit- Forgot all ATV's are small cars now... for that you may want to get these-

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Aluminum-Loa...-/110877101863

Highland 0700500 8" Aluminum Ramp Kit : Amazon.com : Automotive

Highland 0700500 8" Aluminum Ramp Kit : Amazon.com : Automotive

Highland 0700100 Aluminum Ramp Top Kit - 2 Piece : Amazon.com : Automotive

Highland 0700100 Aluminum Ramp Top Kit - 2 Piece : Amazon.com : Automotive

[-=C=-]

Dave,

At least paint or sticker up the plywood deck.

[Damn Yankee]

My ATV is small. 300cc, 2WD Kawasaki Brute Force, about 500lbs wet weight. My issue with buying/making ramps is that then I have to attach them to the trailer somehow for transport.

[Sideshowbob]

Drill hole through them and deck, use something found here-
http://tsc.tractorsupply.com/search?...archButton.y=0

[VpointVick]

Originally Posted by Damn Yankee

My ATV is small. 300cc, 2WD Kawasaki Brute Force, about 500lbs wet weight. My issue with buying/making ramps is that then I have to attach them to the trailer somehow for transport.

Attach boards across them and use the stake pockets on the trailer to stow them.

[MyOtherRideIsUrMom]

I had a lot of trees fall because of Sandy, and needed something better than my crappy lawn mower trailer. Since I have the HF 4x8, I figured I would make it work. Picked up an ATV hitch adapter from harbor freight and some hitch parts. I had found out from my brother that installing as-is would bend the tractor hitch. I welded up some supports to stop it from turning, and support the extra weight. It worked great and I was able to clean up the whole yard in one trip. The best part is, when i buy soil admendments or other things, i can un hook my car and hook up the tractor.

[Damn Yankee]

Yeah, I definitely plan on towing mine with my ATV to make food plots in the spring

[69subaru360]

I finished mine today. It's the 40x48 with 8" wheels. Got it on sale plus 25% off coupon.

He's the money breakdown.

Trailer $145
Plywood $20
Bolts $7

$172 total

I took it for a test spin today, pulls nice can't even tell it's back there. Then I stained the deck wood to protect it.

I'll probably put removable 2x12 sides on it eventually.

[upnygimp]

HF has this for $270 for the next few weeks. Thinking about buying one to tow my motorcycle behind my RV.