5 x 8 utility trailer recommendations?

[TK421]

Any recommendations for a hybrid to be towing a golf cart, mower, motorcycle etc. every great once in a while?

The folding harbor freight one is very tempting for the storage advantages but worried about dependability.

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[craigt502]

CargoMax 8-57. Upfront cost is higher than traditional trailers but offers many benefits. With the Maverick in mind the biggest benefit is the trailer’s weight which is just a few hundred pounds.

 

[Steve Urquell]

The Harbor Freight trailers are 4' wide. My FIL has had one of the 1195lb weight limit 4x8s for at least 23 years and it has been perfect hauling his golf cart. I hauled a 1000lb garden tractor 3hrs at highway speeds on it a few years ago and it was fine.

I bought one of the 4x8 1720lb capacity ones a couple years ago. I have hauled one of my 800lb GTs on it but not too far or too fast. It does have grease zerks on the inside of the hubs so you can grease the wheel bearings w/o disassembly but I'm sure the bearing buddy caps would be easier.

 

[TK421]

CargoMax 8-57. Upfront cost is higher than traditional trailers but offers many benefits. With the Maverick in mind the biggest benefit is the trailer’s weight which is just a few hundred pounds.

That is one I haven’t seen yet and looks great, but for how much it’ll be used I can’t justify the cost. Maybe in the future! Thanks!

 

[Bobinmi]

2022 HYBRID, I use a 6x12 enclosed to haul my bikes for relatively short distances, try to keep it within an hour or 2...it is 1250 empty, bikes are usually 750ish...so right on the bubble...but it pulls it nicely. MPG does take a serious hit, will get 22-23 mpg on 50 mph backroads, but get 17 mpg on expressway, keeping it 65 mph.

 

[TK421]

The Harbor Freight trailers are 4' wide. My FIL has had one of the 1195lb weight limit 4x8s for at least 23 years and it has been perfect hauling his golf cart. I hauled a 1000lb garden tractor 3hrs at highway speeds on it a few years ago and it was fine.

I bought one of the 4x8 1720lb capacity ones a couple years ago. I have hauled one of my 800lb GTs on it but not too far or too fast. It does have grease zerks on the inside of the hubs so you can grease the wheel bearings w/o disassembly but I'm sure the bearing buddy caps would be easier.

Thanks! The 1720 is what I was looking at and what concerns me is that most of the time it would be used is a 400mi trip. All the reviews I’ve read seem to be pretty 50/50. It’s great or it’s junk.

 

[TheWizziard]

I took a Harbor Freight one from Texas to PA without a problem back in the 80's

I used it for a couple of trips when I moved from where I was to where I am now in Texas behind a Isuzu Trooper. 8 hours one way.

I used it as my pickup when I didn't have one. I just recently got rid of it. I repainted it a couple of times in the 30 years I had it.

I used 3/4' PT plywood for the deck.

For all the often I need one now, I'm going to rent.

 

[Steve Urquell]

Thanks! The 1720 is what I was looking at and what concerns me is that most of the time it would be used is a 400mi trip. All the reviews I’ve read seem to be pretty 50/50. It’s great or it’s junk.

With assembly required you run into people who have no business putting anything that has to run down the road together so I can see a lot of "junk" reviews being from that. I bought mine used and it needed all the bolts tightened as well as a wiring harness. Loose lug nuts as well. All from poor assembly/poor wiring routing. Bearings had never been greased from what I could tell.

 

[TK421]

With assembly required you run into people who have no business putting anything that has to run down the road together so I can see a lot of "junk" reviews being from that. I bought mine used and it needed all the bolts tightened as well as a wiring harness. Loose lug nuts as well. All from poor assembly/poor wiring routing. Bearings had never been greased from what I could tell.

Pretty much what I assumed, glad to hear some reassurance. Thanks!

 

[TK421]

I took a Harbor Freight one from Texas to PA without a problem back in the 80's

I used it for a couple of trips when I moved from where I was to where I am now in Texas behind a Isuzu Trooper. 8 hours one way.

I used it as my pickup when I didn't have one. I just recently got rid of it. I repainted it a couple of times in the 30 years I had it.

I used 3/4' PT plywood for the deck.

For all the often I need one now, I'm going to rent.

Appreciate the feedback and that’s awesome, but they don’t make things now like they did back then unfortunately.

 

[Johnkn]

Do not buy some POS Harbor freight trailer or another from the big-box stores or otherwise. Bite the bullet, Spend the $ and buy a high quality trailer...
A representative sample below (but get the 7x10 version like I did)

https://www.bestchoicetrailers.com/...tongue-stake-pockets-bullet-led-62zp|nPb.html

 

[Maverickman74]

This is the Home Depot Karavan one. Cost me $1700 on Maui, mainland may be cheaper. Aluminum wheels nice wood bed. Ramp removes in a minute and the sides and front fold down and lock in the flat position for a wider floor surface. Good wiring and lights. Only dumb part of the design is the extra low plastic plate holder. It weighs 500# and loads 1488#. I have had it a year and it's starting to rust on the scrapes. But I am abusive to it and it live outside on the rusty part of the island. Even survived a mother in law jackknife incident that bent the tongue. I just straightened it against stump with a 12000# winch and stress relieved it with a big hammer. Metal is thicker than the Lowes angle iron style model and it's boxed. I did haul about 2000# off-road the other day with it. No issues or flexing.

 

[TK421]

I took a Harbor Freight one from Texas to PA without a problem back in the 80's

I used it for a couple of trips when I moved from where I was to where I am now in Texas behind a Isuzu Trooper. 8 hours one way.

I used it as my pickup when I didn't have one. I just recently got rid of it. I repainted it a couple of times in the 30 years I had it.

I used 3/4' PT plywood for the deck.

For all the often I need one now, I'm going to rent.

Also considering renting from uhaul but it wouldn’t take long for those costs to add up to just buying a cheap one.

 

[fossil]

my recommendation on a 5x8 is get a 6x8

 

[Steve Urquell]

Would love to but can’t justify the cost. Not yet at least.

Would love to, but the cheap ass in me won’t let me.

Check FB Marketplace. I just searched "4x8 trailer" and came up with several HF trailers for $300-400. I gave $350 for mine in like new condition--except for the trashed wiring harness.

The HD one has a 2" hitch. The lighter one has 1 7/8"

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