| Author | Message | ||
     Xl1200r |
I'm getting to a point where I either need to buy a pick up truck or a trailer for my car. I really like my car, so I'm leaning towards that at the moment. Has anyone used this trailer? http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem. taf?Itemnumber=90154 The price just dropped, so I'm interested. All I need it to do is carry one bike, and maybe some lumber if the bike isn't on it. My car can only do 1000 lbs, so nothing heavy duty. Are things total crap or what? | ||
| Hootowl |
I have one. They work fine. Tracks well, even fully loaded. I carried 1100 lbs of ceramic tile on mine. No issues. The steel is pretty thick. They fold up easily also. They do not come with a bed, so pick up a sheet of 3/4 treated plywood. | ||
| Xl1200r |
How does the tilting bed work for loading things? It would be nice to not need a ramp to get the bike on and off... | ||
| Aeholton |
My business partner bought one. After assembling, he welded all the bolts so he wouldn't have to worry about them loosening with vibration. He's had it a couple of years. No problems with it. | ||
| Hootowl |
By the way, the 1000 lb model is usually only around $200. Plenty to haul a bike. It has 8" rims vs. the 12" ones that this one has. When they say the bed tilts, it tilts while still attached to the tow vehicle, which is useful when loading a bike. | ||
| Hootowl |
I know a guy who welded his too, but he actually welded the frame together. The nuts they give you are the nylon lock type. I don't see them ever backing out. There are pins that hold the trailer and tongue together right under the front rail of the trailer. Removing the pins lets the entire bed pivot on the wheels, and touch the ground in the back. The tongue is still attached to the trailer when the pins are removed, removing the pins allow the tongue to pivot on its attachment. This is also how you fold up the trailer. | ||
| Xl1200r |
Hoot - does anything keep the bed from slamming back forward as you load the bike on? I've looked at the smaller one, but I don't get good feelings about the 8" wheels for some reason... | ||
| Ulywife |
It has 8" rims vs. the 12" Can't speak to the HF trailer, but I would advise you to stay away from the 8" rims if you plan to trailer any distance, especially in the summer. We had 8" rims on our trailer and lost a considerable chunk of tread off a brand new tire b/c they could not take the heat and friction. We switched over to 12" and haven't had any issues. | ||
| Hootowl |
"Hoot - does anything keep the bed from slamming back forward as you load the bike on?" Yes, your incredible sense of balance. Think teeter-totter, or see-saw, depending on where you grew up. If you're any sort of careful, it isn't an issue. And it doesn't have that far to go, so even if you slam it, you're not going to break anything. I have the 8" wheel model. I have not done 100+ mile trips with it, but 15 mile trips on the freeway At 80 MPH haven't been an issue, even in the relentless heat of a summer in Houston. I was worried about it at first, so I checked the bearings and tires for heat after the trip. They were fine. The bearing housing wasn't any warmer than the frame of the trailer. I didn't pull out a meter or anything, but to the touch they felt the same. If you're hauling your bike over long distances, the extra $100 for the larger wheels is probably a smart move though. | ||
| Darthane |
I have the 1750lbs version sitting in my driveway at the moment. I bought the frame as a Father's Day gift for my dad, and we built one helluva box on it. The only real issue we had was getting the entire frame square and level - but it is plenty sturdy and wassn't a bank-breaker. We've loaded it to the gills a few times since we built it, no problem. | ||
| Johnnymceldoo |
I bought the 4'x8' model that folds up. I welded all the corners and braces. Tilt works good and its been a good cheap trailer. Ive used it for 4 hour trips hauling an 800 pound quad with no problems. I think my rims say "not for highway use" though. Saw that after the fact I drove for 4 hours. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Pulled one to SC with a XB9SX and KLR-250 on the back. It would get a little flexy, which would mess with your head if you let it, but held up and did fine. Another neighbor has one that I also borrowed, it rusted out and lost a fender, but also still works fine aside from that... it is very old and gets used a LOT and stored outside. | ||
| Xl1200r |
If the bike goes on the trailer, it'll be because I'm going hundreds of miles with it - so I'll stick with the 12" rims (which I believe are rated for "highway" use. | ||
| Hootowl |
Side note: I chose the smaller wheel model because it takes up less room when folded. I have a project 67 Chevy truck, Jetta, X1, tools, work bench, air compressor, and trailer all in a two car garage. I need every scrap of space I can get. | ||
| Fast1075 |
Years ago, I wanted an enclosed trailer to carry my dragbike in....I was a little low on cash and couldn't afford a new trailer. My boss gave me one of those Harbor Freight trailers...I lenghtened it to 12 feet, welded everything in place, bought some 1 x 2 rectangular tubing, framed it in and skinned it with aluminum sheet...built a rear door....instant enclosed trailer for a total cash cost of 412.00. It looked funny, being 48" wide, 6 feet tall inside and 12 feet long...but my dragbike fit with the wheelie bar attached...used it a couple of years...finally broke down and bought a 16 foot ramp-back tandem axle trailer with A/C and a generator... I sold the homemade trailer to a lawn care guy for 500.00 ... it is still hauling mowers and such today... By the way....I ran the little 8" donuts with no problems (good quality road rated tires with proper inflation). (Message edited by fast1075 on September 04, 2009) | ||
| Brinnutz |
While this thread is here, I had the thought when I saw these at the store... Could one make an "enclosed" trailer out of this?? | ||
| Cyclonedon |
I had one of the Harbor Freight trailers and it was a good heavy-duty trailer but the lights weren't worth a dam so I replaced the lighting system and ran a ground wires all the way to the rear tail lights. I had the trailer for a couple of years and ended-up not ever using it so I sold it this last summer. In Illinois you have to buy a license plate for trailers and it wasn't worth the cost since I never used the trailer. In Wisconsin you don't need license plates on trailers so my buddy bought it from me. | ||
| 80rs427 |
My son bought the heavier duty Harbor Freight trailer (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=94564) with 12" tires a couple years ago. He bolted their wheel chock (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=96349) to the plywood deck and built 2x4 side rails (not shown). He hauls the Firebolt to track days, hauled home my S1W, and does general trailer duty very well. The wheel chock works GREAT. The only thing I noticed is that it stands outside and the red paint faded to pepto bismol pink pretty fast. The tongue was pretty twisty, so he added a 2x4 brace (shown) and later welded a piece of steel across it instead.  If you have a subscription to one of the major motorcycle magazines (Cycle World, Motorcyclist, Sport Rider), right now they have Harbor Freight ads in the back with a 20% off coupon that applies to anything. If you don't have a sub, it would be worth your while to buy a single copy for the coupon. | ||
| Ustorque |
i've had mine for over 12 years now, used it for everything from dump runs to hauling the bikes and have never had an issue. Great bang for the buck! | ||
| Eboos |
I have the same one that is pictured above. I haven't had any issues with the tires or bearings. It does shimmy above 60mph. I have had it for 2 years and have done roughly 20 4 hour trips too and from the track. I don't use the tilt feature, instead I just use a loading ramp. |
