| Author | Message | ||
     Tank_bueller |
I am looking at this one from Harbor freight: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=40597 I want enough capacity to carry two bikes, or other misc. junk if I need to. I plan to fab a temp. "deflector" for the front out of plywood to keep the dirt/dust/rocks from beating my bike to death. I also wonder about the quality of this trailer. It looks just like some of the cheap ones on Ebay, but is rated for more weight. Thanks in advance. tank | ||
| Slaughter |
I live near a Harbor Freight and have seen that very trailer. I'd think it would be OK but those wheels look tiny in person. Costco here has a great 2-rail/ATV trailer with full-size axle for around $700 I got a used trailer from http://www.recycler.com used for $200 and am really pleased. For the money Harbor Freight is asking, I'd look around for one used. Maybe I just got lucky. | ||
| Djkaplan |
If you're ever near Columbus, Georgia, check these guys out... http://newcentennial.com/ They sell a line of utility trailers that are built to order. I saw a new (apparently surplus) trailer there that they said they'd sell (to me) that had a 2900lb capacity, full size tires, and was large enough to haul my fathers tractor for $400 plus tax. If I had room for it, it would have been in my garage that day. | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
I Have This Trailer which I snagged on sale for $199 last year. An owner error has it down right now as I need to replace one of the hubs, bearings and spindle on one side. $20 in plywood was all it took to get it to work. I put 5000 miles on it before the bearing went up, and as I said that was an owner error not a product problem. It doesn't come with sealed bearings, and I didn't add some bearing grease before I took it on the last long trip. I also know that I at one point had it loaded with well over 1200lbs. | ||
| Tank_bueller |
I was thinking of building a trailer, but I don't think I can build one with the capacity(1800+) for less $$ than the one I posted. It has 5-lug hubs, which I can "upgrade" the wheels and tires when I find a deal. I am planning to look around, locally, but people here want premium for their junk. Steve: You saw the trailer, does it "tilt", or just "lay back" when not connected to the truck? thanks for the info, all!! p.s. trying to slide into everything I need for under $500. | ||
| Outrider |
Looks good. Just hit an RV or Marine Store and get some Bearing Buddies (hubs with zerk fittings) and you won't have any problems with dirt or water. | ||
| Smokedaddy |
 -SD: | ||
| T9r |
We picked up one from HFreight about 7 years ago. It has been a great little trailer. I've used is for alot of motorcycle trailering. WE built some wood rails for it too. The whole package when done was about $500 or so. It has sat outside it's whole life and done pretty well. My brother bought the same one and used it for hauling camping stuff. A big person (200+ lb) stood on the tongue and one of the C-channel beams twisted and bent. He still uses it and it seems okay. It could easily be beefed up to handle that sort of weight on the A-piece that goes to the receiver. | ||
| Henrik |
Be careful about the speed you're going with a trailer with the smaller wheels. Also make sure you grease/service the bearings regularly. And I just read a nice piece of advice in RRW; during fuel stops, put a hand on the wheel hubs to detect excess heat indicating upcoming trouble. Henrik | ||
| T9r |
We went from the 8" wheels to 12". I've heard that it is good to check the bearings no mater what trailer. We've hauled ours a speeds of 70mph for up to 7 and 8 hours. Time to inspect that stuff though~ | ||
| Loki |
Yes, that one tilts when connected to the tow'r Do yourself a favor, after it is bolted together. And squared up. Find a welder and weld the joints. or check out Lowes, Home Depot, Tractor Suppply Company or a myriad of others who sell open frame utility trailers. Even those wire mesh decks (with some grinding) can be removed and replaced with 3/4" decking. | ||
| Loki |
Just like a car/truck/motorcycle a trailer requires periodic maitenance/upkeep. The problem is most owners(general statement from exp) buy a trailer and then don't think about its needs. My haulmark has gotten a few things since I bought it. Like brakes! Just put a new deck in it. Unlike the previous decking which was pieced together with oddball pieces. It now has four seams and either lands on frame rail or is tongue & grooved. Also sealed it with porch floor paint, bottom/top/edges. The underside is also getting rubberized undercoated. (Message edited by loki on March 14, 2005) | ||
| Charlieboy6649 |
I got a used HF trailer for free and had a new axle built with the larger wheels for about $100. Added the 3/4 in decking. Not a bad deal at all. I'll have to get some bearing buddies... I like that idea. | ||
| Slaughter |
TankBueller, The one I saw had a tilting bed - stayed attached to the hitch and pivoted mid-bed. | ||
| Xring |
If those hubs are 5 on 4-1/2", a 2wd Ranger wheel (14", I think) will work. That is what I've got on my tandem axle trailer and got all the wheels and tires for ~$20 from the parts yard. I built my own trailer, the only thing that made it affordable was that somebody gave me all of the 4" C-channel left over from a construction project. Otherwise I could have bought one cheaper. Good luck, Bill | ||
| Tank_bueller |
Thanks everyone, great advice! Bearing buddy's are a must where I live. Xring: exactly what I was thinking with the 14" wheels from a junk...err "salvage" yard. Lowes was actually the first place I looked. Nice trailers, but for the money they want, I can get a cheap trailer and throw all the goodies at it(bearing buddys, moto. rail, tie downs, better wheels, etc) and still come out a couple hundred dollars ahead. There is another place not too far from work that I will check out before I dive in. They do alot of volume, so maybe their prices will be more reasonable. Thanks again, tank | ||
| Nedwreck |
Smokedaddy! I'm glad to see someone else opposed to buying things made in China. http://www.boycottmadeinchina.org/ http://home.ioa.com/~vampire/ http://www.pushback.com/china/ Google Search for "Boycott China" http://tinyurl.com/578sb Bob | ||
| Outrider |
It is really comforting to see the US beginning to understand the negative effects China has had on both our economy and national security. I have been professing this for over 20 years now and even a few of my former US employers were named in the lists of Chinese dominated American companies. Not to mention I headed up the US operations of two Chinese manufacturers after my industry collapsed. Combined, that was the worst experience of my life. I hope you never find yourself in that position as the leave you hanging out to dry once you get the business for them. IE: They use your credibility and reputation for market penetration and share. Then they don't honor their commitments to their US sales and marketing team as well at their customer. They refer to American's as Dogs and Fools and I, for one am not going to take it anymore. Just remember one thing. The American companies were once honest American Manufacturers that began supplementing their product lines with Chinese made items. Overtime, they just gave up manufacturing, outsourced everything and ended up becoming marketing companies and distributors of Chinese products. The first thing that happened is that they cut out the traditional channels of distribution in the US and began selling the major retailers direct. The second thing that was even worse is the Chinese began selling the US Retailers direct and cut out the former manufacturers turned marketing companies. That is when my industry folded and my successful 30 year career is virtually useless. Hell, only three out of 10 companies on my resume are still in existence. Not to mention, the vast majority of my customers are out of business as well. Add to that the turnover at the clients I had that are still in business and nobody remembers me or my peers from other firms that suffered the same outcome. Try explaining that on your next interview. Trust me, it makes you look like a liar. Not to mention, neither Party is doing a damn thing about it! If I were to give any real beneficial advice from all this, it would be to start your investment portfolio's early and keep plunking money into them till it hurts. To do so, you may not be able to keep up with the Jones's in a lot of areas, but better to realize your own financial picture than to end up penniless like they most likely will. I was lucky enough to survive two very expensive divorces, overwhelming major medical expenses with my second wife, one sour business experience and still was able to retire at 51. In closing, Plan Ahead. Neither our government or the Chinese are going to give a damn if you are homeless and dying on the streets. Right now we are nothing more than a Chinese Colony just like Hong Kong was to the Brits and Vietnam was to the French. Think about that and the history lessons learned. Oh yeah, same goes for the Japanese, Korean, German, French and British colonization of America. The US loves to sell land to foreigners, yet as US Citizen's I defy you to buy (not lease) land in foreign countries. Guess the title of that book would be the "Selling of America." Should our Government impose import and export taxes equal to or greater than those the Chinese Government employs, we will improve slightly. Adjust those taxes to the wages paid in the country of origin and the picture gets better. If you really want to see America get back on it's feet, get the Government to enforce both our Anti-Trust (monopoly) Laws and the Rico Racketeering Act as it applies to commerce. Home Depot, Walmart and their competitors that survived are all guilty as are the Domestic and Foreign manufacturers that submitted to their illegal demands. Think that's a joke? One of the Manufacturers Reps in the industry took a sabbatical to write a book on the subject. Once word got out, he was blackballed and finally a nebulous company picked him up and gave him a very attractive compensation package primarily to stop writing the book. How did we get in this predicament? The answer is simply greed and the two major parties in this country competing for votes and neither had the foresight to see what the outcome would be. The Republicans were thinking Big Biz Profits and Taxes. The Democrats were thinking cheap goods for the lower income groups so they would feel like they were getting ahead. Both were wrong as they are political entities and not business types. Now take away the Investment Tax Credits that were available to the US Corporations throughout out boom years and outsourcing became the way to go. Sort of like the whole country shooting itself in the foot. I can't wait for the next war. We are already losing the International Economic War and we have already learned in Korea and Vietnam that we don't stand a chance of winning a real war without the threat of nuclear war which, considering how many of our enemies have these weapons, pretty much seals the fate of the US and the world. Sorry about the doomsday prophecy. Just stick to building your own wealth and remaining liquid (read: minimal investments in your IRA's and 401K's) and you stand a pretty good chance of surviving the economic part. At my age, hopefully I will be dead before the Armageddon. | ||
| Charlieboy6649 |
I guess I'll just shoot myself now... You have good advice, but the doom and gloom came off really negative. While I don't believe America is in as deep as you say, I totally agree with your sentiments about China and our trade/tax policy. I'm sorry your livelyhood was a casualty of the outsourcing frenzy. | ||
| Keith |
I happen to agree with Bill. I am doing my best, when I can afford to, to not purchase anything made in China. | ||
| Smokedaddy |
Went to Chandler Buell/HD on Saturday to get a couple of Buell hats. No sale for me. They're made in China. Cool, Harbor Freight type products at Made in U.S.A. prices. Makes cents to me. Go corporate America! -SD: | ||
| Outrider |
I need to apologize for the political rant. I sure did not mean to kill the thread. I, like a lot of folks, am just really Anti-Chinese based on first hand experience that started in the Mid-1970's with Taiwan and later progressed into the ROC. If I were to offer any positive sentiment, it would be to really read and try to digest my rant. It may not make sense now, but hopefully it will someday. Not to mention, I pray it never comes to war as we don't stand a chance. Peace!!! | ||
| Tank_bueller |
So, whadda ya sayin? The trailer I'm lookin at(posted above) is made in china?? Actually, I might just bite the bullet, and buy one locally. It's more expensive, but it's built like a brick sh!!house and will likely outlive me. Plus, my bike would feel safer. | ||
| Outrider |
Tank...Most likely the answer is Yes. Harbor Freight was one of my good customers for years. They are one of the King's of the Asian Importers. However, they do buy liquidations from the US Manufacturers which are usually the import items they bought that didn't sell through the normal channels of distribution. Harbor Freight is a very good company to work with and they provide the consumer with quality import products at really attractive prices. In essence, they are an excellent source of tools and other stuff. I have no problem with Harbor Freight or any of the other import companies. My problem is with the US Economy and how our Government, both parties, allowed things to get this far out of control. | ||
| Loki |
Tank, You should have seen me hem and haw before laying out the cash for my Hualmark. I am happy with it though. Fixed its shortcomings by adding brakes and redoing the floor. | ||
| Charlieboy6649 |
I'd like to think that anyone who can buy quality made American products will and that the cheaper, sometimes in cost and quality, products from China, ROK, Japan, and Taiwan offer an affordable alternative for middle and poor America. This allows the little guy, me, to enjoy some relative wealth. Now I'm no economist, but if a good quality product from America is on the market, aren't there enough people here with the pockets to buy them??? Just my thoughts... As far as a war with them, they've got the manpower, but they havn't the weapons nor the transport (a Navy) to be truly effective... All that can and will change, but we're safe for now. As far as THE bomb, well there's no winner there... |
