cptqueeg wrote:
The only reason for me to consider anything longer than 10' is to stuff the canoe in there. In my minds eye I see this as being a short in length, wide, and tall in height trailer, good ground clearance, extended tongue, w brakes and some LT tires.
I guess I need to find out what my cargo weighs in total to determine whether to get the SA or DA. Unfortunately I'm about 100 miles from the nearest CAT scale.
1. You can get close enough on cargo weight. Just list everything and a relatively accurate weight. Cargo is bound to change a bit anyway and you want a little headroom in capacity anyways. This is kind of like the 1000s of truck payload discussions. No need to buy double what you intend to haul for the sake of "safety."
2. 10' length and tandem axle. Basically a unicorn, but you can order one. Will tow worse than a single axle due to "most" of the cargo areas being under axles and will be tough to get real tongue weight. Have towed many trailers like this (big generators come to mind) and they tow like cr@p. Your scenario could be better than the genset scenario, but similar.
3. Wide? and 10-12' box. 6' and 7' wide are basically it in short cargo trailers. You're moving into the 14-16' long trailer range to get 8' wides, reasonably. Again, foregoing special order or possibly finding used.
4. Tall in height. Again the vast majority of little trailers are 6' or 6'-6" inside height with more 6' than the other. Back to availability cost and special order.
5. Good ground clearance. You basically have 2 options. "Normal" cargo trailers which are wheels outside the box or wheel wells up into the floor space and those are the "lower" ground clearance. Higher ground clearance is basically only found (readily) in enclosed snowmobile trailers.
6. Extended tongue. I don't even understand this "want". Never met a normal little cargo trailer than couldn't be sufficiently jack knifed 90 deg plus behind a full size vehicle. Some trailers have shorter tongue lengths, typically v nose, but then you get the advantage of the V to keep the trailer from kissing your tail lights or bumper.
7. Brakes. Sure, sounds good. Again, a little single axle 10'-14' trailer which best suits what you've said your cargo needs are generally don't come with brakes but you can add them (or special order if new). Not sure if you're the guy who mentioned disc/surge brakes. No bueno, IMO. Not the right application E over H brakes are better...again, more money and more complicated than necessary...by a good margin.
8. LT tires. You're looking at trailers that are basically ALL 14" rim size axles wither single 3500lb or tandems. Special order a 5klb SA or DA to get 15" rims. Neither rim size has ANY LT tires available that get anywhere near the capacity of D or E load ST tires.... Except a couple off the wall commercial "European" style heavy duty tires and actually Falken I saw makes a 15" LT size now that is comparable to the MULTITUDES of ST tires. It's not until 16" that LT tires become viable options. (again without being "different" and that = more $$)
Now, what you've effectively done is you're trying to find the "perfect" trailer that meets 100% of you "wants" (since most aren't actual needs). If money is no object, have at 'er. But think about WHY the vast majority of trailers are what they are. The mfgs have figured out what most "need." Your needs aren't any different. So you can pay alot more money to be eccentric in your quest for the perfect little run of the mill cargo trailer, or spend some time assessing your budget vs your "wants." It's a trailer. It will haul shite behind your van and it will be there when you stop and be there when you go again...
NOW, what I feel meets the most of your "wants" is readily available, regardless of how much you need of it, or think you need. And it costs about double what you actually need.
That is a small, heavy duty 2 place enclosed snowmobile trailer.
They can be had with as short as a 12' box but will have about a 4' vee. They can be had with tandem axles, high ground clearance, wide (8') and most are at least 6' tall. 6'-6" is fairly common as well.
They are also going to weigh at least 2klbs empty unless you go all aluminum and that will add $Thousands to the price of a steel framed trailer and you have towing weight limitations you are also needing to stay under.
