N-forker,
The width of a utility trailer makes a big difference, but not how you think.
For pavement pounding, on-road trailering, I do like a 7' wide trailer behind the TC. It makes it easy to see in your mirrors while backing. My 14' car trailer is like that. Easy to see the side clearance lights in the mirrors. I did an SOA on it as it would drag bottom just going up the gas station driveway. And that's on-road.
For hardcore, off-road trailering I like a narrower, smaller model as it is much easier to maneuver on tight turns and down "V" shaped arroyos. It does not cut your corners like a wider longer trailer would. You would think I would like a military M-100 or M-416, Viet Nam issue jeep trailer, both of which I've owned in the past, but no, they are built like a tank and very heavy for the size, especially the m-100: about 600 pounds. Also, no tailgate. According to the military manual it takes about 4 hand grenades to scuttle the thing before the enemy can get it. The only up sides are, they have a rotating pintel, a hand brake, and will actually float (if unloaded) when fording. I had 2 other jeep trailers in the past: 1 I built in the 1960's from 3" L stock. The tongue snapped off while doing the Monache Meadows trail. Another was a ConFer Toyota Land Cruiser jeep trailer. This lightweight was the best one I had as it had the 6 lug, 15" wheels with L.C. tires and a lot of cool extras. It did have an achilles heel: stiff unforgiving leaf springs, the main leaf of which snapped in two at the centering bolt hole in the middle of the Visciano Desert in Baja. I retrofitted the springs with pick up springs and shocks when we finally limped home.
My bro has a 5x7' aluminum covered trailer but it is springs under axle, stiff leaf springs,14", C rated tires and has very little ground clearance.
I would say MOST, not all of the commercially available trailers are too heavy, too big/long; and woefully under rated for off road use. Why? Weak frame (just enough to get by); stiff unforgiving springs and no shocks. What you want is something just big enough for your purposes and way over built; something you just don't have to worry about. My little Bradley fits the bill. Weighs about 300 pounds; double diamond plate floor, all metal, pickup truck springs over axle, big, oversized hubs and bearings; 3" tube, straight across axle; 30" tall 15" tires; pintel; as bullet proof as they get. It was offered by Sears Roebuck, this one in 1955. A neighbor sold it to me for $100. I have had 3000 pounds of crushed rock in the back and it does not whimper, and it has a tailgate. I built some cedar stake sides which help with bulky loads.
Just some ideas.
jefe
