harbor freight trailer

[TheDan]

I'm thinking about getting one of these for light hauling tasks: 870 Lb. Capacity 40" x 49" Heavy Duty Utility Trailer with 8" Wheels and Tires

I have to register that and get a plate for it right? Never bought a trailer in TX, or a brand new trailer period. Would Harbor Freight give me a title or anything like that?

 

[TexasRedneck]

Small trailers such as that don't have titles per se. You would have to register it and get a plate from your local County Tax Assessor...

 

[zembonez]

Don't expect to pull it very heavy or very far. Those 8 inch wheels are zinging along at 40 mph. I sure wouldn't put it on the highway...

 

[TheDan]

I probably wouldn't ever have more than 300lbs on it. Thanks for the info!

 

[MR Redneck]

A trailer from Junk freight?
Man I hope you never get in front of me pulling that thing. Anything from the " Use it once" store falls apart!
Had a shop had buy a grinder from that place. The first time he used it, it exploded, cought fire, and shocked the hell out of em!
Nobody will bring that cheap orange crap in my shop anymore.

 

[zembonez]

I probably wouldn't ever have more than 300lbs on it. Thanks for the info!

Around town hauling somewhat light loads it should do fine.

 

[308nato]

Just keep the bearings greased. bought one like that from J C Whitney in Illinois as a kit build
and was a fairly heavy duty for it size .
I used to haul my Honda 42 inch 10 horse mower about 400 lbs. with no problems.

 

[San Antone RR]

This one is what I use to haul my bikes to the track. I replaced the wood with diamond plate steel. Makes it very rigid. It handles fine with 600 or so pounds on it in addition to the diamond plate.
Bonus is that it folds up and stands up on end. Uses a 2X8 section of my garage.
1195 Lb. Capacity 48" x 96" Heavy Duty Foldable Utility Trailer with 12" Wheels

 

[ROGER4314]

I bought one of those trailers in 2002 and used it to haul gear to our High Power Rifle matches. I put a wooden floor on it and two gear boxes. The nicest thing was that when I got back from a match all tired and sore, I could just unhook the trailer, carry the rifles inside and I was done unloading.

I got the one with 12" tires. It has MANY miles on it and I have had few problems with it. I agree that the 12" tires are much better for highway hauling. Our matches were 112 miles round trip on the expressway.

The only problem I had with it came when one of the wheel bearings failed. Upon inspection, I found the hub was cracked all the way through! The hub and axle were not American standard so I got a pair of American hubs from JC Whitney in Chicago and had the local industrial bearing place find bearings and seals to match the American hub with Chinese axle diameters. That was about 4 years ago and the trailer is still ticking just fine.

I got my money's worth many times over with the trailer!

Flash

 

[OldGringo]

+1 to what 308 said. Once you get it home clean out the cheap grease and repack the wheel bearings. On final assembly, put seom flat stock or washers under the hitch to keep it from deforming when you attach it to the tongue. As far as speeds, I know it will run freeway speed from Houston to Sturgis S.D. and back behind a motorcycle.

 

[shortround]

Better to have more capacity and not need it.

Look for a heavier-duty trailer at a place that specializes in trailers.

I found one rated at 1 1/2 tons that has been ueber reliable, and it has more miles on it than any of my current tow vehicles.

You will pay a little more, but that is money well spent.

If you want to go first class, spend a nickle more.

 

[woodsong]

You will get paperwork when you purchase the trailer that you'll need when you register it. If you get it disassembled, remember the words "Air Ratchet"!

 

[TheDan]

Better to have more capacity and not need it.

Look for a heavier-duty trailer at a place that specializes in trailers.

I'm going to be pulling it with a sports car... It can't handle more capacity A light flimsy trailer is what I need.

Thanks for the comments guys. I didn't really think about the tires, but yeah 8" seems a bit small. I'll go with the one with 12" tires instead. ...or should I just make my own? I doubt I could buy the materials for less than the Harbor Freight trailer costs.

 

[zembonez]

I'm going to be pulling it with a sports car... It can't handle more capacity A light flimsy trailer is what I need.

Thanks for the comments guys. I didn't really think about the tires, but yeah 8" seems a bit small. I'll go with the one with 12" tires instead. ...or should I just make my own? I doubt I could buy the materials for less than the Harbor Freight trailer costs.

Going with the 12 inch tires sounds like a much better plan. Go look at NorthernTool.com and see what they offer. They generally have stuff that is a step or two above Harbor Freight. There is a Northern Tool store in San Antonio , Fort Worth, an Austin - probably more.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/category_trailers-trailer-parts+trailers

 

[ROGER4314]

I pulled my trailer with a Toyota Corolla or two Jeep Wranglers over the years. It worked great! The trailer bounces a bit and we kept our range spotting scopes in the car trunk to keep them safe from vibration. We never put our rifles in the trailer.

I suspect the 8" tires would bounce more than the 12". For what I paid for that trailer, it was a terrific purchase and well worth the money.

Flash

 

[codeman]

Post Deleted

 

[Texan2]

I bought one of those once. Used it to haul a dirt bike. It was good at highway speeds. You won’t get any paper work for registry though. You do with bigger trailers that are already assembled but not these. Just go to the County Tax Assessor and collector and tell them it’s a home built custom trailer. All they’ll want to know is how much it weighs and how much weight it can haul. Trailer registration is easy in Texas.

Actually this is illegal.

If it is a factory built trailer it will have a serial number and a manufacturer stamped on the frame somewhere. If you get pulled over with plates for a "home made" trailer and it is factory built you are subject to getting a citation. Just take the paperwork (every trailer SHOULD come with paperwork and a temp tag)in to the tax office that you receive with the trailer and they will get you squared away.

 

[jocat54]

Actually this is illegal.

If it is a factory built trailer it will have a serial number and a manufacturer stampped on the frame somewhere. If you get pulled over with plates for a "home made" trailer and it is factory built you are subject to getting a citation. Just take the paperwork (every trailer SHOULD come with paperwork and a temp tag)in to the tax office that you receive with the trailer and they will get you squared away.

I have bought several trailers (mostly 16' utility) over the years and and none of them have ever had a serial number. The people at the registration office told me to put some kind of ID on them (last four of SS- DOB or something like that) after having one stolen and was replacing it.
Just my experinence.

John

 

[Texan2]

I have bought several trailers (mostly 16' utility) over the years and and none of them have ever had a serial number. The people at the registration office told me to put some kind of ID on them (last four of SS- DOB or something like that) after having one stolen and was replacing it.
Just my experinence.

John

They arre on there, unless they truly are home made. If it is made by a trailer company it has a serial number. Trialers also have what are called "Confidential V.I.N. numbers" which are hidden on discrete parts of the trailer. I have recovered numerous stolen trailers that the owner claimed had no serial number....we found one everytime.
That last 4 of your social is a real old school way of assigning numbers to legitimate home made trailers. I havent seen it done that way in some time.