Looking at buying the HF trailer; any coupons out there?

[asdf]

As the title says, I'm probably going to buy the Harbor Freight 4x8 trailer that is usually $299 and listed at $269 right now. I'm probably going to drive over to the Richmond store (about an hour away) to pick one up since shipping will be over $50. Since I'll be at the store (never been), I could finally use one of those 20% off in-store only coupons I've always seen around.

Are there any coupons out now?

edit: I see the current flyer has the trailer for $239; still, a 20% off coupon would be greatly appreciated!

[sacherjj]

There was a 15% off coupon that came in a mailing. It expires early April if I'm not mistaken. If you get the HF newsprint mailings, check that. It might be on the ones in the store?

[JimD]

Allow plenty of time - half a day or more - for assembly. It is not real hard but there are lots and lots of bolts to install. The pictures in the instructions help but you have to look closely to see where they want stuff installed. We went backwards a couple times.

Jim

[messmaker]

I would like to echo Jim's word of warning. I have that trailer and I had it apart twice before I got it right. I am not sure you can even trust your eyes with the pictures. It is well worth the money once you get it together. I use it at least once a week.I have heard that some owners have mounted racks to the outside if the trailer which sllows you to stack 4x8 sheets flat. I can't do that with my set up and it is a bit of a pain.

[JimD]

My racks or sideboards permit me to load 97x49 MDF or melamine. To do this, I cut 2x4s down to 1 1/8 inches and used 1/2 bb plywood scraps on the very bottom where they go into the pockets on the trailer. You also have to notch out for the fenders and the casters that support the trailer when it is folded up. It added significant complexity to building the side rails but wasn't really very hard.

You could do 4x8 just by not installing the horizontal pieces on the inside of the 2x uprights like the plans show. If you either dado the uprights for the horizontal pieces or install them on the outside of the vertical, you will have 4x8 space inside them.

Jim

[thrytis]

How maneuverable is the trailer folded up? If i had a trailer i would have to store it in the back yard, which would require moving it across grass and through a 3' wide door. The casters look a little small with something that heavy to be able to do that.

Thanks!

[asdf]

Thanks for the advice guys.

I've never seen the trailer, but from what I gather the 4x8 measurement is taken from the inside of the stake pockets, correct? If so, I'll probably cut the 2x's in half, leave the part that goes into the stake pocket full width, and lap joint the rails on the outside. I need to be able to fit 49x97" sheets in there.

Question: When it's folded up and standing upright, how wide is it? I would guess that since the tires are 12", it would be about 20"? I've got a nice little spot for it if it will fit.

I'll hopefully use it a lot; from wood, to mulch & fill, to bicycles, to motorcycles, to canoes. I've got my hitch on order and will head to the store with my 15% off coupon to pick it up probably next weekend.

[sd]

I've got a quick question for anyone who has one of these trailers. How big and heavy is the box it comes in? Would I be able to haul the unassembled trailer home from Harbor Fright in the trunk of my Taurus?

[mschrank]

I think this one will work...never hurts to try

[asdf]

sd: I read somewhere else that there are a few boxes, a couple smaller ones with wheels and bolts and such, and one larger skinny box that is about 5' long that I'm sure has the tube steel in it. I would think you should be fine with the Taurus.

mschrank: Thanks for that coupon! It can't hurt to try it, and if it doesn't work I've got a 15% one too.

[Black wallnut]

How maneuverable is the trailer folded up? If i had a trailer i would have to store it in the back yard, which would require moving it across grass and through a 3' wide door. The casters look a little small with something that heavy to be able to do that.

Thanks!

For this IMHO the casters would be worthless!

Thanks for the advice guys.

Question: When it's folded up and standing upright, how wide is it? I would guess that since the tires are 12", it would be about 20"? I've got a nice little spot for it if it will fit.

More like 16" IIRC I never fold mine and due to pulling mine on extended distances at highway speeds (wait a minute are you sure the kit comes with 12" tires?) I upgraded mine to 12" tires.

I've got a quick question for anyone who has one of these trailers. How big and heavy is the box it comes in? Would I be able to haul the unassembled trailer home from Harbor Fright in the trunk of my Taurus?

The trailer I have looks just like what they have pictured, although I did not purchase it from HF. Mine came in two boxes and LOML brought it home in the back seat of our Taurus. I do not think it would have fit in the trunk. It took me most of a morning IIRC to assemble, close to 3 hours.

[Black wallnut]

A few other random thoughts. The trailer is made of "C" shaped steel not tube steel. Pretty thin stuff actually. The tongue is a bit on the short side so it may not be usefull to haul a canoe. I've had mine for 4~5 years and have used it a bunch with no issues both on pavement and out in the woods for camping and wood gathering. I've often hauled loads greatly in excess of the listed capacity without breakage.

[Ed62]

I have a trailer like that, although it didn't come from HF. Pretty sure it's the same one though. I've got my money's worth many times over, since I don't have a pickup. I use it quite a bit.

Someone asked about how easy it was to move when folded up. I fold mine up in the driveway, and push it into the garage for storage. Any little bumps like rocks or expansion joints in concrete can make it kind of hard to handle. You will not be able to push it through a grassy area folded, but if not folded, there's no problem. When it is folded, you'll want to make sure it's secured so little kids can't push it because it can fall over pretty easily (top heavy).

Ed

[messmaker]

I am not sure that there is not some confusion as the $299 trailer I have does not fold. The bed tilts. The folding trailer is good up to about 1000lbs. The drop bed is good up to about 1800lb.

[asdf]

I'm pretty sure we're all talking about this trailer:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=90154
1175# capacity, 12" tires, listed at $299. ITEM 90154-1VGA. It's on sale in the latest catalog on page 9 (available at harborfreighusa.com) for $239, to which I'm going to try and apply the 20% off coupon, which should bring my total to $205 with tax.

Are you all saying that you can't fold it up with a plywood deck installed? I thought I read that you could. And I know you'd need to cut the plywood at the joints of course.