HF Foldable Trailer?

[chopnhack]

Does anyone have any experience with one of these from HF?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=90154

The price looks good and the capacity would surely be appreciated! I wonder if I will have a problem getting a plate for it? Someone mentioned that the chinese trailers don't have vin numbers because they are out of the country.

[mclear]

I bought one for my dad a couple of years back. It has held up ok. There is paperwork in the box for the "title" it can be easily thrown away. The trailer is foldable, but once you put decking and side rails on, it is no longer foldable.

I currently have the trailer since my dad got rid of his vehicle with the hitch.

It is good little trailer and comes in handy

[crokett]

I have one and it is fine for what it is. I never fold mine. In my state if a trailer doesn't have a VIN and it was never titled it is considered home-built. What you do then is the DMV generates a S/N and gives you a form. You stamp it on a non-removable part of the trailer and have a state trooper sign off, then you take the form back and get your title and tags.

[chopnhack]

Good info guys, thanks. How does it tow? Any recommendations for additional items that you would suggest getting along with the trailer?

[crokett]

It tows just fine. When it is empty my van doesn't really notice it is there.

Lots of ratcheting tie down straps. Lumber for the deck and sides, if you choose to put sides on it.

FWIW my parents had a small folding trailer. My dad cut the deck in half to be able to fold it but it never got folded because you either have to not have side rails or you take the rails off each time. I don't fold mine.

[cabinetman]

The 4x8 trailers tow OK when you load them correctly. If you put too much weight ahead of the axle or at the rear you may get some variable handling. I have a small trailer that I converted from a race track tire carrier trailer to a 4x8. It had no title. In Florida it's registered as a "home built" by just getting a weight slip and making a declaration when applying. No notes from police, or stamps are needed. It's pretty simple.
.

[mclear]

We also have a drop down front wheel that attaches to the front. It is really useful to move the trailer around and to put the trailer on and off the hitch.

something like this:

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/st...10000_225-10-0

I don't remember where we got ours

[chopnhack]

Thanks Crokett, I definitely need the folding aspect, as space is very limited. Where does it fold? If it's in the middle, do they have 2 cross pieces one on either side of the hinge?

[dbhost]

Does anyone have any experience with one of these from HF?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=90154

The price looks good and the capacity would surely be appreciated! I wonder if I will have a problem getting a plate for it? Someone mentioned that the chinese trailers don't have vin numbers because they are out of the country.

That makes no sense. Japanese and Korean cars and trucks get VIN #s...

And I am not sure about your state, but not all trailers here in TX require a VIN... There are LOTS of home made trailers on the road here...

Not sure about this specific trailer since you didn't give an item #, but I know the HF 4x8 trailer is a popular base to build a tear drop trailer from....

[chopnhack]

maybe so...but I did say Chinese

I am not sure that is why I am asking, I remember someone mentioning that somewhere and they said they had difficulty at the DMV. C-Man is in the same state as I am and he says he had no issues. Thanks a bunch all, this is looking like a better deal after all

[aggrex]

The HF trailer works well as long as you stay within the capacity limits. You should be able to get an additional 20% off by using the HF coupon.

http://www.harborfreightusa.com/html...mages/20_c.jpg

Lowes had a 2000#GVW 5x8 trailer on sale early this month for 488 so if you need a heavier duty model this might come up again

http://www.lowes.com/pd_100369-15476...ategoryDisplay

[thrytis]

Mine came with all the required documentation and VIN number for registering. At least for NC, it was completely painless to register.

I don't use mine very much, but it is great to have and stores out of the way in the corner of the garage. Folding/unfolding is a little cumbersome by myself, but certainly manageable with care.

[tseavoy]

I have the non folding version of that trailer that I bought from Northern Tool. It's great for a little utility trailer. I put on a wood bed and added a tongue extension so I could haul my riding mower with it. I also made sides for hauling mulch, etc. Load it with topsoil or something like that and it will be overloaded. That's how my last trailer went.
As for the VIN, I just used the title from my last trailer to get the license for this one.
I also use it a lot around the yard, towing it with my riding mower.


Tom on Marrowstone

[Black wallnut]

I have one although I did not purchase it at HF. In its maiden trip on the freeway on a lumber run I stopped by a tire store and had them install 12" tires and wheels. Mine is currently out of service because I bent the axle. However I abused it for literally years before the axle bent. Many trips into and out of the mountains over very rough roads at moderately high speeds while overloaded with a half cord or more of fire wood. I'm not an engineer nor do I play one on TV but it seems to me that if one is to utilize the folding function then the strength of the back half of the trailer is much less as the full sheet of plywood decking adds considerably to the overall strength. If one is to be careful and not exceed the stated limits this may not present much of a problem.

[Mr__Bill]

I have the trailer from Lowe's, 5x8. It's a great light weight trailer and the ramp has been handy for both loading and when folded straight up it allows you to see the back of the trailer in the mirror making backing up easier. Mine also will allow the gate to fold flat on to the trailer. Lowe's sells the trailer unassembled, you install one bolt and it's done.

Check the folding trailer and see if it will fold when you have a plywood deck. I looked at them, not at HF, before getting the one from Lowe's and the hinge was such that there was no offset and if you had a deck it would not fold. It also looks like it would when empty bounce around a lot on a bumpy road or at highway speeds. I have seen sides for this trailer made like the gates on a stake side truck bed, easy to remove and in one case the owner had low ones and really high ones for hauling leaves.

Accessories, if you do much long distance traveling with it a spare tire may be in order, make sure you have a lug wrench for it too. Be sure to check the wheel bearings on whatever trailer you get before using it much and the wheel bearing grease can be used to grease the ball too.. You may want a lock to lock it on to your car, wouldn't want to stop at Micky'Ds for lunch and loose that load of lumber. If you have a Reece type receiver hitch a locking pin is good too. Two trailer tarps, one for the bottom and the other to cover the load. Fit them with ropes and keep them for just the trailer.

Bill