"Ed Sievers" wrote in message
...
I was looking in the archives via Google to try to find out if anyone (in
any newsgroup) had experience towing one of those rinky dink folding
utility trailers cross country....but alas, there was no info. I bit the
bullet and towed mine with an 800 lb payload (approx) some 950 miles to
Dallas and I just wanted to get something into the archives so the next
person will have at least one data point.

My trailer is the little red bolt-together variety from Harbor Frt and I
have had it about 4 yrs now. I use it to haul mulch and other lt wt stuff
close to home and when I am done, I take off the sideboards, fold it up
and store it in the garage. I am moving to a town North of Dallas, and I
decided to attempt taking some of my "garage stuff" + my contractor's
table saw; a drill press; and my 18 gal air compressor down on my own. I
added additional side boards (1X12) to the 16-inch sides I originally
built and I screwed on a 4X8 sheet of 1/2 " CDX plywood (with a pair of
1X2 "stiffener" runners) on top. I am guessing that the total wt counting
the 3/4 inch plywood floor, sides, and the payload was about 1000
pounds......so I wasn't overloaded, but not lightly loaded either. The
sides and screwed-on top acutally seemed to stiffen up the frame of the
rig (which ordinarilly twists tortionally enough to make one cringe). I
aired the tires up to 60 psi cold (recommended for max loads) the night
before the trip.

The rig performed flawlessly...even better than any U-Haul I have ever
rented. I pulled it 65MPH over (mostly) good interstate roads with a 2005
Buick Terazza "Soccer Mom Van". On the return trip I towed it 75MPH empty
and though it hops around a little because of the simplistic suspension,
there was no "fishtailing" whatever. (I should mention, that my trailer
has the larger [12"] wheels.) I got about 2 MPG less than normal for my
minivan.

I intend to make another (one way) trip to our new home in about 3 weeks,
and I will be a little more alert than when running without the
"hitchhiker" behind but with a lot less apprehension than on the first
couple of hundred miles of its maiden cross-country trip.

I know there is another company (maybe a lot more than that) who sells
this type of rig ....... I believe it is called RedTrailer or something
like that. I like the design of the tongue on theirs better, but I sure
can't knock the one I have.

Not looking for replys.......I really just wanted to get my $.02 worth of
data archived for the next guy.....but I will answer any serious questions
anyone may have to the best of my ability. I suppose there may be a
horror story or two out there on this subject, but my experience with this
"$220 Wonder" is nothing but good.

Ed Sievers
Scottsbluff, Nebraska


Didn't realize anyone was looking for experiences with one of those
trailers. So here's mine. I had one exactly like yours which I used to
move from one place to the next. Then I trailed it from Arizona to Illinois
and back twice. Only had two minor problems. Because it jumps around a
little (you mentioned the suspension), I had the fender brackets break once
from the vibration. Also lost a license plate because the same vibration
caused the metal bracket holding it to fatigue and break away. Fixed both
problems by making new brackets out of thicker stock. Eventually sold the
trailer for more than I paid for it and bought a much bigger trailer. I
also bought the much smaller version (40" x 48") to haul luggage, etc. on
trips and that made a couple of trips from AZ to IL and back. Biggest
surprise with that one was the shock I got when I went to title and license
it. AZ had changed the rules and it cost me about $50 more to title and
license it than I paid for it. A good friend bought one of the little ones
from HF with the galvanized box to haul luggage, etc to Florida and back
from Wisconsin and loved it. He kind of goes overboard with lights,
however. Put running lights on the sides, those tall lighted whips to aid
backing it up and a fake red flashing light to give the impression it has an
onboard security system. Must have something to do with his pre-retirement
trucking days.
Enjoy,
Tom G
Now permanently back in Illinois.