93wuntun

I'm looking for a 6x10 or 6x12 enclosed trailer, but I'm not sure whether I need one axle or two. It seems like the single axle variety does not have brakes, is this true/normal?... seems like the 2 axle variety have electric brakes only on one axle., is this true?

Not sure whether surge brakes or electric brakes would be better.

I need to haul between 1500 and 2000 lbs in the trailer, I'm a 'better safe than sorry' type of person and given the less than superlative brakes on my rig, the fact that my rig will have 1500 lbs in the bed and the fact that I have to cross the continental divide, I think I'd feel better about a trailer with brakes.

I've driven across the country many times, but never with a trailer.

uhaul just for comparison wants at least $500 to rent a trailer to go from the east coast to the west. I know that uhaul doesn't maintain their equipment very well and I'll need to store my stuff for a while in the trailer, so I've decided to purchase. I can buy a used one for anywhere from $1000 to $1500.

Looking for some guidance gentlemen.
Thanks in advance for any help.

BIGDAN65

i have a 6x12 v nose enclosed trailer, i haul 2 bikes in in prob 1500lb. I have pulled it to Sturgis 3900 mile trip and to Daytona many times. I would suggest the tamdem it is more stable on wagging, it stays behind the truck. I usually pull it 70-80 mph but have had it to 100mph it does not wag at all. The brakes can be a life saver as well. I have had people slamm on brakes in the fast lane going 75+ to hit an exit and with out the trailer brakes it would have been an accident.

.boB

Some single axle trailers have brakes. I prefer electric over surge. When the weather is bad, it's nice to be able to make adjustments. I towed a U-haul trailer with surge brakes through a snow storm, that about pegged out the pucker meter.

I would look for a dual axle trailer. Much greater load capacity and safety margin. I would only get brakes on one axle. With the load you'll be carrying, you won't really need brakes on all 8 wheels unless you're really over driving it. If it's a bit slick and you accidentally lock up all 4 trailer tires, bad thing will happen. If you lock up only two, the other two will still work to keep the trailer in line.

Some people say get brakes on both axles, that will give you a greater margin for a heavier load. And sometimes the used trailer you're looking at may already have 4 wheel brakes. In that case, you could just unplug one axle when you don't need it.

I tow a small trailer with a small car in it. Total towed weight is only about 4,500#. I only have brakes on one axle. I have never wished for more.

grouch

Personally, I'd get a tandem axle trailer. Run 7000 pound plates on it and you'll have all the trailer you'll need. I would DEFINITELY go with electric brakes. You can reach down and manually engage the trailer brakes if needed. As to whether one or two axles with brakes, one should be enough for that small a trailer. A single axle is fine but you'll be limited on what you can haul later on. Generally, you'll get a Dexter 3500 pound axle under the trailer. Remember to add the trailer weight into your loading. I've got a tilt bed utility I've had for 20 years and it weighs 500 pounds. That means the axle can accomodate another 3000 pounds. Legally I can only haul 2500 pounds because I have 3000 pound plates. I hauled 1.48 tons of gravel in one load with it the other day with no problems.

One thing to remember on a tandem, get nice wheels but don't use wheel covers. Every time I've hauled a heavy load on a tandem, I've popped the covers off the front wheels going around corners. I'd go with the larger trailer too. Make sure to pick up some good ratchet straps. You don't want rubber bungee straps allowing your load to shift on long down grades. Vee nose trailers tend to be a little nose heavy but whatever you get, get one with a side door.

In short, get brakes on at least one axle. Some states require them on all trailers. You can get by with one axle but dual axles will be more stable. I'd go with the 6X12 over a 6X10 merely because it's more versatile.

93wuntun

Alright! I've learned more here in 5 minutes than 5 hrs doing research on the ol' interweb.

I checked Kalifornia law and they require brakes on everything except the smallest of trailers.

So I'll be getting a 2 axle trailer w/ brakes on at least one axle. I will look for one w/ a door on the side as well as the back.

I've got a trailer brake box strapped under my dashboard that has an LED that lights up every time I put my foot on the brake, so I guess I'm good there.

Thanks much guys, I really appreciate all the real world experience and advice, there really is no substitute.

cheers,
Robert

93wuntun

I guess I was a little tired last night, What are 7000 lb plates?

grouch

Experience is what you get just AFTER you needed it in the first place. If your brake controller has a lever or **** to engage the brakes, it should work just fine. Most of them will actuate up to 4 wheels and heavier duty ones can handle more. What you have should work just fine and it's already installed.

One caveat, make CERTAIN the wires are well sealed. I had a wire set once that would engage the brakes everytime my left turn signal was on. I like to never figured out the problem. Water had gotten in the tape and run down to the connector. It had rusted the screw holding the wire in and the fluffy rust shorted out the wire. Everytime the left turn signal flashed, it backed up the line to the controller and engaged the brakes. With no trailer, no problem. With a trailer attached you got whip lash. I make certain my wires are well sealed now.

AggieJustin

X2...

Had this same problem on an old gooseneck cattle trailer. Trailer worked great when you first hooked it up. But once you had it loaded and the cattle had a chance to "wet down" the floorboards, there was no telling what would make the brakes come on. And when they came on, it was full force or nothing. Had to pull all the wiring and redo it to track down the bad spot causing the trouble (lot of bad spots).

grouch

Most states make you pay for a weight rating on the license plates. In Indiana for instance, you would put 7000 pound plates on a 1/2 ton truck, go with 9000 plates on a 3/4 and so on. Get a ton and a half truck and you run 16,000 pound plates. You can weigh up to the weight on the plate and be legal. If you have 9000 pound plates on the pickup and 3000 on the trailer, you can have a GCVW of 12,000 pounds (Gross Combined Vehicle Weight). Indiana used to have 4000 pound plates for pickups that never carried anything and the taxes were cheaper and the police dinged a lot of folks for being over declared weight. Higher weight rating equals higher taxes. Put 3000 pound plates on a triaxle trailer and the DOT inspectors will flock to check your papers. Yes, they can stop anybody hauling stuff, not just commercial vehicles. Since you will probably have 3500 pound axles, get enough plate to be legal at full load. Generally, if you keep your equipment in good shape and have heavy enough plates, the police won't bother you except at general check points.

By the way, attach a PCV pipe with a screw cap that seals it at one end and the other end permanently sealed to keep your registration in. This way, if you tow it with something else or loan it out, the registration will still be with it. Truck stops sell registration tubes but PCV is cheaper. (I'm not cheap, just thrifty.)

hyperrcng

If your money can do this, I would go with a larger trailer than 12 foot if you go with a tandem axle. Some trailer builders do a lousy job at setting the axles up under the boxes to give good tongue weight. Also most builders will give you one axle with brakes(front) in the tandem setup, which is also where the shortness of the trailer can show problems by sliding that axle.

This may not be a problem for some due to the quality of the trailer but I have seen this with some before.

I also believe in the old statement, "Buy bigger than you ever think you will need" That way if you need more storage you have it.

Grit Dog

I wouldn't spend extra on a tandem axle, or tandem brakes for such a small trailer. Reason most little trailers don't come with brakes is that, IMO they're really not necessary and just another maint item.
I have a 2place single axle enclosed sled trailer, 8x12 + 4'Vee.
I haul about 2000lbs in it when I have 3 sleds in it, trailer is about 1200lbs empty. Pull it half the time with a F150 with 1000+lbs in the bed at all times. Pull it over the continental divide several times a year, mostly in the winter and have never even considered it tough to slow down. Obviously if the roads are snowy, you'll be going slow enough that it won't matter.
Sounds like you're just doing a one way trip. Once you get east of the Rockies, there's really no more hills to deal with for a loooong ways.
Stay in your budget. Unless you are unsure of how a trailer handles behind a truck, go as cheap and simple as possible. I've done this a couple times. Buy a trailer, move my belongings, sell it. Most economical way to move if you have a truck.