Buy a trailer (instead of a pickup truck)

[Xringer]

I plan to rent a UH trailer if I ever have the need.. Most small loads can be carried
in the back of my old Ford Escape.
During the winter, I had to haul some extra long loads back there..
Overly long hotwater heater box hung out the back a bit..
Just tied straps around the back of the box, to the side seat clips (strong points)
to keep it from slipping out on steep hills.
And clipped a steel ring into the hatch lock.. Used the ring to tie down the hatch.

If I have to move firewood or other heavy dirty stuff.. I also have the little cargo deck.. Like Mifunego's..
No lights, taxes, registration or other BS needed..

[#1fordguy]

Have rented uhaul trailers before with great success. Low price, no storage, rugged trailers available in all sizes. I have thought about buying a trailer maybe 5X7 foot deck? Only issue is in the winter in Vermont, I expect it will be a pain keeping it out of the way during snow removal, or keeping it accessible over winter. Odds are it will wind up frozen in til spring every year as I will get tired of cleaning it off and moving it for plowing. I do like the fold up trailers though! What a great idea. Can be stashed in your garage and chained up against the wall when not needed, and just big enough to haul a riding mower or even trash to the dump! For like $500 or less they are a great buy for an occasional user. For the price I expect they aren't overly rugged but for homeowner use or lugging a 4 wheeler around they should be perfect. I knew a guy who hauled 2 snowmobiles around with a dodge neon. Granted, worked the heck out of the car on the hills, but the other 355+/- days a year he didn't pull the snowmobiles he was getting 30+ MPGs, while the rest of us got 14-16 MPGs all year. And we all thought he was nuts!?

[oil pan 4]

Originally Posted by Xringer

I plan to rent a UH trailer if I ever have the need.. Most small loads can be carried
in the back of my old Ford Escape.
During the winter, I had to haul some extra long loads back there..
Overly long hotwater heater box hung out the back a bit..
Just tied straps around the back of the box, to the side seat clips (strong points)
to keep it from slipping out on steep hills.
And clipped a steel ring into the hatch lock.. Used the ring to tie down the hatch.

If I have to move firewood or other heavy dirty stuff.. I also have the little cargo deck.. Like Mifunego's..
No lights, taxes, registration or other BS needed..

I made one of those too.
I can put it on the back of a hitch or the back of a trailer.

[Xringer]

I think mine is rated for 400 pounds.. It plugs into my 2" hitch 'socket'..
I never got the ball assembly..

Got it as a gift a couple years ago.. Might be this one..
Hitch Haul 1.25 in. x 2 in. 500 lb. Cargo Carrier with Receivers-30110208 at The Home Depot

[freebeard]

SIA Flashback – Diminutive Delcar and Packin’ It All In | Hemmings Daily


Scroll down past the diminutive Delmar and you get the origin story of the passenger car trailer. The Golden Age ended when they started putting trunks on cars.

[Xist]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Scroll down past the diminutive Delmar and you get the origin story of the passenger car trailer. The Golden Age ended when they started putting trunks on cars.

Overall, I would rather have a trunk than haul a mini trailer.

[TornadoRed]

A trunk eliminates the rumble seat, cutting into the number of passengers you can carry on the outside of the car.

[oil pan 4]

Mini trailers could make a come back for people with ultra tiny cars with no cargo room.

[freebeard]

Xist -- Why not both?

TornadoRed --

[Miller88]

Originally Posted by Xringer

I plan to rent a UH trailer if I ever have the need.. Most small loads can be carried
in the back of my old Ford Escape.
During the winter, I had to haul some extra long loads back there..
Overly long hotwater heater box hung out the back a bit..
Just tied straps around the back of the box, to the side seat clips (strong points)
to keep it from slipping out on steep hills.
And clipped a steel ring into the hatch lock.. Used the ring to tie down the hatch.

If I have to move firewood or other heavy dirty stuff.. I also have the little cargo deck.. Like Mifunego's..
No lights, taxes, registration or other BS needed..

I have hauled a few couches in my Cherokee! Works well, actually. Even going up and down hills. Just don't do it until the cat converter heats up ... pulls in some interesting fumes.