Buy a trailer (instead of a pickup truck)

[zjrog]

I have a 1972 Starcraft Starlite tenet trailer I'm updating a bit. It has nothing but a couple benches and table in it, plus the pullout beds. Just a tent on a box. It was meant to be towed by the compact cars of the day. Weighs in under 1100 pounds.

I gave it new tires and wheels for this year, next year it gets a new axle with electric brakes, and bigger tires (both for offroadability for my Jeep, and keeping hub speeds down on the freeway). I see no reason my Neon can't tow it. As soon as I get it back from my son that is... My Jeep barely knows its back there, and my F150 doesn't care...

My truck stays parked most of the time, but its nice to know its ready for a load most anytime. I do borrow trailers as I need them, I've repaired them, bought new tires and tie down straps as needed... Good friend I am. But someday I will figure out what size trailer *I* need....

Later.

[vacationtime247]

Got this trailer new. Hoping that it would serve me well taking my motorcycle and tool box 2400 miles west on my move to California. Found that after helping a friend move his couch that the inside seals were already bad. The spring holding on the seal was torn to pieces. The person who put the axle and hub assembly on didn't bother to seat the bearings or the seals correctly. Needless to say I wasn't happy. But, a $20 fix ( wheel bearings, races and seals) has me back in business. Will bolt it all back together tomorrow.

Getting a trailer was a cost effective move for me. Renting a U haul trailer would have ran me $500. A U-Haul truck almost $1200 not including fuel. The Aztek has a tow rating of 3500 after installing the tow hitch. Installed a trans cooler as well. This way, I get to keep the trailer and sell it later if I need to upgrade. I'm liking the trailer idea. Should of gone this route a long time ago. *Facepalm!*
VT247

[RiderofBikes]

Beetle Camper

the best place to drop this, seeing that pop-up camper just sealed the deal.

Ideas? looks sweet, of course 30yrs later, makes me think of what kind of improvements could be done to it today

[talonts]

Originally Posted by RiderofBikes

Beetle Camper

the best place to drop this, seeing that pop-up camper just sealed the deal.

Ideas? looks sweet, of course 30yrs later, makes me think of what kind of improvements could be done to it today

A version for the Prius would be awesome.

[justme1969]

dont need no stinking truck or trailers!
Going To The Garage | Pictures and Photos by TensionNOT.com

[freebeard]

Parade Car!

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

[bobo333]

Originally Posted by RiderofBikes

Beetle Camper

the best place to drop this, seeing that pop-up camper just sealed the deal.

Ideas? looks sweet, of course 30yrs later, makes me think of what kind of improvements could be done to it today

That is epic! wonder why it never took off? looks so much easier and more convenient than a 'normal' trailer hitch system, plus adds so much space to a camper that a small car could tow

another thing that didnt really take off as much as i think it should have but not really a trailer is the hatch hutch:


would work well on any of the modern large eco hatches i recon

[TornadoRed]

Originally Posted by vacationtime247

Got this trailer new. Hoping that it would serve me well taking my motorcycle and tool box 2400 miles west on my move to California.
(snip)
Getting a trailer was a cost effective move for me. Renting a U haul trailer would have ran me $500. A U-Haul truck almost $1200 not including fuel. The Aztek has a tow rating of 3500 after installing the tow hitch. Installed a trans cooler as well. This way, I get to keep the trailer and sell it later if I need to upgrade. I'm liking the trailer idea. Should of gone this route a long time ago.

My story is exactly like yours, except I moved from California, in the summer of 2008 when diesel was $5/gallon. I couldn't afford a U-Haul truck so bought a 4'x8' utility trailer off Craigslist, then sold or gave away everything that would not fit. I ended up making the entire trips at 53-55 miles per hour, which sucked -- I never want to travel that far that slowly ever again. I downshifted on every upgrade and every downgrade, to keep the inlet temps down and keep the trailer under control. (The trailer was overloaded, to say the least.)

If I had it to do over, I would have spent more and bought a better hitch. I've got the Hidden Hitch, which worked fine then and since. But I'd rather have an even stronger one, for even greater security.

[Frank Lee]

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...uck-12610.html