Buy a trailer (instead of a pickup truck)

[oil pan 4]

Here are some pics of my weld together version of a bolt together northern tool trailer.

First pic you can see my reese hitch caddy, flat for connector for double trailering and my prized 5/16inch aluminum dimond tread plate.


Pic 2 is with the fender removed where I traded the fold up feature of the trailer for an increadable strength increase by fully welding the spring holder to the box frame, not leaving any gaps any where.


Pic 3 shows where I added some bracing the A-frame, with the tool box removed. This use to fold up too.


Pic 4 shows the fully welded spring holder from the underside, my through the frame wiring and the1000lb each springs I added back in 2008.


Pic 5 shows the attachment of the reese hitch to the rear of the trailer.


Pic 6 is an old pick of my trailer loaded down with wood, with the fenders and tool box installed. If you look real closely you can see some of the rust, there was a lot more rust covered by the blistered paint and up under the trailer.

[HHOTDI]

excellent job OP4...that is now a neat little trailer with incredible versatility! :{)

[mechman600]

Maiden voyage with the bike on the Harbor Freight trailer - about 850 lbs total. 366 km (227 mi) to Osoyoos.

Lots of giant hills and the Matrix did just fine. Not surprising, as I have pulled a 1400 lb tent trailer with it before.
9.3 L/100 km (25.3 mpg). I will edit this post once I have return trip data.

EDIT. The return trip was 8.8 L/100 km (26.7 mpg) according to the SG2. Must be the elevation change. Average was 9.1 L/100 (26.0 mpg). I am happy with that.

[HHOTDI]

Good lookin' setup aye! :{)

[oil pan 4]

That was my trailers first life, hauling a big old harley.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

I was looking at some pictures from my collection and had to share this:



In spite of having only a 40hp 800cc 3-pot gasser, even this Daihatsu Mira I've spotted near my neighborhood had a tow hitch.

[oil pan 4]

I saw a late 90s or early 2000s Buick LeSaber pulling an ATV trailer with a golf cart on it yester day.
We were in the middle of no where so no doubt about it, they were doing a long distance tow.
They didn't need a pickup or SUV to haul their toy around. I used to have one of those LeSabers and It would get mid to upper 20s in the MPG department on the highway.
They were in the south bound lane while I was heading north, so no time to get a pic.

[TornadoRed]

Most of the compact utility vehicles discussed on Top Gear this week on BBC America, European and Japanese, were rated for 2000 kilograms max towing weight.

But it mostly depends on the hitch and how it attaches to the unibody frame.

[oil pan 4]

Originally Posted by TornadoRed

Most of the compact utility vehicles discussed on Top Gear this week on BBC America, European and Japanese, were rated for 2000 kilograms max towing weight.

But it mostly depends on the hitch and how it attaches to the unibody frame.

Yes I saw that one, the one where they destroyed the caravans by towing them to death over rough off road.
I started watching top gear when I was in England 2 years ago and haven't stopped.

[oil pan 4]

Here are some of my old trailer pics.

You can see the trailer over loaded with freshly cut wood.


Here you can see the axle flexing, adding some camber to the wheels.
This was testing the trailer after upgraded axle, springs, tires and U-bolts went on.