Buy a trailer (instead of a pickup truck)

[oil pan 4]

The paint on mine was very faded too. But it was at least 6 years old, stored out side too.
The paint on mine was applied very thick on top of little to no surface prep or primer chipped and cracked at every joint.
I assumed the paint wasn't very well attached to the metal so I planed to sandblast it all down to bare metal. I quickly realized that wasn't going to happen. Any where the paint and metal was still together it was very well attached.
They may have switched to cheaper paint since then.

[Blacktree]

I bought my HF trailer recently (a few months ago). After 2 weeks in the Florida sun, the red paint on the top surfaces was already turning pink. So I threw a tarp over it.

That said, it handles the 1000 lb "super-sacks" of gravel and sand like a champ. The suspension and tires barely seem to notice the load. And it's rated for 1000 lb max load. I'm actually thinking of pulling a leaf out of each spring, because even with 1000 lb load, it's pretty bouncy... almost like it has no suspension.

[flying kurmaster]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

This single-wheel trailer looks quite odd, but cool.

I had a single wheeled motorbike trailer which looked like a great idea at the time, small, made of aluminium, easy to store, fit inside a car with seat down, made like a long board with a hump for the wheel, light easy to tow, and a clever hitch design but after trying it out there was no suspension to speak of on it so it bounced around a lot was too light, at speed and I found out later was illegal because of the lack of suspension. I also thought that the one small wheel it had would need bearings often. It also shifted from side to side in an unnerving way when the bike was on it. click, click on the hitch, but mostly I think they don't catch on because of the suspension issue. Just my experience with a one wheel trailer.

[Sean.Heihn]

I made stake sides for my trailer, I'll take some pictures tomorrow. Unfortunately, my lights aren't working. First, both blinkers would come on when either turn signal was activated. So I replaced the plug before I realized that the insulation on the right turn signal wire had worn through and it was shorting out to ground. So I fixed that. Now, when the left turn signal is activated, both lights blink, when the right is activated, neither blink.

[HHOTDI]

Hey SH, isn't that just the way it goes sometimes...gotta love it, Man I hate wiring! :{)

[Xist]

Originally Posted by Sean.Heihn

I made stake sides for my trailer, I'll take some pictures tomorrow. Unfortunately, my lights aren't working. First, both blinkers would come on when either turn signal was activated. So I replaced the plug before I realized that the insulation on the right turn signal wire had worn through and it was shorting out to ground. So I fixed that. Now, when the left turn signal is activated, both lights blink, when the right is activated, neither blink.

Good luck!

[Sean.Heihn]

I almost want to just disconnect the turn signal wires and only have the stop/taillights. Trailers this small only require a single red taillight if the car's lights can be seen in MN.

[flying kurmaster]

I used to have a small caravan that had similar issues with the lighting as it often sat unused for long periods and it seemed every time I hooked it up it had a blinking all over the place issue. I think it had a grounding issue built in because of the alluminium body, wood floor, steel chassi combination and build, perhaps different metal corrosion, reacting or something, I never got to the bottom of it However what usually repaired it was a good spray of WD40 or CRC into the plugs, light bulbs and or a tweek and spray on the ground wires bolts either at the lights themselves and/or on the chassi ground. Good luck

[oil pan 4]

Originally Posted by flying kurmaster

I used to have a small caravan that had similar issues with the lighting as it often sat unused for long periods and it seemed every time I hooked it up it had a blinking all over the place issue. I think it had a grounding issue built in because of the alluminium body, wood floor, steel chassi combination and build, perhaps different metal corrosion, reacting or something, I never got to the bottom of it However what usually repaired it was a good spray of WD40 or CRC into the plugs, light bulbs and or a tweek and spray on the ground wires bolts either at the lights themselves and/or on the chassi ground. Good luck

I have the same thing on my trailer. Steel frame, aluminum deck. It had real bad rust and always had electrical issues before I rebuilt it.

I avoid electrical problems by using all sealed LED lights and every LED has its own ground wire for everything. Connections are all made with heat shrinking and self sealing butt connectors.

I like to be able to grab the trailer and go and not have to screw around with non functional lights or getting pulled over.

[bestclimb]

I've been hauling wood with a big, ugly home built trailer 7x11x1.5 foot. We burn about 3 cord a year for our winter heat. Each cord weighs about 3000-3900lbs according to various sources. Anyway I have done about 6 trips so far carrying about half a cord. Mileage on the subaru on the same route without the trailer is 29ish mpg, pulling the trailer rt mileage is about 20-23 depending on load. so pulling as much wood (or more) as my f150 can hold, I get better mileage than the f150 gets empty.