Harbor Freight trailers

In reply to trigun7469:

I've had the HF folding 4x8 trailer for over a year now. It was real handy when we lived in Columbus with the 1 car garage since we don't have a truck, and didn't have any friends close we could bum one from when needed.

I sanded and painted all of the frame pieces Rustoleum Hammered Black before I assembled it, who want's a red trailer?

Here's a picture of mine folded up before I put the deck on it:

Here it is picking up the 3/4" plywood deck material:

For anyone interested, don't use 3/4" plywood for the deck if you want it to fold properly, the directions spec. 3/4" but it's too thick to be able to fold the trailer up for storage and have the two deck halves close flush against each other. If I had it to do over again I'd try 5/8" plywood. Additionally don't use carriage bolts to secure the deck to the trailer, while carriage bolts have a low smooth head profile like you'd want for a trailer, they will obstruct the ability to fold the trailer for storage because the bolt heads from each half of the deck contact each other when folded. I wound up with some flat head socket head bolts after I discovered the issue with the carriage bolts, gotta love doing the same thing twice.

Trailer in use:

And YES to the bounce issue. I started this thread a few months ago, but I haven't done anything to remedy the issue yet.
Stop Utiltiy Trailer Bounce.: Off-Topic Discussion forum

• Lee

carzan wrote: I've had the pictured HF trailer for about 10 years. It has been quite useful. The pictures are what a friend used it for when I let him borrow it, recently.

What do you need a trailer for.. Back in the 90's I hauled several thousand pounds of broken guardrail posts at Mosport from the wood pit back to our campsite sticking out the trunk, and in the passenger well. (seat removed). While wearing a Viking Helmet..

A picture exists somewhere.. A Formula Mazda driver From the South East region stopped me and told me " I have to take a picture of this.. This is how I justify to my wife why I race!!!"

I never saw the picture... If anyone has ever seen it let me know or post a copy.. I think the Driver's last name was Craig could be wrong though...

Ether way.. unless you have a passenger in a Miata No need for a trailer...

trigun7469 wrote: Trailers I have had in the past they jacked knifed, bounced in the air, and the slightest decline that would be moving side to side. Anybody have those issues?

Jack knife yes, but I rarely back it up it's so light. Bouncing? Hell yes. Every pothole I think it's catching air.

I am buying this $350 HF unit in the spring to tow behind my bike. The plan is to paint it champagne metallic like the bike.

I'll let you know how it works.

Jerry wrote:

trigun7469 wrote: Trailers I have had in the past they jacked knifed, bounced in the air, and the slightest decline that would be moving side to side. Anybody have those issues?

Jack knife yes, but I rarely back it up it's so light. Bouncing? Hell yes. Every pothole I think it's catching air.

being as short coupled as they are it's extremely hard to back them … I do it just to prove to myself that I can still back a trailer … but yeah, even loaded they're usually easy enough to un-couple and back up by hand

In reply to 914Driver:

Isn't that trailer just a $150 4x4 trailer with a $50 yard sale roof box on it?

http://fullborekarting.com/trailer.htm

Here is what I am thinking of doing to the trailer

In reply to trigun7469: I'm pretty sure the one in those pictures IS a Harbor Freight trailer.

oldopelguy wrote: In reply to 914Driver: Isn't that trailer just a $150 4x4 trailer with a $50 yard sale roof box on it?

Yes. $50 yard sale boxes are all over until you need one, then it's $200.

I was going to buy a HF 4x8 trailer but ended up finding a used 5x9 trailer for about the same price and I didn't have to put it together. I can get 2 clone karts, sans bodywork, on it sitting perpendicular. My orginal plan was to build a kart hauler like the link in trigun's post but am now thinking of a diy version of this: http://www.sylvansport.com/ (combination gear/utility trailer and camper). So far its just in my mind. Its bouncy but weight helps tremendously. I brought home a washer and dryer and the ride was much better than just with a kart.