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[SBB]

WOW jpparker!

Great post, good advice!

SBB

[Tirpitz]

Check out www.alumakln.com they make aluminum trailers.

[Buy early]

Thanks jpparker! Great information and confirming the direction I am heading. Will go with twin axle and really leaning towards the low boy style. Already have one Condor chock and will acquire another with the trailer. Like their system of moving them from the garage to the trailer. Great advice on the floor and ramp covering materials!

Thanks so much for sharing your experience! That is what is so great about this forum! If you're gonna spend some quan, you wanna get the right thing the first time.

Tirpitz - the link to the aluminum trailer company doesn't work. Is it a spelling error?

[jpparker]

Thanks jpparker! Great information and confirming the direction I am heading. Will go with twin axle and really leaning towards the low boy style. Already have one Condor chock and will acquire another with the trailer. Like their system of moving them from the garage to the trailer. Great advice on the floor and ramp covering materials!

Thanks so much for sharing your experience! That is what is so great about this forum! If you're gonna spend some quan, you wanna get the right thing the first time.

Tirpitz - the link to the aluminum trailer company doesn't work. Is it a spelling error?

No prob.  I haven taken so much info from this site and usually have so little to offer that it was nice to actually be able to add to a topic that I do know a little about.

As for aluminum trailers... they ARE nice.  But pricey!  Typically alum will run almost twice as much as a steel with aluminum skin.  They are lighter, rustproof (of course) but for a typical user who is going to trailer even 10+ times a year it's hard to justify the price difference.  If money is no object then definitely go the aluminum route!

[MIKEYTEE]

Trailers, trailers, trailers! Make sure your tow vehicle is rated to tow the weight. Also make sure you have an auxiliary transmission cooler on your Astro Van. If it came with the tow package option it should have one. If not, Hayden makes aftermarket units for almost every vehicle made. You don't want transmission problems. $$$$$$$
Mike
 

[Georgehjr]

Thanks for the quick feedback guys. Am thinking strongly about the Toy Carrier 2 bike trailer. Have requested a quote. Still interested in the plus/minus info on single vs double axle. Is the only benefit of a double axle the carrying capacity? It seems a single axle would be easier to move around (less rolling resistance). Any input? Went out and looked at the Haulmark Lowboy today. Nice trailer, especially fully tricked out. They have one for $6,300 in HD orange and black with a finished inside. Does that seem reasonable to you guys?

I bought a Toy Carrier last year, put 1000 miles on it in June and 500 last weekend, paid $5050 plus tax, has elect brakes  , comes with 2 wheel locks,  Worked great

[Buy early]

Thanks George. I am having a transmission cooler put on the van when I have the hitch installed!

[LarryB]

JP, thanks bro. this is timely as am going down to Georgia this week to pick up a new trailer for my shop. now I got some ammo.

[NVTHIS]

Man that is some great info jpparker, thanks. Me and my brother-in-law are thinking about going in together and buying a trailer.

Thanks Again
Chris

[Dracula]

BUYER BEWARE:  Not all enclosed trailers are alike nor do they even spec universally.  Some mfg's count the V-nose in the overall length...... most more reputable companies don't count the V-nose (usually around 2').  Some mfg's place used tires on new trailers..... check 'em out.  Some mfgs only put brakes on one axle..... get 'em on both.  And check the axle mfg.... Dexter is kind of the industry standard and whether buying a single or tandem axle each axle needs to be a minimum of 3500lbs.  Anything less on an enclosed trailer and I would feel like the mfg is trying to shortcut and would cause red flags.

Check the tires no matter what.  I have a 24ft Cargo Mate toyhauler w/motorcycle package (beds, bath, kitchen, etc..).  Empty trailer weighs 9950 lb.  Factory put 2 ply tires on when built.  Blow-outs are no fun in the middle of nowhere, and tires pieces tend to mess up the pretty out side of the trailer.

[miker]

And when stowed for long periods, I lift the weight off the tires. 

[Buy early]

Thanks to all who assisted in this effort - especially jpparker who posted one of the most informative missives on trailers I have seen. After a nationwide search on ebay, trailers.com and other internet search tools I found just what I was looking for on Craigslist and it was 3 miles from my house. A 2007 Haulmark 7 X 12 well finished (white panel inside, beaver tail, plenty of chrome and diamond plate) dual axle trailer. Now, let the mods begin! Putting in 2 Condor chocks, locks all around, additional interior lighting, probably some cabinets and rods for hanging stuff, tie downs, perhaps some e-track and probably some HD or SE decals for the outside. Probably a large map of the US on an inside wall to put my dipdot collection on.

Had the hitch put on the van today. Never as easy as you think but the previous owner gave me a 2" receiver Rigid Class III hitch with the trailer that fit my Astro so that saved $220. Installed transmission cooler, electric brake controller and electrical. By the time I get the adjustable ball mount, ball, additional locks and stuff I'll have nearly $1K in the hitchin' stuff and Elvis hasn't even left the building yet!

My next questions to you educated trailerers out there is how does one properly load balance the bikes on the trailer?
How do you accurately measure tongue weight?
How do you all set up your electric break controllers?
How many miles do you expect out of a set of tires?

Just a few more things before we hit the road next month.

Have already had a request to rent my trailer for a week from 2 of Kandy's co-workers. What is a reasonable rate to rent a trailer like this?

That's it for now. I'll leave you with a few photos:

[Buy early]

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[Buy early]

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[LarryB]

Very nice, good score