Utility Trailer Sources?

[Adam]

OK, I guess technically this isn't a Delica forum topic, aside from the fact that I'll be towing said trailer behind my '91 Delica WVO Powered Super Exceed with DVD MP3 Player (that's a shout out to Josh....sorry I don't have anymore mods to list ). Anyway, back to the point of the post.... I was on the cusp of buying a $1,000 utility trailer from Home Depot after scouring UsedNanaimo.com & Craigslist with no luck, and I thought I can do better than this. Really the trailer from Home Depot isn't that bad, but it is not very good either, and I know the resale value on it would be nothing.

So I'm looking for suggestion of where I can get a decent deal on a utility trailer localish without having to resort to a bigbox store, unless that bigbox store is taking advantage of their 3rd world workers, cause you know in that case you are getting true savings. The kind of savings that really makes you glad you were born in North America (the mid-Northern portion, not Mexico) because whom else can exploit 3rd world nation workers like we can (aside from the Americans, that's a given). Certainly not the Europeans, they wish they had our consumption levels.....

OK, I gotta go to bed, too much U-Brew for tonight, but hopefully I made my point. I'm looking for a cheapish, reliable utility trailer for hauling the pieces of nature that I killed on my property (firewood) and the building materials (for the house I'm building on natures grave site). Suggestions??? KonaDog, I know you've got the down low on trailers, what do you think?

[konadog]

Hey Adam, I'm fully on board with paying more for a local product both to support our local economy, and, even more importantly, to avoid as much as possible having the stain of exploitation and slavery on the things I own and use - shudder. We got our old trailer from a back-yard builder in Comox (Mar-Jo) for $1,100.00. Steel and plywood. It was pretty basic but served us well for a number of years, though using it as a gardener's trailer hauling plant clippings and fish mulch greatly accelerated RUST. When it recently reached the end of its useful life for us we decided to go aluminium. Express Trailers (V.I. Imports ) in Parksville / Coombs for $3,000.00. They do custom work there and also generally have a wide variety of ready-mades available. You can get just exactly what you need. The trailer is well made, though I must say, not "detailed" in finishing with rough edges here and there (Every time we were there they all seemed in a bit of a panic...) It was OK though, as sniffing over it to find little burrs and drill debris gave me a chance to give it a real going over. We got a roof-basket from them too, as they have some for delicas ready made. This has hollow corner pieces that acted like big pan-flutes and really howled when we started to drive - almost ear-piercing loud! I called Express and told them about the issue and that they consider capping the hollow corner pieces on future racks and that they would be most welcome to retrofit ours. "Yeah, yeah, We'll call you..." Ya, sure. Of course I never got that call and ended up filling them with expanding foam (turned out a little messy, but stopped the noise). And they were going to install it with no rubber protectors - just aluminium clamped on to the delica's paint!! Thankfully we were warned of this by ccautos Glen and got pads put on just prior to installation. Anyway, inspite of the rough-ish finishing work and the poor after service we are VERY pleased with both the trailer and rack and would for sure recommend them, albeit with caution. LOVE the aluminium - super light, strong, rust-proof and attractive. Good luck Adam, looking for pics of what you end up with [edited to tidy up some structural writing mistakes, not content] kd.

[TardisDeli]

Hi Adam, we convert old boat trailers into flat bed trailers. Perfectly legal, just need to drill bolt holes etc, to join up bits. Then register with ICBC as U-Built, so no serial number on trailer. Make the base flat, then use corner angle iron to make the sides, bolt plywood on. Princess Auto for tires, trailer couplings, ramps, etc. Old boat trailers are often "Galvanized" which is a good thing to reduce salt induced rust, sometime you need to get 2 or 3 to make 1 good one, check boat marinas, they have a dead corner. Just unbolt the good bits, not welded.

Brakes are a big concern. Jay recommends Surge brakes if you are planning any heavy carrying, as you don't want your load to cause you to jack knife. Surge brakes are on our big trailer, and work without being wired into the deli (they are self-contained, work on gravity and motion, kinda like a seat belt locks with motion ... I'm not the techie).

Mararmeisto did much research when he installed electric brakes for his camper-tent. He figured that max weight to tow was no more than half the wieght of the deli, but he also has a loaded deli (4 teenagers). I forget where info was, I remember a photo of electric brake install near the gear shift knob.

My little trailer is 40 inches x 48 inches x 1 foot, called the LunchBox Trailer, but it fits things like generators, firewood, etc.

Jay has the Manly Trailer, flatdeck, 14 feet x 5 foot wide, built to carry Citroen cars (apologies, life pre-Delica); that one is for sale for $3999.99.

As we have had many trailers for various boats, from experience it is the axle that is your big concern. You can always easily add more leaf springs, put on bigger tires, etc. but the axle strength is what holds it all from collapsing on the highway.

By the way, Tardis Deli recently towed a Boston Whaler Montauk (loaded) weight over 2000 pounds, with surge brakes, thru heavy traffic and highway for 50 km , didnt even notice the weight, shift points and speed still the same. E&H Trailer hitch, 2 inch ball. (Shh, don't tell ... Deli towed Jay's big work van up the hill when it got stuck in the snow).

There is a less common trailer hitch type called a pintle, which apparently is better for off-road towings as more flexible, but I have no experience of it.

So, galvanized, skookum axle rating, surge brakes, spare tire pre-mounted on rim, "bearing Buddy" lubricant system on wheels, fire-extinguisher. That should cover most of the issues I have seen the guys crying about over their beers (sad).

From Christine, The Opinionated.

[kb&2dogs]

pm sent Adam

[BCDelica]

http://comoxvalley.en.craigslist.ca/for/764350977.html

Cheap, oh yeah,
Reliable, Um, well it works. I wouldn't use it to pull 100 gallons of WVO behind me, without a full rebuild.

At $50 I may be asking too much.

It's been the shared neighborhood trash trailer for the last ten years, most of that time stored at a friends house with someone else paying the insurance.

[mararmeisto]

I bought a SnowBear Trailer from Cambodia Tyre - and this product is actually made in Canada! It's got a 6-foot box, which is a bit small if you're going to be hauling a big load, but there is a website with different models.

With regard to the trailer brake I installed, it was for the tent trailer I bought. Works great, take some of the load off the van, for sure. Especially when loaded with all of us (2 adults, 4-with-two-legs, and two-with-four-legs (kids and dogs)) and our stuff. Unless the trailer comes with brakes, no point installing an electric brake, but a mechanical surge brake just might do the trick if you're going to hauling around half the forest back to the house.

[Adam]

Sorry Kevin, I know I said I wanted to get your trailer, and this really has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that you didn't sell your van to my friend, so that I could get a chance to poke around it at my leisure. My wife over ruled me and made me purchase a more reliable looking trailer from kb&2dogs. Thanks Kathy for the referral. I'll post a picture of it hooked up as soon as it is daylight

[BCDelica]

No problem. Was about to call you as we're headed down to Victoria soon, either this evening or tomorrow morning.

[Adam]

Stop on by for a WVO top up on the way down or back. I should be around most of the day, unless I'm out on an oil pickup run. Friday I'm heading back to Vic myself at around 4pm.

Here's the new trailer in action, looks like I'll have to paint my van to match:

DSCF4821a.jpg (252.63 KiB) Viewed 4638 times

[mararmeisto]

Trailer looks big enough that you could put the van into it, and then I can tow YOU around! Hope where you load it and where you empty it is not too hilly of a route or you might have a time getting it there. Why so large?

Seriously though, nice trailer. As for painting, wouldn't it be easier to paint the trailer instead of the van? Or is the van in need of a paint job?

[Adam]

I needed something big enough to handle sheets of plywood, appliances, roofing, etc, and it is not like there were 12 different models to choose from. It was either the Home Depot trailer made of tin brand new, or what ever used one that came available. I'm a big fan or buying used, then you you try to resell it you can actually get more than 50% of what you paid for it.

The sides are bit higher than I need them to be, but they'll be good for hauling soil or bark mulch once we start the landscaping portion of the project (in several years )

I was kidding about painting the van. It just that the paint on the trailer is new, can't justify painting it now. I'll have to wait until I can abuse it for a few years before it'll receive a natural brown/green colour scheme.

[konadog]

Looks great Adam! I would have offered our old one but it already has a new home and has been rebuilt too - happy day! Your's from KB&2dogs looks in great shape. Awesome

[kb&2dogs]

Hi Adam

glad the trailer deal worked out for you, you'll be able to tow around tons o'veggie oil in that one, as well as anything else you need to. My mom was really intrigued in a van that runs on "old french fry oil". Enjoy!