Atv trailer

[Coveyleader]

Just bought an ATV, looking for a trailer that will haul the trailer and maybe 2-3 bait barrels. Also, possibles on second atv at some time.

Steel vs aluminum? Big box vs a place that specializes in trailers?

 

[butcherboy]

Get a PJ trailer. Double axle, at least 14’. You can get them with a back atv gate or ramps.

 

[hunterjmj]

I had a 12' single axle and traded it for a 16' double axle. I use it quite a bit and the extra length/ capacity was worth the extra $2k.

 

[Randle]

I have has single and double axle atv haulers
I prefer single as I have a big double for larger loads
Plus I have gotten in a on mountain roads with no turn around .
Off load the machine, spin the trailer around , turn the truck around , reassemble , head back out. Double axle would be difficult.
If alot of highway and cross state travel I would go with double axle for your needs

 

[TXtoWest05]

Stay away from big box trailers and small utility trailers e.g. carry on or similar . While they are convenient to store and cheep, there are so many annoying little things like easy to find replacement parts (or proprietary parts) and bearing that go bad quickly. I am always worried taking the trailer out west or on long trips with the single axle. Also getting rust with the smallest rain storms on a new trailer. I just bought mine last year but if I could do it again I would just spend the money for an aluminum enclosed.

 

[BRTreedogs]

I like big text.
They have grommet mounted seal beam lights. And the drop ramp can be removed if you need to load something w a fork lift etc.

Make sure it has 15" wheels so you can upgrade to 8/10 ply tires.

 

[N2TRKYS]

I always buy from folks that make trailers. Some will let you design what you want.

I’ve always went the steel route.

 

[displacedtexan]

Get at least 2' longer than you think you need.

 

[NRA4LIFE]

Go to a trailer place, no big box. I'd go twin axle also and steel. For what you want, 12' min. I'd probably go 16'. My single axle, although heavy, still bounces too much and screws the tires up. Cupping I think they call it. My twins on the boat trailer and camper do not have that problem.

 

[DanimalW]

I’ve never had a problem with a single axle trailer. Own an 18 ft aluminum boat and 5x8 utility trailer, both single axles. I do the bearings and replace the tires probably every 4 years. Of course this varies. If I don’t have long trips planned I may get an extra year out of tires, and if I do have a long trip, I’ll do the bearings beforehand. Double axle = double the time and expense. But there’s also that security if there’s a blow out.

My 5x8 utility trailer has 14” wheels on it. I think most big box trailers will run smaller wheels. Spin faster and run hotter on the highway. I’ve hauled my ATV a 1000 miles or so with mine on hunting trips. It’s also a steel rust bucket at 10 years old, but so far it’s all been surface rust. Should get another 5 years out of it. Not sure if I’d go with steel or aluminum on the next one. Probably will depend what the price difference is at the time.

I use my ATV in the winter for ice fishing, and salty roads make a steel trailer rust right now. I’ll run it through a quarter car wash, and there’s no rust on the ATV anywhere, but the bottom of the trailer is tough to wash off. Also, a 5-10 mile drive down a gravel road does a number on the paint finish (and lights), so that contributes to rust as well.

Steel trailer I don’t have a problem loading up with firewood or a couple yards of topsoil. Probably wouldn’t do that with aluminum. But I think aluminum would work just fine for an ATV.

 

[Tony Trietch]

I have owned an lot of different trailers for work and recreation and the one thing I will not ever do again is buy a steel framed of any configuration. Aluminum only for me from here on out.
If you live or travel in a state or area that uses salt on the winter roads, the steel trailers will be trash in short time.
As for size, I try to buy as small as will work for the intended purpose. Open trailers with removable sides and ramp are awesome until you use them in the desert and your atv gets the powder dust driven into every spot it shouldn't be.
Enclosed are great until you realize how much more fuel you use to pull them or that they don't fit down every trail that open trailers do.

 

[Wheels]

I had a steel trailer with wood floor for years and got tired of the heavy tailgate, changing boards every few years and the rust.
I Bought an 12' Aluma trailer a couple years ago with a slide under tailgate and couldn't be happier. They are very well built and nothing to rust on them.
You would be surprised how much a tilt up tailgate affects fuel mileage, even if its open mesh.

 

[FLATHEAD]

Dual Axle Big Tex.
I've used this thing for everything.
Moving out of State, hauling ATV's, lumber,.....

 

[Crusader]

I had a steel trailer with wood floor for years and got tired of the heavy tailgate, changing boards every few years and the rust.
I Bought an 12' Aluma trailer a couple years ago with a slide under tailgate and couldn't be happier. They are very well built and nothing to rust on them.
You would be surprised how much a tilt up tailgate affects fuel mileage, even if its open mesh.

Hey Wheels, would you happen to have a pic you could post of that trailer?

 

[BRTreedogs]

The problem i have with my enclosed aluminum trailer is I want to weld stuff to it and I do not have that capability

 

[cnelk]

I’ve had a Big Tex trailer for 25 years. Hauled just about everything you can imagine.
I use it for my atvs and also my snowmobile.
I modified the passenger side front side rail and built another fold down ramp there. It’s now a drive on, drive off utility trailer for my snowmobile.
And that side ramp also allows for easy side loading for the 2nd atv.

Best thing I ever did.

 

[BigE]

ATV's seem to grow into UTV's at some point, and they all seem to keep getting longer, so get a couple of extra feet longer than you think you need. Especially since you are thinking to need space for a second one already. Also my vote is box trailer for a touch more security from prying eyes.

 

[Weldor]

I like aluminum for weight savings, tandom 18 steel trailer apprx. 3000 lbs dry weight, aluminum same size 1300 lbs. bad thing for aluminum it has no memory for flexing( leads to cracks) steel flexes much better. Also most aluminum trailers are clear coated for oxidation, makes it a pain to do welding repairs. Just my humble opinion.

 

[Coveyleader]

Due to space/storage I won’t be going over 12 feet. We don’t use salt here in the roads, so rust from that isn’t a concern. I don’t see the need for a dual axle either.

It sounds like tire size is a key concern. However and something I will consider aluminum seems to be the preferred.

 

[11boo]

I doubt I would ever go back to a steel trailer. This thing is nice.