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I Want To Buy This Trailer .... Opinions?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by billy01, Mar 26, 2015.

  1. billy01

    billy01 New Member

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    I been checking online and saw this All Aluminum Trailer that weighs 400 pounds. My payload will not exceed 200 pounds. Total tow weight about 600 pounds once in a while, like maybe once or twice a month about 25 miles to my local dump and back. Hauling mostly yard waste, junk, etc.



    Also, I really like this Featherlite Trailer but it's 675 pounds. This Trailer is bigger.



    Just a tidbit of info: I pulled a 8x10 enclosed U-Haul Trailer with my Scooter and 4 large packed trash bags stuffed with clothes from Jacksonville to Sarasota (Florida). Pulled fine and no problems.
     
    #1 billy01, Mar 26, 2015
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  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i love it. i would like to find a small basic aluminum trailer, with no frills, that i can haul leaf bags to the recycling center with. maybe 5' x 8' or so.
     
  3. Indy John

    Indy John Member

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    You've already pulled a much higher gross weight (the U-Haul) with no problems. The aluminum trailer you propose and the 600 lb. gross weight should be no problem at all (that's even within the Prius GVWR unless you're a "full-figured" person. My trailer is the folding 4 x 8 you see in various ads. It weighs about 250 lbs. and handles my 550 lb. John Deere just fine. I saw "my" trailer on sale at Harbor Freight a couple of weeks ago for $219. (You'd need a piece of plywood and maybe some better lights, and a day or so to assemble it.)
     
  4. billy01

    billy01 New Member

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    Ok, so I can pull either Trailer in the Videos no problems?
     
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    in most circumstances. large uphill climbs would probably put some extra strain on the system.
     
  6. billy01

    billy01 New Member

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    WHICH ALUMINUM TRAILER IS BETTER?
     
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    the first one, 400 pounds.
     
  8. Paul Schenck

    Paul Schenck Active Member

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    I find harbor freight to be my answer. Moved son and daughter in and out of college with it. Fullerton to fresno 4000 foot rise 277 miles 700 lb in the car(people included), 900 plus in trailer!!! 55 mph cruise controlled up the grade at Tejón pass I-5 kept two bars and was using 80% load and 4000+ rpm to sustain it. No problem at all on flat and level other than a
    Drop in mpg (32)


    iPhone ?
     
  9. billy01

    billy01 New Member

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    Wow .... 700 pounds inside car and 900+ pound Trailer + stuff on Trailer? Very impressive! So if I have just me inside and I am 160 pounds, nothing more inside car and I am towing a 5x10 all aluminum 400 pound Trailer plus 300 pounds of stuff, then I should be golden. The first video of that Homesteader 5x10 Trailer seems about as light as possible sold today. I might pull the trigger.
     
  10. Paul Schenck

    Paul Schenck Active Member

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    The folding trailer weighs only 250lb and was $300 I had to put it together and add wood it took a day and stirs on the side of my house under the eve. Never expected to tow 900 lbs on it. Toung weight was 75 lb and with the wind drag at 55 mph it was less than zero.


    iPhone ?
     
  11. billy01

    billy01 New Member

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    Thanks for the info but I don't like the Harbor Freight Trailer. I'm gonna contact some aluminum Trailer companies and ask if I can custom build a super light 6x10 all aluminum Trailer. A special lightweight Trailer designed exclusively for my Prius.

    If I CUSTOM BUILD a Trailer .... Who should I call?

    THANKS !!! :)

    Quick Note: High end all aluminum Trailers can cost $2,000 or more ... If I tow the Trailer once a month, is it worth the expense?

    Please Advise. Thank you !!! :)
     
    #11 billy01, Mar 27, 2015
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  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i don't think so. i've gone back nd forth on this. the thought of an aluminum trailer is alluring, but is it worth the money just for a dump run? i think the harbor freight unit would be fine.
     
  13. tgpii

    tgpii Member

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    Heavy Duty Utility Trailer - 870 Lb. Capacity
     
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    the reviews of the harbor freight are pretty horrible. if you can do your own wheel bearing grease, tail light re wiring and replacement, etc. i think they are a good value. chinese is as chinese does.
     
  15. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    A picture I have posted before of my trailer that weighs 2420lbs loaded and towed without problems now for many thousands of miles.
    IMG_0001.jpg

    John (Britprius)
     
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  16. billy01

    billy01 New Member

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    Wow, John ! ! ! !
     
  17. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    The trailer has a body length (not including the towing bar) of 16ft 6inches tow bar adds another 3ft 6inches, and is 7ft 6inches wide. The trailer has it's own radio controlled electric drive system for easy parking. Go to about 2minutes 30 seconds in the linked video.
    Reich Move Control english Image Video - YouTube

    John (Britprius)
     
  18. billy01

    billy01 New Member

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    John: So you are pulling 2400 pounds on a stock Prius and no problems ... WOW !!!!
     
  19. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    The Prius is a lot more capable at towing than many believe. I do take sensible precautions like monitoring important temperatures, but find towing within our legal speed limits "50 mph on normal roads 60 mph on motorways" to be perfectly reasonable driving sensibly.
    Wind resistance with my particular setup probably plays a bigger part than the weight. The trailer has it's own braking system, and the car stops better with the trailer than it does without.
    Fuel consumption with the trailer shows a loss of around 15 mpg usually in the high 40's dropping from the mid 60's bearing in mind our gallons are 10% larger than the US. I put these very good figures down to the extra regen from the weight of the trailer when slowing down, and driving at sensible speeds.
    I would imagine the trailer you are anticipating towing will hardly be noticeable on the rear of your car.
    Possibly the only difference with my setup compared to the US is the actual tow bracket on the car. My bracket fits in the same way as the US bracket, but also has a center beam going forwards under, and fastened to the spare wheel well to act as a cantilever for the weight on the tow hitch that I load to 130 lbs. It also has an anti snaking device that doubles up assisting with reducing hitch weight.

    John (Britprius)
     
  20. billy01

    billy01 New Member

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    Thanks John.
    My issue, is it worth the hassle and expense if I tow once every 3 months? Tag, sticker on the tag, maintaining the trailer, and stowing it somewhere on my property out in the elements.