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Cost effective trailer?

tommyg

Contributor
Full Member
Joined
Jul 30, 2014
Messages
308
Guys, any recommendations for a trailer to tow the Bronco that won't break the bank? Appreciate any thoughts.
 

Bukin 67

Bronco Abuser
Joined
Jul 3, 2008
Messages
2,262
Mine's a 16' Carson with a wood deck built here in So CA. I fount it on Craigslist for $1599 new 3 years ago. It's been all over including to the tip of Baja and back twice without fail. Check Craigslist in your area.

I had to weld D rings on the sides to tie down instead of the boxed ones that came on it. Also added an open storage box on the front and mounts for 3 spares.

Pics:
 

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sprdv1

Contributor
REBEL
Joined
Mar 8, 2007
Messages
81,983
do your research local, etc.. I found a guy here, 18' flatbed, for just under $2k at the time..

Sometimes can find em on here or on craigslist...
 

bearskinner

Jr. Member
Joined
Feb 22, 2011
Messages
292
Loc.
N.Idaho, AK, SoCal
Sometimes your better off purchasing a nice new trailer. I've seen some hard used trailers, that need tires, maybe bearings, the wood deck is shot, and they are all scratched up, ready for a repaint. Check it out good. There's a lot of junk out there.
 
OP
OP
tommyg

tommyg

Contributor
Full Member
Joined
Jul 30, 2014
Messages
308
I'm guessing that a 14' would be the minimum size that would make sense.
 

56f100bbw

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Feb 3, 2008
Messages
2,351
Loc.
Tucson / lakeside AZ
I am with bearskinner buy new you won't know if it's been overloaded or abused and I have seen it and a min 16 ft long my aluminum trailer is 20 ft
 

hyghlndr

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Jan 19, 2009
Messages
5,190
Loc.
Hockessin, Delaware
U-Haul rental if you only use it a couple of days a year is probably your best bet. Other than that I wouldn't go any shorter than 16 ft.
 

ared77

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Apr 21, 2013
Messages
2,957
Agree, 14' you will be wishing for a longer trailer.
 

Nothing Special

Sr. Member
Joined
Nov 25, 2016
Messages
839
You asked about a trailer, but two other options (if you haven't already considered them and thrown them out) are flat towing or a tow dolly.

A tow bar is pretty cheap. I built mine for probably around $50, I'd guess a few hundred to buy one. You really should add "toad brakes" which isn't cheap, maybe another $1000 - $1500. And according to the manual you need to drop the driveshaft every time you tow it. So it's got some hassle factor and it's not dirt cheap when you include brakes. But it doesn't take up much space when you're not using it and it doesn't add tongue weight to your tow vehicle.

I haven't used a tow dolly, but they've got to be cheaper than a full trailer, and definitely smaller to store. But you still need to drop the rear driveshaft if you're going to follow the owners manual.

Trailers are nice, and I expect to move up to one at some point. But there are options.
 

Timstrk

Full Member
Joined
Apr 8, 2014
Messages
197
Put #6000 behind whatever you're towing with and you are going to want brakes. One axle is good but two is better. Adds to the cost of the trailer but is an OMG upgrade.
 

Slednut10

Contributor
Guru? That's funny!
Joined
Sep 26, 2013
Messages
2,397
Put #6000 behind whatever you're towing with and you are going to want brakes. One axle is good but two is better. Adds to the cost of the trailer but is an OMG upgrade.

Check your local laws (and where you will be towing)-some states require brakes on both (or all) axles.
Examples of what I deal with:

NH requires "adequate" brakes in good working order over 3000 lbs
VT require brakes on one axle over 3000 and both over 6000
ME requires brakes on every axle over 3000
MA doesn't specify brakes until your over 10000 (really?)
 

fatboy

Contributor
Glad to be here.
Joined
May 15, 2006
Messages
7,062
Loc.
New Hampshire
Check your local laws (and where you will be towing)-some states require brakes on both (or all) axles.
Examples of what I deal with:

NH requires "adequate" brakes in good working order over 3000 lbs
VT require brakes on one axle over 3000 and both over 6000
ME requires brakes on every axle over 3000
MA doesn't specify brakes until your over 10000 (really?)

But Maine does not require you to title the trailer under 10K, NH however requires a title for anything over 3K I think... I found this out when I bought a 9995# GVW trailer out of Maine without a title and tried to register it in NH. Got it done eventually but it was a PITA.
 

sanndmann3

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Jun 13, 2007
Messages
1,790
I borrow a friends trailer so it is definitely cost effective! ;)
I used to flat tow but no more. Hit a rough stretch of road and got the Bronco got all out of shape and almost crashed. White knuckle ride for sure...
 

Skiddy

Bronco Guru
Joined
Oct 8, 2003
Messages
11,560
I borrow a friends trailer so it is definitely cost effective! ;)
I used to flat tow but no more. Hit a rough stretch of road and got the Bronco got all out of shape and almost crashed. White knuckle ride for sure...
same happened to me but with a tow dolly, no way would do that again
 
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