I know options vary greatly geographically, so besides, or instead of brands, what do you look for?

I want a 6 x 12.

I want nice, not crap.

Hauling furniture, boxes...

Lumber, tools...

Yard debris, mulch, general outdoor stuff...

Suretrac and Big Tex seem neck and neck for my needs. Only difference I can see, is suretrac is powder coated, Big tex is painted...

Sure trac has spare tire mount already, and is about $300 more...

$1900-2300 seems similar value in trailers.

Anyone have experience with either brand I mentioned, or is there another you would recommend? I live near Winchester, VA, so, WV, MD, and PA are all close enough. Would prefer less than 2 hours drive from here to buy.

Thanks!

When doing trailer builds, I want four wheels.

I have a 6.5’x 12’ Big Tex. The nice thing about the Big Tex is you can slide the tailgate right off, that feature comes in handy more times that you know.

I actually prefer the painted finish too. If powder coating gets chipped or scratched, you can get rust forming underneath the powder coat and it results in a mess. With paint, give it a quick touch up and your done.

I have a 6X10 SureTrac. Galvanized with the drive on drop down ramp which can easily be removed. I've had it for about 5 years now and it's held up nicely. I use it to tow my side by side to and from the lake place and to various lakes in the winter time for ice fishing. So it sees a lot of crappy salty roads. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one.

I will advise whichever one you get to break the lug nuts loose once a year and re-tighten them. If you have a flat after a few years of not doing so and need to bust them loose with a tire lug wrench good luck.

Have you decided on the tailgate style ie ramps vs ramp gate? Any chance you’ll be hauling mowers or ATVs? Single axle vs two axle and weight capacity on each, 3500 vs 5400#. What will you be towing with typically? What brand tires are installed at purchase? Cheap imports or decent trailer tires with appropriate load capacity? Just a few thoughts that came to mind. Good luck. Gatormade is popular in this area and actually built in Somerset Ky I believe. I had one of their cargo trailers several years ago and was pleased with it. I saved a few dollars by making the 3 hour drive there to pick it up.

I have a Toyota Tacoma, and if I ever sell it, I will buy a Jeep Wrangler, so that will keep me in a single axle trailer configuration. If need to move anything requiring dual axles, I will rent, or have someone else move it. :-)


Had thought about touch up paint as opposed to powder coating.

Suretrac does seem to be built very well.

Great idea about loosening and re tightening wheels.

quote:

Originally posted by Woodman:
When doing trailer builds, I want four wheels.

I agree with this.
Gatormade is really good and mostly what you see around here.
They have 1 VA location
https://www.gatormade.com/home-3/utility-trailers/

I want a ramp gate, I like that the suretrac can lay flat when not in use.

It seems easy to remove as well if I needed to, but am not sure when that would be the case??

Why would the gate need to be removed?

In WI, anything under 3000 lbs rated weight doesn’t need a plate. You see many rated at #2990.

There are many local & ‘off brands’ it’s hard to suggest a particular trailer. If low on any road salt worries in your area, no need to go aluminum.

My 6x10’ planked floor trailer with sides has been re-floored & powder coated over the years, still going with minimal issues.

Utility trailers don’t get much respect, but come in handy. I’ve borrowed mine out to friends countless times over the years.

Look at Diamond C:
https://www.diamondc.com/trailers/utility/

I am ordering an equipment trailer with a bunch of upgrades like disc brakes, winch plate, spare tire and holder, metal deck, extra tie downs.

Check out their YouTube videos. They are some of the better built trailers.

quote:

Why would the gate need to be removed?

If you needed something loaded via fork lift.

Another Diamond C user here; great quality and very customizable.

For a usable 12' I like a 14' dovetail. That gives 12' flat floor and 2' drop with a 3' drop down gate. Gives you a little longer ramp and not as steep. I like a 6.5' width. That is 10, 2'x8's and usually 76" wide. New model Gatormade have led lights all around and a spring assisted tailgate that does make it ez to lift. Most manufacturers are using led lights and the rubber socket mounts are best imo. Kentucky is full of small town trailer mfg/sales operations and $1500-2000 will buy a very nice 12-14' single axle utility trailer.

https://www.jttrailersales.com...iler-7DTh%7ChFf.html

Suretrac makes a nice trailer. ATC is quality, if you want an aluminum trailer.

I had one built locally. Well, 1 hour away.
14' x 8', double axle. It has clear deck space 12'4" X 6'6". It has a center mounted jack stand, not one of those side mount pieces of crap.

I had them build it with a frame across the front to fit a diamond plate truck box. The ramp is removable, although I added a guerilla lift to it so takes a little work to remove it now. The guerilla lift is awesome.

The top rail of the trailer is box tubing. All the lighting is LED. The trailer is painted. Note, it is NOT a car paint job. Don't think it is even primed. I'll probably paint it in another year or so, or just order another.

The 2 things I wish I had done is have the metal grating that is on the ramp also placed on the sides(dont need it on the front because of my tool box) and had a couple more tie down rings on each side.

I have carried a small boat trailer with a 14' rigid bottom inflatable boat and motor from NW FL to Palm Beach. I brought back a pair of Accu Dock 5x8 floating work platforms from Ft. Lauderdale. I've also carried (4) 4' scaffold end sections, (6) 8' walk boards and assorted braces and hardware From NW FL to Bradenton and back.

I believe I paid $1,400 for it.
You may find someone relatively local to you that builds them.
They are very handy to have.

Really appreciate the responses and suggestions, great information!

I think I have settled on the Suretrac... Dealer is closest to me, and I have had good experience with them.

I checked out some of the other suggestions, and they are 450 miles away from me for the closest dealer...

I see you are in VA like me. In my (former) construction business I bought several trailers directly from the manufacturer in NC, Kauffman Trailers. I cannot recommend them enough. It’s worth the drive.

https://www.kaufmantrailers.co...ngle-axle-landscape/

I'll third the advice and strong recommendation towards a tandem axle setup. Trailers should have 4 wheels minimum, and brakes.

Even my ATV trailers have 4 wheels...but I LOVE the walking beam axle for off-road use.

Keep in mind the weight of the heaviest items you intend to haul now or in the future. For example, a single pallet of sod can weigh anywhere from 1500 to 3000 pounds, the weight can increase by up to 50% depending on soil content, moisture, and other factors. Some single axle trailers can handle a pallet of sod. Some can't.

Probably wouldn't need a pallets of sod often though and if needed in quantity, likely have it delivered. But the idea is, just keep the weighty things in mind. Nothing worse than over packing a trailer and have a break down.

I got a pallet of sod once on my single axle trailer. Never again. It was for my church and I figured I'd save them the delivery fee, $35 as I recall. The sod was fresh cut and wet. Luckily nothing broke, but the noises it made were unnatural. The forklift guy had a hell of a time getting the pallet forward on the trailer. He had to use a second pallet to push the first a bit ahead of the axle.