[RangemasterP226]

I'd like to get a trailer for my Honda Foreman and Rancher to go on far away, multi-state trips. Can I get away with a single axle one? All aluminum or steel/wood? What are you guys doing for trailers other than toy haulers?

By the way, my tow vehicle is just a Chevy Silverado 1/2 ton truck. Thanks!

PS: If you can, please post pics of your machines on your trailers and tell us about them.

 

[fishfiles]

I have a 12 ft double axle , I cut the side rail in the front and made it where I can pin the rail back in place , I can load one from the side and one from the rear .

 

[Wsg]

A single axle trailer without brakes, typically has a 3500# axle. In Canada we can only rate it for 3000# unless brakes are installed.

Lets go with no brakes as you have a truck,
Largest trailer typically built on a single axle is 80" -146"
This should allow for a side gate, or opening in front of the fender and one on the rear of the trailer.
Trailer would weight about 1200# leaving lots of room to take 2 atvs and gear.
Weight distribution is important but we will leave that for the builder.
When removing a side rail, make sure that the fame is good enough to allow this, allot of trailers I see target budget not strength, watch for angle iron frames.
The rear ramp will be a large wind draw, i would make sure your gate is removable, to help with wind drag. When not hauling the bikes. I only built steel trailers with wood floors, I found I a great balance of strength versatility, with a wood floor. Was the best balance for the buck.

If you decide to go tandem, i would suggest a larger deck as you will have the payload.

Owner operator U-PULL Trailers for over 20 years now retired.
Your location would always help.
A cheap alternative is a double snowmobile hauler

Been outta the game for a couple years about 5 years ago sled trailer. Started about $1200 cdn. single axles $1500 cdn.tandems about $2200. Customisation for 2 ATVs added about $500.

Hope this helps some remeber, cheaper to buy right once that wrong twice.



2008 TRX420FE 2A - FOURTRAX RANCHER 4X4 ES

 

[fishfiles]

the stock wheel base 300 fits perfect ----------- but my 300 with a stretched swing arm the tires extends pass the rail , just don't put the rail in and strap it down good ----


the latest thing around here I see is people that carry a lot of atv's on one trailer , either using a 25ft and up gooseneck and load like 8 over the side or they deck over the top the rails and fenders of their car hauler trailer , use under the deck for storage and load the bike over the side on top the deck

 

[wheelsquad]

If I ever get to the point where I need to haul 2 ATV's myself, it will be a trailer like this for easier towing.

New 2018 Excalibur 5X16 Galvanized Inline ATV For Sale | Brampton ON

 

[alloutdoors]

If you have the space at home to store it and budget, then I would get a 16' double axle, short rear loading ramp aluminum trailer, see trailer next to motorhome. This configuration will allow you to some advantages based on what you describe as the intended use: a) you are traveling out of state, so I would have double axle with brakes. The double axle with brakes would be nice going highway speeds as well as the need to "brake" in both familiar and unfamiliar areas of travel. b) the trailer can be manipulated (by hand) relatively easy as well as hitched to the truck; c) the short gate isn't like a parachute (you can feel the 4' tall gates) creating unnecessary drag on the trailer and d) the trailer will last a long..... time giving you years and years of use. Do enjoy shopping.....

 

[mrbb]

yes and NO is the simple answer here, as trailers come in all shapes and sizes, but all will have weight ratings
My Aluminum 8.5x 10 ft aluminum sled trailer came with a single NO brakes, 2300 lb axle and a load rating of 1350 lbs so, if you own two VERY heavy atv's and some go close to a 1,000 lbs these days, you will need a trailer with a weight rating that can handle things
My 8.5x 12 with a 6 ft V , enclosed trailer has a 300 LB axle and has a 1800 lb load rating on what I can stick in it
and its also a NO brake axle on this trailer, but again, if I had two VERY heavy ATV and gear, I wouldn;t be able to haul them without going over load ratings

almost ALL states these days require most trailers to have brakes, so this will play into th
NOT having axle brakes, has never been an issue for me with loads under 3,000 lbs CGVW of trailers/load, even in Panic stops, but I always have a very heavy vehicle towing(9,000 + lbs)so this helps me STOP things and I have yrs of towing experience!

BUT I will say this, on snow, and dirt gravel roads, BRAKES on a trailer are NICE to have, and a LOT safer to tow

you have to figure what the MAX weight will be of your ATV';s and gear, and just buy a trailer that will safely and LEGALLY carry that much weight?

 

[Jeepwm69]

Most guys around here have 5 or 6 foot wide 15 foot trailers for two wheelers.

I like Fish's setup with a side gate where you can load one up front from the side and then either a SxS or another wheeler on the back.

Single axle is doable, and if you wanted to keep the cost down a 5x14 or so would fit two wheelers front to back and won't be terribly expensive.

If you're going long distances frequently and have other toys I think I would get a tandem axle smaller car hauler. You can haul your wheelers and probably another one, and also haul other stuff.

The only reason I haven't bought a 5x14 is the ONLY thing that you can get on there are two ATV's. If you need anything else you have to go bigger.

 

[UnkleRaRa]

Sled trailers are good for 2 quads.

8' wide makes things tight loading side by side, but we made it work!

 

[YukonXL04]

I have a 5.5' x15.5' single axle. I love that thing. Tows great, not super wide... easily fit 2 atvs, have had 2 smaller China atvs, my rancher and my sons go kart on it.

Or a riding mower and a golf cart with a rear seat. Single 3500lb axle. It's probably just wide enough to fit some of the smaller SxS's, but the big ones are too wide.

 

[beaglebriar]

These are probably the nicest setup going for two quads. Drive on/drive off,no loading ramps, no backing up.

 

[mrbb]

These are probably the nicest setup going for two quads. Drive on/drive off,no loading ramps, no backing up. View attachment 126378

well not to bust your bubble, but them sides are loading ramps LOL there just attached to you will never forget them!

and on this trailer, I would have to ask, when just running ONE atv if loaded up front, is there a LOT of tongue weight< as that far in front of the axle I would think so
NOT a issue with most 3/4 ton trucks, but smaller trucks it might be a issue

a Tilt snowmobile trailer, has ZERO ramps too, trailer tilts so you drive em up on it and they ride side by side, so weight is always over the axle more, than ,m possibly one in front and one over as in your trailer(and NOT bashing your trailer, just stating some facts)
many sled trailers also have built in slide out ramps that stay basically attached to trailer, and or move front to back, for drive on, drive off set ups

 

[RemMax]

I'm a cheap bastard I guess cause I built the last 2 trailers I've owned for any length of time
The bought ones are either unreasonably expensive or cheaply made if affordable

That said the first one was a 7.5x16" car trailer with tandem axles & brake
Used that one to move across country, haul bikes, cars, tool boxes and anything else I wanted to move

My current trailer has a 4"x12-14" deck, (forget acual length)
Both were built starting with a used 8000lb house trailer axle and 2x2x1/4" angle iron, big one had wood deck, current has aluminum diamond plate deck on front with 4' steel on rear
Mainly because I ran across a 4x8" sheet of each for the scrap price
Again my decks plenty strong, obviously I welded the steel section and bolted the aluminum plate on

I also cut the axle for the smaller trailer, drove a piece of heavy pipe inside after removing equal amounts from middle of axle and pipe welded it back together
Ya gotta be careful cutting axles down but mark the top, find center & cut equal amounts from each side and I've never had a problem with it

I can carry two of my 300's pulling with a Chevy S10 & now a Ford Ranger 4x4 extended cab, all small trucks
I have to hang the front wheels of the front quad over the front rail and second one fits with gate closed
I would have made it longer but I started with a old frame on current one so didn't change it Hindsight
I can still carry two quads on the trailer and one in the truck so 3 total
I used to go from home (Indiana)to Arkansas then Louisiana every year for deer season with my 300 trailered and like the smaller trailer for driving around different cities and suck
Little Rock traffic can suck to get through at wrong time of day, Phoenix is even worse

In short if you weld you can build a lot better trailer than you can buy for a fraction of the cost
Simply park your quads end to end and measure to figure out how long ya need
Leave at least 6" on the sides and a couple extra feet on length never hurt and you'll be able to carry your bikes easy enough
House trailer axles are rated for 8000lbs and cheap to buy
I didn't narrow the first set and that make you max width, not really a good thing as 8' axles make traffic bad
Narrowing is easy enough though

Just something to consider if you weld, I'm sure several of here can help with details on building a trailer and then you get exactly what you want instead of settling for whatever is closest
Just my thoughts on trailers at least
RemMax

 

[beaglebriar]

These are probably the nicest setup going for two quads. Drive on/drive off,no loading ramps, no backing up. View attachment 126378

well not to bust your bubble, but them sides are loading ramps LOL there just attached to you will never forget them!

and on this trailer, I would have to ask, when just running ONE atv if loaded up front, is there a LOT of tongue weight< as that far in front of the axle I would think so
NOT a issue with most 3/4 ton trucks, but smaller trucks it might be a issue

a Tilt snowmobile trailer, has ZERO ramps too, trailer tilts so you drive em up on it and they ride side by side, so weight is always over the axle more, than ,m possibly one in front and one over as in your trailer(and NOT bashing your trailer, just stating some facts)
many sled trailers also have built in slide out ramps that stay basically attached to trailer, and or move front to back, for drive on, drive off set ups

It's like 600lbs at the most...of tonhie weights a factor you must be driving a Ford.

 

[mrbb]

I'm a cheap bastard I guess cause I built the last 2 trailers I've owned for any length of time
The bought ones are either unreasonably expensive or cheaply made if affordable

That said the first one was a 7.5x16" car trailer with tandem axles & brake
Used that one to move across country, haul bikes, cars, tool boxes and anything else I wanted to move

My current trailer has a 4"x12-14" deck, (forget acual length)
Both were built starting with a used 8000lb house trailer axle and 2x2x1/4" angle iron, big one had wood deck, current has aluminum diamond plate deck on front with 4' steel on rear
Mainly because I ran across a 4x8" sheet of each for the scrap price
Again my decks plenty strong, obviously I welded the steel section and bolted the aluminum plate on

I also cut the axle for the smaller trailer, drove a piece of heavy pipe inside after removing equal amounts from middle of axle and pipe welded it back together
Ya gotta be careful cutting axles down but mark the top, find center & cut equal amounts from each side and I've never had a problem with it

I can carry two of my 300's pulling with a Chevy S10 & now a Ford Ranger 4x4 extended cab, all small trucks
I have to hang the front wheels of the front quad over the front rail and second one fits with gate closed
I would have made it longer but I started with a old frame on current one so didn't change it Hindsight
I can still carry two quads on the trailer and one in the truck so 3 total
I used to go from home (Indiana)to Arkansas then Louisiana every year for deer season with my 300 trailered and like the smaller trailer for driving around different cities and suck
Little Rock traffic can suck to get through at wrong time of day, Phoenix is even worse

In short if you weld you can build a lot better trailer than you can buy for a fraction of the cost
Simply park your quads end to end and measure to figure out how long ya need
Leave at least 6" on the sides and a couple extra feet on length never hurt and you'll be able to carry your bikes easy enough
House trailer axles are rated for 8000lbs and cheap to buy
I didn't narrow the first set and that make you max width, not really a good thing as 8' axles make traffic bad
Narrowing is easy enough though

Just something to consider if you weld, I'm sure several of here can help with details on building a trailer and then you get exactly what you want instead of settling for whatever is closest
Just my thoughts on trailers at least
RemMax

building a trailer mighty be OK for some, but in MY state of, PA< its can be a nightmare to get it street legal and a title for it, the DOT here can be insane with what it wants for proof of being engineered and safe, and it also opens you up to liability if anything happens here with it

plus up here steel trailers don't last that long due to all the road salt and chemicals they spray to de ice things

 

[mrbb]

These are probably the nicest setup going for two quads. Drive on/drive off,no loading ramps, no backing up. View attachment 126378

well not to bust your bubble, but them sides are loading ramps LOL there just attached to you will never forget them!

and on this trailer, I would have to ask, when just running ONE atv if loaded up front, is there a LOT of tongue weight< as that far in front of the axle I would think so
NOT a issue with most 3/4 ton trucks, but smaller trucks it might be a issue

a Tilt snowmobile trailer, has ZERO ramps too, trailer tilts so you drive em up on it and they ride side by side, so weight is always over the axle more, than ,m possibly one in front and one over as in your trailer(and NOT bashing your trailer, just stating some facts)
many sled trailers also have built in slide out ramps that stay basically attached to trailer, and or move front to back, for drive on, drive off set ups

It's like 600lbs at the most...of tonhie weights a factor you must be driving a Ford.

I'm towing with a 3/4 ton diesel, so 600 lbs wouldn;t faze me at all, but I do think you would be surprised to see how many trucks handle with that on the very tail end of things, like jeeps, and small SUV's something a LOT of folks own these days LOL
I just gave this info , so folks have something to consider when learn about, just info, to be digested if you follow!

 

[M_Quick]

I've also been doing alot of thought on new trailers. I usually go out of state several times a year, but less than a 200 mile one way trip. Since my last 77"x16' tandem axle was stolen. I think I'm going to go back to a 14', that I can keep on the garage. The trailer I'm looking at has front side ramps, and a rear gate. So I'm hoping I can load 2 quads sideways. And one in the rear. The place that has this trailer near me, is sold out but supposed to get 1 in this Friday. There priced at $1495.00.


What ever you go with, since your planing long trips on the highway, I'd invest in a spare tire!

Sent from my couch, just finished watching the Nascar race, using Tapatalk

 

[mrbb]

I've also been doing alot of thought on new trailers. I usually go out of state several times a year, but less than a 200 mile one way trip. Since my last 77"x16' tandem axle was stolen. I think I'm going to go back to a 14', that I can keep on the garage. The trailer I'm looking at has front side ramps, and a rear gate. So I'm hoping I can load 2 quads sideways. And one in the rear. The place that has this trailer near me, is sold out but supposed to get 1 in this Friday. There priced at $1495.00.


What ever you go with, since your planing long trips on the highway, I'd invest in a spare tire!

Sent from my couch, just finished watching the Nascar race, using Tapatalk

I carry two spare tires for every trailer I have , and take both on every trip, small trailer tires get HOT and are way more prone to flats than the tow vehicles is IMO
I have done a lot of 1800-2000 mile non stop runs towing
I also recommend carrying a fast jack and a good cordless impact gun for changing tires FASTER
a few road flares are nice too
nothing sucks more than changing a tire road side on a hi way , people I swear swerve at you thinking your moving then last minute see your NOT, been almost run over a few times changing flats
once I was all the way a lane and half on an ON ramp and still hi way traffic came at me, I had a state trooper behind me the one time too, and went after the one guy LOL
he just pulled up and didn;t even have time to turn lights on and I almost got hit, an easy 40 ft off flow of traffic lane?? WOW
Flats suck LOL!

 

[Trailfreak]

I have a 2014, 5’x14’ Aluminum rear ramp cargo trailer that I bought used. Because it’s light, it’s easy to maneuver by hand around the driveway and yard. I don’t have a big V8 pickup truck, I have V6 Toyota SUV and this trailer is easy to tow loaded with two atvs. The trailer’s large tires also makes it very stable when towing.
I had the salesman throw-in a spare tire, then I added the swivel jack, it didn’t have one. Last year I added 6 Bolt-on retractable ratcheting tie-downs that I secured to the frame, I had enough of getting and putting away loose strap tie-downs. This makes so easy to secure the Atv’s to the trailer and go. I may stain the plywood floor this year. I also use it for cargo and have no regrets buying this trailer.

 

[pastorpete]

I modified my 16 ft. aluminum (light) Caravan boat trailer rated for 1500 lbs. I remove the two long slides, then took four sections of aluminum ramps and bolted them to the trailer using big U bolts. Trailer is 48” between the wheel wells. Ramps end to end are a perfect fit for two 250r’s. It’s basically looks like a double length jet-ski trailer. Very balanced. I can bolt the slides back on and place the 12ft aluminum boat back on it in 5 minutes.