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Trailer Size Question

Discussion in 'Towing' started by joeyv141, Sep 6, 2020.

  1. Sep 6, 2020 at 7:28 AM
    #1
    joeyv141

    joeyv141 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I am going to buy a new trailer soon and wanted some feedback on the size, primarily the width.
    This is the trailer I will be buying.
    The trailer comes in two lengths I would be interested in - 12 and 14 feet.
    The trailer comes in three widths - 5 feet, 6 feet 5 inches, 6 feet 11 inches.
    I am leaning toward the 14x6'5".

    I am wondering if anyone has thoughts if there is a particular reason these widths are good for, I would hate in the future to not have a wide enough trailer for whatever random thing I need to haul. My current crappy trailer is just under 4x8 and I hate I cant put pallets or sheets of plywood in it, I dont want a similar issue later.
    I do not have any motorcycles or 4x4s or riding mower or tractors that need to fit on this trailer.
     
  2. Sep 6, 2020 at 8:57 AM
    #2
    Sprig

    Sprig Well-Known Member

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    It really depends on exactly you use the trailer for. It’s not clear the purpose of your trailer or what you haul. In general I’d say buy the widest trailer that will allow you to haul what ever it is you haul. No matter which one you get it will be a lot bigger than the trailer you have currently.
     
  3. Sep 6, 2020 at 9:13 AM
    #3
    joeyv141

    joeyv141 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    It'll be for hauling whatever I need it to around town, nothing off road, nothing over 3000 pounds either.
    Currently hauling lumber, sheets of plywood, push mower, tiller, tool box from work, furniture, moving houses, pallets of stuff, etc. Maybe in the future I could buy a canoe or kayaks or a riding mower or a 4x4 and need a trailer wide enough.
    Basically everything I need right now would work with the five foot wide trailer, but Im looking for input from people what their reasoning was for the width of trailer they bought. I assume the company choose these widths to fit certain things that have a generic width.
     
    Last edited: Sep 6, 2020
  4. Sep 6, 2020 at 12:25 PM
    #4
    mallege

    mallege Well-Known Member

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    Looks good. For a utility trailer driving around town the "14x6'5" should be fine. You will be able to see both sides of the trailer while backing up and still be able to see traffic behind your vehicle. You should be able to get into most tight spots with that width. Mileage shouldn't be an issue for local driving. Check your storage area for that trailer and invest in good trailer coupler locks for your investment.
    On a side note, I downsized to a smaller fishing boat last year so I could reclaim my garage where I had been storing it along with my old Ram 2500. The old boat was 91" wide and fitting it on the side of the house through a 92" wide gate was not optimal. The new boats fits through that gate very easily now and I was able to clean out and rearrange my three toolboxes and gained space for my work area in the garage.
     
  5. Oct 15, 2020 at 6:01 PM
    #5
    Groan Old

    Groan Old Well-Known Member

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    Go for the widest one, for more options. 8'6" is the widest trailer you can have without a wide-load sticker, and you're well under that. You'll never haul past your weight limit with the wide one, and after all, it's only 6" wider than the one you're looking at.
     
  6. Oct 16, 2020 at 8:42 AM
    #6
    Skidog1

    Skidog1 Well-Known Member

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    I have a 5x14 for 2 quads. When pulling I can see only a couple of inches of the trailer tires and it nearly tracks the truck tires. It works great for my needs. I would say a 6.5 might be best for you.
     
  7. Oct 18, 2020 at 8:05 PM
    #7
    TnShooter

    TnShooter The TacomaWorld Stray

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    After owning my current trailer, a 12’ x 6’.4”.
    I would not even consider a 5’ wide trailer. (Unless it’s all I could afford)
    That extra 16” is a lot of room.

    A 12’ x 6.5’ trailer can easily be over loaded. A 14’ even easier.
    Most use 3,500 lbs axles.
    So a single axle will already have the weight of the trailer on it.
    That counts towards the weight rating of the axle.
    The 12’ is almost too much for one man to drag around by hand.
    As in, pick up the tongue and move it yourself.
    If you are on a hill, good luck. It’s probably going to get away from you.

    If I were to get a 14’, I’d really consider dual axle.
    There’s been times, I kind of wished I had a dual axle.
     
  8. Oct 19, 2020 at 6:23 PM
    #8
    joeyv141

    joeyv141 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I will not be buying a 5 foot wide trailer.
    I have thought about getting a tandem axle trailer but I decided I do not want to have to deal with buying four new tires nor dealing with trailer brakes at all. I am aware that as trailer size gets bigger it will get heavier and also reduce the cargo capacity due to this.
    Honestly I have used my current shitty not quite 4x8 no ramp trailer only five times in the last two years and the only reasons I want to upgrade is so I have a ramp and can put pallets and sheets of plywood in the trailer, I could get a 5x10 trailer with a ramp and be happy for a while but I decided to buy a new trailer that doesn't need a new deck or tires or bearings or wiring and if I'm buying new I'm making sure to buy one thats big enough I will not want to upgrade in five more years and go down the rabbit hole again.
    I am pretty much decided on 6 feet 5 inches wide but am debating going with the 12 foot instead of 14 foot to reduce weight. I do not want to have to buy one of those trailer dollies for moving it around.
     
    TnShooter likes this.

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