What trailer size to buy.

Hey guys. I figured I would pitch this question on here for some second opinions.

Been looking into a trailer for a long time. Landscape style with wood flooring. Homeowner use only ( dump runs, brush runs, moving tractor lawn tractor and bagger to Mom's house to do her property). Nothing crazy.

Down the line I would like to buy atvs and use the trailer to haul them too. Kind of a do it all long term deal.

Of course I am towing with a Tacoma. I initially thought of buying a 6x10. But recently saw a 6x12 with side ramps for an ATV. So side and rear load points. Of course currently I don't have the ATVs (prob won't see one for some time anyway) and not sure if need something that long during the time until I get one.

Looking for your opinions with this info provided. Pictures of a Tacoma and a 6x12 trailer. Or a 12 ft trailer in general would be great too.

Thanks in advance

 

I have a 6x12 single axle trailer. The rear gate is removable if you need to haul anything longer than 12’. I’ve hauled ATV’s, dirt bikes, sheet rock, old carpet, fire wood, appliances, etc, etc...

It’s a good size trailer for many different applications and easy enough to pull with these trucks.

Keep an eye on CL, sometimes you can get a decent deal.

 

If you don’t need 12ft dont get it. But if you will, get it.

Trailers can be a pain to store so I wouldn’t get more than you need.

12ft though is easy to haul with a Tacoma.

 

6x12, if you're even thinking if it. Mine is that size, and heavy - over built.

 

I built a 4wx6lx2h box on top of a boat trailer frame, leaving the tilt feature functional. With the tailgate down, I could haul full sheets of 4x8 material.

I could tilt it to dump trash and drive in / unload my 3 wheeler. I could fill it with camp gear and a canoe on the top and go anywhere the tow vehicle was capable of pulling it.

I changed the 8" trailer wheels to 13" wheels from a Vega, ran buddy bearings, trim rings and center caps cut to allow the buddy bearings to protrude. It tracked straight as an arrow and would hold about the same load as a Tacoma, weight wise.

Built it in the mid 70s and used it for 30 years to avoid buying a truck. Worked well, gave it away and it's still in service.

 

You don't specifically mention if you want an enclosed trailer or an open trailer, but from what you are wanting to haul, it sounds like you are considering an open trailer.

For hauling 2 ATVs, an enclosed 6X12 with a rear ramp door and a side man door is awesome. all your stuff stays dry and secure. It also works great for hauling furniture, boxes, and anything else you want to keep dry and secure. If you find one with a V front, that's nice for just a little bit more room.

For hauling brush, gravel, load of bark o much, etc, you're going to want an open trailer.

If you have plenty of storage room, it's nice to have both.

 

What ever you decide on getting, don’t let anybody else know ! Your weekends and trailer will be gone!

 

My 100"x54" utility trailer is incredibly handy. But, if I knew then (about 35 years ago) what I know now, I'd have gone at least 6'x10'. Of course storage is always a problem. I prefer to keep mine under cover.



I have to admit, one of the things I like about this size trailer, and this configuration (balanced on axle), is my ability to bring home a 2 yard load of mulch with my truck, then swivel the trailer to either my atv or garden tractor to transport the load from bed to bed across my lawn.



Conversely, I can load a half cord of firewood in the woods behind my house and pull it to the driveway with tractor or atv, then swivel it to my truck for over the road delivery.

Also nice to be able to haul the ATV or Tractor somewhere, tilt and drive it off, then re-hitch the trailer for projects at neighbors, church, or mountain cabin.

I recently added a pair of motorcycle chocks to it so that I can haul a pair of Yamaha dual sports to our cabin in the mountains for some Father-Son bonding.


(This was pick-up day for the second Yamaha, I reconfigured, and moved the chock so two fit. But the old punch-line "tight isn't it" applies).

 

My 6x10 is perfect for what I need and the price was right. 400 bucks on Craigslist with a 3500 pound axle.

 

O sorry. Yea will be looking at an open trailer. Enclosed would def be amazing as far as keeping stuff dry. But looking at a PJ trailer 6x10. Or the 6x12 with atv side load ramps single axle. Mostly for price. A bit cheaper than enclosed.

 

Looking at this type of setup which is only available on a 6x12. Ramps not offered on the 6x10

 

That's a good lookin trailer. I like how they did side ramps.

 

I've got a 6x10 open and enclosed. The truck hauls both fine. I use mine for my zero turn mower mainly and dump runs. I'd say either 6x10 or a 6x12. I would have gotten a 6x12 but they didn't offer them in that size with the mower when I bought it. Next choice up was a 7x16 and that was way more than I needed.

The way I look at it I can load a atv from the back and not have to worry about the extra expense of the ramps on the front.

 

Yeah it looks like they may slide in to form the sides of the trailer up front. Great design if so.

 

I used my friend's that has about a 5'x9' deck over the weekend for picking up construction materials from Home Depot and then emptying out a storage locker.

and HOLY CRAP was it so much easier than the bed of the truck! Being able to lay down sheets of drywall flat is so much easier than fighting them in to the bed of the truck. Plus not having to lift a fridge all the way in to the bed is a big plus.

I'd lean towards a 6x12 personally just to be able to fit so much more stuff for moving/dump runs

 

No matter what type or size trailer you have you will always want something else. I have a 7x14’ enclosed and a 16’ flatbed with car ramps. I still borrow my neighbors 6x9’ landscape / utility trailer on a regular basis. So do I sell one and get something else only to need what I just sold?

Buy what you need today instead of what you THINK you may need later. Chances are your needs will not be the same each and every day. Bigger while awesome for capacity is a pain for mobility and storage. Smaller can sometimes be too small. Do I use my flatbed car hauler to take the snowmobile in for service or just borrow the neighbors? Can I haul that 29’ sailboat mast with the neighbors trailer or use my rack on the flatbed and go over the bed on the truck with only 1’ overhanging the end of the trailer? These are actual loads I have done and you can see not every trailer is perfect for every load I want to move. I still had to rent a dump trailer this past fall so that is yet another trailer I needed.

 

I wouldn't go smaller than a 10x6.

 

True words. I also had a 6x16 tandem flatbed trailer. While it was great it didn't;t get used very often. I would always choose the smaller one when at all possible for the load. I loved the way the tandem pulled but you're right. Get what you need at the time not for the future that may not happen. When I got my last 6x10 I told my neighbor if he pulled his truck over right now and towed the flatbed to his house he could have it. Also told him he could have the 32' extension ladder on it. Figured with him having his own remodeling business he could use it more than me.

 

Agree.

 

A very valid point. As nice as the atv ramp option would be. The 6x12 would be a bit excessive for just moving my riding tractor lol. It would have to be for more. I could do more with the 6x10 I suppose. But that atv option is awesome. Lol