Utility trailer @ Harbor Freight
- Thread starter SlavaB
- Start date
4wd
$50 site donor 2026
Amazing price - I’d probably stay at 50% capacity myself
- Joined
- Feb 20, 2022
- Messages
- 591
Get an IR thermometer and check the tire and hub temps at each stop. Some recommend repacking the bearings with quality grease right off the bat.
BT before truck
I used the living snot out of mine
Yes new grease
Yes larger wheels
Yes the wiring is poop
Makes a nice enclosed hauler with a wood fence and plywood floor
Dude had one of these and used it with his S-10 to run a very small yard care service. He has bigger everything now. The old one is a backup
I had one. Installed a 3/4" plywood platform and 2x4 fence. Pulled it with my 1.8L Nissan Sentra. It bounced around without a load, otherwise it did well. Hauled all kinds of stuff with that rig.
The floor....fine. But friends don't let friends build trailer sides, headache racks, bumpers (yes I've seen it) or campers out of wood.
Well, come to think of it that means I could let YOU commit those offenses
. JUST KIDDING!
Mine was nice bull nose cedar. Lasted much longer than the plywood base. Looked just fine for what it was.The floor....fine. But friends don't let friends build trailer sides, headache racks, bumpers (yes I've seen it) or campers out of wood.
Well, come to think of it that means I could let YOU commit those offenses
I mean you aren't thinking of fabbing rails from aluminum or let alone steel which would be heavier that the trailer itself?
Had one for about 6 years to haul my motocross bike and Yamaha four-wheeler around, worked fine.
I bought a piece of plywood, cut it, then bolted down two pieces of 48"x 48"so it would still fold up to save garage space in the winter.
Just keep the wheel bearing zerks greased well and get you a spare tire.
I bought a piece of plywood, cut it, then bolted down two pieces of 48"x 48"so it would still fold up to save garage space in the winter.
Just keep the wheel bearing zerks greased well and get you a spare tire.
Put several thousand miles on one of those loaded with a dualsport bike—lotsa 70 mph interstate time including one cross-country trip—always traveled with a spare tire and spare wheel bearings. Greased the original wheel bearings every year and I never had a problem. The tires are crap, the sidewalls cracked in a couple years, bought better tires and kept on choogling. They’re solid trailers and a great value.
I had one just like that but in aluminum, bought from Northern Tool. I hauled my Brute Force 4 wheeler with it while hunting. If I recall, I paid about $500 for it and sold it after about 5 years for $100. It worked well for light stuff. Can’t beat that price for a lightweight trailer.
These have long been the basis for many teardrop trailer builds. Search around the www you will find lots of info.
It will likely need some upgrades. They used to have tires and bearings rated only for 45mph - not sure if they still do. I was completely unsure how that was even legal but it was.
In the teardrop world people would start with this trailer - I guess to make registration easier - then do an upgraded axle, springs, bearings, tires and have someone weld the thing together once assembled how they liked.
For a once a month trip to home depot its likely fine as is, assuming HD is close.
It will likely need some upgrades. They used to have tires and bearings rated only for 45mph - not sure if they still do. I was completely unsure how that was even legal but it was.
In the teardrop world people would start with this trailer - I guess to make registration easier - then do an upgraded axle, springs, bearings, tires and have someone weld the thing together once assembled how they liked.
For a once a month trip to home depot its likely fine as is, assuming HD is close.
Have two. One is retired to yard duty, and I would like to redo with shorter but wider tires. The other I barely got together before losing my tow vehicle, but pretty much the same. I think you can get bearings from Amazon if not HF--do not buy locally unless if you want to spend a lot of money as they are metric and seemingly expensive. Then again, maybe the expensive ones are better, I don't think I've had one that didn't look bad after a year or two (water gets in). Wiring is junk, as noted; I like to run a separate ground, although I think it's LED lights now and much brighter with less current draw.
I did elect to flip the axle on mine, so as to lower it more, but I'm not sure if I like the result. The axle is U shaped and now is likely a water trap. Also the way the fenders bolt on precludes reusing those brackets, at least not without doing some metal work.
On mine I tossed the extra wheels and added some bolts so as to defeat the folding aspect. With a solid piece of 3/4" plywood it stiffens up a bit (it's shockingly flexible without).
The tires are like 55mph rated but I know one time I replaced with a range up and with higher speed rating. With the 12" wheels and not overloading, I haven't had any issue, not even when I had them on a popup camper (and driving much faster than 55).
Only thing I really dislike is that I've yet to disable the hinge portion up front, it rattles around as it ovals out.
I did elect to flip the axle on mine, so as to lower it more, but I'm not sure if I like the result. The axle is U shaped and now is likely a water trap. Also the way the fenders bolt on precludes reusing those brackets, at least not without doing some metal work.
On mine I tossed the extra wheels and added some bolts so as to defeat the folding aspect. With a solid piece of 3/4" plywood it stiffens up a bit (it's shockingly flexible without).
The tires are like 55mph rated but I know one time I replaced with a range up and with higher speed rating. With the 12" wheels and not overloading, I haven't had any issue, not even when I had them on a popup camper (and driving much faster than 55).
Only thing I really dislike is that I've yet to disable the hinge portion up front, it rattles around as it ovals out.
Elkins45
Site Donor 2026
Or you can just buy a kit. That way you have someone else to blame instead of your own welding skills.
https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Su...tzencBiRqkSBYkMg0CFFoHvHC6D_8_TwaAgDaEALw_wcB
See! Those plates have some brakes in them so they'll actually hold torque.
