Anyone ever move a camper in a trailer?

[daneyuleb]

We're moving cross country and are a little worried about our little 5x10 camper on its harbor freight trailer with it's little wheels making such a long trip and are seriously thinking about putting it on a trailer just to save wear and tear and avoid potential problems. Considering just a u-haul open trailer. That would give it better wheels and maybe even insure it. Is that crazy? Anyone else ever do something like that?

[BigDave_185]

I have a single axle moto trailer that I will take long distances in my enclosed to simplify. The moto trailer bounces all over the highway and pulls like Pooh.

You could maybe use the move to justify a new axle and larger tire wheel combo. The rent of a trailer to haul the camp trailer might be half what a heavier axle and tire combo. Just my logic to get bigger stuff lol


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[swoody126]

the OP is no different than hauling a motorcycle on a trailer

some M/C's weigh in over 1k# and lotsa folks will haul 2 of the big ones at a time

many haul 2-3 medium sized ones on one trailer

no difference

no worry

now for a suggestion

consider buying a used 6x10 utility trailer and sell it on the other end

grease the bearings and make sure the tires are less than 5 years old(read the birth week stamp on the side)

will likely sell for what you paid for it

most likely way cheaper than renting

butt renting puts all the mechanical responsibility(bearings tires lights registration) on the rental company

personally i like having a nice utility trailer(or 3) around

BON CHANCE

sw

[working on it]

...You could maybe use the move to justify a new axle and larger tire wheel combo. The rent of a trailer to haul the camp trailer might be half what a heavier axle and tire combo. Just my logic to get bigger stuff....

...consider buying a used 6x10 utility trailer and sell it on the other end

grease the bearings and make sure the tires are less than 5 years old(read the birth week stamp on the side)

will likely sell for what you paid for it

most likely way cheaper than renting

but renting puts all the mechanical responsibility(bearings tires lights registration) on the rental company

personally i like having a nice utility trailer(or 3) around....

* I agree (in part) with both of the above suggestions.

* If you don't trust your current axle/wheel/tire set-up for a long haul, then perhaps it's untrustworthy for any length trip? I partially up-sized my original set-up from 8" wheels to 14" (bigger bearings, too), while retaining the spindly axle (which I knew would be over-loaded), before I ever used it. I transported the original frame to the 50+ mile distant garage, where I was to transform it into a TTT, on my car-hauler trailer, since it was in no way highway capable at the time.

* It was a year before I upgraded the TTT's axle to a braked 3500 lb unit, and two more years before it received fresh, new LT all-terrain tires, before I could finally trust it fully.

* About renting a trailer: I just priced a U-haul 6x12 enclosed trailer (single axle) rental, cross-country, one-way, from NY to LA , for $1164 (pre-tax, pre-insurance), as an example. I suppose that's reasonable, but I also priced an enclosed 6x12 from Trailer Superstore (for delivery to NY. as a similar starting point), $1999 used or $3099 new (a 6x12 open trailer was $1599-$1699, also new); for $500 or so more (open trailer) or $800-1800 (enclosed trailer), then you could own your spare trailer (always a good thing to have around). If renting, then you have to trust the renter's having properly maintained the unit, whereas if it was yours, new or used, then you'd have to trust your own maintenance. Personally, I'd rather trust my own.

* My 3500 lb axle + springs+ hardware and peripherals, cost me under $500 (I also reinforced the framerails at that time), not including the two welders I bought. If you already have the tools needed to upgrade, then that would be my choice, for sure. Or, for a shop to install a new axle and larger wheels, it certainly wouldn't cost much more (perhaps a 2200 lb axle upgrade, for less?). Not knowing if your trailer is axle-up-gradable at all (fenders, overhang, body above the wheels could restrict up-sizing), certainly makes this a pure-guesswork exercise, but those are your options, as I see it.

[rjgimp]

We're moving cross country...

From where to where?

...seriously thinking about putting it on a trailer just to save wear and tear and avoid potential problems...Is that crazy? Anyone else ever do something like that?

Not crazy at all. Some years ago I was needing to somewhat quickly pack up my parents' rural home following my dad's death. I had been keeping a popup camper and a small utility trailer there and had no other convenient option at the time. I was driving a semi back then so I <ahem> 'borrowed ' a 53' van trailer and we loaded both trailers and a crapload of other stuff in there and then I parked it at my cousin's farm for a few months until the dust settled.

Are you hiring a moving van? Could your trailer be loaded in there for the trip?

[daneyuleb]

Thanks for all the suggestions. We're moving about as cross country as it gets -- Tampa, FL to Olympia, WA. We've only used the camper for little trips and we're just paranoid about those tiny harbor freight wheels.
Love the idea of buying a utility trailer -- the camper is about 800 pounds so it should work -- but I"m not seeing any for less than $1100. But I would definitely love the excuse to get one.

I'd love to update the axle/tires even more, but I've only got a couple of weeks and not something I'd be able do. And the way the camper is built, I don't think I have the clearance for bigger wheels unless there's some method of lowering the axle in the process. Don't have a great picture, but here's one that sort of gives the idea of the way the wheels are situated.

camper.jpg (363.99 KiB) Viewed 2131 times

[Modstock]

I upgraded my 4.88/12 to 5.30's. It's a size taller and wider. Seems to help keep the bearings alot cooler.
Just a idea for a future upgrade.

Just make sure to strap that trailer down good inside the other trailer. Dont want it moving around.
Safe travels.

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[mary and bob]

When we bought our teardrop we brought it home in a rental box truck. It was in rough shape and we didn't want to chance towing it. A friend moved to Maine many years ago from NY. He had a Model A Ford doodlebug that he wanted to take so we loaded it into a Uhaul rental truck and packed all his belongings on and around it.

[DoctahDeane]

I'm in the process of having a trailer shipped from Florida to New England. Will be picked up 2/27. I used uShip. You put out a bid for service and then get contacted by shippers interested. So far, the outfit I'm using has been good. Trailer will ship strapped down inside an enclosed trailer - $1200. I'll provide an update if you like, once it arrives.

[Tomterrific]

Arrrrggg! Double post. How did that happen?
Tt

[Tomterrific]

I just did 2800 miles with the worst bearings and tires anyone can imagine. I properly greased the bearings 6000 miles ago and inflated the 30 year old tires to the maximum 50 psi. Hey, if it ain't broke...
I touched the tires and the hub every time we stopped. All were cool to the touch. I do have new tires as spares, my big worry, but the originals have held up.
I hope that gives some confidence for a good trip.
Tt

[Pinstriper]

But... why ?

If you have new spares, why would you run 30 year old tires ?

And why not check and lube the bearings, replace them if needed ? Its easy and cheap.

Maybe I am misreading your post. But I don’t think encouraging a cross country trip with bad bearings and tires is wise or helpful.



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[Tomterrific]

Why? I tell myself that. It was cold and nasty before our trip, and I don't like to do things if they don't need it.

The old bearings were properly greased two summers ago, only 6000 miles. Pulled out, cleaned in solvent, dried, and used my palm to force grease between the rollers. When is the last time anybody's were 'properly' greased?
The tires have tread. They are old but most blowouts are due to sidewall flex because of low pressure.

The tires and bearings are old so I check for heat which means trouble. The point I wanted to make was those two areas are what he needs to worry about with a trailer. They are good, the trip is good.

Tt