Base trailer options.. Need help choosing

[mlowry7]

So, I'm either getting a 7x12 or 6x14. Both have the same square footage. The 6x14 is a couple hundred cheaper. Also my budget will only allow single axle. Any thoughts? Thanks for all your help! What's a great forum!

[Gunguy05]

6 ft will be easier to see with, and if it's cheaper I would pick it.

[mlowry7]

What are your thoughts on a single axle with a 14 footer?

[bigbendhiker]

As long as you're not planning to have your bed(s) running crossways, I would go with the 6x14. It would be easier to tow. As far as the single axle, compare the payload capacity to the estimated weight of your build plus gear. Either way make sure the trailer has brakes.

[James06]

I have a 7X12 v-nosed with a single axle. I chose 7' because I may be hauling two bikes at once, otherwise I would have gone with the cheaper version. As far as brakes go, I have been pulling trailers as long as I have been driving, and for something of that size, I wouldn't pay extra for brakes. Of course, I am towing with a full sized pickup, if I were using a smaller tow vehicle, I would probably want trailer brakes.

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

On this forum you can never go broke saving money !!!

James06

Please put a sign "NO brakes" on ur rear door so I & RoadInspector can stay clear.

[charchri4]

With all the hills in TN I would think the extra few hundred bucks for brakes would be well worth the peace of mind to me. If you have to jump on your brakes in a down hill curve that trailer will push the hind end of any vehicle straight with out brakes on it. Just my .02 on the subject.

[James06]

James06

Please put a sign "NO brakes" on ur rear door so I & RoadInspector can stay clear.

Just stay behind me, you'll be OK.

[James06]

With all the hills in TN I would think the extra few hundred bucks for brakes would be well worth the peace of mind to me. If you have to jump on your brakes in a down hill curve that trailer will push the hind end of any vehicle straight with out brakes on it. Just my .02 on the subject.

You just have to drive like you know the curve is coming up. I had a close call once in Roan Mountain pulling a 2,000 pound pop-up behind a Nissan Frontier. A deer ran out in front of me and I ended up clipping it, but it survived. Of course, I always make sure my brakes are in good shape. Also, I have literally been pulling trailers since before I had my drivers license (I spent a lot of time on family farms of both sets of grandparents and we lived in a rural area). If a trailer was over 16', I would probably want brakes on it, or if I were going to have much more than 3500 pounds weight including the trailer. But a full size pick-up with 3000 pounds or less of trailer weight has plenty of stopping power unless you're going crazy fast. I guess I should have clarified my earlier post, since I am not saying you never need trailer brakes. They have saved me from a few wrecks towing campers.

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

James06

Please put a sign "NO brakes" on ur rear door so I & RoadInspector can stay clear.

Just stay behind me, you'll be OK.

YEA ..... We just had a 50 car pile up with 1 dead & 8 serious injured because a truck driver lost his brakes,If it was up to me the guy would spend his life in jail

[MtnDon]

If the 6 foot width works with the floor plan I'd go with six foot over 7. Less frontal area + lessened drag through the air. That is simple. Wider increases layout choices but increases drag as well.


Brakes, yes or no, depends a lot on the tow vehicle rating as well as the trailer weight. I have not yet weighed our deep vee nose 6 x 12. It has brakes and is towed by a factory tow package equipped '06 Toyota Tacoma. On a recent trip in the CO mountains the brake wiring developed a problem; result was the brakes no longer worked on the trailer. We completed the 1300+ mile plus trip safely; it did require an adjustment in driving, more downshifting to use engine braking. That said now that I have corrected the problem I am happier.

[walkrdg]

I just completed a trip from Reno, NV to Bellingham, WA pulling a Haulmark single axle 6 x 14 with a year 2000 6 cyl. 4-wheel drive Toyota Tacoma. I had a 900 lb, payload and the trailer weighs 1440 lbs, according to the manufacturer. The drive involved flatland, mountains, 2-lane, and 4-lane fast moving freeway. Going through Portland, OR and Seattle, WA, was absolutely nuts! I got the brakes - and I'm probably safe-and-sound because I did.

[BC_Explorer]

Trailer brakes are probably the best investment you can make. For my 6x12, the cost was $230.00 and is cheap insurance for the area of the country I live in.

Here is a link that summarizes all trailer brake requirements in the USA and Canada.

[Rainier70]

It is nice to have the option to put your bed across the width of the trailer. It seems roomier that way.

On the other hand if you travel narrow rough roads the 6 wide track is only a little wider than the truck track. The 6 wide is also easier to see behind without extending your mirrors.

Front "sail" square footage is going to be a little bit more on a 7 wide.

[Doublacola]

With the 7 wide you can place a bed length ways, in the middle, and each person can sit on their side of the bed and at night no crawling over. That was important to us. I think that was the most important reason for us choosing 12. We also got the electric brakes as it doubles as a cargo trailer.