Harbor Freight ect. trailers??

[lonerider]

Maybe it's just me but I don't think I could trust any trailer that comes in a 'kit' and bolts together!!!

[claw73]

I've had my harbor freight trailer for six or seven years now and it has worked great. It has been everything from a 10 foot boat hauler to a yard junk trailer to carrying all my crap between Washington and Montana twice at 80 MPH.
I will be building my tear on it because I know it is a great little utility trailer and, when I bought it, was the best you could get for $250 brand new. If you are going to be building a tear it seems you should be able to build the trailer.

Good luck

[RonS]

You're right, it's probably just you. Strangely enough, the engine in your car "just bolts together" but you probably trust it. It sees a lot more stress than a trailer does.

[gregp136]

If I welded a trailer together....that I wouldn't trust, and Laurie would not get near it....

Greg (and Laurie)

[doug hodder]

There are lots of HF or/bolt togethers around, and I don't think anyone has actually had one come apart on them. Tongues have been bent and some have had other issues, but like anything, if you do it correctly, should work. I think I'd periodically check bolts and loctite them on assembly. I do weld my own, because I have the tools and ability to do it, and I think resale wise, you get more out of a custom frame/axle set up. I'm sure others will disagree. Here's a poll I put up. Only like 93 responses however, but kinda gives you an idea on who's using what for frames. Doug

http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=31776

[Rigsby]

Im like you Lonerider, I just couldnt trust a `meccanno` trailer. Im luck to be able to weld, so to have one i would have to weld up all the joints

[artwebb]

The front crossmember of the old F 150 pickups was RIVETED to the framerails, for cryin' out loud. Bolts I have no issues with, though I will agree properly welded construction is stronger.

Here's an idea; If it bothers you , bolt it together, then weld it Then rivet it

[Larwyn]

The front crossmember of the old F 150 pickups was RIVETED to the framerails, for cryin' out loud. Bolts I have no issues with, though I will agree properly welded construction is stronger.

Here's an idea; If it bothers you , bolt it together, then weld it Then rivet it

I used grade 8 bolts form TSC and welded each joint as well when I assembled my Harbor Freight trailer. Not sure there would have been room to add rivets.......... At the time I did not trust my skills with the little Weldpak 100 enough to build a trailer from scratch but felt that the bolts would provide good insurance if a weld should fail. I have since upgraded my welding machine and my confidence in my ability to build a safe trailer frame has increased as well. At this point I would not hesitate to build my own trailer frame from scratch (or maybe from mild steel, I hear that "scratch" stuff is hard to find and make great hot cakes...... )

I only have a few hundred miles on the trailer but there have been no signs of welds or bolts failing to hold.

[alffink]

Most of the teardrops out there, like most SUV's never really see off road conditions, I'm a desert camper, but I stick to the graded dirt roads, sandy, muddy, washboard, Yes. Off road, no, I don't make my way across open desert, I don't have a 4x4 TV, but I have driven hundreds of miles pulling my TD on those desert dirt roads, many times, much faster than I thought I was driving.

My TD is build on a bolt together, HF trailer, I have had no problems....did replace the axle due to a burnt bearing, but that has nothing to due with the reliability of the trailer frame. I'd been wanting a Dexter axle and 14" tires all along anyway.

Besides the HF trailers and such, really do help keep the overall weight down, as most of those welding up or having a custom frame built are really way over-kill for a TD, read as; much heavier than needed.

[schaney]

IMHO a framed that is bolted together is fine for many towing situations. Keep it on smooth paved roads and you should be fine. The issues I normally see with HF frames are bearing related and the springs are way to stiff.

[aggie79]

My teadrop is on a custom welded frame. My parts trailer is a bolt-together folding HF that I've had for years.

I did use grade 8 bolts instead of the bolts that came with the HF trailer. I haven't had any issues with the bearings although the longest trip I've used with it was about 50 miles. I also like the HF trailer because I can fold it up when it is not needed and it doesn't take up much space in our small garage.

My HF trailer has been used and abused. Other than bending the sideboard mounts and the bracket holding the rear tailight and license plate bracket, I not had any problems with mine.

[vwbeamer]

I think having a full frame at all is over rated.

My tear will have almost no frame.

[Frog]

I've been using a "Kit" trailer I bought from the now defunct Builder's Emporium in 1981. I laid it out on my garage floor with a carpenter's square and bolted it together. It doesn't get a lot of use lately but did cross the US in the 1980's twice. It's got a GVWR of 1,180 lbs. A couple of years ago I way miscaluclated a load of block and ended up carrying close to 2,000 lbs. without mishap. It was on pavement and only for about 10 miles, but I was lucky.

It's stayed together well. Prehaps the 3/4" plywood deck and 18" plywood sides all bolted together have help. It was not made in China nor were the bolts or tires back then.

If I bought a Made in China trailer I'd update the bolts to high grade American bolts and probably replace the bearings. JUST MY OPINION.

Unless I'm badly mistaken, the wheels are only bolted on and they move in circles at high speeds and seem to stay on for years on end.