QUESTION ON HARBOR FREIGHT $299 TRAILERS ????

[rvlifer]

I was looking at the $299 1100# trailers at Harbor Freight yesterday. The first thing I notices was that the axles are about 6" long & I guess held on by the u-bolts. This to me doesn't look like a set-up to be pulling down the road at 60 mph. Then the upgrade was a 5 lug wheel with a solid axle but the cost was $449 I believe. Now that is a lot of extra money for a piece of 1 1/4" or whatever size that round stock is.
Can someone convince me that those stubby axles are safe at highway speeds. Or what are you guys doing to improve that design.
I'm a retired mechanic that did his share of fab work & design. That set up just doesn't look good to me. I know I would never run that.

[doug hodder]

Here's another thread that may be of some help to you. Doug

http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=37171

[rvlifer]

Thanks for the reference. But I didn't see really any reference to the axles. The Reno HF only had two trailers out of about 5 they build. The $299 trailer had what I call questionable axle setup. The other was much beefier. Is this the same setup as HF has been making for years? Is this something new? Other than that I like the frames.
Does someone have pictures of their axle setup from the bottom?

Thanks

[parnold]

Don't forget the 20% off coupon for Harbor Freight. You can find one in almost any car magazine as well as popular science and popular mechanics. With that discount, the 449 trailer is only 360.

HF also sells the 449 trailer cheaper from time to time. I bought mine on sale for 329, and I didn't know how easy it was to get the coupon at the time, so I paid the 329.

[Endo]

I was looking at the $299 1100# trailers at Harbor Freight yesterday. The first thing I notices was that the axles are about 6" long .

A Harbor Freight trailer with stubby axles?? I have not seen that one.

Here are the ones typically used:

1195 lb trailer CLICK HERE

1720 lb trailer

Both of the above have solid axles. I have used both without any issues.

[eamarquardt]

I was looking at the $299 1100# trailers at Harbor Freight yesterday. The first thing I notices was that the axles are about 6" long & I guess held on by the u-bolts. This to me doesn't look like a set-up to be pulling down the road at 60 mph. Then the upgrade was a 5 lug wheel with a solid axle but the cost was $449 I believe. Now that is a lot of extra money for a piece of 1 1/4" or whatever size that round stock is.
Can someone convince me that those stubby axles are safe at highway speeds. Or what are you guys doing to improve that design.
I'm a retired mechanic that did his share of fab work & design. That set up just doesn't look good to me. I know I would never run that.

Ask yerself the following questions:

How much is your trailer gonna weigh compared to the tow vehicle?

What's the wheelbase of your tow vehicle (important to handling when towing)?

Do you need brakes?

Is the HF trailer the exact size you want?

If after thinking about it, you may want to invest a bit more money and get a frame that meets all your needs the first time. You can build a frame in a day. Come to So. Cal. and and I'll prove it for the cost of materials.

Cheers,

Gus

[mikeschn]

I have not seen stub axles on a HF trailer before either. Are you sure it wasn't just chopped up for the floor model?

This is what should come out of the box... (after assembly of course!)



Mike...

[BobR]

I think he is referring to the design feature where there is only about a 6" piece of machined round stock welded into each end of the the "C" channel forming the axle assembly.

I have over 8K miles on the RT3T with no problems on with this axle.

[rvlifer]

I think he is referring to the design feature where there is only about a 6" piece of machined round stock welded into each end of the the "C" channel forming the axle assembly.

I have over 8K miles on the RT3T with no problems on with this axle.

OK the stubby round stock is welded into the channel. I looked at one hanging from the rack & it looked like the stubby round stock was held in place with the u-bolts that hold the channel to the springs. I didn't see where it was welded.
But that makes much better sense & a safer situation than what it appeared.
Thanks for explaining that.
Thanks for all the responses. I will look at the links provided. As I stated earlier there were only two trailers on display but prices listed for I believe 5 different trailers with different weight ratings.
Personal I would prefer paying extra for a heavier trailer than I might need.

[H@nk]

Don't forget the 20% off coupon for Harbor Freight. You can find one in almost any car magazine as well as popular science and popular mechanics. With that discount, the 449 trailer is only 360.

HF also sells the 449 trailer cheaper from time to time. I bought mine on sale for 329, and I didn't know how easy it was to get the coupon at the time, so I paid the 329.

Write in for the newsletter of HarborFright and its coming in your mailbox.
http://www.harborfreightusa.com/usa/com ... ycode=0000

[rvlifer]

I signed up with Harbor Freight for their discounts & coupons. I will look for the 20% off coupon.
Thanks Everyone

[Woodbutcher]

I just picked up the HF 1750# trailer yesterday. It is on sale for 359.00 in the store till I believe May 27th. The 20% off coupon made it 308.00 out the door. Can't beat that!

[sschevel]

I picked up the heavier trailer for the fact it has the 5 bolt 4 1/2 pattern tires and rims. Since I have a 2,000 pound 5 foot axle just sitting there I plan to swap them and widen the axle mount to 5 feet.
A few initial problems come up.

First the box has 2 RF C channels not 1RF and 1LF. Means some drilling for the tongue mounts which I do plan to weld in place anyway so I may skip the drilling

Second, the rims fit the longer axle just fine but then I noticed they (HF) used a different thread. Heck, no problem I am thinking, I'll tap out the lugs and switch them, but again HF lug is just a touch smaller on the head where they press into the hub, so I'll go purchase 2 sets of lug nuts to fit the longer axle.

This makes me believe that the hubs must be different sized inside so I doubt I can hold the hubs as a "spare".

On a good note, I found some nice hinges for the doors, drawer pulls, and my vent fan and combination light arrived and I continue to plan the build.

[rainjer]

The hubs on a HF trailer are metric.


Jeremy

[mikeschn]

Don't forget the 20% off coupon for Harbor Freight. You can find one in almost any car magazine as well as popular science and popular mechanics. With that discount, the 449 trailer is only 360.

HF also sells the 449 trailer cheaper from time to time. I bought mine on sale for 329, and I didn't know how easy it was to get the coupon at the time, so I paid the 329.

Write in for the newsletter of HarborFright and its coming in your mailbox.
http://www.harborfreightusa.com/usa/com ... ycode=0000

You can grab the 20% off coupon here. And it's good til the end of 2010.

http://www.harborfreightusa.com/html/Si ... s/20_c.jpg

I just used it to get the 1195# trailer. With the coupon my price was $239 (+tax).

Mike...