Best enclosed trailer?

[Beast2B]

OK, I've looked at quite a few. I've noticed good and bad with most. For an 8x24 I've seen anywhere from $8,600 to $22,000. Now I'm a believer in 'You get what you pay for', but where is the break even point?

Most of the lower price stuff has screws hanging at odd angles, trim is there but not very good fit, door seals tweaked in the closures... Mid-range stuff is better appearing, but most are still bare wood walls and floor. I would LOVE to buy the $22k TPD trailer with steel frame and FRP panels in a unitized structure and NO wood to get wet/warp, but the ability to pressure wash the rig after a trip ain't worth $10k!

This is an occasional use trailer for our ATVs, dirt bikes and sand rail, but I would like something that will last a decade or more!



Some that I have seen that impressed me:

TPD (factory is in my town, big plus for support)

Aluminum Trailer Company (ATC)

Vintage



Medium level:

Pace

Cargo Mate



Lower level:

Carson

Haulmark

 

[Babyfat]

http://hhtrailer.com/



very good trailers i have three of their tilting flat beds, 7k, 10k and 14k gooseneck

 

[JTruelove]

Cargo Trailer

I purchased a Haulmark in 2003 and I use it to haul welding machines, cutting torch rig, and numerous tools. It's held up very well. Be sure to add the Tork Flex axles. They are soooo much better than leaf springs. The trailer tracks and pulls great... and because my stuff doesn't bounce as much, due to the Tork Flex axles. My 2 cents

 

[Hoefler]

Ditto on the H&H. I bought one to haul my tools in. I have a 7 X 16 with a 6 1/2' ceiling. It weighs in right in at 6,000. I haul it into job sites every where. Has held up very well. The torsion axles are the only way to go.

 

[Suprmn]

I have been impressed with the build quality on the Wells Cargo models, but they are on the spendy side. I have recently owned a Pace, a Haulmark and an Interstate. My favorite one is the Interstate so far. It is the only one with undercoated frame rails and is the only one that has not leaked in the severe rain we get here in the pacific north west. The Interstate was also very reasonably priced.

 

[JOdell]

I have a '96 U. S. Cargo (Cargo Mate) I haul my ATV's and everything else I can put in there. It has held up very well. The only thing I didn't like about it was the fact that the original red faded real bad. I painted it in '03 to match my silver Ram. -Jason

 

[JOdell]

Here is a picture of my trailer. -https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=56752&stc=1

trailer. JPGJason

 

[bagd99dak]

my brother just bought a 2006 haulmark 24ft enclosed trailer. he transports his show truck in it. i also put my dakota in it on occasion. although i never took a road trip with it yet it does tow nice and seems to be good quality. i beleive he paid around 7100 for it. dual 5100lbs tork flex axles, both with brakes. has 3/4 inch plywood floor, white panel sides and roof, he had a hefty coat of polyurathane put on the floor to keep them nice. it weighs about 4500lbs empty. but overall i would say its a pretty decent trailer.

 

[Beast2B]

thanks for the replies. one thing i've heard a couple times is that trailers with lots of screws need to be re-tightened annually (or as needed). Any truth to that?

I won't need a bunch of capacity, but I am definitely going with rubber suspended axles. Our 10k Sno-cat trailer at work is equipped with them and I can feel how much smoother it is than my 7k utility trailer with springs!

 

[Hoefler]

H & H have bonded panels on the outside. No screws or rivets. When a automatic gate malfunctioned and closed on the side of my trailer, the shop had a hell of a time pulling off 3 panels to repair it. The skin would tear and had to be heated and scraped off the studs. Incidentally, the whole frame, rear door frame, and tongue is sprayed with Line-X before the floor, roof, and walls are installed.

 

[JGrosso]

I bought a used CargoMate 28' car trailer and I'm pretty happy with it, heck at the price I paid, I'm really happy



The trailer is an older model (maybe 1997?) and has the exposed screws.

I have noticed some of the screws are loose on the lower aluminum trim, but not the side pannels?



I haven't weighed the trailer, but I suspect it is no light-weight. I think some of the more expensive trailers are built lighter?



If you plan to haul a full sized car, get a trailer with a drivers side door.

That was the big selling point on mine, it would be really hard to get out of my car in the trailer without the door.

 

[Dl5treez]

The only enclosed trailer I have experience with is Featherlite, but it was larger than what you're looking for so maybe the "experience" won't be so relevant.



It held up great, aluminum interior/exterior---towed excellent, looked good, and kept the resale value held up nicely.



Dan-

 

[CumminsBu]

Have you looked at Featherlite trailers, they are All Aluminum and use little or not wood.

http://www.fthr.com/

 

[GMcLeod]

Triton trailers make one of the best I've seen, but a little on the expensive side. Fetherlite makes a great trailer but you need a fat wallet for one of those babies.

 

[JGrosso]

Quick update, I looked at my trailer registration and my trailer is a 2002 model. It only has (dual) 5,500lb axles, but they seem to work fine. I have hauled some heavy loads, and have considered getting a higher load range tire. I believe I have the "D" load range tires on the trailer now. Tires and brakes seem to be wearing good too, but I only have about 5,000 miles on the trailer since I bought it.



The options on my trailer include 230v wiring, Breaker box, roof mount A/C (heater optional, but not hooked up), inside and outside 110v outlets, and florecent lights inside, and helligen (sp) lights on the outside.

The trailer did not come with a generator or generator door, but has upper and lower cabinets with work bench along the front. The interior walls are lined with white vinal (sp) and it has a checker pattern floor covering. The back is dove tailed, so it is really easy (low) to load/unload. The guy I bought it from had two super comp dragsters in it, and they sit really low.

Best part is I only paid $7,500 for it, and the owner even threw in the $300 load leveling hitch.

 

[Beast2B]

thanks for the ammo!

 

[MRosinski]

I just recently bought a 2006 cargomate. It's 24x8. 5 with a additional 12" of height so the interior is 7'8" tall. It's a great quality trailer for a real good price. It also has 5200 lb. axles.

 

[Beast2B]

Well we bit the bullet and bought a 24' TPD triple-axle 10k rig. Pick it up Wed. Thanks again for all of the help, a lot of confirmation that it pays to do your homework! We actually found an 'early build' 2006, so we snuck in under the last price increase for steel/fuel/paint/fill-in-the-blank!

Thanks again to all

 

[dragrcr1005]

Haulmark

i recently purchased a used 28 foot haulmark elite 2. it has a sprint car pop up in the rear, a observation deck on top with alum. railings, and a finished inside with cabinets, alum. walls, and a checker board floor. i am really pleased with the trailer and the quality. it is a 1997 and is still in great shape. no rot in the floor, and no water leaks. it is a little faded from the sun but that is to be expected with a black trailer. i have had many enclosed trailers and the quailty is not apparent with most untill 5 or 10 years down the road when the rod begins and the rust gets to it. that is when the cheaper trailers will show their true character. in my opinion the best enclosed trailers are, featherlight, gold rush, and haulmark. there are also some nice trailers that i have not had experience with like vintage which look real nice.

 

[kshimizu]

Cargo Express is the brand we sell. The two models we carry are the STE which is built with square tube and the XL which is hat channel frame. The STE is of course the better of the two. You can get them from basic cargo to fully loaded race car style. All trailers come standard with 20 year Advantech Flooring, seamless aluminum roofs guaranteed not to leak, . You can check out their website for more info. Cargo Express is a great heavy duty trailer that's worth checking out.



http://www.cargoexpress.com/php/advantage/index.php