Trailers? Buying one?

[Jeff]

Dave, I drove past this morning, and thought that was Anthony's trailer.  I was picking up my van from Kilpatricks and just glanced.

BTW, Shane over at Kilpatrick's owes you (I said at least an oil change) for the $1610 I dropped on them going through my van.  Thing runs great and they claim it to be SOLID.  I'm pleased...

[Super Dave]

Yeah, Anthony's trailer is in.

Shane?  I'll take a big steak!

They do good work.

Trans, fuel mods?  What did they do?

[Jeff]

Shane is the service manager there.  Really good guy.

Basically I dropped it off with the instructions of "I need this van to tow 7000 lbs for 36,000 miles over the next 3 years.  While you're at it, please mount this trans temp sensor in the pan".

They came back with...  Your engine and transmission are more than capable of lasting your requirements.  Here are the things we would do to ensure you have no problems.

Transmission service, fluid/filter change, mount sensor
Install new Pitman arm
Install new Idler arm
Install left outer tie-rod end
Align front end
Replace leaking waterpump
Replace two coolant hoses
Replace thermostat
New air filter
New KYB shocks all the way around

$1610.86 out the door.  Not bad at all IMHO.  I felt the hours charged in labor (less than 10) were more than reasonable.  They kept me updated continually and made very sensible recommendations.  The confidence they have given me in the new van is more than worth the $1600.  Not to mention it rides like a dream now (despite the 5 mins it took me to start it this very cold morning  :-/ ).

[Lowe119]

The Steel Industry has banded together to jack the prices of steel up since the tariffs were raised in December. We have watched most of our steel costs double.  That has urged the bigger places to buy up a lot of the steel before they pay too much. That leaves us little guys waiting.

[dsb]

I'm looking to get an enclosed trailer, however, I'm tow vehicle impaired... have to pull it with a 6cyl jeep cherokee (square back not grand). What's the smallest _usable_ trailer? the local guy was trying to steer me towards a 5X8, but that looks too small to me, I'm thinking 6X10... But would the jeep pull it? The guy I was talking to sells Wells Cargo's and the exterior height of one of their 6X10 trailers is 7'8" ... that seems tall for only having a 6' interior height, or is it?

Thx,
Dave

BTW, I'm only planning on haulling one bike and assoc. gear...

[dwilson]

I use a 4'X8' Harbor freight special, 1 bike, lots of tools, gas can & bicycle is fine.

I can't imaging that you can't get a class 3 hitch for your Jeep.  I'd definitely do a few googles on it.

[Zac]

We've towed our 6x12 (one of the lightweight, single axle Pace Cargo Sports) with our Cherokee.  As long as you don't put too much weight in it (with a single bike and gear you shouldn't have a problem).  I believe with the Jeep towing kit it's good for 3000 lbs trailer weight (you NEED the HD cooling and full size spare that are part of the towing kit, ours came with the Up Country suspension package which came with all the towing kit stuff except the reciever, so I just added that).  I would recommend the shortest trailer (height) you can deal with.  Because the Cherokee is pretty narrow, it doesn't punch a big hole in the air, so the aero drag of wide/tall trailers will limit fuel mileage at highway speed.  Trailer brakes would be a good idea too, as a 3000 lb trailer can start wagging a 4500 lb Jeep.

As far as trailer size, a bike and gear will fit in a 5x8, but its tight.  I've have 4 bikes in our 6x12, but its really tight (and no, I wasn't towing with the Cherokee, that's with our 1 ton conversion van)

-z.

[tzracer]

I used to have a 5x10 trailer. I could carry 2 bikes (TZ250 and RC51) plus a full tool box (upper and lower box), tarp, generator, spares. I would worry about width and height. Drag can be as bad, if not worse than the weight of the trailer. I would opt for trailer brakes.

[Super Dave]

I'm looking to get an enclosed trailer, however, I'm tow vehicle impaired... have to pull it with a 6cyl jeep cherokee (square back not grand). What's the smallest _usable_ trailer? the local guy was trying to steer me towards a 5X8, but that looks too small to me, I'm thinking 6X10... But would the jeep pull it? The guy I was talking to sells Wells Cargo's and the exterior height of one of their 6X10 trailers is 7'8" ... that seems tall for only having a 6' interior height, or is it?

Thx,
Dave

BTW, I'm only planning on haulling one bike and assoc. gear...

5x10 would be good.  But the 6x10 probably has a side door...the extra height is good inside.  At least you can walk in it without getting hurt.

7'8" sounds about right.  Can depend upon the up slope of the torsion axle, if Wells is using a torsion axle on that trailer.  Regardless, it sounds about right.

V6?  You'll feel it, and you'll spend more on fuel, but I wouldn't think that the weight of the trailer would make much difference...about 200 to 300 pounds...but the increased frontal area will make the difference.

[GKBuzz]

Great news Dave!  :-[ I just picked up my new road bike yesterday and will be looking for a trailer this summer (Daytona trips etc...). Oh well, such is life :-X