[nebrait]

I've decided to purchase my first trailer and wanted to get some feedback.

I foresee us using the trailer mainly for two things. One is getting plants from the nursery to our holding area. When I make a trip to the nursery I'll pick up anywhere from 50 to 300 plants. (Any more and I have them delivered.) For that I'm planning to buy a transport rack on wheels (that lock) that I can roll on and off the trailer.

The second thing is of course for use on the job site. I'd like to be able to fit about 100 plants in 1 gallon containers which will require 2 racks that are 30Lx18Dx60H (if I did the math right). I'm thinking to put them against the wall on one side of the trailer.

On the other side I'd like to have room for our hand tools; a few bags each of mulch, compost and topsoil; shelving for contractor bags, tarps, circ saw, a drill or two and maybe a cooler; a cubbyhole for myself and a few workers to store our personal stuff and a tool box big enough to fit all of those little miscellaneous things you only need once in a blue moon but when you do you really need them.

So far I'm thinking about the Wells Cargo TC Trecker 5x8 the Pace American 5x8 and the Featherlite 1610 6x8.

I'm just starting to research this and would be grateful for any feedback. Am I on the right track? Am I way off base? I have exactly zero experience with this.

[Mac]

you will love an enclosed trailer once you get one. I run my maintenance crew out of a 20x7 and want a bigger one. The only advice I can lend is to buy much bigger than you think you need. I did and still want larger. Maybe it will be different in the city like you are - I duno.

[nebrait]

Mac, thank you so much for your reply.

I'm actually moving to Sun Valley -- in 7 days! We were going to rent a trailer to get our stuff out there but then I started thinking why rent? I should just buy one. I'll need it out there any way.

So, now I've got 7 days to buy a trailer and what I know about trailers would fit inside a thimble made for an elf. Since I last posted I've also found a couple of (what I think) are good deals on trailers that probably aren't as good quality as the Wells Cargo or the Featherlite but for what I need I'm wondering if they are going to be fine.

One is a Carry-On 5x8 enclosed for $1400 and $239 for the hitch incl installation. Here's a link to the specs Carry-On Trailer 5'x8' 2990 LB Enclosed Trailer

The other is this WorkSport trailer made by Pace American for Home Depot for $1800. This is a link to the page with all the specs 5x8 Cargo - WorkSport Trailer

I've got a limited budget - $2000 - so I think getting a larger trailer is oout of the question at the moment.

Any thoughts? Advice? Help?

Normally before I make a purchase like this I do a ton of research, grill salespeople, look at every option, compare prices, talk to people who own the item, make a list of pros and cons, consult my eight ball, sleep on it and then buy. But there's not time for all those shenanigans so I'm just hoping to get a decent price on a decent product.

[Squizzy Taylor]

Nebrait, Mac is right, it will never be big enough. I built my own semi-enclosed hardscaping trailer. In front of the axles is a 7' x 4' double gull wing lockable tool box for all our gear, and in front of that on the drawbar is what we call the "coffin box" for all the shovels, axes, crowbars etc. The area behind the gull wing box is 9' x 7' caged area with a rear fold down ramp. Its basically a multi-purpose outfit but I have had hundreds of plants in there. Typically is compactors, mixer, wheelbarrows, hoses etc. If I could fit a tonne of cement in somewhere I would.....but soon I'm going to need about another 100 hp to pull it.

[Mac]

sorry, I cant comment on your brand questions. I looked at the major brands when I was shopping but I reasoned that as long as the construction was on par, the parts were nearly identical, so why pay extra for a name brand? I picked up one heck of a trailer for a great price and I have not regretted it at all - just want a bigger one.

[nebrait]

I've been told by a few people not to get the Carry-On Trailer, that the quality is bad. I think at this point I just need to go to a dealer and start looking at trailers to see what will work best for us.

[AZTLANLC]

why not check on ebay or craig list you might find something really good there for your budget.