Cargo trailer recommendations

[charlesk]

We are considering an AI. We travel with 2-4 bikes, an inflatable kayak and other traveling items.

I curious about towing a small cargo trailer that is of good quality and looks great with the Airstream.

Any recommendations?

Chuck

[Mjgman]

I have a gearspace and that will fit two mountain bikes and an inflatable kayak. It worked pretty well for a trip from Florida to California last year.

It’s a cargo box that sits on the hitch.

[pt.reyesfan]

Originally Posted by charlesk

We are considering an AI. We travel with 2-4 bikes, an inflatable kayak and other traveling items.



I curious about towing a small cargo trailer that is of good quality and looks great with the Airstream.



Any recommendations?



Chuck

Aluminum Trailer Company. Nappanee Indiana. I have an all aluminum toy hauler that they custom designed for me. It is an excellent trailer. After 7 years it looks and behaves like new. Cruse their website.

[perryg114]

I have a 5x8 Haulmark trailer and it is pretty well made. It has two rear doors and a side door. You can get a lot of stuff in it. It is also small enough that you don't need to mess with trailer brakes, load distribution, and sway control. I have had it up to 80 MPH with no hint of sway. They are probably around $2500 now. There is no reason you could not put a canoe rack on top and that gives you more space inside. I originally bought it to haul dirt bikes but we used it as a cargo trailer after that behind a slide in camper. We just hauled it to FL and back 700 miles one way with my wife's Mazda CX-5 and the two of them worked well together. You won't know it is back there with a motorhome.

Perry

[HeadWest]

I’m very happy with a Wells Cargo utility trailer that we bought about 4 years ago. Tows great, torsion axles, bonded, not riveted skin (optional), LED lighting, premium rubberized floor, decent electrical. Loads of configurations and options.

[charlesk]

Thanks everyone. Gives me some options.

[mandolindave]

I know people ( campers, musicians, tradesmen etc ) that have utility trailers.

The possibilities are endless. I've seen big fans, windows, workshops, bars, dishwashers, man caves, murphy beds, you name it.

Might make a good guest room for people who snore?

[ScottP]

Originally Posted by charlesk

We are considering an AI. We travel with 2-4 bikes, an inflatable kayak and other traveling items.



I curious about towing a small cargo trailer that is of good quality and looks great with the Airstream.



Any recommendations?



Chuck

Our experience is this area was a need for a trailer to haul bikes, kayaks, and camping gear during road trips. At night the trailer evolved into a sleeping platform for our two kids and black lab...with its interior lights and secure environment the kids felt safe + it was an easy setup if we arrived at our destination late (just offload kayaks and set up sleeping cots).

Now we use the trailer to transport our motorcycles and camping gear [emoji4] with us since the kids are doing their own thing.

Brand is called Legend and is located in Michigan

Dealer is Becks - I would suggest avoiding if at all possible...(located in St Johns, MI)



Trailer Specifics - 2014

$5,750 purchase price, with pick up in St Johns MI in 2014

6’ X 13’

Narrow enough to tuck in nicely behind ASI

Aluminum - lightweight at 1400#’s iirc

No rivets

Additional height

Finished panels on interior plus interior lights

We chose single axle for minimal weight
(resisted the urge to buy dual)

If you’d like specs I’m happy to post below

I’m not sure if it’s the best out there, or even a good value. But it’s lightweight, narrow and still handles all our gear, good looking (in my opinion) and been trouble free after 40,000 miles +|-. We almost always take the trailer with the ASI when we travel.

[HeadWest]

Sweet looking trailer Scott. We use to drive by Becks all the time when we lived in Mid Michigan and were heading north. I assumed the built most of the trailers they were selling but I see that is not the case. I would definately look into the Legends trailers if we need another enclosed utility trailer in the future.

[xrvr]

Whatever you buy upgrade the tires to the best available.

[charlesk]

Thank you. Will look at Legends and be sure to consider tires.

[Mollysdad]

Having towed a trailer for motorcycles across the country numerous times, I'll never have a single axle trailer again. I'll also have fenders that are replaceable for when the tire blows and the fender is destroyed.

Having said that, I think these would look great with a AI.
http://trailershouston.com/product/w...cycle-trailer/

[CDONA]

As to the basics,
A 6 x ? single axle, outside fenders, no brakes or battery.
A 7 x ? tandem axles, outside fenders, brakes, and a battery.
A 8 x ? tandem axles, inside fenders, brakes, and a battery.
I would look for a rounded roof not flat, that will shed rain & snow.
Head clearance, stooped or upright?

I have a 6 x 12, round roof with vent, Interstate, that I can stand upright in.

[Protagonist]

A trailer that is no more than 7 feet wide and no more than 9 feet tall will tow better behind an Interstate because it better matches the outside dimensions of the van. Going wider or taller will provide additional surface area on the trailer to catch the van's slipstream at highway speeds, and cause a greater hit to fuel economy.

[perryg114]

Originally Posted by Protagonist

A trailer that is no more than 7 feet wide and no more than 9 feet tall will tow better behind an Interstate because it better matches the outside dimensions of the van. Going wider or taller will provide additional surface area on the trailer to catch the van's slipstream at highway speeds, and cause a greater hit to fuel economy.

I have found that you take a BIG gas mileage hit even if the trailer frontal area is smaller than the tow vehicle frontal area. As long as you have a gap between the two, you still get a lot of drag. The wedge shaped trailer front should help a lot. It would be interesting to see a CFD model of the combination.

Perry

[r carl]

FEATHERLITE aluminum trailers are great!

[Glenritas]

I have a 6x14 Pace Landscape trailer. It has tandem axles, Triple tongue, Led Lighting, side door, rear ramp door, 3/8" interior walls , 16" on center side wall studs, e track on the sides for tie downs, roof vent with cover, flow through vents.

I would recommend the e track on the floor and sides along with Tandem axles roof vent.

[charlesk]

Thank you all.

[c21]

Originally Posted by charlesk

Thank you all.

I just sold this one. It is a 12 x 6 Sundowner. Although it is all aluminum construction, had the V nose and weighed only 1800# empty I would lose 3mpg while towing. If you can find a way to store your toys on a hitch mounted carrier or even on top of your AI you will save on fuel.

[Camerons]

We also carry outdoor toys with us when we travel. Two far bikes. Lots of kiteboarding stuff. Large clam pop up screen tent. Vespa. Two iSUPs. Propane fueled fire pit. All this fits in a 6x12 all aluminum trailer by NEO trailers. We installed an anti sway bar on it as a precaution. It is a great solution for bringing outdoor gear along and not overloading the weight limit of the sprinter. It took a lot longer than I thought it would to set up the inside of the trailer to hold everything in place and be able to get it out easily. Lots of eTrack installed on floor and walls. Two motion sensing battery operated lights. Painted the floor and walls. Installed vents on sides. Removed lots of stickers on outside.

It’s light enough that even loaded two people can easily move it around. The only challenge we ever found towing a trailer was on the Cabot trail where we had to turn around because the toad was closed with an accident. Wheel chocks are helpful in this case as the van was on a slope of a very tight mountain road.