Pics of 4x8 Harborfreight Trailer

Ron,

Good point,

First time I had to back it up at our local landfill, I couldn't see
anything on my side mirrors. It was near impossible to back up into
the disposal bay. I was thinking same thing... need something to
stick either up or out about a foot for backup reference points.

-Kevin

A suggestion . . . because it is so LOW, I can only see the outside
edge of
> the license plate. With the Dory aboard, it was the same thing; the outside
> 'spare' obscured the view. I'm going to get a couple of those tall 'driveway
> reflectors' and rig some sockets for them on the aft end.
\

>Hi all,
>
>Just wanted to update a couple of you who were interested in the
>outcome of this project.
>
>I finished building it a couple of weeks ago and it now works nicely.
>
>Here are some pics if you are interested: (this is my first attemt to
>build an .html page, so let me know if it doesn't work.)
>
>-Kevin
>
>http://members.cox.net/kmcgirl/KJM%20Trailer.htm
>
>

Thanks for sharing. Every time I see that trailer, I think it would be handy
to have around. But I have a pickup, so I don't have a good excuse. Yet.

Rich S.

Kev,
Nice photo's.

Had mine for a couple of years. Got it from a local Home Depot . . . end of
summer clearance . . . took me a 'lazy afternoon' to assemble it. Finally
got to use it last week, to 'retrieve' a 16 foot Dory from Harve de Grace,
Maryland.

A suggestion . . . because it is so LOW, I can only see the outside edge of
the license plate. With the Dory aboard, it was the same thing; the outside
'spare' obscured the view. I'm going to get a couple of those tall 'driveway
reflectors' and rig some sockets for them on the aft end.

Regards & Good Luck,
Ron Magen
Backyard Boatshop

"kevin m" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi all,
>
> Just wanted to update a couple of you who were interested in the
> outcome of this project.
>
> I finished building it a couple of weeks ago and it now works nicely.
>
> Here are some pics if you are interested: (this is my first attemt to
> build an .html page, so let me know if it doesn't work.)
>
> -Kevin
>
> http://members.cox.net/kmcgirl/KJM%20Trailer.htm

Barry,
I had one of the 'fisheye' mirrors on my old Toyota Pick-up. Even with it on
the driver's side, you { I } really had to LOOK vs. Glancing, to see
anything. Forget the passenger side . . too much inattention in FRONT at
highway speeds.

Anyway, I can see the end of the license plate & tail-light with only a
little more time than a 'glance'. It's not a case of 'dropping down' {or
really even 'fisheyes'}, it's more one of 'reaching around'.

Because the trailer is rather 'close coupled', it is RIGHT BEHIND the tow
vehicle. With a taller load there would probably be no problem - you could
see it through the rear view mirror on the windshield.

Regards & Thanks,
Ron Magen
Backyard Boatshop

"B a r r y B u r k e J r ." <[email protected]> wrote
in message news:[email protected]...
>SNIP>
> My Jeep has fisheye mirrors, so I can see the trailer. Mu Subaru has
> power mirrors, so I simply drop the view down to back up my trailer.
>
> I think the self-stick fish eye was under $5 at Pep Boys.
>
> Barry

Some possibilities. 990 lb = 450 kg, a bit rounder number.
990 + empty weight is also about the axle rating of 1180 lb.



Stephanie and Tim wrote:

> re: the rated load of 990 pounds - that's gotta be a number that's meant to
> get around some kinda legislation somewhere, huh?
>
> -Tim
>
> > I have a 4x8 welded steel deal I picked up at Lowes for about $350.
> > The trailer itself is quite a bit heavier than the HF model, weighing
> > about 325 pounds.
> >
> > I can see it literally flying behind me at times. <G> I'm in the
> > process of building a heavy floor for when I'm carrying light loads.
> > As the trailer hits the 500+ pound mark, it tracks great.
> >
> >
> >
> > Barry
>
>
>
>


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I have the same trailer (AFAICT), except mine is quite old - probably
at least 10 years. I bought it from my neighbor for $50, including a
2x4 and 1x4 'fence/gate' that is about 20" high. Best $50 I ever spent.

A word of caution: Make sure you check the tire pressure every time
you hook it up! I ran mine without enough pressure once...and blew 3
tires on the way home -- yup: that's 3 blowouts on one trip. I think
I may have overloaded it somewhat...and the tires were pretty old.
The replacement tires cost me $120 -- not the best $120 I ever spend :(

kevin m wrote:
> Just wanted to update a couple of you who were interested in the
> outcome of this project.



--
************************************
Chris Merrill
[email protected]
(remove the ZZZ to contact me)
************************************

On 1 Sep 2003 17:28:08 -0700, [email protected] (kevin m) wrote:

>Ron,
>
>Good point,
>
>First time I had to back it up at our local landfill, I couldn't see
>anything on my side mirrors. It was near impossible to back up into
>the disposal bay.

My Jeep has fisheye mirrors, so I can see the trailer. Mu Subaru has
power mirrors, so I simply drop the view down to back up my trailer.

I think the self-stick fish eye was under $5 at Pep Boys.

Barry

On Tue, 2 Sep 2003 23:33:09 -0400, "Stephanie and Tim"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Only suggestion I've got is that you go over it thoroughly after a few
>hundred miles and retighten all of the bolts, particularly the lug nuts and
>the U-bolts that hold the axle to the springs. Mine loosened significantly
>after I put it together, but after a second torquing, everything seems to be
>pretty solid.

This reminds me of a 22' truck I rented a few weeks back.

A large yellow sticker on the box near the driver's door ordered
"Tighten U-Bolts Every 500 Miles".

#1) Do you think this actually gets done? <G>

#2) I'd like to hear about the event that caused a lawyer to suggest
the stickers.

Barry

>"kevin m" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> Hi all,
>>
>> Just wanted to update a couple of you who were interested in the
>> outcome of this project.

How does the HF trailer track when empty?

I have a 4x8 welded steel deal I picked up at Lowes for about $350.
The trailer itself is quite a bit heavier than the HF model, weighing
about 325 pounds.

I can see it literally flying behind me at times. <G> I'm in the
process of building a heavy floor for when I'm carrying light loads.
As the trailer hits the 500+ pound mark, it tracks great.



Barry

> How does the HF trailer track when empty?

I bought the same one some time ago, and have since logged something like 80
trips with it. At this point, it's by far the best two hundred bucks I've
ever spent. When it's lightly loaded, it lifts off over bumps. At what I
suspect is close to it's rated load, it stays on the ground much better, and
the springs actually seem to do something.

Only suggestion I've got is that you go over it thoroughly after a few
hundred miles and retighten all of the bolts, particularly the lug nuts and
the U-bolts that hold the axle to the springs. Mine loosened significantly
after I put it together, but after a second torquing, everything seems to be
pretty solid.

re: the rated load of 990 pounds - that's gotta be a number that's meant to
get around some kinda legislation somewhere, huh?

-Tim

> I have a 4x8 welded steel deal I picked up at Lowes for about $350.
> The trailer itself is quite a bit heavier than the HF model, weighing
> about 325 pounds.
>
> I can see it literally flying behind me at times. <G> I'm in the
> process of building a heavy floor for when I'm carrying light loads.
> As the trailer hits the 500+ pound mark, it tracks great.
>
>
>
> Barry