Downsides to a truck bed trailer?

[java]

im thinking about a truck bed trailer. its quick and easy, will be a bit more weight than if i build from scratch but i get longer truck springs, a gas tank for fuel transfer, and a good sized bed. ive found a 85 toy longbed, (i need the longbed for my dirtbikes, if i were to build myself it would be 7'6") that he is willing to part with the back half of for $200 minus the rear axle. id like to run a 3500lb brake axle.

what are the down falls to a truck bed trailer that im not thinking of?

 

[youwillforget]

My grand dad had a full size chevy truck bed trailer for over 10 years and drug it all over IN, MI, KY, IL, with his motorhome, van and 4x4 truck. He had a cap and a tow truck boom that he swapped out depending on what project he was doing. I didn't mind towing it the few times I used it, it saved a lot of scratches and dents to my truck bed. Good luck lets see some pictures if/when you get it.

 

[Chili]

Personally, and I may be biased, I think a truck bed trailer is about the best cost option out there. Especially if you can find one that has been taken care of.

You can get a brake ready 3500 pound axle for a couple hundred bucks and with a little work have a great off-road trailer. If converted right I really don't see a downside.

Without looking at where you are located I will say that you should check your local requirements for titling and registering, as some states can be difficult, especially on truck bed trailers.

 

[Quill]

The real down side is the wheel wells taking up space. They are a great option.

 

[java]

Personally, and I may be biased, I think a truck bed trailer is about the best cost option out there. Especially if you can find one that has been taken care of.

You can get a brake ready 3500 pound axle for a couple hundred bucks and with a little work have a great off-road trailer. If converted right I really don't see a downside.

Without looking at where you are located I will say that you should check your local requirements for titling and registering, as some states can be difficult, especially on truck bed trailers.

I have plates ill take off my old trailer so that's not a problem. I with do the conversion myself. Other than the weight and body panels to brat up I don't see the down side.

 

[java]

The real down side is the wheel wells taking up space. They are a great option.

But because they have the when Wells on the inside vs. Outside for a regular trailer I see it being about the same. Bed width isn't a big issue I just need the length. If I were to build myself it would be 4'2"x7'6" bed size.

 

[Desert Dan]

If I built one it would be from the same type of vehicle towing it.
Like a Toyota towing a Toyota truck bed/frame trailer. Same width same wheels etc.

 

[java]

If I built one it would be from the same type of vehicle towing it.
Like a Toyota towing a Toyota truck bed/frame trailer. Same width same wheels etc.

Exactly. I have a 4th Gen 4runner. I've been trying to find a newer model toy pickup to use but haven't been having much luck. All the tacos are short beds and tundras and t100' s are hard to come by totaled or really expensive. 200 seemed reasonable for an older back half.

 

[Chili]

If I built one it would be from the same type of vehicle towing it.
Like a Toyota towing a Toyota truck bed/frame trailer. Same width same wheels etc.

I tend to agree with that ideology but will always take function over form in the end.

The trailer I picked up is from a Ford Courier. They were actually manufactured by Mazda (well, their predecessor) but still carry the Ford brand, so it matches my Bronco.

 

[loren85022]

I'm currently building a trailer from an old utility bed. mine would not fit a bike but others out there could. Either way, another advantage is with some basic camping gear you can create a dry place to sleep.

 

[Pikeman]

Ok here is the main thing about wheel wells etc. The common Commercial off-road trailers are only the width between the wheel wells of a pick-up bed. The advantage here is you can stack stuff over the wheel wells on the truck bed and not confined to an overall smaller box. Other advatage is you can get a toneau covers or camper shells/ Flippac for the bed trailer for a lot less then creating a mounting point and expense of an RTT, or you can build a rack and get an RTT. Downside to them is the body panels are wider than tire/ track width opening them up for more trail damage. Heavier than a regular off-road trailer normally. There are a few other differences but hey with the move to Teardrops I dont think it is that different.

I just bought a M101 3/4ton military trailer that is really heavy and plan on using that for mine. I was going to purchase a Tacoma bed for my build since it would follow the same body details as my 4 Runner. The only thing that kept me from that is the expense of getting hte bed.

 

[java]

Well Im out of work. This isn't gonna happen for awhile. I still like the idea but may end up going custom if I can't find a newer model when I start looking again.

 

[wikid]

I have a problem with truck beds for trailers. When I see them, they usually look pretty unstable. It's almost like there is too much sway. The suspension engineered for the back of a truck, doesn't work well as just a trailer. I think if the suspension were modified, then it would be a good platform.
Of course that is my opinion, from having a few of them and seeing them on the highways around the phoenix area.

 

[java]

I have a problem with truck beds for trailers. When I see them, they usually look pretty unstable. It's almost like there is too much sway. The suspension engineered for the back of a truck, doesn't work well as just a trailer. I think if the suspension were modified, then it would be a good platform.
Of course that is my opinion, from having a few of them and seeing them on the highways around the phoenix area.

Why do you think that is? Too little weight for the springs?

 

[rxinhed]

I've had several truckbed trailers. When the tongue is too short they wobble badly. When the tongue is correct, or slightly long, they tow fine. The magic number for me has been tongue = 2.5 times the width. The only other thing, one axle had an LSD in it and didn't like to track around corners.