Axles, Tires Hubs and Highway speeds over long trips... I don't have a clue

[rogue_rager]

So I got some great info from here on taking a small utility trailer and adding a rack and truck boxes to it for my return trip across the east coast from Afghanistan. Told my father what I planned and even though I'm over 30 and have taken an Infantry Company to the Ghan, He still schools me on the finer points on manhood. I had no idea little trailers could be so problematic on enduring trips. Mind you I'm rocking a 4cyl Honda Element with a whopping 160 some horses.

Hot rocks (I.E. issues that need to be dealt with)
- What is the speed rating on most of these Lowes bought trailers (Carry-On 4' x 64" utility)
- How important are tires and what type
- What needs to be done to make a small trailer travel worthy?
- Any things else I need to know

End State: Should I go forward with trailer later when I have the time, or add a hitch mounted rack and Cargo box, and a roof rack with a box and call it a day?

 

[weswilde]

Hitch racks, hide lights and tags, be carefull. I have moved a bigblock over 200miles behind a Suzuki on a kit trailer like you say. No troubles, make sure you keep the bearings lubed.

 

[elmo_4_vt]

- What is the speed rating on most of these Lowes bought trailers (Carry-On 4' x 64" utility)
- How important are tires and what type
- What needs to be done to make a small trailer travel worthy?

Don't have direct experience with the one's from Lowe's, but I wouldn't expect they'd need anything to take a cross-country trip. The only thing I would check is to make sure the bearings are greased up. Otherwise, hitch up, make sure the lights work, and go. Just don't over load them.

My only advice would be to get one or two steps up from the cheapest. The prices aren't much more, but you can get a larger tire and better trailer for a couple hundred more. I don't think the base weight of the trailer would be much more either. Find one with a box that isn't much or any wider than the tow vehicle. My 4x8 works well behind my Subaru (similar HP numbers, 174 on the 4-cylinder boxer engine) and doesn't hurt the mileage too much. A 5x8 or 5x10 would also work but would make towing a little more strenuous on the tow vehicle.

I've probably put over 30,000 miles on my little 4x8 trailer. Other than blowing a tire twice, it's been pretty reliable, though not much else can really go wrong with them. I would definitely do a trailer over a hitch rack.

Don

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[Woods]

Where exactly are you driving from and to?

 

[GDSQDCR]

I don't have a Lowes trailer, but I have a lifetime trailer that originally came with 12 inch tires. Inchangwd the tires to a 15inch, made sure bearings were packed and that was it. Probably only has 7-800 miles behind it now, and have not had any issues with it.

We have had it up to 70mph with the no issues. My heat gun has it cooler than the truck hubs.

Been said already, pack the bearings and you should be good to go.

 

[rogue_rager]

Driving from.

Alabama, to Pittsburgh PA, then to Cape Cod, Mass. then back to Alabama

 

[BADDANDY]

I've probably put 40,000 miles on my Lil Hauler with 8" wheels. 1400# weight rating, but I've never had more than 500#s on it. Bearings are original and repacked regularly. No issues. Tires last 10-15,000 miles with regular rotation. BTW, max speed ratings on all trailer tires is 65 mph. I love watching people pass me towing and later seeing them on the side of the road with a blown tire and usually with trailer damage to boot.

 

[Mark Harley]

Why would you want to go to Pittsburgh?

 

[rogue_rager]

Why would you want to go to Pittsburgh?

Most of my family is there. Actually just south in Washington County.

 

[Bennyhana]

I had a bad experience with one of the Harbor Freight 4x8 trailers but it was a combination of my lackluster packing skills at the time, the horrible expansion joints of the South Dakota interstate system and the trailer didn't have shocks. I'm pretty sure I didn't have enough tounge weight on it and hitting the expansion joints at 70mph caused the trailer to start bouncing side to side. Just as I let of the gas to slow down, the trailer flipped. Luckily since it was a cheap trailer it sheared off the little tounge that locks onto the hitch ball. Everything I owned was strewn all over the interstate and of course insurance only covered the trailer, not the stuff in the trailer.

 

[zanshin]

Just as a side note, thanks for your service. I was a grunt, too; 11B2P/11H2P from '70-'73 with 2/325 INF (82nd), 11B30 from '80-'84 with 1/12th INF (4th ID) and 1/39th INF (8th ID).

Good luck with your adventures. Bear in mind that consumer and even commercial gear isn't often made to the standards of equipment as MILSPEC. You can cut cost, but not always save money... especially if/when it fails.