Pimp my utility trailer - GRM edition

My father-in-law and I bought a utility trailer to share: http://www.lowes.com/pd_100369-15476-5X8G_1z0x2ms__?productId=3005264&pl=1

Since every single one was beat in some way my FIL got them to throw in a receiver & ball for free. So it was $640 out the door with a bonus receiver setup. Sweet. It isn't a car hauler, but it will keep me from buying a truck now.

I want to make the little hauler a little more functional. So far I found this list of ideas:

http://www.familyhandyman.com/automotive/utility-trailer/utility-trailer-upgrades/view-all

I am definitely going to go with the LED lights and PVC storage cans on the side, and possibly the hand crank winch on the tongue to drag stuff up the gate. We are thinking of decking it with plywood and some sort of tie-down anchors.

Any other ideas? We will use the trailer to haul my car junk around, along with landscape stuff for the houses, and small motorized things.

I like the sides that are removable. Sometimes you need the sides to keep your stuff on the trailer, other times you have something that is just to big to fit with the sides in place.

Can't have too many tie down points. Get the winch.

I also have a carry-on 5x8. as is you can tie things down to the side and front rails, pretty much anywhere. even through the mesh on the bottom although i try to stick near the cross rails and also lighter objects with that method.

just be aware any weight you add you'll have to subtract off the trailer's capacity. thats why the basic trailer has a 2000# capacity and the nicer one with wood floor is 1600# capacity or something, at least when i was shopping.

I throw on some 4'x4' unsecured pieces of plywood when necessary, if traveling empty I tie down a 4"x4" with a strap on top to keep the plywood from flying off in the wind.

hand crank winch is a great idea, there have been a few times i wish i had one on mine. some pretty good ideas on that website you linked.

i seem to use it a lot less having a pickup truck now but i have doubled the truck's capacity a few times using the trailer.

I have a 5x10 that we use fairly often - everything from moving the triumph between storage and home, landscaping stuff like mulch... probably cheaper to go rent one just when I need it, but it's really nice to have it available whenever. I should go with LED lights, winch and I like the PVC storage for tie downs.

Does the LED lighting include some LED utility/flood lights? They are relatively inexpensive (eBay y0!) and make doing anything in the dark so much easier.

I second the winch idea too.

I'd also add a decent size, watertight, lockable tongue box to carry tie downs, rope, chain, etc. Oh, and also a spare wheel/tire assembly on the tongue as well.

Ammo boxes, or the plastic imitation ammo boxes will probably be less expensive and look more finished than the pvc stuff.

Get a spare tire and a spare hub with bearings. Mount the hub to the trailer with an axle stub and then mount your spare to the hub. Then you have a spare of everything from bearings to lug nuts as well.

Ooo, I like that last idea. Might have to emulate it.

I have a lockable plastic box bolted to the tongue of my boat trailer. Its like a small truck bed box. Spare hub & brgs, straps, ropes, etc go in there.

Fork mount for some bikes.

Front tire mount for motorcycles?

Mounts for pipe across the front for 4X racing tires, lockable.

And a shifter kart, fits perfect in there.

Well I found my first "break and upgrade" item. I managed to snap the plastic license plate mount while moving the trailer around the yard. Oh well.

I test fit my Harbor Freight cargo carrier on the tongue of the trailer but I don't think it gives enough room between the tow vehicle to allow for tight turns. Plus it would throw off my idea of mounting a winch.

slefain wrote: Well I found my first "break and upgrade" item. I managed to snap the plastic license plate mount while moving the trailer around the yard. Oh well.

I think it's kind of intentional. I would rather a plastic mount get trashed and replaced, than have a more solid mount that transferred the offending force to a structural member.

slefain wrote: I test fit my Harbor Freight cargo carrier on the tongue of the trailer but I don't think it gives enough room between the tow vehicle to allow for tight turns. Plus it would throw off my idea of mounting a winch.

That's why trailer boxes are trapezoidal.

Having a lockable box to store stuff was hugely useful on my car transporter trailer. Tie down straps, spare draw bars, hitch balls, a wrench that fit the lugs, bits of wood to put under the tongue jack, etc. It really beats carrying all that stuff in the truck all the time.

I break lights and plastic plate mounts.

I'd love to find little lights I could mount in the frame rails, without compromising strength too badly. Hang the licence plate from rubber or mount it onto the tailramp.

I'm assembling my 48"x48" HF trailer currently. I got all mechanical done last night and lights mounted. Wiring in a few days.

Since I am towing with a Miata and it has separate brake and turn signals, instead of dealing with a signal box, I mounted two small amber 1" LED lights in the rear bar with rubber grommets (I drilled out two existing non-used holes) and will use those as turn signals. I bought a 5-way flat plug and will wire it with tail light, brake light, ground, left turn, right turn. I prefer separate brake and turn signals. FM trailer hitch is ordered and hopefully on it's way