This thread again? HF Folding Trailer question

The trailer in question: http://www.harborfreight.com/automotive-motorcycle/trailer-accessories/1195-lb-capacity-48-inch-x-96-inch-heavy-duty-foldable-utility-trailer-with-12-inch-wheels-90154.html

Looking at build pictures, it appears that this trailer is more or less 2 of the 4x4 trailers bolted together. Is it possible to un-bolt the axle/leaf springs, take off the back half of the trailer, and re-bolt the axle/leaf springs to the front half of the trailer, to give yourself a 4x4 trailer?

“Why not just buy a 4x4 trailer?” Well, I plan on buying either a 10”-12” foot boat or a small sailboat at some point in the near future (before the end of the summer), and I’d be able to take the boat on that trailer—which could fold up and be tucked in a corner of the garage (the boat would be leaned on its side against a wall in the garage). Also, it appears that the tongue is longer on the 4x8, so the trailer would tow better and be easier to back up than the 4x4 with the tiny tongue.

“Okay, so you need the 4x8. Then why not just leave it as a 4x8?" I don’t want the entire thing all the time. Whenever I'm not using it for the boat, I won’t fill it up. So, it will look sillier driving down the highway, and it would also [I'm assuming] hurt my gas mileage.

Thoughts?

If you have room for the bigger one, don't berkley with it.

I'm not sure if it would work shortening it up, as the way the folding tongue attaches may be an issue with the axle. I have one of each, by the way. If you could get around that part it may work.

Joey

If you want the bigger trailer because of a boat, then you're buying it for the wrong reason.

For a boat you need a pair of astroturf covered 2x4s that attach nicely to the smaller trailer using the stake pocket mounting spots and a couple of keel rollers bolted to the center of the front and back of the small trailer. HF used to actually even sell a small boat kit for the small trailers.

Call your local steel place and buy a chunk of 3x2 box tubing long enough to be your new tongue and call it done. Get really crafty if you like, and bolt an appropriately sized channel or tube to the bottom of the trailer and attach your tongue in such a way that it can either slide back if you don't need it so long or easily swap out for a shorter one with a couple of pins. Your new extendo tongue will cost less than the difference between the trailers.

You could also buy the HF boat trailer and add a deck to it. Would still need to shorten the tongue, but that may not be too tough to do.

The leaf springs/axle are already bolted to the "front half" of the folding trailer. The legs with casters for storing the trailer up-right are what the leaf springs attach to. I can take some pictures of mine when I get home so you can see how it's attached. I just got tags for it, and will be putting the deck on it hopefully this weekend.

• Lee

mtn wrote: “Okay, so you need the 4x8. Then why not just leave it as a 4x8?" I don’t want the entire thing all the time. Whenever I'm not using it for the boat, I won’t fill it up. So, it will look sillier driving down the highway, and it would also [I'm assuming] hurt my gas mileage. Thoughts?

There will be little to no effect on gas mileage and who cares if it looks silly?

Use this for a boat:

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_1063_1063

I don't think that it is possible to unbolt it as tyres are attached in the middle and if somehow you will be able to do this then you need to work over them. It is better to buy another second hand trailer from big trailer warehouse and fulfill your purpose.

The tongue on this trailer folds, so it gets pretty compact for storage.

I see no reason that you couldn't chop it a bit smaller. Just have two sets of holes for the axles to mount to and pop on the extra deck when you need it.

Zombie canoe thread. I ended up with the smaller trailer for now.