Need Opinions on a Trailer for Ice Fishing

[PerchJerker]

I am looking for a trailer to use ice fishing, so I can bring my atv and my Otter Lodge ---- one goes on the trailer, the other goes in the back of my truck.

What I want is a 5x8 or 6x12 aluminum trailer, but I don't want to spend that much money. So.....

I've been looking at 5x8 "landscape trailers" like the ones that Northern Tool and Home Depot sell for $500 - $600. Two things concern me though - 1 is they're steel and I'm worried they'd show a lot of rust right away. The other concern is that the floors are mesh grates --- how much road slush and grime is going to come up through the grates in the winter and get on my stuff?

Looking forward to hearing from you guys. Thanks.

[Scrod]

I would worry about the rust issue, but the grates you could easily cover with some treated plywood. That could be bolted or screwed down to the trailer. Just my 2 cents for you!

Scott

[Northlander]

Try Jay Soderbloom at www.soderbloom.com

I know he made BD110 a nice trailer to tow his wheeler in. Its aluminum so its light and rust wont be a problem.

I bet he can help ya out.

[DEADhead]

what about a 2-place trailer, so you could trailer both units? They might be easier to find. I'm using my 2-place snowmobile trailer to haul my sled and my portable. Seems to work just fine for me, unless you're looking to spend less than $1k

[federline]

It sounds hokey, but I went and verified first hand...

Harbor Freight has 4'x8' trailer kits w/ lights, wheels, etc. for $230-$360. You add plywood base and 2x4 side rails/panels, or even build your own enclosed deal. The $360 is a tilt with 12" wheels. Google their HSOforum, find the street address under Retail Stores, search for "trailers", print out an ad, coupon, or item page showing the price and go check them out.

They also have the black mesh style trailers for $500 to match Home Depot and Northern. Based on my experience borrowing a neighbors of this style, that mesh ramp creates a TON of drag going down the road, MPG really suffered.

[PerchJerker]

Quote:

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what about a 2-place trailer ..... I'm using my 2-place snowmobile trailer to haul my sled and my portable

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I've used snowmobile trailers before and they work great, but I don't have enough room to store a 2-place trailer so that's why I'm looking at 5x8s and slightly bigger.

[PerchJerker]

Quote:

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Based on my experience borrowing a neighbors of this style, that mesh ramp creates a TON of drag going down the road, MPG really suffered.

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I've done a lot of towing with aluminum trailers and wood/steel trailers with tailgate ramps and thought they pulled pretty easy, especially compared to snowmobile trailers with wide tires and salt shields. Anyone else have opinions on this?

[jltimm]

I've got a 6.5'x 10' trailer with a ramp gate and I use it exactly the way you explained (wheeler on trailer and Otter in truck) and it works great.I tow with a Toyota Tacoma V6 and do not feel any wind drag.I have some extra room on the trailer as well, but have never used it, but it is there if needed. I would recomend getting the biggest tire possible on the trailer you get.Good Luck!

[Ray Esboldt]

I have several friends in the landscaping business and they will not buy aluminum trailers again. They just wear out too fast. The steel ones rust, but they don't bust to pieces as quickly as aluminum.

I'm kind of in the same camp as you Perch. I need a new trailer sooner or later. Aluminum is appealing because of its weight and no rust. Steel is my preference for its durability. I might think about a galvanized steel trailer. What are people's experience with those and winter conditions?

[old_school]

TRITON TRAILER MAKES A 5'X10' ONE PLACE SNOWMOBILE TRAILER.

IT HAS THE WIDE TIRES TOO.

[Guest]

Rust in a few years... thats why they make spray paint!

I would rather have a mesh floor on my 5x8 trailer I use for my atv... It would give the slush, water, snow, and ice someplace to go. It has the plywood floor ont he sides and a steel strip going up the center... when there is snow around, I could let the neighbor kids use it for an ice skating rink after a few uses.

It took about 5 years for my steel trailer to get rusty.. but nothing a sander and some spray paint wont take care of in a few minutes. I have used the trailer for all kinds of hauling and off road activities.

[harvey lee]

I have a 12 ft aluminum trailer with a fold down ramp. I haul my wheeler and house on it. I have had this trailer for 6 years and also use it to haul wheelers all over hunting. I personally have never had a issue with it as far as bending or breaking and love it. I dont know how many miles I have on it but I would guess at least 6-8,000.

Another thing that can become a issue is the slop and salt that hits the front of the wheeler from the back of the truck. I am going to install a shield on the front to stop the slop. You get alot of road grime on the front and any wires can become corroded. I had to repair and clean my winch motor connectors as they were rotted.

[mltjanderson]

My opinon buy a 6.5x14 so you can just drive the rig on no need to unhook. my friend has one it's slick. wished I had that instead of a 2 place. he can unload and load in about 3 minutes!

[federline]

Oh yes, the drag is there, trust me. You are just overpowering it with more fuel. My silverado had a fun time heading to Cass last winter, 65MH into a north wind, I got such lousy gas mileage heading up with this borrowed trailer, I vowed right then never to buy one with the mesh tilt-up gate, and to go with a tilt trailer when I buy one.

[ChuckN]

I've used a 5x8 steel trailer that Fleet Farm sells. I believe it's a Big Max. Green treated wood decking, large drop gate in the rear and the sides are solid steel, not mesh. It's fairly light, well balanced and it hauls a ton of weight. I hauled an ATV, and another long trip with a massive load of oak firewood with it. I liked it so much I may buy one myself someday. Very well built, and easy to paint if it does rust.

Plenty of room for an ATV and fishhouse, and everything is protected from water, slush and MN salt with the large solid sides.

[harvey lee]

I would agree with the tilt up mesh gate. I used another guys as mine was in North Dakota. I sucked fuel like never before with the 4-5 ft tall mesh gate standing straight up. Mine has the bi-fold and doesnt use near the fuel.

[Guest]

ChuckN..

That sounds similar to my trailer made by *Snow Bear*. its a 4+ x 8 and the front gate, and rear gate can be used as gates, or flipped for a flatbed(4x12'). The welds on the gates are insufficient, but can be taken care of easily by a welder. The trailer hauls up to #3500 pounds.. and yes, it will handle #3500 easily. I have hauled cords of oak, and tons of scrap and rubbish with the trailer. The trailer also tilts which is handly for loading the wheeler when the surface isnt icy. I got mine at home depot years back for around $800 I believe.

It will haul 2 4 wheelers in the flatbed position, or one 4 wheeler with a large sled house attacthed.

[old_school]

i have one more option. buy a fish house frame and put 3/4" treated plywood on it as a bed. then when you want or have enough money build a house on the frame. until then you would have a nice crank down trailer.

[cold one sd]

The biggest thing I have heard about these trailers is that they are junk and don't hold up. T also heard that they aren't worth much when trading. I checked on this before I bought and I bought an aluminum ATV trailer. It has a 5 year warranty and for my use it is great. I can see how a landscaper could beat one to death though. I know that there are steel trailers that are well built, but you don;t find them in the $500.00 range.

[dougger222]

Four years ago I bought a 5x7 from Fleet Farm for $750 with a spare and jack. After three years of use the trailer was shot.

Early this year picked up a 5x8 from Northern and I think it's a much better trailer than the other one. One the second use I plugged the 7 prong connector in wrong and burnt out the wires on the trailer. Went back to Northern and ordered box's and switched every light to LED's. All the wires were also replaced and a fuse was installed this time. $600 for the trailer and $300 for lights!!! It should last a while.

Only thing I like better about the older trailer is that it's lighter due to the fact that the new trailer has a wood floor while the old trailer had a steel floor.

With the 5x8 I can load the 800 EFI and the two man flip on the trailer at once along with the propane tank and the auger on the atv mount.