cptqueeg
Idaho
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Joined: 04/11/2020
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I'm wondering about factors that one might consider in the purchase of an enclosed cargo trailer to haul all that bulky, dirty sports equipment and nice stuff that we can't fit in the RV. (I think Reality Check built the model for this type of trailer with his endless ability and creativity.)
I'm considering a bumper hitch, dual axle from 8'-16' - long enough to hold bikes, 13' canoe, SUP, extra camping gear, 30gal fresh water, and all the stuff that's now mounted on the outside in boxes, etc. It needs to be 7' tall, but not sure of width - wheel wells inside or outside cargo area. I am a huge fan of surge disc brakes so will most likely get them. Does the angled front affect gas mileage enough to warrant the loss of space over a squared fronted trailer? I doubt there is SxS or other OHV in my future.
We do a mix of dispersed camping usually 1 or 2 nights enroute to a destination for 3-4 days and then home again. Or just run to a local place for 2-4 nights. Currently camping w a class B, Sprinter van, but just getting underway w our retirement camping.
Thanks for your thoughts.
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dedmiston
Coast to Coast
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Are you planning to keep the Sprinter? That seems like the only limitation.
Most of our camping is for OHV trips and anyone with a moho tows a cargo trailer for their SxS and cargo. They all seem pretty happy with their setups.
2014 RAM 3500 Diesel 4x4 Dually long bed. AISIN trans & 4.10 rear. B&W RVK3600 hitch • 2015 Crossroads Elevation Homestead Toy Hauler ("The Taj Mahauler") • Hooligan #3
Toys:
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- 05 Yamaha WR450
- 07 Honda CRF250X
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nickthehunter
Midwest
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Lots of people I know do motorcycle racing, cart, 4x4, boat and other types of racing. Most of them have motor homes and pull trailers; the majority pull enclosed trailers. Just make sure the puller is sized and equipped properly for the task, in total.
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monkey44
Cape Cod, MA and Central Fla
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We pulled an enclosed cargo trailer for years whenever we went dirt-biking for the weekends. It held the bikes, fuel, camping gear etc. Was a lot easier than trying to pack it all in a Truck Camper ![[emoticon]](https://forums.motorhome.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/smile.gif "smile") ...
Other times, we camped without the trailer depending on the trip. Then we carried tents etc., for the kids. A lot easier with the trailer, but sometimes we didn't need it, so left it home and camped in places we could not go with a trailer.
Monkey44
Cape Cod Ma & Central Fla
Chevy 2500HD 4x4 DC-SB
2008 Lance 845
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Rick Jay
Greater Springfield area, MA
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Hi,
As dedmiston asked, Are you planning to keep the Sprinter?
If so, the first thing you need to do is to determine the true towing capacity of your Sprinter RV. I don't know much about the specifications of the various Sprinter chassis', but I do understand that different years/models/manufacturers will have different tow capacities.
Once you know the towing limits, you can then see if there's even an option to tow a trailer with all of the stuff you want to put into it.
Good Luck,
~Rick
2005 Georgie Boy Cruise Master 3625 DS on a Workhorse W-22
Rick, Gail, 1 girl (26-Angel since 2008), 1 girl (21), 2 boys (22 & 19).
2001 Honda Odyssey, Demco Aluminator tow bar & tow plate, SMI Silent Partner brake controller.
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cptqueeg
Idaho
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Joined: 04/11/2020
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ability wrote:Are you planning to keep the Sprinter? That seems like the only limitation.
Most of our camping is for OHV trips and anyone with a moho tows a cargo trailer for their SxS and cargo. They all seem pretty happy with their setups.
Not sure if the van is the answer, we're a year into it so far. We've bought and sold a TC and we're trying to develop interests other than hiking so the need for equipment is multiplied. It's rated at 500lb tongue wt and 5000lbs max towing.
Another major limitation other than capacity is the ability to pursue dispersed campsites and smaller campgrounds in NPs and N Monuments. So I think something around the 8'-10' range to keep the overall length at ~30' might be the most practical.
Perhaps a little more height?
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Grit dog
Black Diamond, WA
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The uses you’re envisioning is solidly in the single axle trailer realm for cargo carrying.
You need to narrow down what you’re after, IMO.
And a 7 or 8’ wide x 16’ tandem will pull about as much heavier as you’d expect it to compared to a little single axle. Sounds like you don’t have enough vehicle currently to pull more than a 3klb giver take trailer anyway. (And not be ragging on the tow rig)
Square or v nose doesn’t matter behind a larger vehicle. Semi trailers don’t have v noses for the same reason.
Aside from that it’s pretty much how much do you want to spend.
Trailer prices have aboot doubled as well in the last couple years. So choose wisely.
The same model 6x12 trailer I bought new in 2019 (used it once and sold it) for just under $3000 is $4999.99 currently at the same dealer today.
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5” turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
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valhalla360
No paticular place.
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Joined: 08/19/2009
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cptqueeg wrote:
Not sure if the van is the answer, we're a year into it so far. We've bought and sold a TC and we're trying to develop interests other than hiking so the need for equipment is multiplied. It's rated at 500lb tongue wt and 5000lbs max towing.
Another major limitation other than capacity is the ability to pursue dispersed campsites and smaller campgrounds in NPs and N Monuments. So I think something around the 8'-10' range to keep the overall length at ~30' might be the most practical.
Perhaps a little more height?
500/5000 may be the rating for the hitch.
What does the door jam say for weight ratings?
Even better, swing by a scale and see what she really weighs.
Pulling a small car 4 wheels down uses almost none of the trucks payload. If you are already near max loading and add a 500lb tongue, you may be overloading it.
If you stick to a small single axle trailer and keep the weight down (say under 2k lb), probably OK but since you have the MH, just swing by a CAT scale and get real numbers rather than guess.
Tammy & Mike
Ford F250 V10
2021 Gray Wolf
Gemini Catamaran 34'
Full Time spliting time between boat and RV
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Horsedoc
Dixie --- N. Georgia
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Consider a Covered Wagon brand trailer made in S Georgia. Well built and quite strong. Not the cheapest out there but light enough to tow and if you contact the factory they can built to your specs
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Desert Captain
Payson
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I have been towing our 6X 10' {8'tall} cargo trailer behind our 24' E-350 V-10 for 3 and half years and 25,000 miles. Usually we are hauling either our Can Am Spyder at 1,000# or the Rzr SXS at 1,300#. The trailer is single axle and weighs 1,200# for a net weight of 2,200 - 2,600# depending on what else we load.
![[image]](https://i.imgur.com/BFDtOEEl.jpg)
As you can see even when loaded with the Can Am Spyder I still have lots of room to store additional gear:
![[image]](https://i.imgur.com/83KkS6Kl.jpg)
For the OP I highly recommend a single axle trailer as double axles will be not only be much heavier but a lot more money. Having an enclosed {cargo} trailer is ideal as it is for all intents and purposes a portable garage that follows the coach like a faithful puppy. Everything inside is out of the weather, completely protected from not only road debris but out of the prying eyes of bad guys.
If towing with a Sprinter you really want to keep the max loaded trailer weight under 3,000#. Towing the trailer costs me about 1 mpg {8.5 vs 9.5} typically cruising between 60 - 65 and often in the mountains here in the southwest. The V-10 while a tad thirsty is a torque monster that hauls the trailer over 9,000'+ passes without even breathing g hard.
While at 8' our trailer is tall it is sufficiently smaller than the rear profile of our coach so it does not suffer from excess windage as evidenced by the total absence of bugs of the front face of the trailer. When I tow it behind my Honda Ridgeline the top 4' of the front of the trailer is covered with bugs. The coach and trailer are 38' overall.
![[emoticon]](https://forums.motorhome.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/cool.gif "cool")
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