Trailer talk

[71BRONCO71]

After the years and years of driving my bronco from trail to trail, I'm wanting a trailer for the bronco.

7k vs 10k
Wood deck vs metal deck
length
Brakes

What did you learn about what you liked an hated.

I don't need a monster trailer that can haul a d11 dozer across the country. Just the bronco and maybe lumber

[PhantomEB]

Mines a 16 or 18’ with beavertail, wood deck, dual 3500 axles, brakes all around. I am sure more than enough for our trucks yet good for me if I get back into cars one day.

[cag33]

If you can swing it, I would look for a gooseneck trailer. They pull really nice

[69crawler]

Same as Phanton (16'). The 10k trailers get heavy and are more than needed for a built bronco.

[71BRONCO71]

Same as Phanton (16'). The 10k trailers get heavy and are more than needed for a built bronco.

10k seems like a trailer for equipment.

I kicking myself for not buying one last year. The price has gone up a whole lot this year.

[NorcalKD]

I have 20’ PJ 10k Buggyhauler, wood deck, drive over fenders. and brakes on both axles. It’s long but definitely useful when I have towed equipment.

[Efibroncoman]

Keep in mind a trailers rated weight includes the weight of the trailer itself. My 18’ 10K trailer weighed 3200lbs empty. So my max load could be 6800lbs. My Bronco was 5500, so everything was fine but I’d be right at the max weight for a 7K. As for wood vs. diamond plate, it’s personal preference. Steel is probably heavier. Wood wears out and rots but it also offers more grip when wet than steel. I applied linseed oil to my wood deck when new, it seemed to help it last better.

[crawlin68]

X2 on what ^ said. If you get a 7K lb. trailer, by the time you factor in the weight of the trailer itself, it will barely be adequate to haul your Bronco empty. If you have it full of fuel, camping gear, tools, spare parts, you'll be overloaded. I started with a 7K lb. trailer and after letting a friend borrow it to haul his Bronco, it came back to me with both axles bent so badly I had to replace them. I replaced them two 5K lb. torsion axles with brakes on both axles and 8 lug rims. I have had zero issues with it sense then. Other than the wood deck rotting off of it. So I took all of the wood off and replaced it with a steel floor plate deck and now it's bullet proof. I wish I had just started with this in the first place. Mine is a 20 foot with dovetail.

[Rockbronco67]

X2. I would not buy a 7k trailer unless money was the issue. 10k with dual trailer brakes is way better. I started with a 7k and switched to a 10k.

[BUCKWILD]

10kall the way no problems with small tires and small wheel bearings, I have 110,000 on my trailer dedicated to my bronco and have 3 sets of tires and 1 set of brakes. Never replaced the wheel bearing only repacked. everybody i know with a 7k trailer have to replace bearings every other year and some times on the road. have seen many 7k axles replaced also (we wheal coast to coast) Just my observation and I toe alot of trailers.

[904Bronco]

Great info Ryan...

I will just add that I have an 18' Sloan roll back trailer, rated at 7,500 lbs. It has been a great trailer for towing the track car(s). Done a few Broncos, but nothing over a 31 x x10.50 tire. You definately know when the Bronco is behind you. I stay up on the servicing, it sits a lot, outside between uses. I carry two spares after bad experiences with America's tire cheap trailer tires. And I stopped loaning it out as I have not been impressed with people borrowing it who were supposed to be knowledgable...
I was in the right place at the right time when someone lost their storage place. $1,500.00 for a 3 year old trailer with tie down straps was one of the best deals I have gotten.

[CityHick]

I borrowed another member's trailer to haul my rig to Oregon and back a couple of years ago. It is a homebuilt trailer with dual 8 lug axles, and it towed like a dream. The biggest thing I learned during that trip is that weight distributing hitches are freaking awesome. My F150 pulled that so well, and aside from the excess fuel consumption it was such an easy trip aside from a couple of tires blowing out.

I have been casually looking for a 10k trailer for a while, slept on one good one for a little too long and lost it. Someday...

[71BRONCO71]

Sounding like a 10k will be worth it in the long run.

Just need something that will fit on the side of the garage.

[GloNDark2]

I bought a 7k Snake River car trailer about 3 years ago. I went with a flat deck instead of a beavertail. I've used it for the Bronco, Misc broken down cars and even made wood sides for it to carry rock and dirt for the house. I even brought home a Mini escavator and a smaller bobcat last year from Ahern Rentals but it was WAY overloaded for that. I wasn't driving far so it didn't bother me.

Now looking back, I wish I had just gone with a 10k trailer. I talked to Snake River about it and the major difference is the axles, the rest of the trailer is nearly identical to their 10k trailer so I will be upgrading them this summer. Although. I have yet to bend an axle on this one.

I've had both wood and metal decks in the past. I prefer the wood decks. If you treat them annually they will last pretty well. The metal deck trailers get HOT in the summer months. And I hated laying on the hot deck of the trailer to put straps on the Bronco.

Other things I've learned with Trailers

Get a cheap winch for it
Carry 2 spares - WORTH IT
Get some good ratchet straps and axle straps for hauling

[71BRONCO71]

Whats the concensus about a beavertail.
I would think it would be a lot easier to load/unload, but sometimes what I think may be a good idea isnt.