Best trailer to tow behind my TJ?

[Tob]

I have a little bit of experience with towing and trailers, but I’m hoping to get some guidance as I’m looking to purchase one to pull behind the TJ.

Background: I am currently remodeling my entire house and have been borrowing a truck and trailer when needed, which can be inconvenient, extra liability, and I don’t like being a moocher! Use would be all on-road, and only pulled by my 4.0L TJ (for the foreseeable future). I have never towed with my TJ, but I will soon install a hitch receiver and 4-pin wiring harness. At this point in my life, I believe a trailer would be a good investment.

Things I expect to haul: lumber, 4’x8’ material such as drywall and plywood, appliances, pre-hung doors, my lawn mower, C&D waste, bags of concrete mix, etc.

Initial thoughts: I will only be hauling this with the TJ, so I don’t want a trailer with a disproportionately high weight capacity or size, as it will be heavier and take away from the actual payload capacity I can pull, which I believe is only 2,000 lbs with the TJ. With this in mind, I think 5’ x 10’ is a good size to carry the items I listed above comfortably without being too big to handle.

1. What’s your thoughts on the 5’ x 10’ trailer size for the TJ?

2. What's your thoughts on new vs. used? I don’t mind re-decking, rust cleanup and painting if it saves a few hundred bucks. Any tips on inspecting used trailers, red flags, manufacturers to avoid, etc.?

3. At what point do I need trailer brakes or any other safety towing accessories like special hitches, etc.? (I am totally uneducated here). I do have a BMB brake kit with great stopping power.

4. Any tips on types of axles to look for? Is trailer suspension a good thing to have at that size?

Any other relevant towing education is appreciated by this ignorant gen z’er! Thanks in advance!

 

[OldBuzzard]

Open or box trailer?

1. I think 5x10 is a convenient size. It handles 4x8 sheets, and can be parked without taking up too much space. 6x12 is probably fine too, in an open trailer, but a box that size is starting to get heavy.

2. Used is probably fine. You know what to look for on the outside. The one hidden thing is the wheel bearings. For used, jack up each side, rock the tire, spin it, feel and listen. Watch out for ancient tires.

3. I doubt if you'll need trailer brakes for gross weight below about 1500 lbs. Occasional trips up to the max 2000 lbs would probably be ok too, with those BMB brakes.Your list of stuff to haul sounds like fairly light loads most of the time. I pulled a 3000 lb brakeless trailer on a couple of 600 mile trips with my LJ (rated for 3500 lbs). My BMB brakes did a good job, but I was always worried about emergency situations, so I added electric brakes to the trailer.

4. Essentially all trailers have leaf springs, but shocks are rare in small trailers, usually not needed. I think any brand of "real" trailer axle is probably fine. A name you recognize will probably make getting replacement bearings, spindles easier (for a used one, if needed). If you grease a new axle regularly, it should last forever.

 

[Gilaguy23]

I use a 5x10 behind my 99/4 banger to collect firewood in the nat forest. I drag it thru some pretty rough trails as well, and typically only load even with the side boards I have on it. Im guessin the trailer is 1200 and a load at 1500 or so. Dont expect and speed or good handling, I run sway bar less with 20 psi in the tires. Works fine for me.

 

[Unique Username]

I picked up a 5x10 from Lowe's when they were cheaper. Like $1,100 and I received a title. Helps in some states. I have towed it all over without any issues and would recommend it. Easy to flip the axle and put on larger wheels and tires as well. Mine no longer has the side rails if it's not obvious, but it's not bad for loading stuff into.

 

[TJ Jim]

I’ve got a 5x10 that I pull with my rubicon. 32” tires 4:10 axles. It does fine for short trips to Lowe’s and such. It has 2”x6” flooring and when they rot out I’ll replace with expanded metal and I think that’ll make it lighter. I’d hate to make any long trips with it. Hour long trips.

 

[Tob]

Open or box trailer?

Thanks for the comprehensive reply. To clarify, I’m looking for an open top trailer.

I picked up a 5x10 from Lowe's when they were cheaper. Like $1,100 and I received a title. Helps in some states. I have towed it all over without any issues and would recommend it.

What’s this business with having a title for the trailer? Is a license plate required for all trailer sizes, making title/registration required? Or is this something that is dependent on size/weight?

 

[cliffish]

Thanks for the comprehensive reply. To clarify, I’m looking for an open top trailer.



What’s this business with having a title for the trailer? Is a license plate required for all trailer sizes, making title/registration required? Or is this something that is dependent on size/weight?

Probably state dependent.

 

[GaTechTJ]

Probably state dependent.

Definitely state dependent.

Around here, Georgia requires trailers to registered and tagged. Tennessee does not.

Google search says trailers in Louisiana require registration and a license plate.

 

[Unique Username]

Thanks for the comprehensive reply. To clarify, I’m looking for an open top trailer.



What’s this business with having a title for the trailer? Is a license plate required for all trailer sizes, making title/registration required? Or is this something that is dependent on size/weight?

Ya,
It can very by state. In Arizona you have to mount a plate on the trailer and registration is needed. They can do a VIN inspection if you don't have one, but that can be a pain and its sometime easier to just have the title in hand.

 

[Tob]

Thanks for the guidance, everyone. This one on FB marketplace looks promising and is nearby. Seller says title in hand. It has the mesh wire floor, meaning it’s relatively light. Looks like it doesn’t need too much TLC. I’m not familiar with trailer axle manufacturers, so I’m not sure what to look for there. The price is competitive based on all the other listings I’m seeing. I may have to go check this one out!

 

[Wildman]

This was my grandfathers trailer that he towed behind his flatty & then CJ5. It tows great behind my TJ. Has a straight axle and uses 5x4.5 bolt pattern wheels.
It might not matter now but having a the same bolt pattern as your tow rig can be nice sometimes.

 

[alittleoff]

My thoughts on new or used are, buy new if possible. That way you can shop different makers and get what you think you need.
But also there are some used findings that come up on CL or FB Marketplace. Definitely buyer be ware.
A tailgate ramp can be very useful but, can get in the way if you need to buy longer wood planks.
A smooth deck (wood or sheet metal) is better than an expanded sheet metal deck if you think that a pallet might be loaded on sometime.
The EZ-lube hubs are more convenient as far as pumping a bit of grease every once in a while but,
hand packing bearings correctly is just as good too.
I would chose electric brakes for safety and to reduce the risk of it being used against me in a court of law.
But that would require at least a 6-round plug for the brake wire and a dedicated ground wire.
The wheel hub bolt pattern can be matched to the TJ pattern if preferred. In my FJ-40 days, my trail/trash trailer had a 6 on 5.5 pattern but, when I got my TJ, I changed it to 5 on 5.5 to match my TJ axles.

HTH

 

[Tob]

A tailgate ramp can be very useful but, can get in the way if you need to buy longer wood planks.
A smooth deck (wood or sheet metal) is better than an expanded sheet metal deck if you think that a pallet might be loaded on sometime.

Agreed, but the ramp can be removed and reinstalled fairly easily in my experience.

I think I would rather the weight savings of the expanded metal deck despite any inconvenience associated with a rough surface.

 

[alittleoff]

Tob, the one pictured looks pretty good. At a minimum, repacking bearings and possibly rewiring to eliminate any shorting events might be all that's needed.
The Best to you.

 

[Zorba]

Get one that is as light as possible that still meets your needs. I have a 4x6 with a 1 ton GVWR. I think you'd need a 4x8 for what you're saying you'd need. 5x10 is needlessly large and heavy unless you're hauling lawn equipment, never mind the usual gargantuan loading ramp. I've towed trailers all my life, and when this little 4x6 is loaded, I can feel it trying to push the Jeep around. Not bad - very subtle, but its there - and its the first/last/only setup that I've ever felt that, even though I've towed house trailers up to 29 feet. I think its the coil spring setup.

As for used, that's the only way I'd buy one. I found mine on Craigslist for cheap. It did end up being more of a project than I expected (rust), but in the end I got what I was looking for. It has a tilt bed in lieu of a loading ramp.

If you want the excruciating blow by blow detail, 7 pages of hideous detail:

https://www.doubleveil.net/jeep/trailer1.htm

 

[Noslo65]

5x8 Teske

 

[BlueC]

I’m not familiar with trailer axle manufacturers, so I’m not sure what to look for there.

Just look at the overall condition, and make sure the wheel hub and bearing seem tight. If they’re loose or grinding, the damage could go all the way to the spindle, which would likely mean a new axle is needed and that "cheap" trailer won't be so cheap. Look at tire condition and manufacture date. Most people neglect trailers and use the cheapest tires they can find. Also, look at the welds of the trailer and for any cracks or bends, especially around the tongue.

 

[Danarch]

We have a 5x8 and it works well and is easy to tow behind the LJR. Haven’t had any issues with towing it. Mostly short stuff to the hardware store, wife takes it regularly to get feed for the animals.

 

[bucky]

If buying used plan on buying new tires. Luckily tires for small trailers are inexpensive. As said repack the bearings. Make sure there are enough tie down points. There are never enough for me and I always have to weld more on.

 

[Zorba]

We have a 5x8 and it works well and is easy to tow behind the LJR. Haven’t had any issues with towing it. Mostly short stuff to the hardware store, wife takes it regularly to get feed for the animals.

Remember, an LJ is a different animal than a TJ when it comes to trailer towing.