Since getting down to having only 1 vehicle, I've been able to store pellets in the garage, so I can hold more than the 3 tons that I keep in the basement (I use 5-6 tons per year). I handle each of those tons twice just to get them home as I've loaded the bags into my vehicle, then unload/stack them in the house/garage. So, what could make my life easier?
A trailer would mean that I handle each ton once for transport. That would be great, plus I could use a trailer to transport full sheets of sheet rock or plywood (those are about 4" too wide for the Explorer to carry). Renting a trailer would not be practical or cost efficient. At the same time, buying a trailer new, is not cost efficient either - especially one that is rated for carrying a ton.
So, I have been keeping an eye on CL and FB Marketplace for used trailers. Tuesday night a home made trailer popped up that is made from the frame of a Chevy pickup. It would handle more than a ton and at 6x8, is small enough that I can park it in the yard. It also came with a couple of 8' boards with railing brackets installed for use as ramps. He even threw in what looks like a brand new strap to strap the ramps boards in as a safety measure. Total cost, $425, less than 1/4 of what a commercially available trailer that can handle a ton costs.
Wednesday night I went to look at it, and it followed me home, literally.
Yesterday, besides mowing leaves, I cleared out invasive roses and other brush from the ditch between my property and the former swamp. The load was small enough I could have fit it in the Explorer (just barely), but it was a wet, stinking mess and I decided to keep that crud outside of my truck. I wrapped the crud tightly in a plastic sheet so I wouldn't lose any of it on the road and irritate drivers behind me.
I really like that it has the stake sides so any of the sides can be removed for easy loading/unloading. That is unlike most of the commercial trailers they make nowadays as the side rails are welded on and the back is a 6-8' ramp. I also like the larger car tires instead of the 13-15" wheels on most commercial-made trailers. It travels well behind the truck. I never fully appreciated how wide the Explorer really is since I have to really crane my neck to see the sides of the trailer, which is 6..5' wide.
Now I just have to get my brain wrapped around backing up. I'm sure I was quite entertaining to the others at the dump's brush pile as I navigated, renavigated, re-renavigated :)
Trailer trash, indeed! You just cannot control yourself when it comes to wheeled vehicles, can you - lol? Sounds like a practical addition to your reduced fleet. Happy that you found it. The re-navigation will soon become a memory as you gain practice. Too bad the Explorer hasn't the auto-backing-with-boat/trailer option that is part of the enhanced settings on newer Ford pickups.
Posted by: Cop Car | October 10, 2021 at 08:39 AM
Nice trailer! I like that ALOT more than half the trailers I load pallets of pellets onto!
Posted by: Ruth | October 15, 2021 at 09:17 AM