We are very soon going to take a trip from Chicago to the East Coast. My Father-In-Law has a 4 X 6 folding trailer that is brand new/ unused we would like to take to haul all of our stuff. Problem is a friend of mine says we will most likely have the bearings fail on a small cheap trailer going for such a long distance (16 hours of driving day 1). The trailer has small tires and he says it is not uncommon for them to burn up due too small size / high rpm issues. Is it true? I have not seen the trailer as it is still in its boxes but it is a pepboys $249 trailer so it's not very fancy. Do I risk it or cram all my stuff in my van? Thanks for your help!

 

I had an opportunity to buy almost the same type trailer. Then I thought about my almost $7000 investment, and said oh HELLLLL NOOOOOOOO! What you heard about small tires is true. They're good for hauling around town but not for anything long distance. Although if you drive at say 45 mph, it should be alright. It is possible that the trailer will hold together for the entire trip. If you're just hauling some camping gear then you should be alright. Just go ahead and invest in extra bearings before you go on the trip and take the tools it takes to change the bearings on the road. If you're hauling a quad, do yourself a favor and go get a better trailer before the trip. One other thing I didn't like about the trailer I was looking at buying is the amount of flex in the chassis, that and the 13" tires is the reason I didn't get it.

 

Scroll down to the next page and read up on these trailers. It is really more likely a 4'x8' with 12" wheels.

I just bought one for short hauls with my ATV's and firewood, etc. If you are going to trailer long distances you may want to change the original (Chinese) bearings for some high quality ones. Any auto parts store should carry the size you need. Also, check the lugnuts every few hundred miles or so.

And, if you bolt down a 4'x8' piece of 3/4" plywood, it makes the trailer much less flexy and less bouncy when unloaded.

I hope this helps.

 

i completely disagree with the statments it won't last one trip, thats such bullcrap, my trail is coming up on 2000 miles now, and i run 4 hours one way at 75 mph ever single weekend, my trailer rims and hubs are barely warm, this crap about them burning up is bull crap, i haven't heard of one story where they fail just a bunch of big rumors, and my rims are 12 inch not even 13 inch and they are fine running a 600 pound quad and camping gear down the road

 

as long as they are packed with greese go for it my trailer is 19 yaers old on the original bearinge just keep them greesed you will be fine buy the way my trailer has about 75000 miles on it

 

the ones in harbor frieght/home depot n lowes r cheesy but do work....i make my own trailers.yeah make sure your wheel bearings have plenty of grease in them.make sure yr wheel nuts r tite.if u wanna upgrade yr chinese bearing ,go to the auto parts n croos refrence the number on the side of the bearing itself,go with BCA OR TIMKEN BEARINGS!I have a vey weird setup with my 1 trailer n the bearings were super special order n they cost me 100 bucks (even with my employee discount,tracked them down on soemones shelf in nyc)) 4 4 bearings.the regualer bearings shopuld be even close to that so dont get scared.