That was me with the snowmobile trailer. I haul 2 atvs on mine, but I have space to haul 3 if needed (one sideways on the front or back). You can pick them up fairly reasonable, they are usually drive on and drive off types, are really light, and can tow a nice amount. For example, mine weighs in at a total of 1200 lbs with trailer, and quads. If you want to stay light, see what you can find in this market..

 

Do you have a camper mounted on your trailer? I already have a snowmobile trailer in the neighborhood of 20' long. Looking for someone who has made their own toy hauler by mounting a pop up camper to a snowmobile trailer.

 

Nope I didnt do that, Would probly be to much tounge weight for most mid size SUV's. My cars towing capacity is 2000 lbs, so I cant do much more.

I dont see why you couldnt do it if you have it balanced out properly. I dont think you are going to be able to put it on the front of the trailer, but rather the middle over the axle or just in front of the axle, and then put 1-2 ATV's in front of it, and 1-2 behind it. The tounge weights, and towing capacity is what comes into play here, especially if you have a unibody vehicle.

 

What you are describing, using a pop up in the middle, would be at least 22 feet long, plus tongue. That's a lot of trailer for an SUV. 8 feet in front to side load two quads, a seven foot pop up that folds out on each side, and 7 feet to end load two more...interesting idea, and low profile, which cuts wind resistance, improves gas mileage. Empty and dry it would weigh at least 3,000 lbs. add 4 sport quads, 1600 lbs, add fuel, water, gear, etc. total about 6,000 lbs. That is gonna bust an SUV. But I like the idea. How about a half-ton pickup with one quad in the back? Now your trailer is down to 18 feet, with one quad side loaded in front of the pop up.

 

I was planning to end load all wheelers, two from the front and two from the rear. My trailer is already a drive on/off style. The way I figure the weight is 1200 for the pop up(stripped of tounge, axles and bumpers), 2500 for the 4 quads, and 1300 for the trailer. That puts me at 5000 minus any gear. My SUV should be able to handle that load. I ve had the same trailer loaded with 6 quads and 1 in the back of a half ton truck and I didn't even know the trailer was there.

 

The big question in this discussion has not really been addressed. What is the capacity of the towing vehicle(s)? If you exceed the capacity the tow rig is rated at you are putting yourself and others at risk not only physically but financially as well. The individual axle ratings as well as the combination ratings must be followed as well as the towing vehicles gross ratings. This is as the combination is when it hits the road. All fuel, passengers and gear.

The only way to get the weight of a trailer is to weigh it. I have never had a travel trailer or fiver that weighed what the manufacturer said it did. They have always weighed more. I have also never had a small truck, anything under one ton rated, that would handle what it is rated for in a safe and reasonable fashion. Cars and SUVs have an even worse track record than small trucks. Many SUVs have such a short wheelbase that towing a trailer is problematic at best when hard braking and avoidance steering is needed.

If you are in an accident and the issue of weight is brought up your insurance company can drop you like a hot rock if you have exceeded any of the ratings. More and more police are looking at overweight when combinations are involved in accidents.

If you want to safely tow a heavy load get a rig capable of doing it safely. Shortcuts don't work. If the cost of the equipment is too high than consider used stuff or wait till you can do it right. Just because someone has towed an ocean-liner with a row boat doesn't mean it's a good idea and should become acceptable practice.

 

Ok ok, so I don't get any more lectures heres some info: 12,000 GCWR, 6000# max trailer weight.

 

My post was not intended to be a lecture but rather a too the point observation of a problem way too many folks do not consider when hooking their rig up to a trailer. There are so many variables of what makes a trailer an easy to control delight to tow or a monster lashed to the back of your rig it is difficult to enumerate them all. Not that I know all the answers but I can guarantee you I have made a lot of the mistakes. Overloading is one of the real major problems. Speed is the other major killer. When pulling a combination you need to travel at an easily controlled speed.

Really sorry if I hurt your feelings.

 

Nope, not at all. Just giving some more info to try and get an idea of what I want to do. The reasons I am thinking of doing it myself, is that I haven't found a manufacturer who offers a unit that can haul 4 quads and still be under 7000# loaded. It seems to me like I can build my own that will haul 4 and be under 7000#.

 

I would strongly recommend not pulling 6,000 lbs with a vehicle rated for pulling 6,000 lbs. What you are describing will weigh about 6,000 lbs with water, fuel, groceries and gear.
There needs to be a safety factor, margin of error, whatever you want to call it. I've been right where you are now, with a Yukon pulling a travel trailer, and wanting to take my quads with me. I lunched two transmissions in that Yukon. I finally listened, and got a proper tow vehicle, a Ford Superduty 250 with a V-10 and tow package. It is rated for towing 11,000 lbs, and I wouldn't think of towing anything close to that. My 26FS Attitude with all quads, water, fuel, gear, groceries comes in under 8,000, I think. I've never actually weighed it, but it is a good match. I can get 17mpg with just the truck, pulling the big load I get about 7mpg. Pulling my flat bed trailer with a heavy load I get about 12 mpg, the difference would have to be wind resistance, so your idea, which is a lot like the Scorpion model linked above, still has a lot of merit. Also depends a lot on where you camp/ride. Pop ups are great in good weather, but they suck if it is really hot or really cold.
I have friends that pull a utility trailer behind their fifth wheel. Now we are talking BIG truck, diesel one ton. But what a nice set up.