With the ATV I use an aluminum one that has rails and a ramp that folds up so no need for straps.

 

Mine has rails and ramp, but I tie mine down anyway as it stops your ride from bouncing when you hit a pothole or something at 55 (or more). I learned one day when I got home not clamping it down the rear end was shoved over into the rail (not where I parked it). I just tie down the back end as the front is up against the front rail anyway. Just takes a minute.

 

I too have the Harbor Freight 4X8 folding trailer. Had it for 8 years and 30K and didn't weld or repack anything. Great trailer!

 

Yeah Dee, A agree with the others. No matter what, you need to tie it down/secure it. I had a friend that was killed by a guy hauling a lawn tractor in his pickup without tying it down. He had an accident and the tractor came flying out of the bed of his pickup and went through the windshield of my friend killing her, and seriously injuring her two sons. Such a tragic accident could have been prevented if he had strapped it down. And I am pretty sure the sides of the bed were higher than the rails on the trailer. Just a thought.

 

Sandmann, It would appear you have been very lucky and got one that works. Statistically speaking though, the Harbour frieght bolt together trailers have had issues for a lot of guys on this list and others. There have been some horror stories like wheel bearings seaizing on the ride home etc. Like any tool, I recommend to everyone that they do preventative maintenance on any type trailer they have at least once a year. It just makes sense. I don't like to throw money away if I can help it, and trailers can be an investment, not just a purchase. And considering the cost of my ATV's that are being hauled, I don't want to risk it by being cheap on a trailer. A yearly maintenance event would go like this, Starting with a bearing pack and going through all the nuts and bolts, checking welds and looking for rust. Small problems are much easier to fix when they are small. They get expensive if you let them go. And don't overload the trailer either. That is asking for trouble. I always start a trip by checking and setting air pressure in the tires, and hitting the bearing buddies with a couple pumps of fresh axle bearing grease. I admit I do not check all my lights every time I pull it, but I do at least a couple times a year and I feel pretty confident they are working all the time. All that takes about 5 minutes. Cheap insurance if you ask me...

 

I check my rear trailer lights by pushing the button on the remote control to unlock the truck. It makes the lights flash for a couple of seconds. The side marker lights at the front no longer work and I got tired of fixing them. I have a small 3 ounce grease gun and use a tube full once a year to grease the hubs. I don't check the tire pressure as often as I should but I do check it at least at the beginning of the season.

 

I check tail lights every time by turning on 4 way flashers. Annoys me to see trailers even small like mine where some don't think they need to plug in. They use the old "oh people can see the brake lights on my truck that's good enough" explanation. I check tires every time I go out. Had bearings repacked this spring after 3 years. Still considering bearing buddies for it.

 

John, bearing buddies are a must have. Makes greasing the bearings a no brainer 2 minute deal. All the above takes less than 5 minutes to check. Just have to get into the habit. Like wearing helmets. I absolutely will not fire them up without it. I admit to not always pulling on my boots or gloves and chest protector, but helmet and goggles are worn religiously. All it takes is one time without them and having an accident. Then you wish you had listened to yourself. I even went as far as driving 3 hours to ride with my son, and he jumping on his machine without helmet to unload. After much heated discussion, the ATV was reloaded and we went home. A wasted day, but a lesson learned. He doesn't get out of the car now without Helmet and goggles ON. Kind of funny... but I am not complaining.

 

If you have an EZ Lube axle from Dexter axle it's a built in system and I think it works better than Bearing Buddies. The new grease goes into the very back of the rear bearing and comes out through the front bearing. It doesn't take many pumps of the grease gun to get the old grease coming out. BTW I don't work for them I just really like their product. Here's video of it.

 

Thanks for the data Frank. Some of us old guys consider all these products to be the same thing and clearly they are not. I guess I look at all facial tissue as Kleenex too.