I need help with choosing a trailer. I have a 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan. It has a v6 and can tow 3600 lbs. Which is the above max weight of trailers in my price range and needs.
TLDR- What are the pros and cons of aluminum vs steel in a 6x10 utility trailer.
I plan on using a 6x10 trailer. My main choice is between two trailers. 2500$ Steel frame with treated wood floor or 4600$ aluminum with aluminum flooring. I have experience with steel trailers as my previous employeer had one. Aluminum I never used. My main concern is welding on mounts, I know steel can be done but am unsure about aluminum. Aluminum is half the weight at 500lbs and has a higher weight capacitity. The 1100$ price difference will be offset on less wear and tear on the vechile.
Careful towing with that front wheel drive van. I tried to do that with my Sienna, the hitch kept scraping up driveways, and I had a lot of problems getting traction on wet roads, especially from a stop turning right.
I’ve been using my AWD 4runner towing the trailer which has been a lot better but space inside for other stuff is tight.
I’ve used both and highly prefer the trailer. Mainly because I paint and dont have another car. So a trailer I can detach and have a dual use from my van.
I can also bring my van on parkways, which on Long Island is huge.
I have about a 11k to start-up. Basic Marketting, Insurance, and License eats about 40% of that up. I would like a truck but its not in the budget.
Most my business is local within 5-15 miles. I have towed alot with this van, Im single owner at 150k miles. The sweet spot with saftey is around 2900 lbs.
I’ve done the math with weight. I will be well under the 3600lb tow capacity. I can safely drive with about 100 gallons of water and be around 2700 lbs. We dont have wells around here and I have never needed to bring water. The 100 gallons will just be a buffer in case they have a slow spicket. I like to talk to customers so I usually have 5-10 mins of time to fill up before we start.
The price difference with a vehicle that can really add more is just so extreme. The van and trailer cost me 2500$. The only benefit of a better vehicle would be to have more water, which isnt vital.
I bought a new 2024 Belmont 6x10 trailer. UT610TT – 6’ x 10’ Utility Trailer
It cost 2750$ and was 6 minutes away. The next cheapest option was a days drive. The business I was bought it from is a local “ma and pa” shop with a good rep. There welding prices are reasonable so I thought it good to start a realtionship with a shop that can repair and alter it. It can also upgrade to a 5k axel.
I will be rarely overloading the trailer while its stationary by about 500lbs over its 2000 lbs payload capacity. While moving I can tow 175 gallons of the 275 gallon tank while being underweight, If I fill the tank while stationary it will become 500 lbs over. Belmont trailers are rated up to 5k lbs, just not with standard 3500 lbs axel. To order a new one with an upgraded axel would of been 6-8 weeks of wait time with about the same cost as buying and installing the new axel later on down the road.
The vendor cringed at the thought of overloading it, even while stationary, but assured me the worst would be a minor bend in the axel. Since I plan to replace the axel over the winter its not a major risk. He also offered to inspect the current axel free of charge whenever I pass his shop.
I feel like I am over-thinking the whole axel thing. I can set a shut-off valve for 175 gallons as I only have one 8 gpm machine with a 12v for soap. We have no wells and in 3 years I have never needed to bring water. While my van can pull the full 275 gallon tank, the wear and tear on brakes and tires is far more the 125 gallons. I almost feel as if the 5k axel is a panic buy.
Cons -
Can only hold 2100 lbs.
Not powder coated
Its built with square tube steal not L angle steal making the frame heaveir reducing over-all carry weight by 150-200 lbs. Making it over 400lbs heavier then its aluminum counter-part. Since the axel is the same on both builds its pretty drastic in tow-capacity. Again since the axel is the weak link, I dont fully understand the benefit of square iron tubing vs lighter angle iron.
Pros -
New
Warrantied
Has an upgrade package for 5k lbs axel
Be careful towing a 275 half full… the sloshing is a killer if you haven’t got some sort of a baffling system in place. It loves to toss our F250s around pretty good
Man I’d be thinking hard before knowingly overloading a trailer. I’m not talking trash I just think maybe I’d get one built for the task from the get go. Either way I wish you luck!
