Situation: I have a 2004 Explorer 4.6L with towing package (towing capacity approx. 7000lbs). Buddy has a Titan he is planning on trading in for a Grand Cherokee. I usually have to borrow his Titan when I need a truck since he lives so close, but if he follows through with this then there goes that.

He proposed that we go in on an older beater to share and use as we needed and keep it at my place since I have a few acres. While I love the idea of having a chore pickup around the place, I wouldn't be able to go in on a decent one until winter anyway. I wouldn't mind the fact that it's stored at my house.

Or I bounced this idea off of him, that we go in on a 14 or 16' tandem axle trailer. A nice one can be had for the price of a beat up old pickup truck. Initial cost and overall maintenance costs would be lower, wouldn't have to mess with keeping a tired engine running.

While the trailer is not as convenient for tooling around in as a pickup, it sure seems to make the most economical sense and can carry 12' lumber no problem. But I am a little concerned about the Explorer or Grand Cherokee handling a trailer of which I'm speaking. I'm pretty sure if we didn't get too carried away with the load these vehicles should be just fine.

Thoughts? Keep in mind I just built a house on 2 acres and landscaping will be a major project for next year (might include retaining wall blocks, fill dirt, driveway gravel, etc). A riding mower is also on the horizon as well. Buddy probably wouldn't need it as much as I do, however he helps other friends out a lot with the Titan now.

 

Well... I'd get an old F250... just to be safe.

I wouldn't want an Exploder or a Grand Cherokee to be next to me with a long trailer.

Just go out and get a F250 or better yet a F350 if you plan on hauling heavy stuff.

Keep the SUVs for family stuff... they were never meant for hauling trailers.

 

Go for the trailer. A 16' dual axle flatbed can be found for cheap, even when new. Less maintenance required, and you can haul more with the trailer than an old truck would. I wouldn't be afraid to haul 5,000lbs with the exploder or GC as long as the trailer brakes were set up.

 

It's really a no-brainer. Get a trailer. Vehicles come and go but a trailer lasts forever.

 

Kind of what I'm leaning towards as well. A motor is just one more thing to keep up with.

Not to mention the logistics of two people carrying an interest in a beater truck...who pays for the blown heads? "It's your fault!"

 

Maybe your friend is getting rid of his Titan because he is sick of sharing it with all of his truckless buddies



I think the trailer makes the most sense. Cheap to own (little insurance or registration costs), easy to maintain, etc....

Not sure about the towing capability of your Explorer, but a flat bed 16' - 18' trailer could easily weigh 2,000 - 2,500 lbs. by itself.

 

Perhaps. He keeps bitching about the mileage, and it's only a year away from being paid off. Trade in for a Grand Cherokee? Eh, whatever.

I am planning and getting a truck to replace the Ex in a few years, so it's not like I'll be limping the Ex around with this trailer forever either.

 

dont worry about towing with the explorer I had a 93 without the tow pkg v-6 auto I hauled a 71 long bed f150 on a "T" trailer from O K C to Tucson and I carried a 14 ft trailer behind it alot and it finally kicked off at roughly 197000 mi

 

Rule A) dont listen to morons like manual150 that purposely OVERLOAD their truck to a ridiculously unsafe point then brag about it on here.

Manual, go somewhere else. your whining about a exploder carrying a trailer? if i remember correctly, the 04 explorers were fullsize. on second thought, DAMN you know how to rub me the wrong way, YOUR AN IDIOT. do not EVER offer your input.

My input, get a 16' trailer. my 4.6 f150 was able to haul 5k on a 1400# dry wt 16' trailer if i was easy on it. i would strongly recommend getting one with trailer brakes already (do the upkeep on them) and get a tekonsha prodigy brake controller. you can get one for about $116 online, its a very well rounded unit and if you decide to go with a truck later it can be transplanted.

 

If you get an 2wd beater pickup it will be alot cheaper than a 4x4.

F350s 4x4 cost alot more than a 250 and 150 because they had a solid dana 60 front. F250s had two packages, LD and HD. After 88 finding a LD f250 would be rare, and they are not all that heavy duty. Anyway a HD f250 includes a full float 10.25 rear, d50 ttb front.

I know a good bit about the older 150/250/350s so post up some trucks you find on craigslist.

 

Thanks for the input fellas.

Little update of what happened over the weekend. He went and traded in on an H3. I didn't think he was really going to do it.

Ah well. As far as a beater truck, I do have a 79 F-150 4x4 that needs as much $ invested as buying a beater would be, except more sentimental as it was dads. Trying to get a plan together to fix that up to be a decent winter/weekend driver as well. So getting a trailer now kind of gets me by until that happens.

No doubt I'll be getting one with brakes. Is it common to have only one axle with the brakes? I keep seeing this as I'm looking at used trailers in this category and realizing this may be the case.

 

yeah i think its very common for only one axle to have brakes, maybe until your getting into really heavy trailers?

the plus with the trailer - your wife/gf/other family car breaks down, you dont have to pay a tow truck or rent a dolly