Advice on ATV Trailer Brand?

[WeeBee]

I'm looking at buying a New "CarryOn" 5'x8' Trailer with the Ramp Gate and Mesh Floor from my local Tractor Supply store ! Anyone have any experience with this Brand of trailer to share ?? Thanks!

[jen]

Grandma had me buy a Tractor 5 X 8 trailer. We were in Ohio.  We drove south about 125 miles and found the wheel bolts were loose and had wallowed out the lugs so the wheel could not be tightened. We made it to a TS. The trailer was loaded but the TS guys swapped the trailer out for us.  No questions.  the trailer has a straight tongue but I have used it to carry the Foreman .  The loading gate is a wind dam when empty unless when empty i lay it down .   I repainted the trailer and the expanded metal deck has remained good condition.

[WeeBee]

Thanks for the Info ,sounds like I should Check it out really well BEFORE towing any distance then ! My Tractor Supply is about 3 miles from home so it should be OK until I can check it out really well . Thanks again!

[jen]

It had telarge wheels. Its light duty but handy. It has the 1 7/8 inch ball hitch.  I like the bigger ball.

TS also has another brand of trailers with fold down side rails.    I looked at them recently.  They have 'V frame tongue.

[WeeBee]

This Model has the 13 " Wheels with a 2" Ball ,1600 LB. Capacity for my Lawn Tractor& ATV!  Bigger is better in this case ! I never had thought about the Mesh Loading Gate acting as a wind dam! Thanks

[jen]

TS also has another brand of trailers with fold down side rails.    I looked at them recently.  They have 'V frame tongue. Some models have Folding tail gate.  The tall gate is only an issue on long trips.

Northern Supply has aluminum and steel trailers with out decking fairly cheap.   However, with an aluminum frame you only save 125 Lbs. on 5 x 8 trailer.  However if I buy another trailer  6 X 10 it will be aluminum so I can tow with Highlander if needed,   

[WeeBee]

The 6'x10' .would your SXS fit on that as well ? Thanks for all the Info on other Brands of trailers !

[jen]

No the S X S needs a min. of 10 foot X 6 ft.  But SXS only  weighs 1500 Lb.  My 16 foot flat bed trailer will haul it as well as my ATV.  But even empty my 16 ft single axle that I built up from a scrapped boat trailer is too heavy for the High lander.  It has electric brakes that I installed and Dexter axle 15 inch wheels.

[WeeBee]

It's Always something , Bigger trailer - Bigger Tow rig! LOL!

[jen]

I like big bodies.

[mikeexplorer]

6 hours ago, jen said:

No the S X S needs a min. of 10 foot X 6 ft.  But SXS only  weighs 1500 Lb.  My 16 foot flat bed trailer will haul it as well as my ATV.  But even empty my 16 ft single axle that I built up from a scrapped boat trailer is too heavy for the High lander.  It has electric brakes that I installed and Dexter axle 15 inch wheels.

Triton makes aluminum trailers that are light and last. I have one I bought in 2007 and still good.

 

[jen]

Well I am upset as I installed electric brakes and new wheel bearings / seals.  And bought two new 15 inch wheels... new rims and rubber.  But the axle is too far back and the trailer is too heavy empty  2 x 6box tube frame . I looked for a bare frame with the idea of taking the axle off and mounting on a new aluminum frame but cannot find one.  Finding a naked frame is hard.

[WeeBee]

Sell this one & get one that will work for you ?

[jen]

I worked so hard to get it done....AGGGHH!

[WeeBee]

I know I've followed your postings !

[mikeexplorer]

22 hours ago, jen said:

I worked so hard to get it done....AGGGHH!

That sucks, towing overloaded is dangerous and will hurt the vehicle. 

 

[jen]

Yeah I haave to tow it with the Tundra

[davefrombc]

32 minutes ago, jen said:

Yeah I haave to tow it with the Tundra

What  do you  expect to tow ? The  Tundra can easily tow far more than a single axle trailer will gross out at.

 

[jen]

Yes but Grandma likes my Highlander.   So I would like to haul the S X S and my foreman .   So I am thinking a light 16 ft trailer that the Highlander can tow. .... SXS 1450 Lb...ATV 650 lb

[jen]

Maybe I should give up on the Highlander towing idea.   The Tundra has the factory electric brake controller with adjustable gain and manual brake over ride.  The Highlander does not have that.  Towing in W Va brakes are nice.  Two years ago I came upon an accident.    A guy towing an off road Jeep CJ 5 with a Minivan   He lost it on a sharp curve.  His daughter in back seat died when the sliding door opened and  then shut on her. 

[davefrombc]

51 minutes ago, jen said:

Yes but Grandma likes my Highlander.   So I would like to haul the S X S and my foreman .   So I am thinking a light 16 ft trailer that the Highlander can tow. .... SXS 1450 Lb...ATV 650 lb

Most  single axles are rated for 3500 lbs. gross at best.  That  leaves only 1400lbs. for trailer tare wt.  I suspect you'll have a hard time finding one that light and large enough to  carry the  SxS  and quad together.  Their combined weight is taking you into  tandem axle territory.

  A quick check  shows me  Highlanders with the v6  can tow up to 5,000lb.  The others are rated  3500lb..  Right  at  your axle's rating.

 

Edited January 7 by davefrombc

[jen]

Yeah...when the trailer weighs as much as the towing vehicle weight   I get worried especially when the trailer does not have brakes.  I think I'll look at moving the axle forward on my 16 foot bed length  single axle and just use the Tundra when towing both sxs and ATV.  I will need t pick up a 6 x 10  light trailer for xnprng the sxs.

[mikeexplorer]

20 hours ago, jen said:

Yeah...when the trailer weighs as much as the towing vehicle weight   I get worried especially when the trailer does not have brakes.  I think I'll look at moving the axle forward on my 16 foot bed length  single axle and just use the Tundra when towing both sxs and ATV.  I will need t pick up a 6 x 10  light trailer for xnprng the sxs.

If your going to move the axle, you first want to figure out the arrangement of the two machines on the trailer so you know where the balance point is. 

 

[jen]

Hmmm...The rear to the ball is 21 feet, And deck is 16 feet.  There is a lot of tongue weight when empty.  It was made for a heavy inboard out board boat.

[mikeexplorer]

On 1/8/2026 at 3:28 PM, jen said:

Hmmm...The rear to the ball is 21 feet, And deck is 16 feet.  There is a lot of tongue weight when empty.  It was made for a heavy inboard out board boat.

You want some tongue weight when loaded, otherwise the trailer will fishtail. What I mean is how the machines will be loaded on the trailer. That will determine where the axle should be. 

The trailer tongue weight is high now (empty) because the axle is so far back from the center point based on the picture you posted. 

 

Do you know the weight of the trailer empty?

 

[jen]

I do not know trailer weight. But you are correct that is needed.  I loaded it with grandpa's tractor to go help my cousin move her yard fence.  The tractor with loader and bucket is 3,700 Lbs.

The tongue wt even loaded as shown was huge.

[jen]

The frame is 2  x6 box tubing.  I am concerned about the amount of rust inside the tubing frame.  However, when I loaded the Mahindra the tongue was on the ground as shown and the trailer frame did not sag much as I backed on and then unloaded.  I like the front ramps i made. Loading from the trailer with long ramps at the back of the trailer is scary  to me.

[WeeBee]

Looks to me like the "Center point" now would be aproxx., the REAR of the Tire just  forward of the Yellow Side Marker light !!

[WeeBee]

2 hours ago, jen said:

The frame is 2  x6 box tubing.  I am concerned about the amount of rust inside the tubing frame.  However, when I loaded the Mahindra the tongue was on the ground as shown and the trailer frame did not sag much as I backed on and then unloaded.  I like the front ramps i made. Loading from the trailer with long ramps at the back of the trailer is scary  to me.

 

Definitely looks to be Heavy duty & Well built but really needs to be a Tandem/Dual Axle ( IMO) !

[jen]

Yes you are right.