BreakawayOffroad4x4.com.au

Given I no longer have a ute, I need to buy a trailer for running the green waste to the tip and to pick up the occasional landscape supplies (this is where things can get heavy). Having never owned one before, what do I need to be looking for? I could see having high sides would be beneficial for the green waste, but I dont think I want a cage. What else do I need to consider?

If I was you don't waste your time with a 6x4 as they are too small to do anything with.

7X4 or bigger is better but remember that any trailer that you buy will only legally be able to carry 750kgs unless it has brakes. You may think that cages are useless but there actually really helpful especially with green waste. There are plenty of trailer companies out there that now sell trailer with removable cages.

What ever trailer you get don't leave it outside with waste in it for long periods of time especially with the nose down as they all will rust out over time.

There are a fair few companies that are importing trailer from china and they are rubbish. The drawbars are bolted on instead of being welded.

If I was you I would be spending a bit extra to buy an offroad trailer that has proper pin to pin springs and a heavier duty axel then you can get the hubs matched to the patrol but in saying this you will have to fork out a fair bit extra.



When you start looking, let me know and I can come along if you want...

Hi Mark,

I know the next response should give a completely different view, but I currently have a heavy duty 750kg rated 7x4 trailer, with a removal 900mm cage.

However, it's built to hold 1200kg (to take a 750kg load off road), and have it fully galvanised. The whole custom made trailer cost $3.3k around 4 years ago.

You can get higher sides with you wish, but I recommend having square tubes at each of the corners to allow a "removal" cage to be attached. I too agree a cage is very handy, especially for green waste, or for taking 6 bikes to the park. I designed the cage I have with a strengthen bar at the rear, to allow the gate to swing open and not push out the sides. I can show you photos, or can come past your place with the trailer.

I do also recommend you get GU stud pattern, and GU axle width.

I also requested on my trailer have only a single 75mm steel bar at the rear, given it maximum ground clearance in the very rear.
The top trailer flat panel is also only a glue in piece of galvanised steel sheet. This is so no holes are drilled through steel (to prevent rust), and there are no rivets on top. This allow me to use a shade to push things out of the trailer, and not get caught on rivet heads. It also makes cleaning REALLY easy.

And if you don't need a trailer too often, forget the above and get a cheap Chinese import. It may only last 60 trips, but if you only do 3 a year, it may last 20 years.

Then again, I'm only 20mins down the road, and you're welcome to use my trailer any time.