New Trailer for the Sleds & Otters

My current trailer is an aluminum tilt bed with an aluminum clam style top. I hate the thing and will never own another tilt bed trailer for as long as I live once I find a replacement for the current one.

I’m entertaining the idea of getting a new trailer for this ice season. It has to be an enclosed trailer or a trailer with a cover of some kind as the equipment needs to be clean and dry once I get to the destination. I’d like enough room to carry two sleds/wheelers + 2 otter resort ice houses with enough room to drive them in and close the doors. The ice houses will be stacked/nested one on top of the other so we’re really looking at room for 2 sleds /wheelers and one Otter Resort.

I just got done looking at trailers and I’m not sure what to do with regard to width. The sales guys advise the 7′ wide trailers versus the 8.5′ version for ease of towing. I’m worried about how much room is lost when sleds are “staggered” in the trailer so they’ll fit in a 7′ wide space.

Anyone out there have a 7′ trailer? How much space are you losing staggering sleds? What do you think of the 8.5′ wide trailers?

Any advice on length. The 14′ enclosed look like they would be a little short for 2 sleds in a staggered formation with an otter resort behind the rear sled. The 18′ version would definitely have the room but that is a BIG trailer.

Any advice on steel versus aluminum? The aluminum trailers come with two additional years of warranty. Warrnty on what is the big question I did not get answered yet and to be honest “warranty” in and of itself is not a reason I would opt for one material over another. Weight is a factor but I have a big diesel and the weight difference between a 14′ aluminum versus 14′ steel is 800#. Big whoop.

How about brands? I looked at Aluma, Renegae and Look trailers + a couple three others brands with names I can’t recall. The Aluma trailers looked the best but they’re not cheap. Some of the other brands were very tall… sitting noticeably high on the frames which left a lot of head room above the height of the truck which could potentially be an issue with wind resistance.

Alright sledders… any and all input is welcomed. I thank everyone in advance for taking the time to help me out.

Are you finally sick of banging your head on the top while backing sleds out?

I can’t imagine having a 7′ wide trailer for sleds because you could never park them side by side utilizing all the space efficiently. I would vote 8.5′ wide and 16′-18′ long if you want to haul that much in the trailer. Best to get as much square footage to haul what you need to haul, it’s better than running short.

Definitely aluminum with all the salt on roads.

Might as well get a wheel house with the rear load door.

If you want ease of towing but 8′ wide try the Floe with a Protektor cover. They are not as tall inside which can be a little hassle but they are quality. I have a 12′ model, very light, I can move around unloaded by myself. A larger model you may not be able to move as easily but it would still be very light.

You do NOT want steel!!! Rust will be a problem very fast. My buddy and I both have had steel and both agree never again. If I remember correctly you have a diesel, go with 8′ wide it won’t help you tow any easier going with the 7′ model. Hunting and fishing more room is golden, I would not settle for a more narrow setup.

The only other reccomendation I can offer would be a unit with a ramp door in the front and back. The protektor cover is the gull wing where the front and back open individually so you have to move the ramp around to the front for front unload. A little extra work but not too bad. Good luck with whatever you choose.

James,
If your main use for the trailer is ice fishing or sledding, I would go with the 100″ wide trailer. I have the 8.5ft floe with the gull wing pro-tektor cover on it, 16ft in length, and it works exactly as you describe. Sleds/wheelers can be pulled in with the ice houses attached, secure them in place, close the doors, and away you go.

For its size, it actually pulls quite easy. The only little inconvenience is having to move the ramp around, but its usually not that big of a deal with 2 people.

I am contemplating selling the one I have, as my needs have changed a bit, its a 2004, but has seen basically no use. PM me if you want more info on it.

oh, and it is great summer storage as well, as long as you have a place to park it!

good luck with your search

Stay away from steel.

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Stay away from steel.

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X2

Check the Featherlite dealer in Elko rite off the freeway. Featherlite’s are not cheap by any means but they surely make a very fine quality, lightweight trailer

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Stay away from steel.

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X2 I have a buddy that bought steel and after 2 years of winter use it was junk.
I would also recommend one that doesnt require crawling under to secure the ski brace

Huge fan of Aluma trailers here. 8′-6″ wide trailers are nice but they get a little farther off the ground with the wheels underneath. It’s amazing how much lighter the aluminum enclosed trailers are compared to the steel ones. I’d stretch out the trailer and get as long as your comfortable with. You always seem to fill the trailer up somehow.

aluminum enclosed V nose 18′ or 20′ with both front door ramp and rear ramp allows you to stick with 7′ width and should have lower ground clearance.All you have to be concerned with is which toy you want out the gate first and also gives you the option of adjusting tounge weight by selecting what gets parked up front.Maybe this link would help? : Find a Trailer DEAL.from Trailers USA

I don’t own a sled but I have one rule I almost always follow. When you buy something for a specific purpose and for a particular size, get one size larger. With this rule in mind it sounds like you need the 8 1/2′ X 16′ with a low top. I have a little 7′ X 10′ enclosed trailer, for such a small trailer it grabs a hell of a lot of wind. I have never measured the ceiling height but would guess that it is 7′. The trailer served its purpose very well but now I would be happier if the ceiling were a couple feet lower.

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Are you finally sick of banging your head on the top while backing sleds out?

I can’t imagine having a 7′ wide trailer for sleds because you could never park them side by side utilizing all the space efficiently. I would vote 8.5′ wide and 16′-18′ long if you want to haul that much in the trailer. Best to get as much square footage to haul what you need to haul, it’s better than running short.

Definitely aluminum with all the salt on roads.

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He’s not, I am!

Driving on doesn’t seem to be the problem as much as unloading. A slick load/unload system without un-hooking, rehitching, etc. would be nice. A good way to secure the sleds without having to be a contortionist would be nice too!

Joel

V nose, alum, as big as you can afford. I have never met a guy who didn’t wish he had a bigger shed, boat or trailer.

I would start posting ads on Craigs list. Lots of guys who really need the money right now. Don’t want to sound like a vulture but it’s a buyers market.

Don’t worry about a place to park it. I have plenty of room inside a fenced area. Summer or winter. (Ya, it would be free for you. )

Let us know what you find.

James, I’d get a drive on/ drive off, Alum. trailer. If your sleds have reverse you can put one on forwards and back the other on the trailer. You could get by with a 6.5 x 14, maybe 16′. Otherwise your probably stuck with a 8.5′ width. Most long track sleds need about 11′ in length depending on model. I have a Aluma 6.5 x 12′ [3500lb axle] w/sides and can get 2 sleds on this way with a little room to spare but not enough for a shack unless its set on its side. I then cover the whole trailer with a tarp to keep things dry. I’m not against tilt beds but prefer to have a ramp instead. Only other thing I’d suggest is LED stop lights. With the heavy axle it bounces the snot out of regular lights. I haven’t had any problems since switching to LED’s. I went with 3500lb because 2 sleds with snow/ice on them is 1200lbs? plus gear is over 50% to max weight on a 2000lb trailer.
I’m looking change the top part though maybe a hard top or something, the wheels are still turning though. Think!Think!Think! Good luck

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James, I’d get a drive on/ drive off, Alum. trailer. If your sleds have reverse you can put one on forwards and back the other on the trailer. You could get by with a 6.5 x 14, maybe 16′. Otherwise your probably stuck with a 8.5′ width. Most long track sleds need about 11′ in length depending on model. I have a Aluma 6.5 x 12′ [3500lb axle] w/sides and can get 2 sleds on this way with a little room to spare but not enough for a shack unless its set on its side. I then cover the whole trailer with a tarp to keep things dry. I’m not against tilt beds but prefer to have a ramp instead. Only other thing I’d suggest is LED stop lights. With the heavy axle it bounces the snot out of regular lights. I haven’t had any problems since switching to LED’s. I went with 3500lb because 2 sleds with snow/ice on them is 1200lbs? plus gear is over 50% to max weight on a 2000lb trailer.
I’m looking change the top part though maybe a hard top or something, the wheels are still turning though. Think!Think!Think! Good luck

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Fantastic first post, sir! Thank you for the info. I’ve been scouring the internet and searching my soul trying to find out what I want to do here. A monster 22′ enclosed trailer sounds awesome… but then do I really want to haul that beast all over the midwest and Canada when travel conditions are often at their worst?

Two things I do know… the tilt bed has to go and I’m not going to make the mistake of buying too small a trailer. I just need to find the right size and price. Right now I’m leaning toward a 16′ x 7′ enclosed but we’re pushing $10k for the premium brands in aluminum. For $10k… I might be able to put up with that tilt bed a little longer…

Decisions, decisions.

Maybe a race car hauler would do the trick? It would be built plenty heavy enough and would be secure for hauling all the gear needed to shoot your shows.

Ah, I can see it now………………….

Double deck race car hauler with living quarters up front.

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Stay away from steel.

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X2 I have a buddy that bought steel and after 2 years of winter use it was junk.
I would also recommend one that doesnt require crawling under to secure the ski brace

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You could think about going with this set up. I ordered a 6 by 12 cargo trailer with 3 windows,RV door,insulated and tie downs for the ATV. I then added roof vent,fold down table,heater,cabnets,catch cover and wired for generator. I’m going to use it to hunt out of it also.Just Think bigger for your use.

So many options… I’ve been really kicking it around and I think I’m more confused now than when I started… lol There’s so many cool options to kick around. I’m thinking the best way to deal with this is to get some measurement off of the sleds in a staggered arrangement and take those measurements to the inside of some of these trailers to see how everything would fill out.