The American Beagler Forum

Looking for ideas for a very small dog trailer. I'm thinking something similar to a motorcycle trailer in size. Something easy to hook up & take to the field. Maybe with 13" tires. Any ideas would be helpful. Pro's & Con's, and also want information on anyone who makes something like this. Thanks

I bought a 5x10 utility trailer and built a box and a run on it for my dogs. I guess I may look like a hillbilly driving down the road, but it has lasted me 2+ years of hunting and running every week and probably has 15K miles on it. Still going strong. I also use it for the rider when I go and mow the rental property...

Emery

i have a small dog trailer ....13 inch tires and it is 4x5 with two compartments and top storage...i would prolly sell it ..let me know if you got interest...

make a frame from the reece hitch, it's easier to travel with than a trailer.

I though of a frame or luggage carrier attached to hitch receiver, but was wondering if: 1) the exhaust fumes bothered the dogs 2) if you could rig it so you could get in the back of an SUV & 3) if it would be too heavy to put on & off. Thanks

With the price of gas I've had the same thought. I leave to 4x4 home and drive a 40 mpg Saturn. Once I tried a 5x10 garden trailer with my diamond plate dog box. It was too heavy and the tailgate acted like a parachute. I constantly had to down shift and only got 25 mpg. Last week I looked at Tractos Supply 4x6 trailer ($269 I think) and no tailgate. There is a guy that builts aluminum dog boxes that only weight 75 lbs. This combo may work. Also there is a company that makes 4x8 all aluminum trailers for under $600. I've wondered what he would charge to enclose it and add a dog box, or attach the 75 lb box. Just my ranblings on the subject. Anyway, I leave Maryland heading to North Dartmouth, Mass tonight and then leave Mass for Glendale NY SPO on Sunday and return home Sunday night in my Saturn, not in my Ford full size pickup. I'm waiting for some manufacture to produce an enconomical (diesel) pickup, like the diesel VW Jetta wagon (50 MPG) in pickup form. I'm allergic to dogs so I would like to get then out of the car.

I built my own its on a 4x8 foot trailor box and run split in 1/2 with alum. floor.and top storage. worked out pretty good.

i drive a van so it was trailor or divorce lol

HatterasBob wrote:I'm allergic to dogs so I would like to get then out of the car.

NOW THAT'S DEVOTION!!!!!!

Trailers, now matter how small they are have negative affects on fuel milage. With my truck I can get 18+ mpg on the highway running unloaded withough a trailer. Once I hook on my dog trailer or my car trailer empty like clock work it drops to the 15-16 mpg range. Don't seem to matter on the small trailers they all have about the same negative affect on my truck. Now when I load up dog boxes and other things to catch the wind that is a different story.

As for sizes of the trailer, 4'x8' seems to be very popular. I don't care for them because I can't see a 4' wide trailer in the mirrors behind my truck. I prefer at least a 5' wide trailer because the fenders can be seen easilly behind a full size vehicle. Behind a car though, I can only imagine that a 4' wide would be easy to see, but the small mirrors that most cars have nowadays would not be very friendy to towing a trailer. 12 in trailer wheels and tires are fairly easy to find at most places like Tractor Supply Co and Wal-Mart, and do ok on the small trailers. I like 15" wheel and tire combos personally, they ride smoother on rough roads and have less rotation per mile.

I have thought about making a box that plugs into the hitch assembly on the back of the car, like you see people carrying coolers/camping equipment... I too wonder about exhaust fumes, but I can't think that they would be any worse than in a trailer. Maybe I am wrong, I don't know.

As for 4x8 vs 5x10, if you ever need to put a sheet of plywood in your trailer from the lumber store, you will wish that you had the bigger of the two.

I drive an Subaru Outback, I get 24.5 MPG on the interstate without being loaded down with family and luggage, that usually takes it down to 22 MPG. With pulling the trailer, I get 20 MPG and that is definately worth the cost of keeping momma happy. Everyone knows if momma ain't happy, then no body will be happy!

Emery

A hitch hauler for dog boxes is on the drawing board, debating on what exactly to do with it. I don't think the exhaust will be an issue at all, but someone rearending your vehicle would be tough to deal with.

They make an aluminum racks, just add an aluminum box or have one made.

How about some type of car top carrier ????????

Then you have them P'n on the top of the car.....

sgc wrote:How about some type of car top carrier ????????

you might be a redneck if.....you haul your dogs to the woods one the top of your car .......keith