Harbor Freight Trailers

[BLOZ UP]

I'm looking at getting wheels and tires soon. I'd like a trailer attached to a ball on my 280Z rear bumper.

 

The one I see a lot of people run are the HF trailer. It comes in two flavors, 12" tire 1100 lb capacity, or 8" 870 lb. capacity. The difference appears to be limited to just the wheel and tire size.

 

Does anyone have either of these? How high is the tongue off the ground when the trailer is level?

Edited October 4, 2014 by BLOZ UP

[Tony D]

I will never run 8" wheels. Ever. Not on anything that goes on the freeway. I've seen far too many explode or literally burn the bearings out.

 

You pretty much got it right, the hubs look identical to me, the only difference seems to be the fender position and they put 12" rims and tires in the box.

 

Think about that for a second regarding rpm's and bearings.

 

I can say positively that my 4' HF Trailer with 12" tires tracked great at an 80mph emergency lane change in Texas, survived being fully loaded and being completely 100% visible on an off-road incident that sent it up in the air, and tracks perfectly at triple digits. I put 15,000 miles on it in one trip, and the next year 18,000 miles. I had a photo of it loaded on the back of the 2/2 at the Mackinac Bridge (the good side) -- the tongue is about horizontal right below the bumper of the stock-height early 240Z bumper. I used a drop hitch to keep it level on the old Frontier, and on the F150...though likely I don't really need to do that it keeps the load level.

 

Mine has had 800# on it, as well as whatever 3 L28's complete out of the junkyard weigh. I double-decked it with a sheet of 3/4" plywood, then laid a 1/8" thick piece of diamond plate aluminium on top of that, using big washers underneath to hold the anchor bolts down... I can CRANK on straps (like those big 2" wide truck straps) to hold stuff down on it...the platform is rigid enough to take it without stressing the frame.

 

I put a U-Bolt on the tongue and attach a 48 Quart Cooler there for JY runs, and I have two spare tires underneath on locking hubs...basically I have a spare set of tires AND hubs under the trailer that if I need to I can drop and put on in an emergency. NO call to do it in 33,000 miles yet. And most of that is at 75+ mph!

 

I DID change the ball receiver to be 2" so I didn't need to change anything else in my collection to have one of those 'multi-hitch balls' for the CL3 Receiver at the back of the car. Probably would be fine with the 1 7/8" it comes with...but I didn't want it since I didn't have the ball---and I got the part cheaper than a decent ball...sooooo 2" conversion it was!

 

I added the front swing-down wheel but took it off later. It's  not that heavy and all I ever do is just drop the tongue and go anyway, leaving it chained at the hotel or the track. If I move it around the yard I just pick it up. Unloaded it's really light.

Edited October 4, 2014 by Tony D

[BLOZ UP]

I will never run 8" wheels. Ever. Not on anything that goes on the freeway. I've seen far too many explode or literally burn the bearings out.

 

You pretty much got it right, the hubs look identical to me, the only difference seems to be the fender position and they put 12" rims and tires in the box.

 

Think about that for a second regarding rpm's and bearings.

Yeah, it does worry me. I read of a bunch of people using the 8" ones on the 250Z forums, but no long term follow ups. I've got a 25% off coupon I plan on using on it so I can get the 12" for basically the same price. Alternatively, I can get the cheaper one and find some nicer 12" wheels and tires for it elsewhere.

 

I can say positively that my 4' HF Trailer with 12" tires tracked great at an 80mph emergency lane change in Texas, survived being fully loaded and being completely 100% visible on an off-road incident that sent it up in the air, and tracks perfectly at triple digits. I put 15,000 miles on it in one trip, and the next year 18,000 miles. I had a photo of it loaded on the back of the 2/2 at the Mackinac Bridge (the good side) -- the tongue is about horizontal right below the bumper of the stock-height early 240Z bumper. I used a drop hitch to keep it level on the old Frontier, and on the F150...though likely I don't really need to do that it keeps the load level.

 

Mine has had 800# on it, as well as whatever 3 L28's complete out of the junkyard weigh. I double-decked it with a sheet of 3/4" plywood, then laid a 1/8" thick piece of diamond plate aluminium on top of that, using big washers underneath to hold the anchor bolts down... I can CRANK on straps (like those big 2" wide truck straps) to hold stuff down on it...the platform is rigid enough to take it without stressing the frame.

 

I put a U-Bolt on the tongue and attach a 48 Quart Cooler there for JY runs, and I have two spare tires underneath on locking hubs...basically I have a spare set of tires AND hubs under the trailer that if I need to I can drop and put on in an emergency. NO call to do it in 33,000 miles yet. And most of that is at 75+ mph!

 

I DID change the ball receiver to be 2" so I didn't need to change anything else in my collection to have one of those 'multi-hitch balls' for the CL3 Receiver at the back of the car. Probably would be fine with the 1 7/8" it comes with...but I didn't want it since I didn't have the ball---and I got the part cheaper than a decent ball...sooooo 2" conversion it was!

 

I added the front swing-down wheel but took it off later. It's  not that heavy and all I ever do is just drop the tongue and go anyway, leaving it chained at the hotel or the track. If I move it around the yard I just pick it up. Unloaded it's really light.

That's a good idea with the spares. I thought about the swing down wheel but yeah, that's a bit overkill. I think I'll look into some sort of kickstand so I can support a bolt-on folding seat for events but that's getting a bit ahead of myself.

 

So, just below the bumper on a stock 240Z? That should line up well with my lowered 280Z bumper.

 

Think I might pick it up soon, my coupon expires soon (and this is about the only expensive thing not excluded on the coupon). Bright yellow rattle can job and I'll have a cute matching trailer.

[Tony D]

I guess I should say likely my bumper is lower than it should be from stock height. It's not slammed, but it sags low in the back.

 

I got a photo somewhere...

[BLOZ UP]

I'm just trying to make sure the tongue angle isn't going to be whack.

[Tony D]

Not in the least... Very close to parallel to the ground.

I went through an excruciating ordeal restoring JPG files from my cloud backup...and come to realize I have nothing with me before June 2004, or for all of 2010.

 

Trailer was used extensively in 2001-2003 on the 2+2, then was pressed into junkyard service on the Coupe and occasionally the Frontier...and those got no photos of them out there! Bummer, sorry!