Hunting trailer type – what to build

What trailer type or trailer styles suit towing quads, side by sides and motorbikes? There are two trailer types we will look at; tandem trailers (car trailers) and flatbed (table top) trailers. I’m sure the different trailer types may be known by other names in different regions.

Tandem trailer

A tandem trailer has dual axles with the wheels outside the deck area and the deck is below the mud guards just like a car trailer (for towing vehicles). This makes the tandem trailer quiet wide, generally as wide as the maximum width of 2.5m as per the ADR.

They tow very well and have a low centre of gravity. Loading quads sideways over the guards is difficult to put ramps on and can cause damage to the guards.

Some people build platforms spanning the sides for the quads to sit on top of the trailer to make it much easier to load them on (negating the benefit of low centre of gravity).

The video above demonstrates the issue with the wide axle trailers in mud. When the roads are rutted and the surface is slippery the wheels naturally want to ride in the wheel ruts. Causing the wide axle trailer to dive from side to side as the tandem axles become crocked.

This zigzagging of the trailer causes the trailer tyres to pickup a lot more fresh mud clogging up the guards, causing the trailer wheels to skid pulling the tow vehicle to a halt. Now you have to get out of the car every couple of kilometres and dig the mud out.

The zigzagging also pulls the back of the vehicle around making it very unstable and difficult to maintain a reasonable speed. Several times we were nearly pulled into the table drain because of the trailer.

Not my preferred trailer type. I’ve experienced the above on 3 trips which is what prompted my trailer build and this article.

Flatbed trailer

A flatbed or tabletop trailer with dual axles has the deck over the wheels. This means the trailer is narrower than a tandem trailer and the deck is higher.

Having a flatbed trailer with the same track (axle width) as the tow vehicle is so much better off-roading. It doesn’t collect as much mud, stops it swaying from wheel rut to wheel rut and cant collect obstacles past the edge of the vehicle.

Flatbed trailers are no more difficult than loading the tray of your ute. As with tandem trailers they tow very well. Not having mudguards makes them a lot easier to use ramps and load quads sideways.

They are far less prone to damage with less protruding parts and safer for overtaking for those mates that “forget” the trailer is attached and is wider than the ute.

Trailer type recommendation

After towing a car trailer and tandem axle box trailers on several trips I would never own one for hunting. A table top trailer is the only way to go. Safer in the mud, easier to load quads onto and you don’t have to worry about it clipping stuff.

Next hunting trailer topics

Wheels for a hunting trailer
Trailer finish and accessories

Previous hunting trailer topics

Trailer load limit
Trailer axles
Deck material, length and width
Deciding on trailer springs
Choosing trailer brakes
Which coupling/hitch for a hunting trailer coupling