Choosing the Right ATV Trailer Can Save a Lot of Headaches

Selecting an ATV trailer for use around the farm can be a daunting task. Like many people I know, the ATV has replaced the utility tractor as the all-purpose machine for use around the farm or ranch. With the right attachments, these machines can do just about anything and handle most chores much quicker than a tractor can. I have found the key is matching the right attachment with the right ATV.

ATV's have gotten much larger in past few years, both in size and horsepower. For farm use, the bigger the better. Unfortunately, the market for an acceptable ATV trailer did not keep up with this size race until a short while ago.

Like most people in my area, an ATV is pretty much useless by itself. Hauling material, fence posts, hay bales, feed bags was my primary reason for purchasing the ATV. Unfortunately, I found out very quickly that cheaper trailers do not make better ones.

I purchased my first ATV trailer at a local retail store hoping it would holdup to the tasks I had in mind. Powder coated steel bed and sides, ATV style tires, solid axle with wheel bearings instead of sleeve bearings. I figured it could do the job. Wrong!

After 3 months of use hauling firewood, hay bales and feed sacks, it gave up the ghost. The brackets holding the axle to the frame snapped. No big deal, a little welding and I figured I was good for awhile. Wrong again! The next week, the axle broke at the wheel when I was over a mile from the barn. At this point, aggravation had transformed into anger and I called the store where I had purchased it. Sorry was the answer from the store manager and gave me the number of the manufacturer's customer service. Another phone call and more passing of the buck. Of course the warranty had expired the previous week and the problem was undoubtedly that I had been overloading the trailer beyond its ability, voiding any warranty. But, they would be happy to sell me parts to repair it. This trailer quickly was loaded in the pickup truck for a trip to the scrap metal yard. After my discussion with the manufacturer who obviously had taken a trailer designed for lawn and garden use and installed larger tires, thus making their version of an ATV trailer, I started looking for a trailer actually designed for ATV use.

I came across CountryATV on the Internet and after looking at their ATV trailers, gave them a call. Great people, they know the hard use products get when pulled behind of an ATV and they have designed 2 heavy-duty trailers for that use.

Both of these heavy-duty ATV trailers have adjustable hitches and tongues to adapt to a wide range of ATV's. I opted for their 2500 lb. capacity trailer and it was shipped promptly. The unit arrived by semi truck in a knocked down condition, but all the heavy work was done as the bed and frame is welded at the factory. Assembly took roughly an hour and it was ready to go. After my last experience with the cheap ATV trailer, I immediately wanted to give this a good hard use before the warranty expired, so I loaded the trailer with fence posts and headed across the field. The load was almost more than the ATV could pull, but the trailer worked great with no problems. I use this trailer at least twice a week and after 9 months, I'm satisfied this ATV trailer is more than up to the task it was designed for.

Bottom line, when purchasing an ATV trailer, make sure it is designed for the tasks you have in mind or you will have to replace it sooner than you think.