Vent: I used to think you needed a big trailer for everything, but my 5x8 single axle changed my mind

For a solid decade, I hauled my sled and gear in a huge 8x20 enclosed trailer, convinced it was the only way to go. That changed after a trip to the Upper Peninsula last winter when I saw a guy with a simple 5x8 single axle packed tight and ready to roll in half the time. I switched to a smaller setup this season, and honestly, it forces me to pack smarter and cuts my fuel bill by about forty bucks a trip. The big trailer was just a crutch for bad habits, like throwing in a whole extra set of tools I never used. Has anyone else downsized their hauling rig and been surprised by how much easier it is?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_kelly2mo ago

My old man ran a 5x8 for his snowmobile back in the 90s, and he always said the same thing about packing smart. I do think your forty dollar fuel saving might be a bit low though, unless your trips are really short. Towing my big box empty used almost as much gas as my truck by itself. The real win is not having to find a place to park that beast.

nancyhernandez2mo ago

I used to think that too until I saw the gas bill from my last trip.

white.seth1mo agoMost Upvoted

Yeah... I was reading somewhere that the weight distribution in those trailers matters way more than people think. @the_kelly mentioned the gas savings being low for longer trips, and I saw a test where an empty 5x8 dropped fuel economy by like 8 mpg just from the drag. That's a lot when you're hauling it 500 miles. I remember some guy on another forum saying he saved like 80 bucks on a weekend trip by packing lighter, but he also had a smaller truck than most people. Kinda makes you wonder if the real trick is just leaving the empty trailer at home if you don't need it.