Truck vs Trailer, what would you do?

At the moment I use my 1997 saturn sl2 to scrap but I just cant fit much in there. Loading it up with 600LBs of PC equipment and the back end was near touching the ground.

So I have two options in my eyes.


1) Sell my car and purchase a used van or possibly truck. I use to have a G20 short bed van and liked it very much. Otherwise possibly a 4 banger truck with a 5 speed.

2) Buy a hitch and small 4x8 trailer. The saturn has a 1000LBs towing rating.


My main concerns would be MPG, amount of weight able to be hauled, maintenance.




I currently get 28-30mpg in my car, probably less hauling a trailer around. Not to sure what I got in the old van of mine.

a four banger won't pull much in 5th, usually not even a hill. 5th is good when going down long hills only. I get 20mpg in my little 6cyl Ranger @55, less at 70, and much less with the trailer behind(it's a load even empty), but even both loaded to the max @75 I'm still around 14-15

Im sorry, should have added. I mainly will be focusing on escrap but I also look for any scrap metal for side cash like dryers. 1000LBs would be a perfectly acceptable hauling weight.

You can pick up a nice straight truck, for about 3 grand, the only thing Be sure its under 26000lbs, if not, You need a CDL, also With a Commerical Truck of such weight You would also need a DOT, and You've to register for drug testing.. Dammit,

But here the thing, I've been pulling around my truck with a trailer for years, and I'm like this is crazy... TOO much Work, got me a flat bed dump truck.. SWEET.... I can throw my steel in it, and haul up to 20 tons, or load My pallets of goodies and take it to My buyer, or I can just use it for a swimming pool... Yip thats right.. A Swimming pool on wheels ..

So Trailer, if You can't afford a truck best bet. otherwise.. TRUCK.

so do you back up into a lake to fill it up then drive the water home to the kids?

No I actually have a swimming pool that is 8ft wide by 15ft long, and 4.5ft deep

I been using a 99 npr. 5.7 220-180 miles on usually 100-120. In gas at 3.20-3.59 gal. Its enclosed its locked nobone knows the wiser. Plus side can fit couple hundred pcs in it. Or 6-10k lbs of batteries lol either way she does her job ohh my luck is its only cpsted 5-10 cents per mile for maintinence 6-7k$ in 180k miles.

If you are only going to have one vehicle get a trailer. You can use a car for everyday driving and get good mileage and have a trailer hauling big loads. Why drive a truck around empty and waste fuel.

Originally Posted by Jonniebrass

If you are only going to have one vehicle get a trailer. You can use a car for everyday driving and get good mileage and have a trailer hauling big loads. Why drive a truck around empty and waste fuel.

Ditto! Unless you're scrapping full time, stick with a car + trailer rig. No sense in suffering the poorer fuel economy unless you're always loaded up.

Originally Posted by bnbsfsd

... and You've to register for drug testing.. Dammit, ...

There is a way to make that a non issue.

Originally Posted by andrew1990

Im sorry, should have added. I mainly will be focusing on escrap but I also look for any scrap metal for side cash like dryers. 1000LBs would be a perfectly acceptable hauling weight.

Keep in mind the trailer will weight 3 to 4 hundred pounds. So you will only be able to haul 600 to 700 lbs of product which is still good for ewaste.

trailer ..... you can always load up the trailer and un hook it if need b

Ever looked at a Benlee system. They have some great products. We use there Super Mini trailer. Need a truck and CDL, but great product.

Originally Posted by Mechanic688

The Astro van has a truck frame underneath and maybe can handle more weight.

It's true that it can handle the weight, however, for clarification, the Astro Van is a unibody vehicle.

get a f150 or a ranger, put a ladder rack on it, you may want to put plywood up around them. That's the best way (and most popular way) to do it.