I have experience now with 3 different Harbor Freight trailers. I use these as small and lightweight options for hauling motorcycles with my mid-size car.
For the price, these really can't be beat. You have to know the weak points of them beforehand though, otherwise they won't last or you will be wanting to rebuild it in a few years. Here's what I've learned about them now after two different sized motorcycle trailer builds, and now the boat trailer:
-First thing would be to buy a bagful of 3/8 stainless steel washers. The hardware packs in the Harbor Freight kits do not come with washers - the instructions want you to use just the nuts and the bolts.
-For me, personally, I took an inventory of all of the hardware that comes with the kit, and went and got stainless steel nuts and bolts. The zinc ones that came with my first motorcycle trailer rusted after 2 years, and the rust spread onto the framing rails.
-With that said, I'm not a fan of the paint. First off, the red is just not a good color for anything I'm going to be towing around, especially a brown or green natural colored boat. Also, the stock paint fades quickly to pink, and rust penetrates it easily as well. Get a rust-inhibiting primer and a spray paint of your choice and paint all of the pieces before you put it together. Save a half a can for touch-up because you'll likely scratch it during assembly. I like the "hammered" Rustoleum paints for the finish I'm going for.
-Optional: pull the 8 inch wheels out of the kit and take them to a Harbor Freight store with your invoice, and get a store credit for them (they stock the wheels in the stores). Then buy the 12 inch wheels with the 4-bolt pattern. They will mount right up. DISCLAIMER: My nearest Harbor Freight store allowed me to do the wheel exchange. I called ahead and asked. Yours may not.
-Repack the bearings before use. Chinese manufacturers kind of skimp on grease.
-Optional: don't bother with the stock light kit. Get an LED kit - NOT from Harbor Freight, though, as their LED kits are not submersible.
I just finished mine for my 1442 jon boat. The HF trailer is on the short side for a 14 ft boat, but I moved the front post forward to within 24 inches of the car, and it looks no more undersized than quite a few others I've seen. I just extended the bunks off the back (used 2x4 by 8 ft. composite lumber for the bunks rather than the 3 ft supplied pieces). The bunks hang over the back 36 inches cause I like the bunks to go all the way to the back of the boat. I added a winch, but am still messing with getting it mounted in the right spot so the handle doesn't hit the boat as the boat approaches to within a few inches of the bumper. If it was a v-nose it would be a much easier task. It was a fun project building the Harbor Freight trailer. I knew anything I got I would have to/want to modify to fit my boat anyway. So I just built it to suit from the start.
I will start a build thread for my trailer in the next few days.
Cliff notes:
Assure you are using stainless steel hardware, and supply your own washers.
Prime and paint before assembly.
Swap out 8 inch wheels for 12 inch wheels if you're so inclined.
Repack wheel bearings before use.
Improvise everything along the way.
Enjoy an inexpensive trailer that you've built yourself!
