Review and Update of the NEW Harbor Freight 5’ x 10’ Utility Trailer
- Randy Reek, The Great Out There
- Oct 6
- 6 min read
The new Harbor Freight utility trailer proves its versatility with the installation of side rails!
This is an update to the previous article that detailed the assembly of the larger 5' x 10' utility trailer from Harbor Freight. I chose this trailer over the competition for MANY reasons:
Strong steel construction.
Long V-trailer tongue for added strength.
Powder-coated finish for durability.
5’ x 10” deck to load my motorized kayak – AND other hauling!
Flush-mounted LED lights.
2,500-pound axle for load carrying – but not the overkill (harsh ride) of a 3,500-pound axle.
Strong leaf springs, with standard shackles - not the cheaper “slipper” springs.
Radial tires – the larger the better.
Side rails were optional. Not every owner wants or needs permanent side rails.
The new Harbor Freight trailer met ALL of my requirements for the perfect kayak/motorcycle/utility trailer!
Note: My list of requirements did NOT include buying the trailer fully assembled! MANY readers will reject the HF trailer because it is sold ONLY as an unassembled kit. You must assemble the trailer because of the powder-coated frame components.
I will not own a steel trailer that is not powder-coated. Painted trailers show rust (“yard rot”) while unsold, still on the dealer lot!
Trailers that are welded and then powder-coated after assembly have voids and hidden recesses which are impossible to coat. These are the same pockets that will collect salty slush here in the Great White North (which might not be a concern for trailer owners in the South – except in coastal areas!) Unique to the HF trailer, it is constructed from a huge pile of struts, angles, and connectors that are each powder-coated individually for a full and uniform layer of protection. There are NO voids - even the bolt holes have been thoroughly powder-coated.
Why did I choose the unassembled Harbor Freight trailer?
The assembly process (while tedious) is also perfect for detail-freaks like me who want to check every joint for squareness and tighten every bolt and nut. If you have looked at the sloppy welds on trailers at the Big Box stores, you might agree with me that slowly connecting each part and individually tightening each bolt results in the strongest trailer, a trailer that is actually overbuilt!
If you do not have the time, skills, space, or tools to finish this assembly, but you still agree with me about the unique advantages of this trailer, it might be possible to PAY a shop to complete the trailer assembly.
Beyond the materials and assembly, the main feature which sold me on the Harbor Freight trailer was the 5’ x 10’ flat deck. The large flatbed provides the best all-around utility trailer for use in all four seasons.
Being picky, I was able to hand-pick 12 pressure-treated 5/4 deck boards to complete the deck. You know that buying 12 straight boards without loose knots requires you to sift through at least 25 or 30 boards on the stack. Then I placed the boards correctly with the grain pattern facing down to shed water and used exterior decking screws to fasten to the trailer steel cross-members – details the trailer factories ignore.
The flat bed trailer is perfect for loading and hauling my heavy, motorized fishing kayak:
I have hauled my motorcycle thousands of miles:
As a homeowner, I often need to haul yard waste and branches to the local collection site. I haul dozens of bags of mulch every year. My woodworking projects require long boards and plywood that won’t fit the tiny bed of my pickup.
As shown, I did not originally install the side rails on the Harbor Freight 5x10 utility trailer.
This option was actually a selling point. Most welded angle iron trailers include side rails that are a structural component. That is, the frame alone will not carry the rated load without the welded reinforcements of the side rails. Of course, these side rails are painted after welding and are prone to rust like the rest of the trailer.
As noted previously and shown in the photos, the Harbor Freight utility trailer has a 2,500 pound gross rating WITHOUT the side rails. The side rails are OPTIONAL and are not included in the load rating. HOWEVER, adding the side rails DOES increase the rigidity of the trailer.
I am plagued with TONS of maple leaves in my yard each Fall. To make hauling to the local yard waste collection site easier, I decided to add the optional side rails to the utility trailer.
Like the original trailer, The side rails require assembly. Also like the trailer components, each rail and connecting part is 100% powder-coated for a lifetime of protection.
The assembly process was simple, but time-consuming with over 100 bolts! . I first needed to remove the spare tire mount and the four tie down brackets to make room for the side supports.
As you assemble the side rails, you attach the side supports square to the trailer. At this stage I discovered that my original assembly wasn't perfectly square across the front, (Due to the slight slope of my garage floor during the initial assembly?), so I loosened the corner brackets until everything was perfect and then tightened the assembly brackets for the trailer as I squared up the top rails.
I elected to not install the rear rails which form a tailgate. Instead, I repurposed two of the upright supports at the front to reinstall the spare tire bracket.
Now – let’s talk about the cost of this trailer.
I bought the HF trailer at the introductory price of only $999.00!
Today, this trailer is selling for $1,299. But – we all know that Harbor Freight continuously runs sales. If you want it today, you might pay full price. But if you can wait until the next sale – or you become a member of the “Insiders Club” – you can probably get a discount.
To complete the trailer, you will need to buy the decking. I purchased 12 of the treated 5/4 deck boards and 100 decking screws (the universal style suitable for attachment to metal) for $100.00. I also ordered the rear stabilizer stands from HF which sell for $24.99 each. Then I added a matching spare tire and wheel, plus a mounting bracket that I installed inside the V-tongue. These last two parts added $183.00.
My local Harbor Freight did not stock these side rails, so I needed to order direct and pay shipping. The list price was $229.00 - which was LESS than anything I could build from scratch buying Uni-Strut, then cutting and painting. Again, the Harbor Freight components are lifetime powder-coated, which i cannot duplicate.
In total (including the trailer at the sale price) I have now invested about $1,600.00 in the completed Harbor Freight 5’ x 10’ flatbed utility trailer. I did not elect to purchase the optional rear loading ramps and I use a long, folding ramp to load my motorcycle.
Comparable size trailers (welded from angle iron and painted) from my local dealers (Fleet Farm, Lowes, Tractor Supply, etc.) sell for $2,000 or more and don't have the full list of features found in the HF trailer. I am very satisfied with my purchase and the performance of this trailer! Here is a recap of these features:
The obvious difference is that I spent about two days assembling the HF trailer. If I put a value on my time – or if you decide to buy this trailer and PAY a shop to complete the assembly – I would add $500 to the total cost.
Want to learn more about the Harbor Freight 5’ x 10’ trailer – including some of the details that I learned during the assembly process? Please see the full assembly article: Click HERE. Please also Like this article and share it with your friends. Subscribe to The Great Out There on YouTube, Instagram, and Pinterest and Like the Facebook page!
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