Learn me: Smallish box trailers

I find myself in need of a smallish box trailer, kind of like this guy https://tampa.craigslist.org/hdo/trb/d/tampa-e5-bb-6x12-enclosed-trailer-cargo/7101849794.html

I'm not sure what size is good for my truck ('93 F150, Auto 2WD) or what would be best for what I'm going to haul/store in it (lathe from this thread as well as miscellaneous stuff)

For the short term I'd potentially run the lathe from inside of it if I could figure out a way to bolt it down, so I would like to be able to stand up inside of it (I'm 6'1")

I know I'd like to find something around the $2k mark, if possible.

What should I look for?

With used enclosed trailers the biggest concerns are any potential leaks. Also, as with any trailer make sure the axle isn't bent, or buy it cheap enough that you don't mind replacing it. 
 

On trailers with the ramp door on back, the cables often break & can get tangled. 
 

For your specific use obviously you'll need one with a weight rating greater than the lathe. 

When I went box trailer shopping (I wanted a 5x8), I found that people in my area were insanely proud of their old, beat up, trailers.  I spent a few hundred more than beat-up and bought brand new from Interstate Grago Trailers.

You may need to add extra support under the feet of the lathe table/bench.  If it is supposed to sit on a floor over a large area, that is trickier; you may want to modify it to sit on pads.  Trailers flex a lot more than the concrete floors the lathes were designed to sit on.

Enclosed trailers are wonderful but, they look huge when empty. Once you start installing things they get small quickly. We have a 6 x 12 tandem axle for work I can stand up inside but you have to duck going in and out either door way. Take that into consideration as to how often you will be using doors. We use ours primarily as a storage shed on wheels for specialty tools and equipment. I have shelves in the nose and along one side and a couple of stacked milk crates for storage, a lift table, a generator and a bunch of wire on the other wall. It leaves just enough room for a path down the middle. The path is usually piles of stuff for the next project. Guess where this rambling is going, make sure you figure out what you need before you start shopping. As others have mentioned , people selling used trailers are convinced theirs are made of gold. I bought a used 20' car hauler for $1500 less than a brand new one, I thought I had gotten a deal. It turns out I have have done a lot of maintenance type things I wouldn't have had to deal with for years if I had bought new. If you are within a reasonable drive of a trailer manufacturer, go pick it up and save the delivery fee. 

I had a 6x12 ramp door for a number of years to haul karts to the track and sleep in on occasion.  Never had an issue with the cables for the door.  I'm 5'11" and my head would just touch the ceiling when standing full height.  So, if you're looking for one that size and want to stand up fully, you'll need to look for one with a little extra vertical height.  Seems like an extra 6" was somewhat common without getting something custom built.

Does your F150 have a V6 or V8?  Although they are light, my 2008 extended cab V6 Silverado struggled a bit in towing mine.  Not horrible, but with the winds we get going through the Texas plains, there were times I had to drop down to 45 or so because it was wailing on the transmission.  Extra tough when the speed limits were 70-75.  Later, I had a single cab with the 5.3 and I could barely tell the trailer was there.

I had the same experience that used were basically the same price as new, so I ended up with a new one.  I paid $2100 out the door and sold it 10 years later for $1800 and had it sold within half a day.  So, if you buy new, know that they do seem to hold their value pretty well.

Not sure how much time you plan on spending in it, but if you end up needing A/C, you can go the typical route and stiffen the roof and add a roof A/C for a bunch of money and have it break a lot (seemed like guys with the roof A/C were fixing them every year) or you do like I did and cut a hole in the front and install a window unit.  I had a $200 8000 BTU one in mine (and the trailer was black) and it was like a meat locker in there in the middle of a Texas summer.  I took the cutout, stiffened it up and re-attached it with a couple of hinges so I could pull the unit into the trailer and close up the opening as opposed to have the A/C sticking out all the time. 

-Rob

Also check where  the axle is and the front / rear weight balance , 

I would also paint something on the roof , and a stripe on the top edge so you can spot it in a crowd of other trailers , or if it  goes missing  overnight !

The truck has the I6, and I know she can tow fairly well.  I've hauled my Mustang around enough to know what she's like with a load, although I haven't done any towing with the brake upgrade.

Potential leaks were a concern of mine as well, especially considering what I'll be storing in it.  The lathe isn't that horrible of a weight.  I think its around 600lbs max?  Floor reinforcement is in the back of my head.

I'll have to see if any of the trailer places around me are open during this outbreak