Trailer brands to look at or avoid

[YotaAtieToo]

I meant replacing my car hauler. Not set on the type of trailer I’m getting yet.

It's easy to go from a 7k car hauler to a 10k car hauler to a 14k tilt to a 24k gooseneck when window shopping

What's the primary use?

Those "mega" ramps are pretty nice, I have them on my big tex gooseneck. They pin flat or 90*. I'll warn you though, they're loud, much louder than the upright style posted earlier. Unless they have the little cam lock thing on them like some. Which to be fair, is easy enough to add. I strap mine down. Even being 40'+ from the cab, it's still loud

 

[Aggie06]

Mainly hauling ag equipment. Tractor, planter, etc.

 

[YotaAtieToo]

Mainly hauling ag equipment. Tractor, planter, etc.

So what you need is a 30k gooseneck, but since farmer, just use a 7k car trailer

 

[TRINDU]

You could have chimed in with that information before I bought one. I’m a little embarrassed now to have a trailer from the one trailer manufacturer too dumb to keep their illegals hidden.

I'm pretty vocal about it. I get there's some that sneak through with fraudulent papers. But...

Load Trail was fined $445,000 in 2014 for employing more than 170 unauthorized immigrants at its plant, according to an ICE report.

Referring to a 2018 raid

dozens of agents with a helicopter and buses handcuffed and took away more than 150 workers suspected of being in the country illegally.

That's Load Trail management actively being shitbags.

www.dallasnews.com/news/immigration/2018/08/30/north-texas-company-raided-by-ice-says-it-treats-immigrant-workers-well-is-a-pillar-of-the-community/%3foutputType=amp

 

[Aggie06]

So what you need is a 30k gooseneck, but since farmer, just use a 7k car trailer

 

[TRINDU]

Those "mega" ramps are pretty nice, I have them on my big tex gooseneck. They pin flat or 90*. I'll warn you though, they're loud, much louder than the upright style posted earlier. Unless they have the little cam lock thing on them like some. Which to be fair, is easy enough to add. I strap mine down. Even being 40'+ from the cab, it's still loud

If they have a latch, they don't make a noise over the rest of the trailer bouncing around. But they're up or down, pick the deck length accordingly.

If they use a bar and pin, they're noisy bastards. Then you have to use a strap like a charlatan

 

[pennsylvaniaboy]

I love my CAM superline.....by far the cleanest trailer with smart ideas i have seen local. Diamond C seems to really be innovative too.

 

[welndmn]

So who is in the industry can teach us about these things?
All the new trailers I look at don't seem machine built, they seem hand assembled and welded.
You'd think that would be a good thing, but the metal fitment weld quality is all over the place from unit to unit.

 

[Lowrollin70gmc]

Most are hand welded on a jig of some kind. Problem is that they pay crazy low so don't get any skilled welders in their shop (higher end may, but they're also twice the price).

Squirt gun where two pieces meet, burn through mill scale and don't worry about dangling wire chunks from missing the joint. Just get trailers pumped out.

My last new trailer had drive over fenders that leaned into the deck, joint fit differences from side to side, and mediocre welds. Same manufacturer was pretty good 5 years earlier for similar trailer.

With that said, in the next few years I'm building my own trailer, sick of paying someone else for junk. Galvanized 20 foot full tilt with air ride, 6k or 7k axles. Call it a forever trailer. Tempted to build one or two a winter after the first one, but I doubt the margin is there for my time.

 

[Gbkeith]

Most are hand welded on a jig of some kind. Problem is that they pay crazy low so don't get any skilled welders in their shop (higher end may, but they're also twice the price).

Tempted to build one or two a winter after the first one, but I doubt the margin is there for my time.

You’ve summed the whole trailer manufacturing economy up right there.

 

[jhama78]

I went with a 20' (shoulda gone with a 22') 10k equipment trailer with slide in ramps from bigfoot trailer... local east coast manufacturing and well built as compared to most mass produced big name trailers...

10K Equipment Trailers | The Perfect Light Duty Equipment Trailer

Looking for a way to tow your tractors & cars? Look no further, we're selling new, top quality 10k GVWR equipment trailers across the US!

www.bigfoottrailers.net

Quality Bumper Pull Trailers | Equipment, Deckover & More Trailers

Do you need a trailer that can handle any job? We manufacture new utility, dump, equipment, deckover and other custom bumper pull trailers.

www.bigfoottrailers.net

 

[dman33733]

I picked up a 20' Titan with drive over fenders about a year ago and it's been good so far and pretty dang solid. Not the lightest trailer in the bunch but wiring seems good and welds aren't nearly as bad as the last two trailers I owned.

 

[Aggie06]

I’m leaning towards a 24 ft right now. Haven’t really looked too much yet. I’m trying to get some numbers figured out on a tractor first. At least weight and width.

 

[pennsylvaniaboy]

I’m leaning towards a 24 ft right now. Haven’t really looked too much yet. I’m trying to get some numbers figured out on a tractor first. At least weight and width.

This is the other thing that I think ppl need to be honest about...

Whatt are you going to haul most.....dead vehicles, but a tilt deck, skid loader/mini ex....get ladder ramps or max ramps, hay or wide things, get a deckover.


For me, it was the same truck over and over, maybe some mulch, mower and stuff. i didnt want stand up ramps, or ladder ramps. or to tilt everything I strap to my deck when offroading. So i got solid, slide in ramps and metal deck.

The fold up triangle/flatdeck maxx ramps would have been the worst trailer i could have had for my use.

 

[75RamRunner]

I bought PJs and BigTex for years and got fed up with the constanct QC issues.

Diamond C are all i run now for new trailers and will never go back. Theyre stout, be warned theyre very very proud of them


I also agree with buy for what you haul, we have a 24' deck over, 16' scissor tilt, 24' enclosed, 16' dump, and 40' 24k gooseneck. They all get used all the time and not one of them fits the bill for hauling what the others do/can.

You can compromise a little bit here and there but don't make a big swing, you'll kick yourself.

Ex: My 40' GN is 46' nose to tail and a huge pain in the ass to get anywhere, but when i need the deck space i NEED the deck space. Just like my 24' deckover cant really transport scissor lifts without winching them up which is a huge PITA but my 16' tilt that moves all my lifts around doesn't have the deck space to haul materials.

Be very real about your intended loads and buy for that. Then if other stuff fits, great bonus. Just don't buy for the maybe/if's

EDIT: The one constant to all trailers i highly recommend is get the absolute biggest axles options under whatever trailer you choose. if 5200lbs are standards and 7k/8ks are an option get them. Everyone always seems to forget the trailers themselves weigh something.....

 

[YotaAtieToo]

I bought PJs and BigTex for years and got fed up with the constanct QC issues.

Diamond C are all i run now for new trailers and will never go back. Theyre stout, be warned theyre very very proud of them


I also agree with buy for what you haul, we have a 24' deck over, 16' scissor tilt, 24' enclosed, 16' dump, and 40' 24k gooseneck. They all get used all the time and not one of them fits the bill for hauling what the others do/can.

You can compromise a little bit here and there but don't make a big swing, you'll kick yourself.

Ex: My 40' GN is 46' nose to tail and a huge pain in the ass to get anywhere, but when i need the deck space i NEED the deck space. Just like my 24' deckover cant really transport scissor lifts without winching them up which is a huge PITA but my 16' tilt that moves all my lifts around doesn't have the deck space to haul materials.

It's like everything, you need one of each size and type

Be very real about your intended loads and buy for that. Then if other stuff fits, great bonus. Just don't buy for the maybe/if's

EDIT: The one constant to all trailers i highly recommend is get the absolute biggest axles options under whatever trailer you choose. if 5200lbs are standards and 7k/8ks are an option get them. Everyone always seems to forget the trailers themselves weigh something.....

That and replace the tires right away. Sell them for whatever you can get and up the ply from what they were. Even decent trailers come with trash tires and it's a pain in the dick dealing with blowouts and replacing 1 at a time.

 

[Gbkeith]

Having two or three trailers is better than having one.

 

[Aggie06]

Having two or three trailers is better than having one.

Right now I’d be happy having my old one.


Looks like the tractor range I will be in will be around 7000 lbs (give or take some depending on the model). Add another 1000 or so for the equipment I usually haul attached to it.

 

[Gbkeith]

Right now I’d be happy having my old one.


Looks like the tractor range I will be in will be around 7000 lbs (give or take some depending on the model). Add another 1000 or so for the equipment I usually haul attached to it.

How wide?

 

[YotaAtieToo]

So my work is looking at a new trailer for me. Currently using a load trail or similar 22+2 hydraulic tilt with 3-7ks

Trying to talk them into a trail king Tkt24 or tkt24lp. We have 2 of tkt50s for our dump trucks and they actually hold up to everyday use.

Not cheap though, definitely a different class than the common "car hauler" brands.

 

[Aggie06]

How wide?

Will depend on the tires to a degree. Old tractor was around 85-86” when the tires were flipped to 40” centers. I went and looked at Kubotas today. A few of the models on the lot had narrow tires. On 40s, you might be slightly narrower.

 

[Gbkeith]

Will depend on the tires to a degree. Old tractor was around 85-86” when the tires were flipped to 40” centers. I went and looked at Kubotas today. A few of the models on the lot had narrow tires. On 40s, you might be slightly narrower.

What are you pulling it with?

Honestly, a full width deck over is pretty nice. Yeah everything sits a little higher and catches a little more wind, but there’s no fenders in the way. Park it wherever it balances good and chain it down wherever you want to put the chains. With big fold over ramps loading isn’t worse.

 

[Aggie06]

Mostly small plot equipment. Two row planter for now, disc, cultivator, shredder, etc.

 

[Gbkeith]

Mostly small plot equipment. Two row planter for now, disc, cultivator, shredder, etc.

Yeah but what are you pulling the trailer with?

 

[YotaAtieToo]

What are you pulling it with?

Honestly, a full width deck over is pretty nice. Yeah everything sits a little higher and catches a little more wind, but there’s no fenders in the way. Park it wherever it balances good and chain it down wherever you want to put the chains. With big fold over ramps loading isn’t worse.

That's where I'm at as well.

Biggest disadvantage is the tilt gets pretty high with deck over.

But it's so nice to not have fenders when hauling pipe, trench plates, tanks, wide trucks, conex boxes, ect.

We also have been using the shit out of it for a work bench on the current job.

 

[Aggie06]

Yeah but what are you pulling the trailer with?

Eh, miss read that.

Chevy 2500

Leaning towards a gooseneck as well. Mainly because most people can hook up to a bumper pull and take off. At least a gooseneck is another level of security from sticky fingers.

Obviously, I’m still early in this process so I’m not set on anything. Planning to go look at more tractors this coming week.

 

[YotaAtieToo]

Eh, miss read that.

Chevy 2500

Leaning towards a gooseneck as well. Mainly because most people can hook up to a bumper pull and take off. At least a gooseneck is another level of security from sticky fingers.

Obviously, I’m still early in this process so I’m not set on anything. Planning to go look at more tractors this coming week.

If you haven't towed much with a gooseneck, it's so much better for heavier stuff, you'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner.

 

[Aggie06]

If you haven't towed much with a gooseneck, it's so much better for heavier stuff, you'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner.

I have, that’s all we had minus a dump trailer when I was growing up.

 

[71PA_Highboy]

I went with a Carry-On 10K. they are the 'house brand' of Trailers plus.

Granted I did a lot of mods/upgrades to mine because it is a general equipment trailer, and I made mine right for me.

 

[Gbkeith]

Eh, miss read that.

Chevy 2500

Leaning towards a gooseneck as well. Mainly because most people can hook up to a bumper pull and take off. At least a gooseneck is another level of security from sticky fingers.

Obviously, I’m still early in this process so I’m not set on anything. Planning to go look at more tractors this coming week.

Lamar 102X26 Full Powered Tilt Trailer - 8K Axles - 17.5” Tires - Winch Plate | TB Trailers Sales

2 - 8,000lb Axles w/ EZ Lube Hubs & Electric Brakes 17.5” Tires & Wheels 2 - 10K Drop-Leg Jacks Front Tool Box Side Tool Box 10” I-Beam Frame 16” Channel Crossmemebers Full Length Rub Rail Deck Mounted Winch Plate 3 Way 12V DC Pump Remote to Power Up/ Power Down Treated Yellow Pine Floor...

www.tbtrailersales.com

I don’t remember what price the guy told me he could do back in July, but it’s been there a few more months and it may be the time of the year to move it.