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Crashhawk

Crashhawk

That Guy
Joined
May 20, 2020
Member Number
753
Messages
184
Loc
Ky
I'm in the market for a 102 wide 32ish ft bumper pull and I'm having a hell of a time. This is really the First time I've looked for a new trailer and I haven't seen a thread specifically about who's who in the game.

First hand experience and pics would be great.
 
Very happy with my load trail trailer. Had it spec'd exactly as i wanted
 
-Mike- said:
Very happy with my load trail trailer. Had it spec'd exactly as i wanted
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So far they're front runners. I'd love to find one in stock, but it looks like I'm going to have to spec one.
 
I had a maxx-d 18' 14k equipment trailer that was really nice. Used it to pull my mini. Would have kept it but it was over kill for my toyota
 
I have an iron panther and it's been fine other than the awful paint. Besides that I have had no complaints especially for how cheap it was new.
 
It seems to be kinda a crap shoot. One will shoot a head a bit with quality for the same price, then all of sudden the quality seems to drop. I've seen shitty things on all of them.

I would LOOK (like literally crawl around the thing) at diamond c, maxxd, Lamar, and iron bull. I had a maxxd dump that seemed decent and was cheaper than any other with the most options. I've also seen things on them I don't like on all of them.

I also would maybe try to find a place local to you as the quality may be a little better.

Try and get 14 ply tires right out of the gate too.
 
We’ve got a 24’ PJ tilt that we bought because it was on a lot locally and had tandem 8k axles. There are a number of things I don’t like about it, some of the welds look like shit and are in dumb places, the holes for the wiring are torch butchered, and the wiring is ugly, but it’s held up better than I expected to a lot of heavy use. I wouldn’t strongly recommend PJ, but if you found one you wanted sitting on a lot, could get a good price, and looked it over then you might get lucky and be able to live with it.
 
I’m very happy with my little baby 14’ Diamond C. I wish they still made small trailers. 32’ bumper pull…. Oof.
 
I'm happy with the Midsota 26ft gooseneck I bought last year seems built better then past trailers I've had.
 

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I know I said diamond c and I still would recommend. However, my dump trailer is a Maxx D and I like it a lot as well. Came with 17.5" wheels with what I believe is 14 ply tires (not walking out there right now). The ram is stout and I haven't been able to keep it from dumping yet. So, add the Maxx to my list of ones to explore.
 

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Uncle has a Kauffman. We borrowed it to move the tractor once. bringing it home empty, my dash light kept coming on and off. I hit the brakes, the trailer would lock up. even randomly the trailer brakes would kick on. got home, crawled underneath, the entire thing was electrical tape and scotch locks. it was delivered like that. "brand new". complete hack job.
 
Imo maxxd and diamond C and others are top shelf trailers and they're proud of them

My loadtrail seems well built for the money, I'm happy with it

I've seen some really shitty big tex trailers
 
I had a load trail deck over. It was good, but I didn't scrutinize it.
 
Gbkeith said:
We’ve got a 24’ PJ tilt that we bought because it was on a lot locally and had tandem 8k axles. There are a number of things I don’t like about it, some of the welds look like shit and are in dumb places, the holes for the wiring are torch butchered, and the wiring is ugly, but it’s held up better than I expected to a lot of heavy use. I wouldn’t strongly recommend PJ, but if you found one you wanted sitting on a lot, could get a good price, and looked it over then you might get lucky and be able to live with it.
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Similar review on my 23ft PJ trailer. Some ugly welds on non-structural stuff, torch holes, and the deck boards were only screwed into a couple crossmembers. On the flip side, they built exactly what I wanted in a reasonable time during covid shortage bs, the wiring looks decent with junction boxes and no scotch locks, and it was $3-4000 less than most other brands at a similar spec. Overall, I'm happy after a couple years with it.

pj trailer.jpg
 
Been very happy with my 20+2 102" Titan drive over fender. Painted, not powder coated and the extra width/drive over fenders are structural channel, not bent diamond plate. Stand up ramps with drop down leg for heavy loading and they have a pocket to slide into if you want to travel with them not up in the air.

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I knew they're local, but avoid Gatormade. If you need first hand experience go to INFAS behind the Amish store and ask them how theirs is holding up.( Hint, it's not, the wiring is junk) welds are holding up okay tho.
 
My gooseneck is a Doolittle and very well made. Made in MO actually.

My dump trailer is an Iron Bull and seems to be well made. Wiring harness has molded connections not but connectors and scotch loks. Welds are much nicer looking than the PJ sitting next to it when I was shopping.
 
SLOWPOKE693 said:
One of their manufacturing facilities is across from my shop and if you saw the quality employees they have working there you would understand why they are shitty. Big tex loves them some Methican Americans. :flipoff2:
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Got a Big Tex 25+5 with Mega Ramps and this explains the multiple missing welds that would be "slightly" out of position no matter which way you rolled the trailer (just due to interference).
In regards to engineering, and being a bridge guy myself, I do appreciate that they have a lot of anti-fatigue detailing in their designs that reduce the chances of cracking and if it does crack, it is likely to self arrest. The pierced web stringer connections and exposed deck rails are nice touches for durability.

Also, I was trying to get decals from them for a long time so that when I fix the missing welds (they're not anything critical honestly, just obvious and frustrating to look at) I can replace the DOT striping. They swore they'd send it on their dime and I never saw it. Then, back in Sept. my dad decided he wanted to have some retirement income / get out of the house so he started selling equipment again and behold, the dealership he went to work for, they are a Big Tex dealer. Stickers were in my hand in a week. He says that the regional rep has been constantly sending out promotions and price drop adjustments. Sounds like they overshot their inventory after the post Covid hysteria died off.

To the OP.
Dunno how far you're willing to drive but last he said they had like 30 trailers on the lot and they were all bumper pull. I can send anyone specifics if ya PM me. Dealership is just east of Charlottesville, Va.
 
Projectjunkie said:
Imo maxxd and diamond C and others are top shelf trailers and they're proud of them

My loadtrail seems well built for the money, I'm happy with it

I've seen some really shitty big tex trailers
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diamond c and maxx d is top notch other than price

load trail for the money my vote
 
Regionally speaking...

Diamond C -> Delco -> MaxxD

Texas pride for the value of the dollar.

Everything else (including load trail) is determining which pile of trash you want to pay for.
 
Did maxxd shoot their prices up?

When I bought my dump trailer just a few years ago, it was one of the cheaper ones I found in the specs I wanted, plus had about every option there was standard. It was "on sale" though. Last I looked the stopped making the version I had (8" channel) and only make I beam frames in a 14k+ and are definitely more money.
 
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