18', 14K bumper pull questions

56FordGuy · Aug 10, 2011

Looking at an 18' bumper pull trailer, with a 14K GVWR. No dovetail, but has the flip up ramps. It's used, but looks to be in okay shape. What do trailers this size usually weigh? I'm guessing it'll weigh in the 4,000 pound range, because my 7K GVW trailer is about 2,000 pounds.

I'm up in the air on this one. The trailer I have now works well for most of what I want to do, but my tractor now is borderline on weight. I like the dovetail on my trailer, because for most of what I load I don't need to mess with the ramps. Likewise, I can let longer loads hang off the back a foot or two, and don't have big ramps sticking up and hurting fuel mileage when empty.

Any opinions on what used trailers like this go for? All I can find locally is a 20', 14K trailer (used) that they're asking $1800.00 for.

Diamondpilot · Aug 10, 2011

I think 4K is a little heavy. I would say 3,200# is more in the range.

Are you sure you can live with the flip up ramps? I could not. I just today had to have stuff hang off the back of mine.

Chris

56FordGuy · Aug 10, 2011

I do wonder about the ramps. I really like my dovetail now, I can throw some wood blocks under it and drive the tractor right on. I can let a bush hog hang a foot or so off the back. Were I to buy the trailer, I plan on removing the flip up ramps and building a set that I can simply hook on the back when I need them, then store them under the trailer. That's how my dovetail is set up now, it has 'hideaway' ramps that slide below the trailer. I can build the ramps, and build the storage spot for them without a problem. I'm just not sure I want to drag them out every single time I need to load equipment, though. Especially considering that they will weigh a lot more than the ramps I have now.

One the other hand, my trailer now can haul 5,500 lbs at the most. My tractor, with loader, wheel weights, and a bush hog probably weighs right about that. The trucks I occasionally need to haul usually weigh around 7K+, so I have to borrow a trailer for those. I have some other equipment that weighs about 9,000 lbs. My saving grace is that I don't often need to transport my stuff.

I like my current trailer, because I can load without ramps and it's light enough that it doesn't significantly effect my fuel mileage hauling light stuff. I dislike my current trailer because it's barely big enough for some of what I need to move, and just not even close to being big enough for the rest of it.

Diamondpilot · Aug 10, 2011

I currently have a 18' low boy car hauler with no DT and slide under ramps like you described. I love it. I am not a fan of DT after having both but to each his own. My ramps are not that heavy and I simply pull a pin, straddle them, slide them out, and lift the end to fit it the track on the back of the trailer. I can have them both out or in with no heavy lifting and about 30 seconds time.

Like you said, some stuff I load without the ramps including my tractor some times.

Chris

arsenix2001 · Aug 11, 2011

I have a 24' dovetail deckover that is pretty heavily built and it weighs in at about 4200, so i think you should be alot less unless its got I beams every foot or something.

grsthegreat · Aug 11, 2011

I'm kinda confused.... i thought most bumper pull situations max out at 10,000 #. After that you over stress the hitch. least thats what i remember.

Personally id never pull anything that large without a gooseneck..but thats my personal opinion.

Diamondpilot · Aug 11, 2011

grsthegreat said:
I'm kinda confused.... i thought most bumper pull situations max out at 10,000 #. After that you over stress the hitch. least thats what i remember.

Personally id never pull anything that large without a gooseneck..but thats my personal opinion.

Not at all. I have a 18,000# BP and my uncle has a 21,000# BP. Just about every guy around here moving a BH or Dozer with a equipment trailer is pulling around a 24,000# BP with a Pintle Hitch.

Yes, the factory hitches on most are not up to the task. I broke the factory hitch on my brand new 2004 F-250 Powerstroke in the first year I got it. Fords hitch is now rated to 15,000# as is GM's Not sure about Dodge. There are also good aftermarket hitches out there for heavy loads.

10,000# is nothing now days. I pull 9,680# every week 150 miles with my 1/2 ton with no issues. Have over 6,000 pulling miles and have averaged 9.4 mpg with this setup.

Chris

56FordGuy · Aug 12, 2011

Well, I got the trailer. It's used, and needs some work. The fenders are a bit bent, and the crossmember at the rear that the ramps attach to has a broken weld on one side. It looks like a previous owner didn't put the pins in the fold up ramps to hold them up, they just let them slam down toward the bed of the trailer, which over time broke the weld. Shouldn't be a big deal to fix. Overall it seems alright. Needs some work but it's a good, solid trailer.

I weighed it on my way home. My 18', 7K trailer weighed around 2,200 lbs. This one weighed in at 2,520. If it had a 10% tongue weight, then the actual trailer probably weighs about 2,700 lbs. It isn't nearly as heavy as I expected.

I'll try to get some pictures up later.

56FordGuy · Aug 14, 2011

Here's the trailer.

As you can see, it needs a bit of work. Had to cut the rod that the ramps attach to in order to get them off, the rod was too bent to slide out. It needed to be removed in order for me to reweld a broken weld at the back of the trailer. Not a big job, though.