seasalt
Bronze Member
Man, there is nothing like a nice piece of gear!! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
The original 1952 mom and pop trailer mfg co owner (complete with the mom at his side) was in the fab shop when I picked up the trailer. I told him I was very satisfied with my choice and had been sold way up (mostly by my own shopping and comparison) from a large production line twin 3500# axle trailer at the $2xxx price point to this "small, family owned, we build them one at at time and we tell the boys in the shop to just take their time and do it right", model at nearly double that, but felt it would not only haul my 5500# load without being right at the designed load limit, but also be safe for off loading material with my tractor. I also found that after adding up all of the "options" on the production trailer and upgrading it to twin 5200# axles, I was within spitting distance of the standard cost of this "family built" model.
I told the owner I felt this could be my last trailer, (when I plaed the order the salesman told me it would be my kids last too). /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
I listened to the owner tell me about all the stuff they do that the other guys dont do - most of which I had noticed on my own, and all of which I had already checked out and he was right. We had a nice conversation afterwhich he told me I was wrong about one thing...then he into a story about how he had been using the same frame design since 1952, then told me another story about a man who came in recently looking for an axle for his 1970 model, (didnt need a new trailer - just a replacement part).
Then he told me what I was wrong about - said the trailer I was buying would last through not just me and my kids but my GRANDKIDS!!! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
3 1/2 Sched 40!! pipe rails, (never seen anything that large on any pipe trailer anywhere in my market - Houston), Goodyear Workhorse tires on 8 lug rims, twin 7000 # axles, dual brakes, no angle iron in frame - all HD "C" channel joists, FULLY PRIMED / FULLY PAINTED (every inch - actually never saw that on comparables either - they usually have huge underside holidays in the paint when you look underneath), 7k# drop jack.....on and on. Capable of 14,000 GVWR, derated by manufacturer to 12,000 as an added margin of safety (standard, not by my request), with a net stated hauling cap of 9000#.
Should be sturdy for all I can hit it with, especially considering its first tow vehicle will be my Z-71 Suburban - stated towing capacity limits out right around the weight of all my gear, and of course that assumes you have the truck fully loaded with gear and passengers as well. (I am starting to form fuzzy images in my head that look like a diesel as a future tow vehicle).
After all was said and done (got a set of WL 3500# straps for the odd stuff, and FOUR chain and binder sets for my tractor BH and FEL), I upgraded my hitch to a nicely machined, forged aluminum, adjustable height, twin ball hitch. Really nice - and good looking, (in fact I walked out and found my wife of all people just standing there staring at it the other day!)
Sorry guys. Have pics ready to send (resized for the web and all), but cant figure out how enable multiple attachments - TBN wont allow or I am doing something wrong. Clicking Image in the Instant Markup section on TBN only offers a URL option. Using Attachments seems to allow one at a time. Someboby please give me the clue and I will follow up with a few additional shots.
In other related news...Saw a trailer loaded with two commercial mowers and a small tractor with FEL on the highway the other day. Loaded on (and hanging over) a 22' dovetail, with a total of three nylon straps for the whole rig!!! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
Saw another trailer the same day driving down the road at a good clip - hit a set of tracks crossing the highway and began a somewhat radical front twist / flexing for several seconds afterward . Looked like it was built of rubber!! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Made me glad I spent a few extra bucks to properly transport any load I will need.
New JD 3720, 300CX, 448BH is due next.
The original 1952 mom and pop trailer mfg co owner (complete with the mom at his side) was in the fab shop when I picked up the trailer. I told him I was very satisfied with my choice and had been sold way up (mostly by my own shopping and comparison) from a large production line twin 3500# axle trailer at the $2xxx price point to this "small, family owned, we build them one at at time and we tell the boys in the shop to just take their time and do it right", model at nearly double that, but felt it would not only haul my 5500# load without being right at the designed load limit, but also be safe for off loading material with my tractor. I also found that after adding up all of the "options" on the production trailer and upgrading it to twin 5200# axles, I was within spitting distance of the standard cost of this "family built" model.
I told the owner I felt this could be my last trailer, (when I plaed the order the salesman told me it would be my kids last too). /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
I listened to the owner tell me about all the stuff they do that the other guys dont do - most of which I had noticed on my own, and all of which I had already checked out and he was right. We had a nice conversation afterwhich he told me I was wrong about one thing...then he into a story about how he had been using the same frame design since 1952, then told me another story about a man who came in recently looking for an axle for his 1970 model, (didnt need a new trailer - just a replacement part).
Then he told me what I was wrong about - said the trailer I was buying would last through not just me and my kids but my GRANDKIDS!!! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
3 1/2 Sched 40!! pipe rails, (never seen anything that large on any pipe trailer anywhere in my market - Houston), Goodyear Workhorse tires on 8 lug rims, twin 7000 # axles, dual brakes, no angle iron in frame - all HD "C" channel joists, FULLY PRIMED / FULLY PAINTED (every inch - actually never saw that on comparables either - they usually have huge underside holidays in the paint when you look underneath), 7k# drop jack.....on and on. Capable of 14,000 GVWR, derated by manufacturer to 12,000 as an added margin of safety (standard, not by my request), with a net stated hauling cap of 9000#.
Should be sturdy for all I can hit it with, especially considering its first tow vehicle will be my Z-71 Suburban - stated towing capacity limits out right around the weight of all my gear, and of course that assumes you have the truck fully loaded with gear and passengers as well. (I am starting to form fuzzy images in my head that look like a diesel as a future tow vehicle).
After all was said and done (got a set of WL 3500# straps for the odd stuff, and FOUR chain and binder sets for my tractor BH and FEL), I upgraded my hitch to a nicely machined, forged aluminum, adjustable height, twin ball hitch. Really nice - and good looking, (in fact I walked out and found my wife of all people just standing there staring at it the other day!)
Sorry guys. Have pics ready to send (resized for the web and all), but cant figure out how enable multiple attachments - TBN wont allow or I am doing something wrong. Clicking Image in the Instant Markup section on TBN only offers a URL option. Using Attachments seems to allow one at a time. Someboby please give me the clue and I will follow up with a few additional shots.
In other related news...Saw a trailer loaded with two commercial mowers and a small tractor with FEL on the highway the other day. Loaded on (and hanging over) a 22' dovetail, with a total of three nylon straps for the whole rig!!! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
Saw another trailer the same day driving down the road at a good clip - hit a set of tracks crossing the highway and began a somewhat radical front twist / flexing for several seconds afterward . Looked like it was built of rubber!! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Made me glad I spent a few extra bucks to properly transport any load I will need.
New JD 3720, 300CX, 448BH is due next.