PJ Deckover Trailer Questions

[Runner]

Hi All,

I am still looking for a trailer to haul my JD2520 with loader and rotary cutter, cars, building materials, etc. on. The tow vehicle is a 2004 F350, V10, 4WD, automatic, longbed, extended cab, with camper and snowplow packages and a 4.30:1 rear end.

Now for the question. I am looking at a new, bumper pull, PJ 8 inch I-beam flatdeck trailer with 22 feet of flat deck and 3 foot dove tail, 96 inches wide with 7000# axles and brakes on all wheels (see picture). Here is my delimma - from what I have read on the web, this thing probably weighs around 4000# empty. According to the information in the brochure on the PJ web site, there is 11.5 feet of flatbed (plus the 3 foot dove tail) aft of the centerline of the wheels and 13.5 feet (plus the tongue, say about 5 feet) ahead of the centerline.

If my calculations are correct, this makes the tongue weight of the empty trailer at least 1000#, which seems like an astronomical amount for an empty trailer. Does this sound right, and if so, does this sound like it will work with this truck?

I have no doubt that the truck is capable of pulling the weight, but the tongue weight issue concerns me.

Should I be looking for a lighter trailer or at least one with different wheel placement?

 

[just_Dave]

I would call PJ with that Q ... should be simple for them to obtain for you. But by the looks of that trailer it will have a decent amount of toung weight when empty, It kind of resembles a minature version of a trailer you would find behind a Dump Truck which wouldn't have any issues with toung weight. It also kind of looks like a GN version but with a bumper pull instead.

I would say loaded you would want the machines weight mostly on the trailer axles with attatchments, forward. of the machine. So you don't end up with a lot of Toung weight.

If your worried aobut the hitch in regards to Toung weight, I would check out Tow beast and Tourqe lift hitches.. I have a Tourque lift hitch on my dodge and they rate it for 1,500 lbs toung weight and 17,000 lbs towing

Dave

 

[Diamondpilot]

It will be heavy but that is the price you pay for a big trailer that will pull good. With the truck you have you should not have a issue but check the ratings of the actual hitch on your truck. I broke the factory hitch on my 2004 F-250 PSD 4x4 pulling just over 14,000#. Had to upgrade to a heavier hitch. When I ordered my 2006 F-350 PSD 4x4 Single Rear Wheel I said the only way I was taking it was if it had the new 2.5" unit they were putting on the Duallys. They made it happen and no issues with it pulling as much as 25,000# off the rear bumper.

Chris

 

[bearmtnmartin]

I think you are right. That trailer looks like it is set up for a heavier truck. I have a 12K deckover that is 18 feet long. With my 10000# TLB on, I am around 1500 on the hitch. Actually I suspect I am a little more. But My axles are closer to center, so they pack most of the weight. You probably would have a big chunk of unuseable trailer up front. Mine for the record weighs about 2600.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Just for the record I have a 2006 F-350 SRW with the Powerstroke and its a 4x4 short bed super cab. It has the highest SRW GVWR available of 11,500# and it handles this boat fine with 1,800# of tongue weight and a total weight of the boat of 15,600#.

I had a 2005 Dmax 3500 SRW 4x4 bong Bed crew cab that had a GVWR of 9,900# and it would not handle it nearly as well as the Ford and my 2004 F-250 4x4 SRW short bed Powerstroke with 10,000# GVWR would not handle it very well either but did slightly better than the Dmax.

Chris

 

[Runner]

Diamondpilot,

How much does that 1800 lbs make the rear of your F350 sag? I assume you're not using a weight distributing hitch with the boat trailer. Does it cause you any steering problems, etc.?

I suppose I could go to a WD hitch, but it seems like overkill for the type of towed loads I'll be having.

The biggest thing I've towed with this truck so far is my 24 foot cuddy cabin, and I had to move the trailer bogies as far back as possible to get even 300lbs of tongue weight out of that.

I wish there were a few more choices of trailers around here, but deckover bumper pulls seem to be a rare commodity.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Diamondpilot,

How much does that 1800 lbs make the rear of your F350 sag? I assume you're not using a weight distributing hitch with the boat trailer. Does it cause you any steering problems, etc.?

I suppose I could go to a WD hitch, but it seems like overkill for the type of towed loads I'll be having.

The biggest thing I've towed with this truck so far is my 24 foot cuddy cabin, and I had to move the trailer bogies as far back as possible to get even 300lbs of tongue weight out of that.

I wish there were a few more choices of trailers around here, but deckover bumper pulls seem to be a rare commodity.

The F-350 only drops maybe 3" and feels rock solid. I have towed upt0 25,000# with this truck 30 miles @55 mph and it did ok. But again it has all the packages like Snow Plow Prep, ect to give it the highest GVWR of 11,500# I had to order it that way. For example my 99 F-350 only had 9,900# GVWR.

My F-250 with 10,000# GVWR and my old Dmax 3500 that boat would drop a good 6-8" and was not comfortable to drive. The steering really suffered.

Chris

 

[aczlan]

I had a 2005 Dmax 3500 SRW 4x4 bong Bed crew cab that had a GVWR of 9,900#

No wonder you had so many issues with that Duramax, it was always taking a hit from the bong bed

Aaron Z

 

[kennyd]

Just my :2cents: but I think that is WAY to much trailer for what you are intending to haul. A 10K 18' or 20' will serve you well and let you keep some money in your pocket.

 

[Beavis]

My two cents: Too heavy of trailer for your needs. I have a JD3320 and use a 24' PJ 6" frame trailer to move it around when needed. I went with a LONG trailer so I would have plenty of room to move the load around, which helps adjust tounge weight. The empty trailer is approximately 3,400 pounds.

In the attached photo: the 22' version of my trailer and my old tow vehicle.