PJ Deckover Trailer Questions

[GATC35]

Runner..............some pics. Old trailer like you are considering, and two different tractors on gooseneck trailer. I thought I had some with Bobcat and several buckets / grapples stacked on the front but I can't seem to locate them.

Your height is fine. Our trucks are nearly identical. I have air bags on the rear of mine. In these pictures they have little to no air in them. Air bags were really installed for my travel trailer.

Trailer in picture is a "North Alabama" brand 20 + 5 deck 8 ft wide. fold flat ramps 7,000 lb axles-brakes on both.

BTW this thing pulls like a dream on the Interstate, 65 - 70 mph is like riding on air.

If you have questions...........let them rip.

 

[medicshawn]

I agree once you get that heavy a gooseneck is the way to go. I got a deal on a 14K 20 + 5 deckover. I also put the B&W hitch in my bed. I have a rubber mat in there and you don't know the hitch is there with the ball turned over.

 

[Runner]

OK, I emailed the PJ Trailer question guy and here is his answer:

"Total weight of trailer about 3,800 lbs with about 15% tongue weight."

If what he says is accurate, the empty tongue weight of this trailer is only 570 lbs.

I'm no engineer, and didn't stay in a Holiday Inn last night, but that just don't sound right.

If it is right, I'd order one this weekend....

 

[Duffster]

OK, I emailed the PJ Trailer question guy and here is his answer:

"Total weight of trailer about 3,800 lbs with about 15% tongue weight."

If what he says is accurate, the empty tongue weight of this trailer is only 570 lbs.

I'm no engineer, and didn't stay in a Holiday Inn last night, but that just don't sound right.

If it is right, I'd order one this weekend....

Sounds about right to me. I couldn't see how it would have weighed 1k.

 

[HCJ]

Runner, I assume this trailer is not available for you to check personally. My local dealer probably has one, but unfortunatley, they are in S.C. When I looked at this same trailer, my initial gut feeling was "wow, that a load to hang on a hitch"! My only problem with a trailer like this is that it would work fine if you have the ability to load it optimally, and have a quality hitch. You could position the tractor perfectly to get optimal tongue weight. In the real world, I have found that when I want to trailer my tractor, FEL, rotary cutter, and maybe try to squeeze in a box blade, I have to get creative in how I load it. Sometime I load it forward and sometimes back it on. Having a gooseneck gives me a little more "wiggle room" and allows more room for error in hauling less than ideally balanced loads. There again, it just depends on just what you are carrying, and what future implements or loads you could acquire. A gooseneck is simply more flexible and forgiving, at the price of taking up the bed. And I think most will agree that a GN will handle better with heavy loads. (and one last advantage, most of your friends can't ask you to borrow it!)

 

[GATC35]

Runner.........after re-reading your post I realized you have an F-350 with 4:30 rear gears vs. my F-250 with 3:73 rear gears. This will give you a little better advantage. Don't get me wrong I used that bumper pull trailer for two years. Yes it is tounge heavy, but you just have to be careful on how you load it. For example if carrying multiple buckets/grapples etc. instead of sliding the spare all the way to the front and chain it to the headache rack I would just chain it in the bucket already on the tractor. This would shift some weight towards the back. As you can see in the pictures above I keep the weight shifted towards the rear anyway. Also keep in mind a goosneck trailer will weigh more than a bumper pull, which will count against your GCWR. You can read for hours here in this forum on bumper pull vs. gooseneck.

Let us know what you decide, and of couse pictures.

 

[GATC35]

Runner.........after re-reading your post I realized you have an F-350 with 4:30 rear gears vs. my F-250 with 3:73 rear gears. This will give you a little better advantage. Don't get me wrong I used that bumper pull trailer for two years. Yes it is tounge heavy, but you just have to be careful on how you load it. For example if carrying multiple buckets/grapples etc. instead of sliding the spare all the way to the front and chain it to the headache rack I would just chain it in the bucket already on the tractor. This would shift some weight towards the back. As you can see in the pictures above I keep the weight shifted towards the rear anyway. Also keep in mind a goosneck trailer will weigh more than a bumper pull, which will count against your GCWR. You can read for hours here in this forum on bumper pull vs. gooseneck.

Let us know what you decide, and of couse pictures.

 

[Runner]

GATC35,

What do you think about the 570# empty tongue weight? Does that sound about like what yours was?

I guess if it is coming straight from the manufacturer, I can trust it.

After towing boats for years, it will actually be kind of NICE to have a trailer I can get some tongue weight on. I've experienced way more tail-wagging from rear-loaded trailers than I care to remember....

Thanks to all for the responses so far.

 

[GATC35]

570 seems light to me. I will tell you this. My cousin and I were hooking it up one day and we were about 3 inches off to the side of the ball to get the hitch aligned. So instead of moving the truck again we decided to just pick it up and move it over...lol. No way! We wound up moving the truck again . I'm 6' 2" about 260 lbs, he is 6' 5" and well over 300 lbs.

 

[firefighter jim]

Runner, Before you buy, check out: sure-trac.com I've recently purchased my 4th one from them. Excellent quality and price. Made in Indiana. Check them out! Do it now! :thumbsup: