Need Advice on Buying An Equipment Trailer

[Oleozz]

I've looked at Kaufman, PJ, Appalachian, and Texas Pride to date. I will on different occasions be hauling a Mule, or a ZTR, or a tractor. (Right now a 45 hp but am thinking about moving up to a 65 hp.) My big problem is trying to decide on length of trailer, should I go with the 16 or 18 ft. and also who makes the best trailer. Kaufman trailers bought factory direct are reasonable but I do have a PJ dealer only 12 miles away. I will be towing with a Ford F150 Ecoboost with the towing package.
Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated.

 

[Diamondpilot]

All good brands. Get a trailer 3' longer than your tractor, loader, and longest implement. Usually a Bush hog is longest.

Chris

 

[George2615]

I think your F150 is going to be maxed out towing a 45HP tractor on a trailer. I doubt it can haul a 65HP. What is your truck rated to tow. If you are considering upgrading to a 65 HP tractor you are probably going to need at least a 10 or 12K trailer depending on whether you will have loaded tires plus implements, chains and tie downs.

 

[Code54]

I would go no smaller than 18'. I have a MX5100 (50 HP) and I can squeeze my tractor, rear blade on with very little room to spare. Would't mind having another 2' or so....

 

[Oleozz]

From the Ford site it looks like the maximum loaded trailer weight for my truck is 9800 lbs. An 18 ft PJ trailer weighs 2950 lbs. so I would be at max capacity with 6850 lbs on the trailer.

 

[jejeosborne]

From the Ford site it looks like the maximum loaded trailer weight for my truck is 9800 lbs. An 18 ft PJ trailer weighs 2950 lbs. so I would be at max capacity with 6850 lbs on the trailer.

Sounds about right without the max tow package. Mine is 11,300 with it.

 

[metalsmith]

You don’t say but I assume you are talking about a gooseneck style trailer rather than a rear hitch. Both pull differently and a hitch style depends more on the truck suspension when load positions are less than ideal. You have your max load for the truck, so work back from there. Total up your heaviest tractor with any attachments that might be on the trailer, then factor in some dead weight for mud and such ( which can easily be 500 to 1000lbs) if will be dealing with that. Now also keep in mind those max ratings are often for flat to shallow grade conditions, so if have any hills and/or nasty curvy roads reduce your total truck rate for that. Hills both going up and coming down puts huge loads on not only the drive train but the brakes as well. Don’t forget wet roads reduce total safe loads too. Now look at if will be pulling in winter, either icy or snow covered roads, reduce your total safe pulling for winter load by as much as half. Off the bat I would say your F150 could easily be well maxed out for many of those conditions. So it all comes down to use rate for this setup, if just occasionally you may be ok but if depending on it often then consider all the above carefully. When you have enough truck, there is no such thing as to large of trailer !

 

[Fallon]

The longer the better. You need the length to balance the load as much as fit the load on there. My 16' tilting deck would be to short for my L3200 (32hp) if it didn't have a really long hitch on it. Loader hangs over the deck on the hitch frame.

 

[94BULLITT]

I have a 20' Kaufman car trailer. I like it. It is the nicest car trailer I have had. If I were you I would go with at least a 18' but 20' would be better. You could go with a car trailer over an equipment trailer to save a little weight.

 

[Tompet]

I agree with 94bullitt, 18' minimum.

All the brands you listed are nice and have some better features than what I bought, but since you mentioned the brand, I'll throw in my review. Since Appalachian trailers were a little over an hour away so I just drove and bought in person. I have an 18' Appalachian car hauler and am happy with it, but if I had it to do over I would get their 10k car hauler and seriously consider going with 20'.

I like the tapered metal front area of the Appalacian and they have improved their quality from the first time I looked at their trailers. One other nice feature was the rear slide out ramps which were wider than other brands I looked at and they have a solid surface top so even rolling up small wheeled items is easy compared to the ladder style ramps. I had a trailer with the ladder style ramps and it was impossible to run up small wheeled items without laying a board on them. I have seen a smooth ramp on some other car hauler brands.
I had a custom diamond plate tongue box built which is nice along with swing up jack. After the fact I found out they make a factory toolbox, but you had to ask for it. I also mounted on rear a pair of the flexible guide sticks you see mounted on snow plows which are great for backing up as without them you can't really see the trailer over the tailgate.

I did haul a tractor 700 miles round trip and it tracked great...smooth ride.

Corn pro was another very nice trailer brand I checked out at the time.