I love my wife.

[tractorshopper]

Your wife is a wonderful woman.

 

[RichM752]

Did your wife talk to mine? I had the same experience a while back. Found a 20' Diamond C tilt with everything I wanted, took a drive south and picked it up. Now if it would just quit snowing.....

 

[cat fever]

RichM,
That is a very nice trailer. Something I'll be looking for within a year or two.

 

[fried1765]

Wife comes up to me today and says "You know, for the projects we have planned, we really need to use our tax refund money to buy a trailer that will haul the tractor and implements. Start shopping..."

What I'm looking for is a 2-5/16" ball coupled, with a 20' deck, 22' max., that I can put 10,000lbs on the deck, doesn't weigh a ridiculous amount on it's own, and I would prefer the jack mech be mounted far enough back I can open my tailgate on the truck. Seems my local trailer place has stuff with the capacity, but not the length, and others with the length, but not the capacity. To get the length and capacity from their inventory, I need to step up to a much larger (more expensive) trailer with a pintle or gooseneck. I'd love to stay under the $5k mark if I can and I'd be willing to drive a couple hours to get it if needed.

Suggestions, thoughts, or wisdom to share?

Check with Kaufman Trailers: Kaufman Trailers Equipment, Gooseneck, Car, & Utility Trailers
1-866-455-7444 (Lexington, NC.)
They are a MAJOR trailer builder.
I did not buy a trailer from them, but most likely would,.... if there is a next time.
They will build.... WHATEVER YOU WANT...., and deliver it!
They have a great reputation, and usually the best price anywhere,.... including delivery.

 

[fried1765]

Used trailers would be a nice way to go. My neighbor has offered (not currently) his 20ft Big Tex for about $2500. Didn't have the cash when he offered it, and now he's keeping it. But the trailers are out there. It used a 2 5/15, and I could drop the tailgate with it connected.

If you buy a used trailer, carefully check the condition and AGE of the tires.

Then: since you have no way to know the condition of the brakes you must check them too (pull the wheels). Determine if the brakes are worn, or working properly.

While the wheels are off: put the wheel bearings in your parts washer, dry them off (do not spin with air) and then repack them all.

Lastly: replace the emergency battery, because it is likely dead.

Now: You have a trailer that is safe, and ready to load.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

My only experience with a new tandem trailer is my buddies, he has a 18ft, 16 deck and 2ft dove tail equipment trailer that I have used to haul my tractor, hay and my F350 dump truck. It's got breaks on both axles.

The 16ft deck is just barely enough for most of what I'm hauling so I can understand the want for a 20ft trailer. His is only a 10k trailer but the trailer weights 2750 which is light enough I can use it with my F150 without overloading it.

He picked it up at distinctive trucks in Lancaster Ohio, I think the trailer is build very well and the fenders are reinforced diamond-plate. I think he gave around $3300 for it.





I also have a single axel PJ which has had heavy use for the last 15 years and has held up great, it's a 6x12 landscape trailer, I would buy another PJ.

 

[timswi]

Used trailers would be a nice way to go. My neighbor has offered (not currently) his 20ft Big Tex for about $2500. Didn't have the cash when he offered it, and now he's keeping it. But the trailers are out there. It used a 2 5/15, and I could drop the tailgate with it connected.

Only issue with used is that you usually run into dry-rotted/worn tires, brake/bearing pblms, decks and lighting issues depending on how **** the owner is...Replacing half of that can justify the purchase of a new one (new tires usually only last a couple of years since they are generally Chinese crap :grumpy.

 

[timswi]

Good for you and your wife.

I'd hate to see the trailer I could buy with my tax refund.

On the other hand, the government could buy a really nice one with what I paid.

Dude, I really feel your pain on this. :yell:

 

[Diamondpilot]

If you buy a used trailer, carefully check the condition and AGE of the tires.

Then: since you have no way to know the condition of the brakes you must check them too (pull the wheels). Determine if the brakes are worn, or working properly.

While the wheels are off: put the wheel bearings in your parts washer, dry them off (do not spin with air) and then repack them all.

Lastly: replace the emergency battery, because it is likely dead.

Now: You have a trailer that is safe, and ready to load.

And usually ends up costing 90% of what a new trailer cost after wheels, tires, brakes, wiring, and a few deck boards.

When I was in the trailer business 9 out of 10 peoples "Good Buys" end up costing 90% of what a new trailer cost.

 

[Sysop]

Well, thank you for the input everyone. I think I've got it narrowed down to a Reiser from a semi-local dealer. Everywhere within 3-4 hours of me that I have been able to find, doesn't have what I want in stock. Since I need to order, I built a list of things I wanted whether they were standard equipment or options. Reiser came in with the most reasonable cost and quickest ETA. The dealer had a good variety of their trailers in stock and the build quality seemed on par with everything else I've seen. Cuts, welds, finishes, all looked good. I've looked online and can't find anything bad about them as a company or manufacturer. Seems like a winner.

What I will be putting on order next week is a 20+2 dovetail, 14k, 6' channel frame with treated 2x6 deck. It has slipper springs, an adjustable coupler, 5' spring assist fold up ramps, rub rails, diamond tread fenders, LED lighting, and red paint (2 coats of auto-grade, not powdercoat), and the jack is mounted back so the tailgate on the truck is still accessible...

Any thoughts?