Deck over trailer & zero turn

[Hay Dude]

Anyone running a bumper pull 12-14k full 8 wide deck over trailer and loading a zero turn without difficulty? I hear zero turns get stuck on the hump ? A dovetail would help. I have a small low profile 3500lb trailer for my zero turn, but its not useful for much else.
What I REALLY want is a deck over trailer with a wide mesh reinforced, spring assist ramp that can be used for:
1. Zero turn mower is the primary week in week out use.
2. Side by side round bales (hence the need for 8 wide deck over) in a 4-6 on bottom, 2-4 on top configuration is secondary use.
3. Occasional skid steer or Toolcat.

Want to get away with a short as possible so I think 16 is the best length. I think 12k is minimum GVWR.

As some of read in a previous thread, I found this trailer. Its cheap, heavy duty and the right size, maybe a tad short, but needs ramp modifications.
Any suggestions appreciated.

 

[Michael In Tennessee]

I'd just get a second trailer, each suitable for their use. Since the zero turn gets most use, a purpose built trailer for it is useful. Small trailers are cheap, so no real need to get rid for it.

 

[Hay Dude]

I'd just get a second trailer, each suitable for their use. Since the zero turn gets most use, a purpose built trailer for it is useful. Small trailers are cheap, so no real need to get rid for it.

Yeah, I have thought of doing that, but the barn & garage is getting awfully full of equipment and my existing small trailer is pretty beat up and in need of replacement anyway, so I thought I would do a SAK (Swiss army knife) trailer.

 

[kf4uda]

You could possibly side load the mower with a set of arched aluminum ramps. Something like these: Amazon.com: Black Widow 65" Aluminum Loading Ramps for Golf Cart, ATV, UTV: Automotive

 

[Gee Ray]

If you are making your money with zero turn invest in a good trailer. Buy a tilt deck. It will allow the mower to be loaded with out a problem and haul hay and big tractors with ease. I would buy the longest trailer that you can because a 16 foot 12,000 pound trailer is going to ride rough. . In addition the longer trailer is much easier to back up.

 

[4570Man]

Deck over trailer & zero turn

I’ve hauled my mower on my deck over 10 ton and it didn’t drag. It’s probably not as steep as yours but my trailer is pretty steep. That being said I much prefer hauling the mower on my car hauler trailer.

 

[kthompson]

The people who have their mowers to hang up on the hump, any idea if they are raising their decks and if they are commercial mowers or not? Longer wheel base will more likely not clear with deck same height as shorter wheel base mower. You could get longer ramps for your trailer for the mower use only and heavier duty ones for the other machines you will haul some. Not sure expanded metal would work for the other machines. I can drive my commercial ztr on my equipment ramps which are spaced angle iron with no problems. My residential mower would have do back up or down so the front wheels are being pulled and not pushed due to their smaller diameter and dropping further into the angle iron on the ramps. An 8 foot deck should allow you to turn the mower around on it to drive on and off. Still would want at least a 2 by 6 or such side rails so I did not drive off the deck.

 

[Hay Dude]

If you are making your money with zero turn invest in a good trailer. Buy a tilt deck. It will allow the mower to be loaded with out a problem and haul hay and big tractors with ease. I would buy the longest trailer that you can because a 16 foot 12,000 pound trailer is going to ride rough. . In addition the longer trailer is much easier to back up.

Already have big trailers 30 & 35 feet. They are just too big for a lot of my customers properties. One in particular which requires ongoing maintenance is the one where I need a smaller deck over trailer. 18 would be perfect. It would allow mostly flat loading of 6 round bales on the bottom and 4 more stacked on them. I am also eyeing up a future Toolcat purchase and with an attachment mounted on it, will be all of 16? The zero turn would look like a toy on it, but that would be ok.
Alternatively, I could also keep my small single axle for the zero turn. I might as well keep it since its only worth about $1000 and what little I would gain in selling, I would lose in convenience.
I am still looking for a good solid, but used 12k deck over 16-20 long on CL. The most difficult thing is to find a deck over with a single wide ramp. Its expensive to build and needs lots of spring assist help. Looking more and more like I will have to have someone built the ramp onto it. In 4 months of looking, I found exactly ONE trailer built this way.
If I keep the small trailer, I no longer need the single wide ramp. Although I would still really like it because its so much easier to walk up/down the ramp, roll bales down the ramp and in a pinch, drive my zero turn up/down the wide single ramp.
I know it sounds crazy, but a 16 to 20 12k 8 wide trailer with a spring assisted single wide ramp would in my opinion be the most versatile trailer anyone could have. Next best would be a basic 16-20 12k bumper pull with a set of those mega ramps.

 

[Ford850]

You could possibly side load the mower with a set of arched aluminum ramps. Something like these: Amazon.com: Black Widow 65" Aluminum Loading Ramps for Golf Cart, ATV, UTV: Automotive

These might not be enough since the deck is so high, but I'd try these ramps in another way. Lay them on top of the trailer ramps and the dove tail. Lay them up on the tail just behind the crest on the trailer and extending partially down the ramp. Best of both worlds... light weight ramps to use for the zero turn, and no mods to the trailer for the rest of it's use.

 

[Hay Dude]

I’d actually like to amend my previous post and say the perfect trailer would be a 8’ wide deck over DUMP trailer with a set of easy to use ramps for all types of equipment, but that would be asking WAY too much :laughing: