Gooseneck:Drop deck and NOT deck-over

[nisaacs]

I noticed the big dealers are short on inventory, the virus has the factories cut back. This one seems okay. Look at the fine print they are not all created equal. The link is good, just has a funny name....

Pardon Our Interruption

This one is in Texas:

221 PJ Trailers CC 83"x24' Gooseneck Car Hauler 44731 | Happy Trailer Sales

I bought this one in Texas but had to go get it. It is a Load Trail, 14k, 83"x24', 8" channel frame with a 3"x5" angle under that from the axles forward. It is a nice trailer. Sometimes when I have the time I don't mind the drive at all.

 

[Hay Dude]

I currently have a 25' dual tandem 24k deckover gooseneck. Since I sold my old backhoe and now the heaviest I have is my MX5100 and my Bobcat 334....(both about 8k pounds max) the trailer is a little overkill. And its not getting any younger. So I am considering selling it and getting a 24' gooseneck but one that is a drop deck more like a typical bumper pull equipment trailer....except with a gooseneck hitch.

Seems they arent as common and not as many of them out there to choose from.

What I am struggling with is pricing. I am seeing $7000-$8000 prices on trailers that are nothing more than a 14k equipment trailer only with a gooseneck instead of a bumper pull hitch. But for whatever reason, that seems to command about double the price of a bumper pull version and I cannot understand why?

Here are a few that come up...
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I am really looking at either appalachian trailers or kaufman trailers.

I can get an appalachian 23' trailer, 15k, for under $5k
Equipment Gooseneck Trailers for Sale by Appalachian Trailers!

Or I can get a kaufman 24' in the same ballpark. $4790 for standard (24" OC crossmembers and 14k rated), or $5190 for their delux (17" OC crossmembers and 15k rated).
OR on either one of the Kaufman I can add tilt deck for $300 more.
Equipment Gooseneck Trailer for Sale by Kaufman Trailers! 866-455-7444

So really, what makes a loadtrail, Diamond C, PJ, Suretrac, Lamar, Big tex, or so many others worth $3000 more?

Or why would I want to buy a 6 year old titan (never heard of them).....for $1500 MORE than I can buy a bran new kaufman or appalachian for?

Just looking for some insight. There are SOOOO MANY trailer MFG's out there but at the end of they day....most use the same axles....and the rest is just steel, wood deck, paint and lights. Cant justify $3000 more for a fancy "big name" sticker. Alot of things I am a believer in "you get what you pay for"....but is that really the case on a simple trailer here. AMO trailers is another "lesser known and cheaper" trailer that is popular around here. As is Quality trailers. But I dont think AMO makes goosenecks, and quality trailers only sells to dealers and dont have pricing on their website.

Any other "affordable" brands I should look into?

You listed the 2 most affordable in my opinion. Im heading down to Hickory NC to get my Kaufman 35' 38K gooseneck next week.
The reason Kaufman and Appalachian are cheaper right out of the chute is because theres no dealer markup. You go to one of their locations to pick them up. If they had a large dealer network, the dealer would mark up a 10K trailer 20% and a $10,000 trailer is now $12,000.
I have owned both brands.

One of the things you said was something to the effect "theyre all so similar, why the big difference in price?"

I always wondered the same things. I came to understand you need to see the facility they are built in, understand the craftsmanship (or lack thereof) they are built with and the prep/paint process. Some trailers are built inside from uncleaned steel, or left outside, unpainted or not acid washed, then painted just to get them out the door. Some are prepped, acid washed, primed and painted inside in a facility that cares about building a long lasting trailer. Some apply thicker paint (3-4 mil) and some thin (1-2mil). Thickness of steel, spacing, quality of welds are also factors, of course.
They look similar in a parking lot next to each other, but the better built trailers look better 5 years from now than cheaply welded & painted trailers.

Diamond C was my dream trailer, but they were $5,000 more than the Kaufman I ended up with. The curved gooseneck cut from one piece of steel is really cool, but you pay for it. BWise is a very nice trailer, but pricey.
Sure Trac makes a nice trailer, but again, you'll pay dealer markup. I may be buying one of their 16K 8x16' gooseneck deck over dump trailers if I find a pot of gold.

 

[spitter]

When people want to borrow your stuff make beleive it's drugs and JUST SAY NO !!!:thumbsup::drink:

 

[LD1]

I noticed the big dealers are short on inventory, the virus has the factories cut back. This one seems okay. Look at the fine print they are not all created equal. The link is good, just has a funny name....

Pardon Our Interruption

This one is in Texas:

221 PJ Trailers CC 83"x24' Gooseneck Car Hauler 44731 | Happy Trailer Sales

I bought this one in Texas but had to go get it. It is a Load Trail, 14k, 83"x24', 8" channel frame with a 3"x5" angle under that from the axles forward. It is a nice trailer. Sometimes when I have the time I don't mind the drive at all.

Those are some good prices. Wish I could find a PJ for $5500 in this state.

 

[LD1]

I noticed the big dealers are short on inventory, the virus has the factories cut back. This one seems okay. Look at the fine print they are not all created equal. The link is good, just has a funny name....

Pardon Our Interruption

This one is in Texas:

221 PJ Trailers CC 83"x24' Gooseneck Car Hauler 44731 | Happy Trailer Sales

I bought this one in Texas but had to go get it. It is a Load Trail, 14k, 83"x24', 8" channel frame with a 3"x5" angle under that from the axles forward. It is a nice trailer. Sometimes when I have the time I don't mind the drive at all.

Those are some good prices. Wish I could find a PJ for $5500 in this state.

 

[nisaacs]

Those are some good prices. Wish I could find a PJ for $5500 in this state.

If you have the time, you might consider ordering one. PJ has a factory in Mt. Orab, Ohio. There should be a local dealer somewhere near you. At least price one.

 

[Hay Dude]

Not trying to offend anyone, but the older PJ paint jobs were substandard
Maybe they improved.

 

[nisaacs]

Not trying to offend anyone, but the older PJ paint jobs were substandard
Maybe they improved.

I agree, and even to this day, primer is an option with them. I had to pay extra for primer on my PJ dump.

 

[deezler]

Dang, Kaufman trailer prices really are pretty good. Anyone know where their pickup locations are, or how much delivery would normally run? Website doesn't say.

 

[nisaacs]

Dang, Kaufman trailer prices really are pretty good. Anyone know where their pickup locations are, or how much delivery would normally run? Website doesn't say.

NC. & NE. are the factories no clue on delivery rates. I paid $1.50 per loaded mile for my dump but I had two extra pickup points for a grader blade and a box blade. I can't stress enough, read the fine print. What is standard and what is extra. Normally if the description doesn't say Dexter Axles, they probably are not. Does it come with a spare, one or two jacks and warrantee time frame and coverage.