Just Bought a Tandem Axle Trailer

[HawkinsHollow]

I have been wanting one for a while. WIth the mill I want a way to pickup logs when they come available. Been keep my eye on Marketplace and found this guy. Picked it up for $850, which isn't bad for a stoutly built tandem axle. Needs new wood, some rust remediation and a new coat of paint, some oiling and greasing of jacks but it seems very capable. Need to weld a plate on the front for a winch, box for the front to house batteries and towing gear. Overall pleased with my purchase.

I have access to a scale right next door so I will probably go over there this week to figure out how much it weighs, just so there is no mystery there. Could not find a plate with specs anywhere.

Other than the usual stuff (bearings, lights, etc) what things should I look over. Not much else to it. It does have drums for brakes. Not sure they work as the plug is the old style and I don't have an adapter for that kind yet. Need to see if I can get the brakes working. Any guidance there?

 

[RustyA]

Assuming old style connector is 6 pin small round? If so I would replace it with 7 pin with flat so it can be used with multiple modern tow vehicles. Wife's first horse trailer had old style 6 pin round. Tried using 7 pin to six pin adapter. Due to length of both connectors had a hard time keeping brakes and lights functional on bumpy roads even with a bungee cord. Easy to convert by replacing trailer end. That way you'll also be able to be sure you have nice clean connections at plug end.

 

[dodge man]

How many lugs? Wild guess it’s a 7k trailer, enough you want to get the brakes working. Seeing I paid almost triple that for a new one 15 years ago, and these days I’m sure a new one I closer to $4k than $3k I’d say it’s not a bad buy.

 

[D&D]

I have been wanting one for a while. WIth the mill I want a way to pickup logs when they come available.

This guy made a pretty nice setup for hauling logs

Log Trailer – Matt Cremona

mattcremona.com

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Assuming old style connector is 6 pin small round? If so I would replace it with 7 pin with flat so it can be used with multiple modern tow vehicles. Wife's first horse trailer had old style 6 pin round. Tried using 7 pin to six pin adapter. Due to length of both connectors had a hard time keeping brakes and lights functional on bumpy roads even with a bungee cord. Easy to convert by replacing trailer end. That way you'll also be able to be sure you have nice clean connections at plug end.

I thought it was a 4 pin round, but I just looked at it really quickly. 4 pins wouldn't make sense if it has brakes right? Yeah, I think I will change it to 7 pin. Need to do more digging on all that.

How many lugs? Wild guess it’s a 7k trailer, enough you want to get the brakes working. Seeing I paid almost triple that for a new one 15 years ago, and these days I’m sure a new one I closer to $4k than $3k I’d say it’s not a bad buy.

Good question, didn't look. I will have to take a look at that. But I am assuming a 7k trailer too. As long as I can tow the tractor, that is about the biggest thing I want to tow. Tractor is 5500 pounds with the 1200lb ballast so I think as long as I take that ballast off I will be good.

This guy made a pretty nice setup for hauling logs

Log Trailer – Matt Cremona

mattcremona.com

Matt Cremona! That's his name. I tried to look him Yeah, I don't need to haul anything nearly as big as he does. I think I am going to try the WinterDeere method and see if I can tug the logs up without an arch first. One less thing to fab up.

 

[RobertN]

@HawkinsHollow, your username reminds me of this guy

 

[HawkinsHollow]

@HawkinsHollow, your username reminds me of this guy

Never heard of him!

 

[flyerdan]

He was in the Comanche with Cowboy Copas and Patsy Cline.

 

[RobertN]

He was in the Comanche with Cowboy Copas and Patsy Cline.

Yes, Patsy Cline, Hankshaw Hawkins and Cowboy Copas all passed in that 1963 plane crash. Terrible day for Country music.

 

[RobertN]

Never heard of him!

Hankshaw was a popular Country singer in the 1950's and early 1960's. He died in a plane crash in 1963, along with Patsy Cline and Cowboy Copas. Terrible day in Country music.

He was a Country great.