Is a Tilt Trailer the right way for me to go?

[Firemediceric]

I’d much rather have the low loading angle of the fender trailer vs width of a deckover.

I believe I’m of the same mindset regarding height versus width trying to anticipate what I may call on the trailer to handle.

One thing just pointed out to me which I had overlooked is that on a partial deck tilt there’s no way to conveniently install a winch without some major retrofitting which is beyond my capabilities. Glad I was made aware of that before purchasing.

 

[ismilelots]

About to commit to purchasing a 20'x7' manual tilt trailer rated for 10k pounds with brakes on both axles. I'm wanting this trailer to do everything I need and never be deficient for my purposes. Am I making a wise choice. Here's the back story...

I seldom need a trailer and it's even more seldom that when I do that my enclosed 12x7 won't work. After a headache renting a U-Haul car hauler, I'm thinking of purchasing a flatbed trailer for the sake of convenience, even though the economics don't make sense for how seldom I need the trailer. I'm of the mindset "Buy once, cry once" but I want to make sure there's not something I'm overlooking.

Initially I was looking to get a simple dual axle 16' utility trailer with rails around it like many lawn services use. That would address the few times I need to take my lawn mower to the shop. The mower just barely fits into my enclosed trailer, and anymore the enclosed trailer is used like a storage shed. It's a chore to unload it just to transport the mower. The simple utility trailer option would also be the answer when I rent a trencher (once in 5 years) and the equipment rental shop charges me extra to rent the trailer to transport the trencher. I ruled out the lawn care type trailer when I realized anytime I want to tow an automobile the railings will make opening the doors on the vehicle a challenge when it's on trailer. A true flatbed trailer without rails will also work better for any palatalized items I may have loaded with a forklift.

My next thought was to purchase a simple flat bed car hauler. That would work for everything mentioned above, but I want something rated for at least 10K pounds as I'm considering purchasing a compact tractor. A tractor is another item I would seldom put to use, but I won't wager that at some point I won't purchase a tractor with a loader. I want any trailer I purchase now to be more than enough for any tractor and implements I may purchase in the future.

Finally, the tilt trailer obviously won't have a dovetail as is so common on many of the car haulers. Not having a dovetail is a plus in my book as even on trailers without dovetails it has sometimes been a problem backing into an inclined driveway. I believe a tilt trailer will tilt down to the correct angle to load a compact car on to it without being so steep the front bumper valence gets torn up. Am I correct? A tilt trailer, I think, will also be better than a flat trailer without a dovetail needing longer ramps than what would be used with a dovetail. I believe 7' wide will be wide enough for anything I may haul. I don't believe I'll ever have a need for a deck-over to have a wider platform. I also think 20' without a dovetail should not only accommodate any vehicle I'd put on it but also will be plenty to fit a compact tractor with a front loader and even an implement on the back.

The only potential drawback that I see to the tilt trailer is that only one item can be loaded on it. Can't put one lawn mower on and then tilt it down to put a second ZTR or riding mower on it, but I don't see that as being an issue for me.

I will be going with a wood deck so as not to have to deal with a hot metal deck when securing loads. I also like the ease of adding tie down anchor points on a wood deck.

Please weigh in with your thoughts. Am I on the right track or is there something I'm overlooking?

I had a tilt bed and loved it .... most of the time. As you said, the only drawback was not being able to load something on it before putting my tractor on. But the ease of getting the tractor on and off was great, and no ramps to mess with. Considering your needs, it sounds like you would be very happy with it .

 

[Firemediceric]

Thank you for the input. Now to decide if I want to spend the money to watch it sit idle and not move 360 days out of the year.

 

[4570Man]

I had a tilt bed and loved it .... most of the time. As you said, the only drawback was not being able to load something on it before putting my tractor on. But the ease of getting the tractor on and off was great, and no ramps to mess with. Considering your needs, it sounds like you would be very happy with it .

You can buy a tilt bed with a fixed portion at the front that doesn’t move. Mine has 6 feet fixed deck at the front that doesn’t move. My biggest drawback is I can’t load 2 lawnmowers but I can manage pretty well with loading multiple implements.

 

[Porkman]

About to commit to purchasing a 20'x7' manual tilt trailer rated for 10k pounds with brakes on both axles. I'm wanting this trailer to do everything I need and never be deficient for my purposes. Am I making a wise choice. Here's the back story...

I seldom need a trailer and it's even more seldom that when I do that my enclosed 12x7 won't work. After a headache renting a U-Haul car hauler, I'm thinking of purchasing a flatbed trailer for the sake of convenience, even though the economics don't make sense for how seldom I need the trailer. I'm of the mindset "Buy once, cry once" but I want to make sure there's not something I'm overlooking.

Initially I was looking to get a simple dual axle 16' utility trailer with rails around it like many lawn services use. That would address the few times I need to take my lawn mower to the shop. The mower just barely fits into my enclosed trailer, and anymore the enclosed trailer is used like a storage shed. It's a chore to unload it just to transport the mower. The simple utility trailer option would also be the answer when I rent a trencher (once in 5 years) and the equipment rental shop charges me extra to rent the trailer to transport the trencher. I ruled out the lawn care type trailer when I realized anytime I want to tow an automobile the railings will make opening the doors on the vehicle a challenge when it's on trailer. A true flatbed trailer without rails will also work better for any palatalized items I may have loaded with a forklift.

My next thought was to purchase a simple flat bed car hauler. That would work for everything mentioned above, but I want something rated for at least 10K pounds as I'm considering purchasing a compact tractor. A tractor is another item I would seldom put to use, but I won't wager that at some point I won't purchase a tractor with a loader. I want any trailer I purchase now to be more than enough for any tractor and implements I may purchase in the future.

Finally, the tilt trailer obviously won't have a dovetail as is so common on many of the car haulers. Not having a dovetail is a plus in my book as even on trailers without dovetails it has sometimes been a problem backing into an inclined driveway. I believe a tilt trailer will tilt down to the correct angle to load a compact car on to it without being so steep the front bumper valence gets torn up. Am I correct? A tilt trailer, I think, will also be better than a flat trailer without a dovetail needing longer ramps than what would be used with a dovetail. I believe 7' wide will be wide enough for anything I may haul. I don't believe I'll ever have a need for a deck-over to have a wider platform. I also think 20' without a dovetail should not only accommodate any vehicle I'd put on it but also will be plenty to fit a compact tractor with a front loader and even an implement on the back.

The only potential drawback that I see to the tilt trailer is that only one item can be loaded on it. Can't put one lawn mower on and then tilt it down to put a second ZTR or riding mower on it, but I don't see that as being an issue for me.

I will be going with a wood deck so as not to have to deal with a hot metal deck when securing loads. I also like the ease of adding tie down anchor points on a wood deck.

Please weigh in with your thoughts. Am I on the right track or is there something I'm overlooking?

There are tilt trailers with a split deck that would allow you to load two mowers. The front portion is stationary and the back tilts. I like this for loading tractor attachments up front then loading the tractor.

 

[grsthegreat]

ny tilt bed can load 2 different items. You simply load the first, lower deck, secure first item. Then raise deck and load second. I do it all the time.

 

[Lastkidpicked]

I don’t want regrets.

You are in a very fortunate position in that you won't have any regrets and the following two quotes explain why:

I bought a 22' with upgraded 8k axles and 17.5 super single tires with a spare for a hair over $8k two years ago.

Dave is right about cost. Tilt beds are a bit more than non tilt but the way inflation has moved the prices up I could easily get what I paid for mine 14 years ago but have no reason to sell.

Let's say you buy a trailer and keep it for a year. Then, worst case, you decide you don't use it as much as you thought. So what do you do? You sell it and get almost all of your money back. That's the great thing about trailers-- you can usually get your money back later if you decide to go a different direction.

 

[Fxfymn413]

Sure, a 25K rated trailer is overkill for a 6,400 lb. load, but when it doesn't fit between the fenders...

Yeah but the trailer weighs 8K plus. I love my 32 foot PJ hydraulic dovetail, but the trailers are heavy. Mine is rated at 22K and I am close to max when I put my 12K fire truck on it.

 

[Merck]

About to commit to purchasing a 20'x7' manual tilt trailer rated for 10k pounds with brakes on both axles. I'm wanting this trailer to do everything I need and never be deficient for my purposes. Am I making a wise choice. Here's the back story...

I seldom need a trailer and it's even more seldom that when I do that my enclosed 12x7 won't work. After a headache renting a U-Haul car hauler, I'm thinking of purchasing a flatbed trailer for the sake of convenience, even though the economics don't make sense for how seldom I need the trailer. I'm of the mindset "Buy once, cry once" but I want to make sure there's not something I'm overlooking.

Initially I was looking to get a simple dual axle 16' utility trailer with rails around it like many lawn services use. That would address the few times I need to take my lawn mower to the shop. The mower just barely fits into my enclosed trailer, and anymore the enclosed trailer is used like a storage shed. It's a chore to unload it just to transport the mower. The simple utility trailer option would also be the answer when I rent a trencher (once in 5 years) and the equipment rental shop charges me extra to rent the trailer to transport the trencher. I ruled out the lawn care type trailer when I realized anytime I want to tow an automobile the railings will make opening the doors on the vehicle a challenge when it's on trailer. A true flatbed trailer without rails will also work better for any palatalized items I may have loaded with a forklift.

My next thought was to purchase a simple flat bed car hauler. That would work for everything mentioned above, but I want something rated for at least 10K pounds as I'm considering purchasing a compact tractor. A tractor is another item I would seldom put to use, but I won't wager that at some point I won't purchase a tractor with a loader. I want any trailer I purchase now to be more than enough for any tractor and implements I may purchase in the future.

Finally, the tilt trailer obviously won't have a dovetail as is so common on many of the car haulers. Not having a dovetail is a plus in my book as even on trailers without dovetails it has sometimes been a problem backing into an inclined driveway. I believe a tilt trailer will tilt down to the correct angle to load a compact car on to it without being so steep the front bumper valence gets torn up. Am I correct? A tilt trailer, I think, will also be better than a flat trailer without a dovetail needing longer ramps than what would be used with a dovetail. I believe 7' wide will be wide enough for anything I may haul. I don't believe I'll ever have a need for a deck-over to have a wider platform. I also think 20' without a dovetail should not only accommodate any vehicle I'd put on it but also will be plenty to fit a compact tractor with a front loader and even an implement on the back.

The only potential drawback that I see to the tilt trailer is that only one item can be loaded on it. Can't put one lawn mower on and then tilt it down to put a second ZTR or riding mower on it, but I don't see that as being an issue for me.

I will be going with a wood deck so as not to have to deal with a hot metal deck when securing loads. I also like the ease of adding tie down anchor points on a wood deck.

Please weigh in with your thoughts. Am I on the right track or is there something I'm overlooking?

I don't have one but I have used a tilt trailer. I think they are great but that is just my opinion. Owning it you can use it when you need it. Renting one you may not be able to get it when you need it.