10,000 # vs 14,000# trailer for compact tractor

[bdog]

What are the tire sizes? Surely the 14k has 8 lug 16's. What about the 10k? I bet it has six lug 15's? I would definitely get the 16's. They seem to hold up so much better.

The heavier trailer gives you bigger bearings, bigger brakes, etc. and is just stouter all the way around. I would get it you never know what you may need to haul in the future. Also the trend in trucks is higher rated hitches. I think the factory reciever hitch on my super duty is rated for 21k. You will likely have this trailer a lot longer than your current truck.

The tilt is a neat feature but adds weight and adds cost. I can see why some people like them but if you don't have any medical conditions ramps are not that bad to work with. Loading multiple things on a tilt trailer can be tricky. Say you want to haul two 10' long UTVs on a 22' tilt trailer with a fixed front section. Good luck.

 

[fried1765]

Hey Guys,

I've been reading all the trailer posts, but still have a few questions.

I'm looking for a trailer for my Kioti ck2610 compact tractor as well as for general homestead use. I want to only have to buy one trailer and have it do everything. I don't have money to burn, but at the same time don't mind paying the price for a better item.

There seems to be a constant theme in the forums to go bigger rather than smaller on a trailer. We have a Big Tex dealer in the area, so I've been checking out their stuff. Think I might have it narrowed down to a 20' tilt in either 10,000 # or 14,000 axles.

So here are the numbers:

Tractor weights 4,600 pounds with FEL and loaded tires.

Truck- 2015 F250 FX4, trailer package, 6.2 gas- GCWR 19,000
Truck, fuel, passengers weigh - 7,000
Factory installed hitch is rated 12,500
assuming loaded trailer is max of around 10,000 then my tongue weight would be max of 1,500 pounds.
If I'm understanding things correctly, at this point the most a loaded trailer can weigh (for my truck) would be 10,500 pounds.

So I'm looking at a Big Tex 14TL 20 foot with 14k axles (14,000 GVRW). It's a partial tilt 16 foot, with 4 foot deck. It weights 3,500 pounds which leaves me with a cargo cap (based on my truck) of 7000 pounds. This is well below the trailers max rating of 10,500 pounds of cargo.

I like things to be heavy duty and under-stressed. If I don't mind the extra cost would I be better off going with this 14k trailer or go with a 10,000 GVRW rating in the same trailer with 10,000 axles (Big Tex model 10TL-20). That trailer weighs a bit less at 3,150 pounds, leaving the trailer with a max cargo cap of 6850 pounds (which is about the most cargo I could put on it anyway with my particular truck)

So what do you guys think?

Also, am I on the right track thinking that a tilt deck will make things a lot easier than non-tilt? I saw they also make a full tilt 20', but I thought the 4' of non-tilt deck on their partial tilt model might be handy to have.

Thanks in advance for your input.

I am 76 years old, and bought a new 14K 20' trailer last year.
I am too old to work,..... so the trailer is for my toys!
I have no opinion on the tilt issue, except that my spring assisted ramps work just fine for me (they are getting heavier though).
My vehicle (K2500 4x4 Suburban with 454 V-8) is rated for 12,000 lb. towing, but I bought a 14,000 lb. trailer, and Equal-i-zer hitch.
A bit beefier than I ever expect to need. I like things that way.

 

[RNeumann]

What are the tire sizes? Surely the 14k has 8 lug 16's. What about the 10k? I bet it has six lug 15's? I would definitely get the 16's. They seem to hold up so much better.

The heavier trailer gives you bigger bearings, bigger brakes, etc. and is just stouter all the way around. I would get it you never know what you may need to haul in the future. Also the trend in trucks is higher rated hitches. I think the factory reciever hitch on my super duty is rated for 21k. You will likely have this trailer a lot longer than your current truck.

The tilt is a neat feature but adds weight and adds cost. I can see why some people like them but if you don't have any medical conditions ramps are not that bad to work with. Loading multiple things on a tilt trailer can be tricky. Say you want to haul two 10' long UTVs on a 22' tilt trailer with a fixed front section. Good luck.

I was thinking about a lot of the same things when I purchased my trailer. The other nice thing about the 16" 8 lug wheel is the spare from the truck will fit the trailer. The Ford center circle may be a bit bigger so the inverse is not always the case.

I am just north of you in Sagle. Even with the shipping cost I saved money and got a better product by buying a custom made trailer from Georgia. I can provide more detail if that's something you are interested in.

 

[comancheflight]

I just purchased the 22' Big Tex 14TL 16' tilt/4' stationary and I really like it. I drove my NX4510, loader and backhoe on it and it was smooth going on and off.
Now in the process of finishing up a removable 12K winch on the tilt and mounted a Delta job site box to store the battery, winch and "stuff" ....didn't answer your questions but I really like this tilt trailer.

 

[danny77]

Wow! So many great replies- Thats why I love this place! A lot of good points to address. I checked Big Tex website and it looks like the 10k trailers use 15" wheels, Whereas the 14K are 16". So I'm thinking that, plus the more heavy duty nature of the 14k is turning me more towards the 14k. It is a few hundred pounds more, but I figure that is weight well spent since it makes a stronger trailer.

At first I was thinking partial tilt, but reading the comments I see a lot of people have different opinions on this. I've used folding ramps on my friends 20' trailer- didn't seem that bad, but then I've no experience to compare it to anything else. So now I'm doing more research and reading about dovetails, and full tilts- too many options and started to get confused again.

Another interesting variable to the mix is that the dealer I'm looking at has a Big Tex 14ET-18 on sale for $4,300. This is a 14k trailer, 18 feet long with Mega Ramps and 32" Dove Tail. The regular price is $5000, so this one seems interesting. The weight on it is 2,740 pounds. For comparison, the 14k, 20' partial tilt I'm looking at is $5,700 and weighs 3,460. I'd be shedding 720 pounds and giving up 2 feet.

I can see some of the benefits and negatives of a partial or full tilt. I'm wondering if for general purpose and very occasional tractor hauling (basically just if I need to take it for servicing) I might find a non-tilt trailer more versatile?

RNeumann, I am curious about your purchase from Georgia. If you could send me info on that, I'd be much obliged. I thought Big Tex should be a good deal since the ones for sale here are made at their plant in Idaho- but maybe that's not the case. The dealer I'm looking at is Fox trailers in Post Falls. They actually make their own trailers as well- the prices seem appealing, but they did not seem as ruggedly built as the Big Tex models.

Looking forward to your guys thoughts.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

Purchase a 24' 14K with a rub rail.

 

[RNeumann]

I'd go with Big Tex based on those prices. I had a 14k cargo trailer made about a year ago. The local prices were over 10k and I purchased for about 6k. That made the transport worth it. But at $4300 locally the other place would have to be giving it away to make it worth it. I paid $1500 to ship it.

Colony Cargo - Trailers and More - Serving the Southeast US

 

[RichM752]

I just got this 20' Diamond C tilt trailer. Had to drive a few hundred miles to get it, but wot=rth the hassle as it had the configuration I wanted.12" o.c. cross members, 14 ply tires,blackwood decking, 3/16" fenders, 12k jack, d rings, & rub rails with pockets. The storage box in the tongue was the clincher.

 

[Soldier415]

I can see some of the benefits and negatives of a partial or full tilt. I'm wondering if for general purpose and very occasional tractor hauling (basically just if I need to take it for servicing) I might find a non-tilt trailer more versatile?

Like I mentioned before, going non tilt usually will save you money. Spring assisted rear ramps like the ones pictured on my trailer have been great. Can lower or raise them with one hand, and have supports to keep the back of the trailer from squatting when loading.

Also gives you more clearance in the rear as opposed to slide in ramps

 

[ovrszd]

Like I mentioned before, going non tilt usually will save you money. Spring assisted rear ramps like the ones pictured on my trailer have been great. Can lower or raise them with one hand, and have supports to keep the back of the trailer from squatting when loading.

Also gives you more clearance in the rear as opposed to slide in ramps

Very nice trailer!!!