18' vs 20' Trailer

[hillbilly rick]

Thanks guys. Pretty unanimous in favor of 20'. I'm not worried about vandalism where I would drop the trailer and/or truck. This is not exactly a high traffic area. Everything past where I would drop it is camps. It is not unusual to see no vehicles during a day on that section - especially during the week. Initially, I will drop it since I am an inexperienced trailer driver, but would like to haul it all the way once I get some experience - especially the times I am alone. Dragging at the creek crossings concerns me as much as the turns and roughness although those also concern me. I have hit the skid plates before when the road was rutted pretty bad. The State gets the worst out of it once a year, but it is obviously low priority for them. What would be considered decent tires for traveling a rough road? I am sure will be on other back roads.

 

[RickB]

I would go 20'. Most DOT will hit you with a ticket for transporting with a bucket not resting on the deck.


Chris

Most DOT guys in the Northeast will write you for having the bucket flat on the deck and not chained down separately.

Hydraulic attachments must be secured. FEL buckets, backhoe buckets, etc. To the OP, 20' minimum deck length.

 

[YesDeere]

Oops. Too much mowing

 

[Diamondpilot]

Thanks guys. Pretty unanimous in favor of 20'. I'm not worried about vandalism where I would drop the trailer and/or truck. This is not exactly a high traffic area. Everything past where I would drop it is camps. It is not unusual to see no vehicles during a day on that section - especially during the week. Initially, I will drop it since I am an inexperienced trailer driver, but would like to haul it all the way once I get some experience - especially the times I am alone. Dragging at the creek crossings concerns me as much as the turns and roughness although those also concern me. I have hit the skid plates before when the road was rutted pretty bad. The State gets the worst out of it once a year, but it is obviously low priority for them. What would be considered decent tires for traveling a rough road? I am sure will be on other back roads.

My 18' trailer sits pretty low. I would guess 14" at most from the ground to the deck and 10" or so from the ground to the axles. I have a feeling you will get it hung up pretty easy. Figure there is going to be 6' of overhang from the rear axle to the back of the trailer. As the truck goes up a hill like in a creek crossing the rear of the trailer will dip. I have a feeling you will get hung up pretty quick and tear something up or just get plain old stuck.

Chris

 

[cowski]

bumper pull 16 ft gooseneck 20 ft. bush hog can hang over on the back and you can roll the bucket on the front.

 

[dstig1]

I'll second what most everyone said - go bigger. You won't regret it. I will also add that you are probably money ahead to buy new unless the mythical creampuff used trailer pops up for you. I bought used, and it has required enough money and time to get up to speed, I would have been better off buying new. I have heard that same tale of woe several times since then, but I knew nothing when I bought it...

 

[Iowachild]

I'll second what most everyone said - go bigger. You won't regret it. I will also add that you are probably money ahead to buy new unless the mythical creampuff used trailer pops up for you. I bought used, and it has required enough money and time to get up to speed, I would have been better off buying new. I have heard that same tale of woe several times since then, but I knew nothing when I bought it...

AMEN!

 

[Runner]

For reference, here is a 2520 with rotary cutter on a 20 foot trailer (17 foot flat with 3 foot dove).

 

[Diamondpilot]

For reference, here is a 2520 with rotary cutter on a 20 foot trailer (17 foot flat with 3 foot dove).

They get small quick don't they Runner? I remember when I bought my 25+5GN years ago. It seemed like a monster with its dual 12K tandems and 25K GVWR. Put one pulling truck on it and there was not room for a quad runner.

Chris

 

[TheTrailerGuy]

I would have to agree with the bigger is better theory. I have never had anyone come back and tell me that the trailer they bought was too big... but many have returned trading up for a longer one.