Any reason to NOT get the wider trailer?

dieselcrawler · Sep 10, 2016

As posted earlier, I would favor a true deckover, no raised fenders, totally flat deck.

Otherwise, I doubt you'll notice the width difference from one to the other.

dieselcrawler · Sep 10, 2016

I also favor this type of ramps, with a leg built in that functions when ramps fold down.

The reason to avoid fenders is also obvious in this picture.

Schneeky · Sep 11, 2016

newbury said:
And is a chicken truck anything like a chicken tractor?

Hehehe. Walp, it's where they end up between the "chicken house" and the "chicken plant". I guess I coulda said "livestock truck" cause the "hog trucks" are just as bad and way smellier.
The logging trucks are still the most dread sight to see in the opposing lane.

dieselcrawler- That's a good point about the deck-over. I had one of those before and the height of it always made me a bit antsy. Prolly no real legit reason for that, just my own perception of the set up being top heavy. That said, I'm pullin a pretty small rig now. So I'll hafta consider one for sure. Looks like worries of draggin the tail would be moot. And that's one of the things I didn't like about the trailer linked.The ramps are stored under the back of the deck. The guy that ran the trailer place said he'd had some guys cut those off and re-weld them back up on the tongue or some such.

d;^) Jake..

Diamondpilot · Sep 11, 2016

My old 18' low boy had the exact same style of ramps and holders. It was never a issue. That trailer sat low, only 14" from the ground to deck. I can not think of a single time they dragged.

Chris

Deere Dude · Sep 11, 2016

dieselcrawler said:
I also favor this type of ramps, with a leg built in that functions when ramps fold down.

The reason to avoid fenders is also obvious in this picture.

I got a deck over sort of like yours and I think the worrisome feeling of being high off the ground was overcome pretty fast when the usefulness of using the whole bed came into play. I haul wood and it is nice not having to worry about fenders. Otherwise I would have to drag logs off the back. My fenders would have been smashed long ago.

I do pay attention to little hills and dips that the trailer may dig into. I try to keep it on more level ground.

dieselcrawler · Sep 11, 2016

At work, we have at least 4 car hauler type trailers, with the style ramps like on my deckover trailer. They are used by many different employees, and the fenders are beat to he!!. The fenders tend to be more in the way than the lower deck hight is of any help.

As to width vs deck hight, even my deckover is lower than any semi truck flat trailer, with a wheel track nearly as wide. I've had some tall and heavy loads, and never had a 'top heavy' worry, as the overall weight increases, you tend to slow down on that account long before the top heavy issue.

Charlesaf3 · Sep 11, 2016

yes, there's sometimes reason to get a narrow and low trailer. The low is pretty obvious, the narrow is if you have tight turns or pull in cities/suburbs a lot. I just bought another trailer (big tex) for those reasons.

For what I use it for, my big deckover is awkward.

If I were in the country all the time, I'd go as big and wide as possible. I still think lower is better though, I wouldn't sell my deckover, but I wouldn't buy another one either. I don't find that width does anything for me in practice.

Schneeky · Sep 11, 2016

Thanks much for the replies and opinions, fellas. :thumbsup:

Deere Dude- If I was haulin stuff like that I'd definitely want the flat deck! But I really don't see it happenin in my current situation. The tractor with mebbe an extra implement or two, some pallets on occasion. Prolly about the height of it.

dieselcrawler- Agreed that I see a lot of the regular fendered trailers with the fenders pretty beat up. That's why I was looking at the drive over fenders. They seem to be lower than the standard fenders and way more sturdy. The only one using this trailer's gonna be the one who paid for it! Employees are tough on gear they don't have any skin in buying or maintaining.

Charlesaf3- I rarely go into a city. Much less one with suburbs. It's pretty much country 2 lane highways and interstate. The only secondary roads to deal with are right up at the club and the aforementioned logging trucks have no problem flying around those.

So I reckon my bitty trailer should be OK.

CADplans · Sep 11, 2016

When I saw my first 8 1/2 foot wide utility trailer,,, I soon asked a state police officer about it, pertaining to the legality of the width.
His response, now, about 15 years ago,,, was that 8 1/2 foot trailers were only allowed on certain categories of roads.
Such a trailer could not be used on typical rural roads,,,

Hmmmmm,,, I wonder if this is still true??:confused2: