Buying a new GN trailer: tilt or deckover?

[econometrics]

I have the exact PJ tiltbed trailer you linked to above. Mine came from here: PJ - 24' Gooseneck Tiltbed Carhauler - Trailers - Gooseneck Flatbeds - Trailers - Catalog - Ludens Inc. It will haul everything I need, and I pull it with a 2003 Dodge Dually (Cummins power!). I can see the points of view of all posters above, it really comes down to YOUR use. For me, the tiltbed works well as I pull cars and tractors with it. Nothing I own is wider than the deck provided between the wheel wells. The dual wheels mentioned above are a plus. Best of luck on your choice.

Good to hear a review from an actual owner, thank you! Anything I own would fit in the 6.75' between the wheel wells, too. Right now, anyway…

My main concern in getting a trailer with dual tandem axles is the additional weight. I am running a V10 F250, and not a Cummins dually D) so I need to be mindful of how heavy the trailer is.

I realize there's a tradeoff here, as heavier axles can bear more of the weight… but it just comes down to the fact that I am pretty much limited on being able to safely pull around 14-14.5K with my truck. That being the case, the lighter the curb weight of the trailer, the better for me.

 

[Fordman1981]

Good to hear a review from an actual owner, thank you! Anything I own would fit in the 6.75' between the wheel wells, too. Right now, anyway…

My main concern in getting a trailer with dual tandem axles is the additional weight. I am running a V10 F250, and not a Cummins dually D) so I need to be mindful of how heavy the trailer is.

I realize there's a tradeoff here, as heavier axles can bear more of the weight… but it just comes down to the fact that I am pretty much limited on being able to safely pull around 14-14.5K with my truck. That being the case, the lighter the curb weight of the trailer, the better for me.

Here is an option for you. 24' full tilt deck over. I chose this one for the flexibility it offers.

 

[econometrics]

Here is an option for you. 24' full tilt deck over. I chose this one for the flexibility it offers. View attachment 357549View attachment 357550

I looked at that model, too. Thanks for the pics. That's one big NH tractor you're pulling there on them single axes! :thumbsup:

I really am leaning towards the tilt deck lowboy. I like the idea that I can load things other than high-ground clearance equipment on there.

 

[Fordman1981]

I looked at that model, too. Thanks for the pics. That's one big NH tractor you're pulling there on them single axes! :thumbsup:

I really am leaning towards the tilt deck lowboy. I like the idea that I can load things other than high-ground clearance equipment on there.

Yeah it's a T5050 pulled it 1000 miles not one problem. I ran between 70 and 75 most of the trip. Next time I have it loaded I'll run it by the scales and see just how much the total load is. It'll be a while before that happens though it's used on the farms and they are all roading distance.

 

[econometrics]

Yeah it's a T5050 pulled it 1000 miles not one problem. I ran between 70 and 75 most of the trip. Next time I have it loaded I'll run it by the scales and see just how much the total load is. It'll be a while before that happens though it's used on the farms and they are all roading distance.

That's pretty encouraging to hear. From what I see online, that tractor is around 8500lbs?

95% of my heavy hauling will be 30 miles round trip or less. Any hauling at longer distances would be with a lot less weight.

 

[jenkinsph]

Good to hear a review from an actual owner, thank you! Anything I own would fit in the 6.75' between the wheel wells, too. Right now, anyway

My main concern in getting a trailer with dual tandem axles is the additional weight. I am running a V10 F250, and not a Cummins dually D) so I need to be mindful of how heavy the trailer is.

I realize there's a tradeoff here, as heavier axles can bear more of the weight but it just comes down to the fact that I am pretty much limited on being able to safely pull around 14-14.5K with my truck. That being the case, the lighter the curb weight of the trailer, the better for me.

If weight is an issue look at the Big Tex 14PI roughly 3000 lbs empty with 11,000lb payload capacity. Should cost less too and is good for moving lots of materials. The similar 12PI is what I use right now and it is 2550 lbs with 9450lbs payload capacity.


All the trailers mentioned are good for various uses imo, really depends on your needs. I use to prefer gooseneck trailers but find the tow trailers work fine with a 250p/u and larger. Keeping the overall trailer loaded weight down to as little as possible is a plus with a small truck..

Something I am considering right now is a new implement trailer made by Donahue. Good for lighter tractors and equipment and is less than a foot off the ground for loading. http://donahuetrailers.com/

 

[ovrszd]

My main concern in getting a trailer with dual tandem axles is the additional weight. I am running a V10 F250, and not a Cummins dually D) so I need to be mindful of how heavy the trailer is.

I realize there's a tradeoff here, as heavier axles can bear more of the weight but it just comes down to the fact that I am pretty much limited on being able to safely pull around 14-14.5K with my truck. That being the case, the lighter the curb weight of the trailer, the better for me.

Yep. Totally understand that. A point that's often missed when shopping for a trailer.

For example, you are quoting a 14K lb capacity trailer that weighs 5K. So in effect, it has a 9K lb capacity.

My deckover is a 20K lb capacity trailer that weighs 6840. So in effect, it has a 13K lb capacity.

Difference is in the gross loaded weight with your tractor onboard. With the lighter trailer your total trailer/load weight is 14K, 5K for the trailer and 9K for your load.

With my deckover your total trailer/load weight would be 15,840 lbs, 6840 lb for the trailer and 9K for the load. So in the end you are pulling an additional 1840 lbs.

I totally get that. But again, what concerns me is the capacity of the trailer. Depending on how much weight you can transfer to the truck, you'll be at 90% capacity on the trailer, or something very close to that. With a deckover you'd be at 70% capacity if you parked all the tractor load on the trailer. Over time this difference will show up somewhere.

From your descriptions I think you'd be better suited with the low trailer. Just understand you are limiting the versatility of the trailer and pushing it a lot closer to it's limits.

My neighbor offered to sell me the low tilt bed you are looking at for $3000. Had been pulled less than 500 miles, hauling two A John Deere antique tractors.

Edit: Forgot to add. You V10 will pull your load almost as well as the Dodge Cummins or Ford Powerstroke. It'll just turn a LOT more rpms and burn a LOT more fuel doing it.

 

[econometrics]

Yep. Totally understand that. A point that's often missed when shopping for a trailer.

For example, you are quoting a 14K lb capacity trailer that weighs 5K. So in effect, it has a 9K lb capacity.

My deckover is a 20K lb capacity trailer that weighs 6840. So in effect, it has a 13K lb capacity.

Difference is in the gross loaded weight with your tractor onboard. With the lighter trailer your total trailer/load weight is 14K, 5K for the trailer and 9K for your load.

With my deckover your total trailer/load weight would be 15,840 lbs, 6840 lb for the trailer and 9K for the load. So in the end you are pulling an additional 1840 lbs.

I totally get that. But again, what concerns me is the capacity of the trailer. Depending on how much weight you can transfer to the truck, you'll be at 90% capacity on the trailer, or something very close to that. With a deckover you'd be at 70% capacity if you parked all the tractor load on the trailer. Over time this difference will show up somewhere.

From your descriptions I think you'd be better suited with the low trailer. Just understand you are limiting the versatility of the trailer and pushing it a lot closer to it's limits.

My neighbor offered to sell me the low tilt bed you are looking at for $3000. Had been pulled less than 500 miles, hauling two A John Deere antique tractors.

Richard, thank you for doing a little math for me there. Figuring GVWR, GCWR, GVW, GAWR, etc. etc. can be a little mind numbing! :laughing:

I've started to look around for a 20+5 dual tandem as well. They are not as common, it seems, as the single wheel tandem 20+5's. And are a little more costly.

Why can't decisions like this be more simple, ha?! I just need something with a bed and wheels to tow something down the road. First world probs, I guess!

 

[Zebrafive]

I can't really understand why that would be? How could it be any more hairy than driving up a dovetailed GN?

I have a 14K bumper pull Load Trail 18' tilt top. Not a deck over. It has 2' fixed at the front and the rear 16' tilts. Fenders tilt with the deck. Last approx. 2' is diamond plate.
What is hairy about loading is it's 16' UP HILL ALL the way. I bought it to haul a 4x4 Bronco, not my tractors (I did not even have the JD 6415 when I bought it, not enough trailer for it anyway).
When loading the Bronco you have limited forward vision of what's going on driving up hill. Also when the rear tires hit the diamond plate they just want to spin. I am glad I did not get a full diamond plate deck. I use 4x4 to load.
Mine has power up and down. It came with a wired and wireless remote. The wireless remote was great for loading/unloading alone, but it soon died. The wired remote still works, but is easier to use with a helper.
One time I was going to unload the Bronco. I had it all unchained from the trailer, running ready to back off. I signaled the helper to tilt the trailer. The trailer would not tilt. I though I had the bronco too far forward and the hydraulics could not lift the tilt. It has a single cylinder and not a scissor lift. I slowly backed the Bronco up, still no tilt. I got the rear wheels to the end of the trailer and still no tilt. Then there was BANG! and the trailer end slammed to the ground. One of the cylinder mounts broke of the frame. My helper, thinking the rear of the trailer should go down was pressing the DOWN button the whole time.
For the return trip we wired the cylinder up to the frame. The deck was balanced enough that you could lift the front and tilt it by hand. Two guys held the front as long as they could and I drove the bronco on in low range 4x4. When they could no longer hold the front they got out of the way and the deck slammed back to travel position. There is an example of hairy loading.

 

[econometrics]

I have a 14K bumper pull Load Trail 18' tilt top. Not a deck over. It has 2' fixed at the front and the rear 16' tilts. Fenders tilt with the deck. Last approx. 2' is diamond plate.
What is hairy about loading is it's 16' UP HILL ALL the way. I bought it to haul a 4x4 Bronco, not my tractors (I did not even have the JD 6415 when I bought it, not enough trailer for it anyway).
When loading the Bronco you have limited forward vision of what's going on driving up hill. Also when the rear tires hit the diamond plate they just want to spin. I am glad I did not get a full diamond plate deck. I use 4x4 to load.
Mine has power up and down. It came with a wired and wireless remote. The wireless remote was great for loading/unloading alone, but it soon died. The wired remote still works, but is easier to use with a helper.
One time I was going to unload the Bronco. I had it all unchained from the trailer, running ready to back off. I signaled the helper to tilt the trailer. The trailer would not tilt. I though I had the bronco too far forward and the hydraulics could not lift the tilt. It has a single cylinder and not a scissor lift. I slowly backed the Bronco up, still no tilt. I got the rear wheels to the end of the trailer and still not tilt. Then there was BANG! and the trailer end slammed to the ground. One of the cylinder mounts broke of the frame. My helper, thinking the rear of the trailer should go down was pressing the DOWN button the whole time.
For the return trip we wired the cylinder up to the frame. The deck was balanced enough that you could lift the front and tilt it by hand. Two guys held the front as long as they could and I drove the bronco on in low range 4x4. When they could no longer hold the front they got out of the way and the deck slammed back to travel position. There is an example of hairy loading.

Yowzers, I can see clearly now what you mean.