Equipment trailer, 16' vs 18' dilemma

[Diamondpilot]

You don't want fixed side rails cause you can't load the trailer from the side with a set of forks.

I believe he was referring to removable sides that go in the stake pockets many trailers have.

Chris

 

[shvl73]

It would be great to get some of us New Englanders together for a package deal. Figure out what people are looking for, how many can be stacked, how we'd get them unstacked, who's got truck enough to haul the stack and what it would cost to go get them. I'd prepay and I'd bet others would too. Maybe get Chris to put the package together. That 18' flatbed he pictured is just what I'd like and it would be $3000+- here.

 

[JohnDeere4300]

Chris,

Do you get your trailers from C & H Quality trailers,___Sikeston,MO

 

[Diamondpilot]

I could do that. I have gotten them 8 at a time on my lot. We only took a few for ourselves. What they do is stack them 4 high with only the bottom one with the wheels on it. They put a Reese Receiver on the bottom one of the first stack and pull 4 more behind it. You need a 1 ton with a diesel to handle that load due to the wind drag more than the weight going down the highway. They put 4x4's between them and when they get here you either use a fork lift, 2 tractors with FEL's, or drive them into a shop and use the lift to pick the top one off with 4 short chains. Once lifted you simply pull the others out from under it. Nice to have a impact gun to throw the tires on then set it down. Here is a few pic's I swiped off the net on how they come to the dealers.

Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

Chris,

Do you get your trailers from C & H Quality trailers,___Sikeston,MO

I really don't sell trailers enough to be a real dealer. I sell boats, and in turn sell trailers for them and service other trailer. I have helped my friends set up deals to get trailers, maybe 10 total in 8 years. I got my personal trailer from Jerry Jones Trailers of Sikeston, MO. Never heard of C&H. We have ordered Bi Mar dumps, Gator Made's, and probably a few other but they don't come to mind.

Sikeston is a small town right on the Il and Mo line and it is probably the utility/car hauler trailer capital of the world. Its a town of maybe 15,000 and I would guess there are 25 manufactures there. There are a few high priced builders, there are a few that make junk, and the majority are all about the same. These trailers are a lot of bang for the buck but they are no PJ or big national brand.

Chris

 

[shvl73]

I see it's a 16 hour, 925 mile trip from my place. Hmmm, possibilities.
Do you really think a 1 ton is needed? Could it be any less aerodynamic than a horse trailer?

 

[JohnDeere4300]

I really don't sell trailers enough to be a real dealer. I sell boats, and in turn sell trailers for them and service other trailer. I have helped my friends set up deals to get trailers, maybe 10 total in 8 years. I got my personal trailer from Jerry Jones Trailers of Sikeston, MO. Never heard of C&H. We have ordered Bi Mar dumps, Gator Made's, and probably a few other but they don't come to mind.

Sikeston is a small town right on the Il and Mo line and it is probably the utility/car hauler trailer capital of the world. Its a town of maybe 15,000 and I would guess there are 25 manufactures there. There are a few high priced builders, there are a few that make junk, and the majority are all about the same. These trailers are a lot of bang for the buck but they are no PJ or big national brand.

Chris

The dealer in my area goes to Sikeston, MO gets a load of trailers, they take two trailers stacked like in your picture, on the back of one of the trailers they have a flat bar with a hitch ball welded on, and he pulls both trailers, the trailer i bought was one that had the ball welding on.

It comes in handy sometimes, but mine is made by C & H but looks
just like the ones in your picture.

 

[Diamondpilot]

When they are stacked like that they create alot of drag. The worst I have seen of any trailer pulled behind any truck. The air flows through them and creates wakes like a airplane wing does. Towing a stack of these is worse than towing a big 5th wheel camper according to the guys who have done it. I talked to the delivery driver who brought mine to me from Jerry Jones Trailers. He was driving a 7.3L Ford Powerstroke F-350 Dually.

I knew a guy who made the 5 hour trip one way to get a stack with a V8 gas GMC 3/4 ton van he used for his other job. He is a plumber. He only had 4 in one stack and he said it took him 8 hours to get home and nearly killed the van, especially the tranny. Could barely run 60 mph. He told me at times going up hills he hit the instant MPG deal and was getting 3ish and averaged something like 6 or 7 on the return trip. I would not do it with nothing less than a diesel 3/4 ton but would much prefer a 1 ton. A double stack of 8 will weigh about 15,000# with spare tires and all the chains and binders needed to secure them. He is now out of the business because last year with fuel cost he could not pay someone to go get them and still sell them competitively in our area. He had a guy who worked in a factory and did the 4 on 3 off thing doing his pickups with his personal Dodge Diesel.

Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

The dealer in my area goes to Sikeston, MO gets a load of trailers, they take two trailers stacked like in your picture, on the back of one of the trailers they have a flat bar with a hitch ball welded on, and he pulls both trailers, the trailer i bought was one that had the ball welding on.

It comes in handy sometimes, but mine is made by C & H but looks
just like the ones in your picture.

My neighbor who has a 3500 Dmax I always talk about has the same tab welded on. We used it once to go cut fire wood and threw a ball in it to pull his brothers log splitter. The ones I usually see use a Reese Hitch Tube welded on. Works the same.

I borrowed those pics from a site I goggled. Looks like it belongs to Branson Trailers, near Sikeston. Branson probably get them from C & H or like I said of the 25 or so builders from that area most make just about the same thing.

No matter what the company is Sikeston region makes the best trailers for the $$$$$$$$$. The Gator Mades are a little nicer then you step up to the PJ, ect.

Chris

 

[newbury]

I believe he was referring to removable sides that go in the stake pockets many trailers have.

Chris

Yes, here's a link:truck