Flatbed Trailer

[WVH1977]

I currently have a 20' trailer that is exactly 78" wide between fender wells. I tried loading my tractor with my new 6' bush hog this morning for the first time. Once on the trailer I quickly realized that the bush hog would not fit in between the fender wells. It just won't go. The bush hog is also right at 78". I could load the tractor backwards and it will probably work. However, I am not comfortable doing that. I feel there would be to much weight on the back of the trailer and not enough tongue weight.

I have always hated having those fender wells in the way for loading and strapping down my tractor and implements. I am thinking about selling mine and buying a flatbed style. Does anyone on here own a flatbed style and do you like it for loading and strapping down your tractor? Thanks in advance for all responses.

 

[4570Man]

My last 2 trailers have been deck over and yes I like them. There’s plenty of trailers wider than 78 between the fenders though.

 

[two_bit_score]

Can you modify them?

 

[WVH1977]

Modifying them has crossed my mind. That would be the cheaper route if it can be done. However, I have been dealing with those fenders for 12 years and they are always in my way especially when I have an implement on the tractor. I need to think about/research this some more and decide if it is worth it to sell this trailer and buy a flatbed trailer versus trying to modify this one.

 

[rockingclawhammer]

My current trailer has the drive over fenders and it is 102" wide in front and back of the fenders. I really like it my self, the deck is lower and easier to work off of vs. a deck over. Don't get me wrong, sometimes I miss having a deck over but not enough to go back to one. You could replace the fenders and use 10" channel to make fenders with, that's what I have on mine. Then you could sit the brush hog or whatever on the fenders, tie it down and go.

 

[Fallon]

I sold my 16' gravity tilt & ended up with a 22' deckover power tilt last year. I was mostly upgrading length as the 16' was way insufficient. I went with the deckover instead of the gravity tilt for pretty much the same reason. Lack of fenders. It means you can load stuff with pallet forks from the side, which is hard or impossible with fenders (or the 4" lip on the sides & front of my old trailer).

My 7' working width flails wouldnt fit between fenders. As it turns out I need to back the tractor on the new trailer to get it to balance well.

The angle on the deckover is well over double the angle of the gravity tilt. That makes it harder to load all vehicles compared to the gravity tilt with a steeper deck & worse approach/departure angles. But all things considered it's not that bad & the side loading stuff outweighs that aspect, even though 75% or more of my hauling is the tractor.

 

[WVH1977]

I have visited several dealers around my area and I think I have it narrowed down to two styles of trailers. I have changed my mind about a flatbed trailer. I don't want something that sits up that high. I am trying to decide between a drive-over style and a tilt-style. They are both around the same price.

As of now I am leaning towards the drive-over. It has a low profile, is wide and has diamond plate running down both sides.

The tilt-style trailer sits up a little higher and has a higher towing capacity. It is not as wide as the drive over but will still fit my tractor and bush hog. The only advantage I see to the tilt trailer is not having to use ramps.

Both trailers are at $ 6,000. Decisions, decisions.

 

[nyone]

Why not build a set of drive over fenders?
I think i have $150 into these. I built them to park a 900lb polaris rzr on.

 

[fried1765]

I currently have a 20' trailer that is exactly 78" wide between fender wells. I tried loading my tractor with my new 6' bush hog this morning for the first time. Once on the trailer I quickly realized that the bush hog would not fit in between the fender wells. It just won't go. The bush hog is also right at 78". I could load the tractor backwards and it will probably work. However, I am not comfortable doing that. I feel there would be to much weight on the back of the trailer and not enough tongue weight.

I have always hated having those fender wells in the way for loading and strapping down my tractor and implements. I am thinking about selling mine and buying a flatbed style. Does anyone on here own a flatbed style and do you like it for loading and strapping down your tractor? Thanks in advance for all responses.

I understand that a deck over may be more convenient. but......
An equipment style with fenders, has a lower center of gravity, and is thus less likely to roll or tip.

 

[WVH1977]

Why not build a set of drive over fenders?
I think i have $150 into these. I built them to park a 900lb polaris rzr on.

I have looked into doing this. The fenders on my current trailer are all welded to the frame. My problem is the whole trailer is 78 inches wide. I need 84 inches. I want to have more room on the trailer than what I have now. I also want a trailer that does not sit up as high as my current one.
Here are some pics of it.



One of my tractors is six foot wide and the other one is 76" wide. Adding a bush hog or any other six foot implements makes life hard when loading on and strapping down the tractor. The trailer would really be nice for a smaller five foot wide tractor.