got me a new trailer

LD1 · Jun 1, 2013

Well I got me a gooseneck trailer now. Not new, but new to me.

Its a factory built. "Rock special". 12 ton, 20' with 5' dove. A bit overkill for the Kubota, but will tow a 12k BH now.

It needs some deck boards either replaced or reattached. They are solid, but some aren't even attached anymore. Other than that's, its quite a solid trailer with all tires like new:thumbsup:

So a few questions...

1. What do you all think it weighs empty? I'm guessing 4k-4.5k??

2. I'm thinking of just replacing all deck boards. What's best on these big trailers?? Treated pine?? Rough cut hardwood?? Suggestions??

3. Want do you think it is worth?? Wondering how good I did @ $2500?

RobertBrown · Jun 1, 2013

I think you did good. The picture is not real good for evaluating price but from here you could get your money back where I live fast, no problem.
It's got electric brakes on all wheels?
It might weigh less than your estimate......

Soundguy · Jun 1, 2013

i have a deckover tandem that weighs in a 4300#

LD1 · Jun 1, 2013

Yep. Brakes on both..

Nothing really wrong with it at all, just some loose boards, and I forgot to mention one of the springs for the ramps is broke. But they aren't that heavy anyway.

I bought it off a friend. When he got it, it had a 7-way round plug. He put a 7 flat on it but wired it wrong. Right blinker operated the brakes

I fixed all that though

Glocker · Jun 1, 2013

Sweet set up ! I think you did great.

Furu · Jun 1, 2013

12 ton/24K might weigh more than you think. Run it over some scales and you will know for certain. Not knowing your tow vehicle the CDL issue might raise itself. At 24K trailer depending upon what you use it for and your state's mods to fed rules it may be a factor.

k0ua · Jun 1, 2013

I like it!..My heavy Kioti would make better use of it than that little bitty Kubota though...You better bring it down here,

Looks like you did good.:thumbsup:

James K0UA

LD1 · Jun 1, 2013

k0ua said:
I like it!..My heavy Kioti would make better use of it than that little bitty Kubota though...You better bring it down here, Looks like you did good.:thumbsup:

James K0UA

LOL :laughing:

I took some rough measurments on the trailer.

Nearest I can tell, the 10" i-beams are of the 17# per foot variety. 6" channel Iron for the perimeter, and 3" channel cross members every 2'. Plus ramps and about 25 cu ft of wood for a deck (I dont know what it is but guessed ~30lb/cu ft....

And I am coming up with ~ 3500lbs NOT COUNTING the axles. Which I would guess to be every bit of 500lbs+ EACH with the tires.

So I think I may even be a little low. I know there are a ton of variables and no way to tell without scaling it for sure, but I am now thinking more like 4500-5000lbs.

Either way its all good.

As to the CDL. I havent a clue. I follow some threads hear from time to time and have pretty much came to the conclusion that no one really knows, including the cops. But I have seen some large trailers behind 1-tons and know people that tow them and have never had any issues. I live in the sticks in farm country. And only tow about 10 miles from home anyway. So I am not too worried.

wmonroe · Jun 1, 2013

I have a 20+5 gooseneck with tandem singles (14k) and it is 5100 lbs so I would guess yours is around 6k.

RDrancher · Jun 1, 2013

You did good on the trailer.

As far as CDL is concerned, the combined gross vehicle weight of truck and trailer can't be over 26k without a CDL. Your trailer at 24k hooked to a VW Beetle would put you in CDL territory. California has a screwy 10k trailer law and some other states may have them too. Like you said, you're probably okay in farm country but not "technically" legal.

creekbend · Jun 1, 2013

Congratulations. Nice trailer and IMHO, a nice price. If it were me, I would get rough sawed hardwood instead of pine. Just my thoughts.

94BULLITT · Jun 1, 2013

I am going to guess and say it weighs in excess of 5k easily.

This one is 14,500GVVR and weighs 5500lbs.
Moritz FBG+5-20 14,500 GVWR

Furu · Jun 1, 2013

LD1 said:
LOL :laughing:

As to the CDL. I havent a clue. I follow some threads hear from time to time and have pretty much came to the conclusion that no one really knows, including the cops. But I have seen some large trailers behind 1-tons and know people that tow them and have never had any issues. I live in the sticks in farm country. And only tow about 10 miles from home anyway. So I am not too worried.

I know in Washington State, on the state website, they have an explanation of when a CDL is required and who is exempt from it even if you are over the 26,001 lb GVWR and over 10K trailer rules. Even a nice decision tree to follow through. There is specifically a farm exemption for farmers and the circumstances in which farmers are exempt. Ohio may have the same info on their website. Point being as you said there is a lot on the forum about this and it seems that everyone is an expert. The point about the enforcers themselves not knowing the rules is valid and is often the case. If Ohio has the stuff on their state website find it, print a copy, and put in your truck. Assuming you are legal under a Ohio farm exemption if you ever get stopped and hassled pull out the state web site info and have it available. May end run a problem.

Nice trailer by the way.

LD1 · Jun 2, 2013

RDrancher said:
You did good on the trailer.

As far as CDL is concerned, the combined gross vehicle weight of truck and trailer can't be over 26k without a CDL. Your trailer at 24k hooked to a VW Beetle would put you in CDL territory. California has a screwy 10k trailer law and some other states may have them too. Like you said, you're probably okay in farm country but not "technically" legal.

Yea, with a truck GVWR of 12,200, even a 14k trailer would put me over the 26,000

creekbend said:
Congratulations. Nice trailer and IMHO, a nice price. If it were me, I would get rough sawed hardwood instead of pine. Just my thoughts.

WHat kind of hardwood?? I think what is on it now is hardwood, but not too hard. Maybe more like a poplar. What would you treat it with if you went hardwood??

As to the CDL think, yea, I am sure this combo requires one in Ohio. Cause it is over 26,000 GCWR. I cannot get a farm exemption as I do not farm. Just cut fire wood and do some tile jobs for the farmers in the area. The GCWR law is one that I dont care for anyway. It should only be required IF you go over the 26k. The weight of the truck and trailer is somewhere in the 13-14k range (based on estimates here). I should be able to tow ~12k without having to deal with any CDL bs. And I know some do register the trailer low enough to do just that. But whats the point??? Trailer is still the same?? All about $$$$$$

LD1 · Jun 2, 2013

I took some more/better pictures this morning. I know everyone likes pics

This may help with the 3 questions about weight, value, and the loose wood deck. There are only about 2 boards that would really need replaced, the others are just loose. It appears when the trailer was made, the screws were too short.

They are about a 2" long, torx head, self-drilling tek screw. But it looks like olny about 2 threads made it "out" of the wood, along with the 1/2" or so of the drilling part. So it seems some longer screws should have been used. Which may be what I do.

Marveltone · Jun 2, 2013

Nice trailer! It should serve you well. Congrats!

Joe

RDrancher · Jun 2, 2013

I don't know about where you're at LD, but here you can register a trailer for less than the sticker GVW. In Texas, its not a big dollar difference for farm tags, but my 14K trailer is registered commercial and they actually asked me if I wanted to downgrade the registered GVW to save some dough. I didn't, but could have.

That's a heck of a deal you got on that trailer. I'm a little jealous.