I need help deciding on new trailer

[tman1020]

Know idea. To bad u didn't let me know then. Would have saved me a lot of time.

 

[tman1020]

I got the call th trailer is done but we just got hit by a snow storm and pick up is a hour away. Hopefully next week.

 

[tman1020]

I picked up the trailer on Monday got it home no problem however it's covered in salt and snow from the roads I'll post pictures when I have a chance to get it cleaned up weather is really crappy here right now. I'm very pleased with it pulls well it's not overly heavy and I really like the axle ratio. It is much higher to the deck than I anticipated so I'm very glad I opted for the dovetail. Stand up ramps seem very well-made and are easy to operate with the spring assist. No more picking up and moving those heavy ramps. Also it looks like they would be easy to remove if I needed to. I compared the weight from this one to the 14 K I'm borrowing this one ways in about 2400#. Where is the 14 K is north of 4000 pounds.

 

[downslope]

I picked up the trailer on Monday got it home no problem however it's covered in salt and snow from the roads I'll post pictures when I have a chance to get it cleaned up weather is really crappy here right now. I'm very pleased with it pulls well it's not overly heavy and I really like the axle ratio. It is much higher to the deck than I anticipated so I'm very glad I opted for the dovetail. Stand up ramps seem very well-made and are easy to operate with the spring assist. No more picking up and moving those heavy ramps. Also it looks like they would be easy to remove if I needed to. I compared the weight from this one to the 14 K I'm borrowing this one ways in about 2400#. Where is the 14 K is north of 4000 pounds.

Is your new trailer the same length and width as the 14K borrowed one? Can anyone tell me if 1600+ lbs is a typical increase in weight when you go from a 10K trailer to a 14K? Would it be about an equal increase when you go from a 10K to a 12 and then from a 12K to a 14?
It seems a shame that adding over 1600 lbs to the trailer construction only results in 2400 lb increase in capacity, but maybe that's just the way it is.

PS: Good luck with the new trailer, hope it does all your tasks well.

 

[tman1020]

Thank you downslope yes it is the exact same size except for Axel placement. As far as the weight jumps to higher capacities from what I found it just depends on the manufacturer. Mine is technically considered a car hauler not a equipment trailer. I think what that means is different Axel placement and a lighter weight trailer. 10 K was the maximum for this particular trailer it comes standard as a 7K. Most of the equipment trailers I looked at started out at a minimum of 10K and had heavier frames. I did not see many 12 K. I believe that by the time it is built heavy enough to handle 12 K it is almost stout enough to be a 14k so they just go that route.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Is your new trailer the same length and width as the 14K borrowed one? Can anyone tell me if 1600+ lbs is a typical increase in weight when you go from a 10K trailer to a 14K? Would it be about an equal increase when you go from a 10K to a 12 and then from a 12K to a 14?
It seems a shame that adding over 1600 lbs to the trailer construction only results in 2400 lb increase in capacity, but maybe that's just the way it is.

PS: Good luck with the new trailer, hope it does all your tasks well.

I think the 1600# increase sounds reasonable. It's just the way the game is played. Same thing happens when you go to a GN from a BP with a big weight jump. Going from a 14K trailer to a 20K is also a huge jump.

Chris

 

[downslope]

I think the 1600# increase sounds reasonable. It's just the way the game is played. Same thing happens when you go to a GN from a BP with a big weight jump. Going from a 14K trailer to a 20K is also a huge jump.

Chris

For most manufacturers is a 12K trailer usually just different axles, 6-lug vs 5-lug wheels and maybe 0ne size up on the 15" tires? I thought I read that somewhere.

If that's the case then probably not much added weight for 12K vs 10K and not much more $$ either, maybe $150-200. But when you go from 12 to 14K, now you've got heavy axles with 8-lug 16" truck type wheels and the heavier frame, hitch, ramps, etc to go with it, along with a bigger price jump.

 

[Diamondpilot]

For most manufacturers is a 12K trailer usually just different axles, 6-lug vs 5-lug wheels and maybe 0ne size up on the 15" tires? I thought I read that somewhere. If that's the case then probably not much added weight for 12K vs 10K and not much more $$ either, maybe $150-200. But when you go from 12 to 14K, now you've got heavy axles with 8-lug 16" truck type wheels and the heavier frame, hitch, ramps, etc to go with it, along with a bigger price jump.

No, it's much more than that.

It's different springs, different axles (still 6lug like 5200# axles but thicker wall materials), 16" wheels vs 15", larger tires, and usually a heavier coupler.

You are right though, the weight is not much more. Maybe 150# tops in most cases.

Chris

 

[tman1020]

The jump up to 12 or 14 k besides Axels & wheels was a 6" heavy channel and heavier cross members vrs the 5" channel with angle cross members I have on the 10 k. I think that is where they pick up most of the weight difference. I didn't compare any tube frames. How ever I did see some manufacturers using 6 " channel on the 10 k. At that point I think the heaviest Axel is the way to go. I wanted a lighter trailer and didn't want aluminum.

 

[tman1020]

Got the trailer all cleaned up finally and loaded up the tractor. Fits much better than the 16 foot landscape trailer I was using. I'm very happy with the ramp choice they don't look like they would be hard to slide off at all if I needed to. I'm going to build some sides for it next and a taller bulkhead.