If you could only own one trailer...

[Builder]

I am just the guy to answer your question with my opinion. I own about 12 trailers and each one has it's own use, I have a motorcycle trailer for bike and a steel trailer for when I pick up a load of steel and a car trailer for my Corvette and another one for my case skid steer.
Now My opinion, I love the deck over for the width (8'6") I have ramps and I wanted tilt, tilt is only good for one item or it wont tilt one way or the other, mine is 25' long and it will do me just fine. And the goose neck or bumper pull question. If mine is broke down for whatever reason, I have friends with bumper hitches, and none with GN
Thats just my opinion
you will get lots of replies like asking about wire or stick welders I own 2 wire welders
Jim

TWELVE TRAILERS????

I think you might need to consider the "twelve step plan" to trailer addiction

 

[MrJimi]

Thats funny, when the County got in me for having so many when I didn't have many and he told me to get rid of them I stacked them all on one and I was legal and he smiled, It Is considered cargo now
Yes, 12, could be more, I lose count. I have them from 3' X 4' to the 25' and I am running out of room fast
Like I tell my wife, each has their own use
and she understands, I hope

 

[RobJ]

I made my trailer. Down here you can't find a medium size sled style. So have welder will weld. It's 7.5' wide, 14' long/ Low profile tires to keep the height down (10" wheels). The sides can be removed, e-track on the deck, ramps stored under the back. If I did anything different I would make it 16' long (though this doesn't really get me that much), make a dove tail rear (I kept the design simple as is), and make it 8' wide. In Texas I could go 110" I think max. As is I can load 4 atv's, 2 rows side to side, or 3 loaded from the side. It has a solid bulkhead to. I don't really care if the implement hangs off the back. The width up top is what I really like. I don't haul my tractor that much but we use it up at the weekend place. Hay, kuhn cutters, squeeze shoots, etc.

I have about $1100 in this one using surplus steel. A great score was the light weight 5" channel. I also sold my other 5x12 home trailer for $500 to cover half of the $1100.

Rob

 

[ultrarunner]

If the load is under 4-5 tons, like most of you guys, I think the best answer is to own no trailer at all.

I've rented roll backs and found they do just about everything well...

Even looked into buying one used and decided against it because I wouldn't use it enough and in California, trailers cost next to nothing for a 5 year tag... vs weight fees and insurance for another truck.

 

[Dargo]

I've rented roll backs and found they do just about everything well...

Even looked into buying one used and decided against it because I wouldn't use it enough and in California, trailers cost next to nothing for a 5 year tag... vs weight fees and insurance for another truck.

That's the catch. I agree that rollbacks are very handy, but insurance for one I considered purchasing was going to be over $2000 per year. No thanks.

I have to go with the crowd on the deck over GN if I have to choose one trailer. Mine is a 30' with 2 10k axles. After getting used to seeing the heavy 12" I beam construction of the trailer, I get really nervous about putting a tractor on a trailer made with angle, channel, or 6" I beams. There again, I suppose it all depends on your load. If I were only going to haul around an ATV, one of my 28 hp ZTR mowers or a really small 20 hp CUT, an 18' bumper pull may be all I need. However, such a trailer is a magnet for all friends and relatives to borrow...

 

[AKfish]

20' (16'x4') tilt-bed, BP with 2-7K torsion axles. Then, whenever anyone asks to borrow it -- tell 'em the brakes are shorted out and they grab without warning and sometimes only on 1 side....!!!

AKfish

 

[Willis Fecon Bushhogging]

If you could only own and afford one trailer, what would you have? A bumper pull, or a gooseneck? Pintle hook or ball? Tilting deck or ramps? Deck over the wheels or between the wheels? A dump trailer?

If I get a trailer, I'm leaning towards a deck between the wheels for the lower center of gravity to haul my tractor w/FEL and rotary cutter should the need arise. I'd also like to be able to haul 20' sticks of pipe, lumber, etc. A dump trailer looks cool; but I'm afraid I'd be limiting myself as to what I could do with it.

My tow vehicle is a '99 F-250 Super Duty Super Cab long bed 4x4 with a V-10, 5-speed, and 4.31 limited slip rear end. I have a Draw-Tite Class V hitch on it now, and a gooseneck hitch could be added if need be. I also have an electric trailer brake controller installed.

I'm not concerned with brands at this time as that seems to be a regional preference and availability matter.

Another opinion- It really depends what you are going to do, I agree with the guys about the goose neck, its easier to hook up, carries more legal weight, than a bumper trailer. I just bought a new 10 ton GN tilt, it has a 5ft flat and 25ft tilt, now this is the trailer for me, I can put my attachments on the flat, or carry it with the machine, no more ramps. I have back hoes, skidsteers, tractor, mulching machine, etc. They all work on this trailer, (of course not at once)but you have to have a good size truck to pull a 10 ton trailer, a 250 may pull a 7 ton OK. I have 2 other trailers and they mostly set in the yard. Did I say how easy it is to load the tilt, Real EASY. Also, you wont have so many new friends, if you get a GN, they probrably dont have a hitch.
Just my 2 cents worth

 

[Builder]

Problem with a 5th wheel is the trailer is considerably heavier than a bumper pull and the pickup bed can't carry much cargo. They're nice for only trailering a load, but don't work well for construction if you need a lot of tools. I guess an enclosed 5th wheel could help that issue.

My buddy just told me his rollback is $940/yr to insure. Sounds about right. My 4800 dump (much larger) is only about $800/yr to insure. The rollback also fits in a lot tighter spots and can do pretty much anything a pickup can do.

 

[MrJimi]

I have a problem in this trailer world !
I don't borrow and I don't loan
I bought these, you can buy these
get more trailers now
Jim

 

[Runner]

MJNCAD - I'm in the same boat - trying to decide between a low boy and deck over. I've already decided on bumper pull because I won't have that much weight, i.e., just a JD 2520 + attachment or a car, but I really like the idea of being able to load with forks from anywhere along the side like you can with a deck over.

On the other hand, from my experience towing boats, I know that the lower center of gravity of a low boy would be nice.

Decisions, decisions....