Is a Tilt Trailer the right way for me to go?

[Firemediceric]

About to commit to purchasing a 20'x7' manual tilt trailer rated for 10k pounds with brakes on both axles. I'm wanting this trailer to do everything I need and never be deficient for my purposes. Am I making a wise choice. Here's the back story...

I seldom need a trailer and it's even more seldom that when I do that my enclosed 12x7 won't work. After a headache renting a U-Haul car hauler, I'm thinking of purchasing a flatbed trailer for the sake of convenience, even though the economics don't make sense for how seldom I need the trailer. I'm of the mindset "Buy once, cry once" but I want to make sure there's not something I'm overlooking.

Initially I was looking to get a simple dual axle 16' utility trailer with rails around it like many lawn services use. That would address the few times I need to take my lawn mower to the shop. The mower just barely fits into my enclosed trailer, and anymore the enclosed trailer is used like a storage shed. It's a chore to unload it just to transport the mower. The simple utility trailer option would also be the answer when I rent a trencher (once in 5 years) and the equipment rental shop charges me extra to rent the trailer to transport the trencher. I ruled out the lawn care type trailer when I realized anytime I want to tow an automobile the railings will make opening the doors on the vehicle a challenge when it's on trailer. A true flatbed trailer without rails will also work better for any palatalized items I may have loaded with a forklift.

My next thought was to purchase a simple flat bed car hauler. That would work for everything mentioned above, but I want something rated for at least 10K pounds as I'm considering purchasing a compact tractor. A tractor is another item I would seldom put to use, but I won't wager that at some point I won't purchase a tractor with a loader. I want any trailer I purchase now to be more than enough for any tractor and implements I may purchase in the future.

Finally, the tilt trailer obviously won't have a dovetail as is so common on many of the car haulers. Not having a dovetail is a plus in my book as even on trailers without dovetails it has sometimes been a problem backing into an inclined driveway. I believe a tilt trailer will tilt down to the correct angle to load a compact car on to it without being so steep the front bumper valence gets torn up. Am I correct? A tilt trailer, I think, will also be better than a flat trailer without a dovetail needing longer ramps than what would be used with a dovetail. I believe 7' wide will be wide enough for anything I may haul. I don't believe I'll ever have a need for a deck-over to have a wider platform. I also think 20' without a dovetail should not only accommodate any vehicle I'd put on it but also will be plenty to fit a compact tractor with a front loader and even an implement on the back.

The only potential drawback that I see to the tilt trailer is that only one item can be loaded on it. Can't put one lawn mower on and then tilt it down to put a second ZTR or riding mower on it, but I don't see that as being an issue for me.

I will be going with a wood deck so as not to have to deal with a hot metal deck when securing loads. I also like the ease of adding tie down anchor points on a wood deck.

Please weigh in with your thoughts. Am I on the right track or is there something I'm overlooking?

 

[Rockbadchild]

I would consider a dump trailer, I know I would... you can carry a tractor, and everything you mentioned above. You can easily rent it out to make some cash plus you never have to unload it by hand and haul anything with it .... just a idea to consider ... my next trailer will be a dump trailer.

but other then that I think you are on the right track.

 

[George2615]

I've had tilt trailers for the past 22 years and will never go back to a standard trailer with ramps. I'm getting old and ramps are no fun to move. My first TT was a 20' 7K power up and gravity down. whether loading my tractor or a full size truck I was always pushing the weight limit of the trailer and 20' left little room to move fwd or back to balance the load.

11 years ago I bought a PJ TF 22' full tilt power up / power down 14K trailer. Only needed a 10K but they only had the 14K in stock. Even though it says 22' actual bed length is just shy of 24' so plenty of room to move load fore/aft. I could load 2 mowers by leaving it tilted but never have a need to do that.

 

[Firemediceric]

I would consider a dump trailer, I know I would... you can carry a tractor, and everything you mentioned above. You can easily rent it out to make some cash plus you never have to unload it by hand and haul anything with it .... just a idea to consider ... my next trailer will be a dump trailer.

but other then that I think you are on the right track.

Thanks for the suggestion. I really don’t have a need for a dump trailer. As to renting the trailer out, I’d be too uptight worrying about it getting stolen. I think the sides on a dump trailer would also cause an issue getting in/out of any automobiles I’m transporting.

 

[Firemediceric]

I've had tilt trailers for the past 22 years and will never go back to a standard trailer with ramps. I'm getting old and ramps are no fun to move. My first TT was a 20' 7K power up and gravity down. whether loading my tractor or a full size truck I was always pushing the weight limit of the trailer and 20' left little room to move fwd or back to balance the load.

11 years ago I bought a PJ TF 22' full tilt power up / power down 14K trailer. Only needed a 10K but they only had the 14K in stock. Even though it says 22' actual bed length is just shy of 24' so plenty of room to move load fore/aft. I could load 2 mowers by leaving it tilted but never have a need to do that.

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You certainly have the experience to give advice in this area. Although hydraulics would be nice, I’m trying to be cost conscious as this trailer will likely sit for months at a time.

Although I lack the experience you have, I can certainly see how not dealing with ramps in favor of the tilt trailer makes life easier.

Do you happen to know what the angle is that the trailer tilts back to? More or less 15°?

From the items you’ve loaded up, what’s your thoughts on the wisdom of an 8’ wide trailer rather than 7’ wide? I’m not convinced I need to go wider than 7’, but I don’t want regrets.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Kaufman makes a nice tilt deck trailer, very affordable when compared to some of the other brands, I bought a 22' with upgraded 8k axles and 17.5 super single tires with a spare for a hair over $8k two years ago.

 

[dodge man]

The only drawback for tilt trailer the way you’ll use it is they cost more. Not a huge amount more. I bought a 18 foot (2’ dovetail) 7k trailer about 15 years ago. Like you it just gets occasional use. Back then I paid a little more than $2000 for it. You’ll spend more these days.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

I also like the ease of adding tie down anchor points on a wood deck.

Please weigh in with your thoughts. Am I on the right track or is there something I'm overlooking?

Hmm. I think it's a pain to install anchor points on wood decks, having to add metal to the bottom, and attach that to the frame and/or crossmembers. Sure hope you hadn't planned on only securing the anchors to the wood.

And then I can weigh in on the weight of a tilt trailer. For obvious reasons they're heavier than a regular fixed deck, but if you have enough tow vehicle that may not be a concern at all.

 

[Firemediceric]

The only drawback for tilt trailer the way you’ll use it is they cost more. Not a huge amount more. I bought a 18 foot (2’ dovetail) 7k trailer about 15 years ago. Like you it just gets occasional use. Back then I paid a little more than $2000 for it. You’ll spend more these days.

No issues with the trailer not being wide enough for any of your loads?