PJ 25k Trailers.... No Dexter axles??

TruckinFool · Oct 28, 2013

Looking at buying a 25k gvw 30ft gooseneck for hauling hay, tractor, skidsteer etc. I'll be hauling 3x3 or 3x4 hay monthly at GVW. Roughly 5hr round trip.

The PJ I'm looking at is $12,300. Its powder coated has two lockable boxes with gas shocks, 22lb I beam upgrade, 25k gooseneck hitch, two 12k Rockwell oil bath axles on slipper leaf suspension, sliding 4" ratchets, two fold flat ramps and fold up middle section. Not sure if its got a torque tube but does have frame bridging which should only really help the frame flexing down under load.

I think its a little over priced by comparing to others but my biggest concern is the axles and GN hitch. Hauling hay, one way or another I always seem to be over GVW and/or not diving on the best road conditions. I want to make sure the trailer has enough nuts to take pretty steady loading/abuse. PJ only lists Rockwell although I think used to use Dexter. The 22lb per ft frame seems overkill when comparing with other trailer brands (typically 19lbs) but its only got a 25k bulldog GN coupler and not sure about the quality of the axles. Talking with trailer companies the biggest, if not, only difference between 35k GVW trailers and the 25k's are the axles so that tells me I want the best axles I can get under it.

If it had a 30GVW coupler to match the HD frame and dexter axles I would have already pulled the trigger.

Should I be concerned? Anyone know if American Rockwell(Quality) axles are a good brand? How about parts network? Trying to figure out if the bulldog 25k and 30k couplers fit into the same tube so I could just upgrade.

I'm in Colorado, any other brands I should look at?

Diamondpilot · Oct 28, 2013

I have been in the trailer business part time for 20 years and have never seen a Rockwell Axle. ALKO and Dexter are on 99% of the trailers I service.

Chris

mikehaugen · Oct 29, 2013

I know rockwell makes (or used to make) military axles. The 2-1/2 and 5 ton axles from military equipment were sought after for building monster trucks. I definitely wouldn't see them as "generic" axles. As far as strength, I don't think I would be concerned about them. Getting parts may be a little harder though, but maybe not.

The 25k bulldog hitch would be a little more concerning, but may not be a deal-breaker.

TruckinFool · Oct 29, 2013

mikehaugen said:
I know rockwell makes (or used to make) military axles. The 2-1/2 and 5 ton axles from military equipment were sought after for building monster trucks. I definitely wouldn't see them as "generic" axles. As far as strength, I don't think I would be concerned about them. Getting parts may be a little harder though, but maybe not.

The 25k bulldog hitch would be a little more concerning, but may not be a deal-breaker.

I knew that name sounded familiar. There is a rockwell distributor near me and a few scattered around the country. Going to call PJ today and talk to them. Sales guy at my dealer sseemd like he felt accomplished by simply knowing the brand of axle nevermind anything about it.

TruckinFool · Oct 29, 2013

I think they come with a two year warranty. Not sure how that compares with Dexter.

ovrszd · Oct 29, 2013

Definitely get answers about the axles. Friend of mine bought a new PJ 5 or 6 years ago to principally haul hay like you. Had nothing but trouble with the axles. I don't recall him saying anything about Rockwells though. He said his axles were Chinese made and he couldn't find parts locally at all. Had several bearing failures. Finally put it together and sold it. Left such a bad taste in his mouth you couldn't chase him fast enough to sell him another PJ trailer.

TruckinFool · Oct 29, 2013

Just got off the phone with Kaufman trailers. Sales woman pointed out something that I didn't really think about. I asked how their trailers with twin 10k axles are rated for 25,900gvw and its because the trucks rear axle is sharing the weight. Pretty obvious but I didn't think of it. She said under 26k GVW trailers with twin 12k axles are technically illegal because they are capable of over 26k and should be getting hit with the federal excise tax. The bulldog 25k coupler is also interchangeable with the 30k so a simple swap fixes that. Having the twin 12ks gives some surplus and puts me mot at ease but I still cant find ANYTHING regarding rockwell reliability, service, build quality etc.

kf4uda · Oct 29, 2013

I can't comment on the Rockwell axles but I found the operation & service manual for them on PJ trailer site.

http://www.pjtrailers.com/downloads/rockwell_american_operational_service_manual_10K_16K.pdf

BrinkME · Oct 29, 2013

rockwellamerican.com | A Leading Manufacturer And Distributor Of Quality Trailer Products

Now I can't comment on all their products or even the specific axles on that trailer, but we use Rockwell axles on our products where I work. We use mainly torsion axles in the 6-8k range, but we have never had an issue and have yet to receive any customer complaints relating to the axles themselves. As far as I know they're products are made in the states. Ironically their parent company is one of our competitors.

I wouldn't be afraid of Rockwell axles and I'm pretty sure parts are readily available.

TruckinFool · Oct 29, 2013

I think I'm sold on taking the "risk" with rockwell over dexter. The twin 12k axles can actually support around 30k when figuring load distribution so the surplus makes me feel at ease.

Now I'm contemplating if a $13k trailer is worth the investment when I'll be burning through 20tons of hay per month within a year. Looking into the costs of running an older semi and trailer under farm tags vs making multiple hauls with my 3500 dually. Colorado doesn't seem to make things easy to figure out the legalities/costs of doing so.

terryknight · Oct 29, 2013

if you are going to be using that much hay i would suggest AG tags and and a semi. you'll haul more each load and therefore less time on the road and with a five hour trip i would think you would want as few as possible

Diamondpilot · Oct 29, 2013

I agree on the semi or even look into contract hauling

Chris

TruckinFool · Oct 29, 2013

Its actually looking like 17-18tons per month. I figure a semi will load out 20tons of large squares easy. Do you all have any experience running ag semi's? It seems I can find a decent? conventional day cab with 20klb rear axle in the $5-8k range. I've seen 45-48ft canvas sided van trailers for $8-10k. Not sure what the sidewall studs are spaced at but it would be real nice to not have to tarp and just pick it off the trailer as needed.

My concern is all the DOT bs and expenses? I think the farmer exemption only really exempts me from needing the CDL but I'd still need to follow DOT regs for semi. Medical card, inspections, tags? Either of you familiar with whats involved on the legal end of doing this?

terryknight · Oct 29, 2013

every state is different you will need to check with CO. in MD vehicles that have been excluded from CDL requirements a

1. controlled and operated by a farmer
-used to transport agricultural product, farm machinery, or farm supplies to or from a farm;
-not used in the operations of a common or contact motor carrier; and
-used within 150 miles of the person's farm

TruckinFool · Oct 30, 2013

FWIW, seems rockwell makes a lot of axles for semi tractors.

Dallas_Lilly · Nov 11, 2013

I spec'd Rockwell axles in 60k gvw dump/ snowplow trucks for 15 years and they were rock solid... I wouldn't worry about them being cheap... Just my opinion

RedNeckRacin · Nov 12, 2013

Im in a similiar situation as you truckin. Semi's look pretty cheap compared to pickups and GN's espscially when a used semi trailer will haul twice the weight of today's goosenecks. Try commercialtrucktraderonline.com they let you search by quite a few different parameters. I'm stronly considering a bigger single axle truck and a step deck trailer with AG tags, and just use the pickup and GN for smaller taskes since it would be more manuverable and go alot better in the mud/snow. Don't forget to factor in your insurance costs. I think in PA you are exempt from keeping logs if you stay within 150 AIR miles of your home base. I believe you also need to start and return to the home base in 24 hrs? The DOT regs are a nightmare for someone who is not a OTR trucker. They simply dont translate well to occasinal use by the heavy hauling little guys. Throw in some farm issues and it really muddies the waters. I ended up getting my class A cdl and commercial truck insurance (that was cheaper than private insurance) and it worked out pretty well since I haul my own stuff or something I am borrowing. I also ditched my SRW one ton truck as my GN abused it when I was loaded heavy. My international scoffs at a fully loaded 14k gvw GN now. I had to borrow my FIL's duramax dually this summer to haul a typical load of square bales and it was night and day difference in how the trucks felt and handled the loads.

Keep us posted on what you end up figuring out!

TruckinFool · Nov 12, 2013

After strong debate over buying a $25-$30k flatbed class 8 straight truck with tandem 20k duals which would allow me to haul 10ton on the truck and get a trailer later for a combined 20ton load, I ended up buying the 25k PJ with tandem 12k axles. I'll be selling my current dually for a 2014 ram 3500 37,500lb GCWR! With this setup I can LEGALLY haul 10tons of hay per trip with 5 year/100k warranty on truck and 2 year warranty on trailer. Navigation, heated seats and all the luxury new trucks offer. I strongly recommend anyone heavy hauling to test drive the new 3500 with Aisin 6spd trans and integrated engine brake control. These trucks are seriously impressive and 100% built to haul. They REALLY got it right this time. (I'm a ford guy too) The Aisin transmission is designed to work with 40% more torque than the 850ft/lbs the new cummins puts out. Just very impressive setup all around.

Anyway, here's a pic of the first haul with the PJ. New truck to come soon.