JDGREEN4ME
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Over the years I have owned two Big Tex trailers, both have served me well. 
Pj & Big tex trailers ??
- Thread starter coobie
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unreconstructed
Platinum Member
I bought a Big Tex 20 foot, 12,000 pound axles in '05. Seems like it was around 2500 bucks. Probably have pulled it 4,000 miles wild guessing--usually a JD 5203 with loader. Only thing I have to compare it to is an old homemade 16 foot utility trailer and cotton trailers, so wouldn't know where to start to criticize it. It follows me when I hook up to it and hasn't broke yet other than a short or too in the lights. However, the road I have to navigate about takes the filling out of my teeth.
OP
coobie
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Thanks for all the good information,I ended up buying the PJ trailer 20 ft with the 7000 lbs axles(14000 lbs total)Tows like a dream and very nice workmanship IMHO.coobie
stallingsroger
New member
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- May 5, 2008
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I believe Big Tex is US made. But I know PJ makes trailers in Mexico. Personally don't care for the "southwest style" trailer. Big Tex is ok, but PJ uses the cheapest of everything and has them made in Mexico. No thanks, I'll stick to my Corn Pro Trailers.
Rara Avis
Veteran Member
OP
coobie
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- Kubota RTV 1100c, JD 740,Kioti DK 40 with KL401 loader .
Not all PJ trailers are made in Mexico.I can tell you I am very happy with my PJ trailer,IMHO its a quality made trailer.To each his own I guess.coobiestallingsroger said:
moloss
Silver Member
I called PJ trailers awhile back.....all the GN are made in Texas....can't say that for the others though.
DavidVT
Gold Member
I have had a 16' big tex since 95 (ish).
Never let me down but you get what you pay for.
Only painted where the sun shines.
Wiring is poor and has been redone several times.
Tail lights are unprotected and have been cleaned off several times.
Side stowed ramp latch failed once and allowed the ramp to slide way out into oncoming traffic.
Again, never let me down but you get what you pay for....
Never let me down but you get what you pay for.
Only painted where the sun shines.
Wiring is poor and has been redone several times.
Tail lights are unprotected and have been cleaned off several times.
Side stowed ramp latch failed once and allowed the ramp to slide way out into oncoming traffic.
Again, never let me down but you get what you pay for....
Highbeam
Super Member
stallingsroger
New member
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A PJ is a low level trailer. It's the cheapest components you can buy, some models are made in Mexico. Just cheap. That is the biggest selling feature....cheap. The Big Tex is a decent trailer though.
robertm
Veteran Member
Misinformation here. PJ makes great trailers. PJ and Load Trail are brothers that went awry. IF you buy the low end PJ, you get what you pay for. I sold a 14 foot utility that had a 4" channel frame like a car hauler. It was anything but junk. Now I have a 14 foot load trail that is beefier than the closest Big Tex. You get what you pay for in any brand. If you expect to pat $1,000 for a single axle 14 foot landscape trailer, then expect to get angle iron construction with no channel for the DIY Suzy Homemaker.
Highbeam
Super Member
I agree, that's BS.
The axles are dexters and the LRE tires are also a name brand, I believe Titans, that have held up very well. There is no component on my 10k model that is anything less than the best. Even the paint has held up very well over the last 4 years of use.
The big tex is also quite nice but they weren't available in my area and I don't like the side rails above the bed.
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coobie
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- Kubota RTV 1100c, JD 740,Kioti DK 40 with KL401 loader .
Thats funny,give us some information to back up how cheap PJ trailers are.I have a (14,000 lbs)20 ft.PJ and find it is quality built.coobie
wushaw
Elite Member
I hadn't heard that either, I have heard nothin but good things about PJ trailers. Even if I do have a BigTex I would like to know where this claim of junk comes from.
Dodge trucks (certain models) are made/put together/built/assembled (pick one) in Mexico also, are they junk also? I don't own a Dodge either...I would if I were in the market for a 3/4 or one ton diesel.
Dodge trucks (certain models) are made/put together/built/assembled (pick one) in Mexico also, are they junk also? I don't own a Dodge either...I would if I were in the market for a 3/4 or one ton diesel.
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coobie
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- Kubota RTV 1100c, JD 740,Kioti DK 40 with KL401 loader .
My 2004 3/4 ton dodge cummins diesel was made in Mexico and has been a heck of a good truck.coobieYES
wushaw
Elite Member
texasjohn
Super Member
I have a 20' PJ dump trailer, dual axle, dual wheels.... bought used after being used for Katrina clean up.... it's been good for me.... shows wear, but not destroyed like could happen when used daily for such clean up. Still pulls fine.
I had reason to call PJ after my purchase... question about the hydraulic pump..they were very nice, knowledgeable, put me in touch with the pump manufacturer which was the same... turns out I just needed to clean out the pump filter (didn't know where it was til I was told).... cleaned it and my pump rate became good and dump works just fine.
That's my experience. I see nothing that is cheap about it.
I had reason to call PJ after my purchase... question about the hydraulic pump..they were very nice, knowledgeable, put me in touch with the pump manufacturer which was the same... turns out I just needed to clean out the pump filter (didn't know where it was til I was told).... cleaned it and my pump rate became good and dump works just fine.
That's my experience. I see nothing that is cheap about it.
fossenbeck
New member
I purchased a new D9 (83"x16' Dump Trailer) in 2009. I am a homeowner so although I have used it extensively my usage is probably light relative to professional users. It has been a good investment and is generally of good quality. It is very heavy duty, tracks well, and the dump function has been flawless. I use it to haul all sorts of material and my tractor. When I bought it I had a BX24 with front loader and backhoe. I currently have a B3350 with front loader and backhoe. Both fit well and load/unload easily.
Two major issues with the design;
1) PJ powder coats all their trailers (I hate powder coating). As it always does mine has bubbled, blistered, and peeled in several places including at every wear point. One (of many) reasons powder coat is inferior to paint is that it easily and quickly fails to retain its watertight integrity. Once this happens (often not visible) the iron underneath it rusts quickly because the moisture is trapped by the coating. After some time outgassing from the oxidation process causes a blister which is your first indication the water integrity has failed. By this time the iron underneath has decayed to form a pit which makes repair more difficult and expensive.
2) The D9 features a pair of great ramps which are cleverly housed underneath the dump box in slide frames. Each ramp is accessed through its own hinged flip down door panel. The design flaw is that the hinges have no grease nipple and there is no other way of lubricating them. This combined with the fact that they are made of high iron content steel, results in them seizing up hard between uses. Ramming them from the backside with the 100lb ramp will not free them nor will a pry bar from the outside. In the past a long wait after applying penetrating oil and some vibration has worked but it happened again today and so far after 3 hours that has not worked. It may sound like a small problem but it greatly impacts productivity. I could have finished today's 6 yard bark dust project by Noon but because of this issue the project is postponed for a week.
I've had the box interior refinished with a commercial grade coating by Line-X that stands up extremely well to impact and abrasion from rock, gravel, etc. and is impervious to hot tire pickup. Unlike their bed liner products this one is smooth so it doesn't interfere with material flow during dumping. Soon I'll have to do replace the powder coat on the rest of the trailer.
Two major issues with the design;
1) PJ powder coats all their trailers (I hate powder coating). As it always does mine has bubbled, blistered, and peeled in several places including at every wear point. One (of many) reasons powder coat is inferior to paint is that it easily and quickly fails to retain its watertight integrity. Once this happens (often not visible) the iron underneath it rusts quickly because the moisture is trapped by the coating. After some time outgassing from the oxidation process causes a blister which is your first indication the water integrity has failed. By this time the iron underneath has decayed to form a pit which makes repair more difficult and expensive.
2) The D9 features a pair of great ramps which are cleverly housed underneath the dump box in slide frames. Each ramp is accessed through its own hinged flip down door panel. The design flaw is that the hinges have no grease nipple and there is no other way of lubricating them. This combined with the fact that they are made of high iron content steel, results in them seizing up hard between uses. Ramming them from the backside with the 100lb ramp will not free them nor will a pry bar from the outside. In the past a long wait after applying penetrating oil and some vibration has worked but it happened again today and so far after 3 hours that has not worked. It may sound like a small problem but it greatly impacts productivity. I could have finished today's 6 yard bark dust project by Noon but because of this issue the project is postponed for a week.
I've had the box interior refinished with a commercial grade coating by Line-X that stands up extremely well to impact and abrasion from rock, gravel, etc. and is impervious to hot tire pickup. Unlike their bed liner products this one is smooth so it doesn't interfere with material flow during dumping. Soon I'll have to do replace the powder coat on the rest of the trailer.
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