PJ Trailers

[Charlesaf3]

seems like a good price. The quotes I got around here for PJ were a LOT more. Granted heavier axles etc.

 

[msb1766]

Thanks for all the feedback, I will be using the trailer to haul my Cub Cadet/Yanmar 2450 TLB and for picking up items for projects for the home. The TLB weight is around 3000 lbs.
The dealer told me that it is a 16 foot bed with the 2 foot dovetail added on.
This will be my first powder coated item. I live in upstate NY and my old trailer that is painted has more rust than paint and the fenders have rust holes in them. It's a 4 foot x 8 foot utility trailer made by Haulin.
The dealer sold trailers made by Quality also and to me the PJ's seemed heavier and the Quality trailers were painted and are starting to rust.

I am leaning towards the car hauler because it does not have the side rails and if I need the rails I can put on my own using the stake pockets, and want a trailer that will be more versatile. I also like the aluminum fenders.

 

[ManAtArms]

I wouldn't buy a PJ trailer if I had too, especially if it was for daily use in a commercial application. The landscape contractor I worked for bought several because they were inexpensive, they didn't hold up well at all and the frame even broke on one of them. If it was for occasional light use they might be okay.

Brian

I have a different experience than Brian with respect to PJ. I think they're about the best trailers around, in terms of build quality, attention to detail and price. I've seen many trailers that cost the same or more, but few that were better in quality. Just my opinion.

Good luck shopping.

-Mark

 

[Diamondpilot]

For those that say the PJ is not a good trailer I would like to know what they consider good trailer within the same price range. So that specs can be compared.

Thats just it. They are a good value. They are by no means the best. Heck, I have the cheapest trailer made currently, a Jerry James. It does everything I need it to do the once a month or so I use it. I bought to my needs...

Chris

 

[Highbeam]

I love my PJ. It is now 6 years old and I just hauled a 3 ton vibratory roller on it last weekend. I have the 6" channel version car hauler, 18' with dovetail, uses a pair of 5200# dexter axles and has those shiny diamond plate fenders. I get tons of compliments on the trailer. I have never regretted getting the PJ.

 

[GreatWhitehunter]

I've owned two Pj's so far. I bought my dump used and was so impressed I bought a new 25' GN flatbed the following year. I looked at all the other's in the area and the PJ was the best (not the cheapest). Brimar and Cam Superlines were also very good. But PJ has more options and configurations readily available. The frieght on them to this area is not cheap. My dumper is not powdercoat but the GN was. As for longterm the powdercoat is nicer longer. But the regular paint is easier to touch up. I would not hesitate to own another PJ.

Matt:thumbsup:

 

[Dallas_Lilly]

Another vote for liking the PJ trailers. I have a 5 inch chanell car hauler that is 18 feet long. It has no dove tail. Mine has the powder coating and it has held up well considering the use. However I am in Arizona and for the most part rust is not an issue:thumbsup: When I was looking it was one of the only trailers I could find that had a chanell frame and crossmembers, rececessed lighting and good wiring without scotch locks for a decent price.

I have weighed everything and my tractor, trailer, and box blade I am right at 6800 pounds so it gets a full load allot.

The alluminum fenders look really nice and make the trailer stand out from the rest but I dont know that they are all that great. I have had mine for about 4 years now and both have cracks where they mount to the trailer. I have re-welded them this winter and we will see how long they last. It doesnt help that i stand on them when chaining down the tractor.

If they are still using carsile tires they suck! I had a seperations and when I had finally had enough I switched to a 225/75/15 green ball E rated tire. I am hoping they live better. I only have a few trips with the new tires.

 

[Diamondpilot]

If they are still using carsile tires they suck! I had a seperations and when I had finally had enough I switched to a 225/75/15 green ball E rated tire. I am hoping they live better. I only have a few trips with the new tires.

You did good going from the worst tire on the market to the best tire.:thumbsup:

Chris

 

[grsthegreat]

You did good going from the worst tire on the market to the best tire.:thumbsup:

Chris

Ive used Carsile tires on several trailers in the past. ive never had any issues with the tires.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Ive used Carsile tires on several trailers in the past. ive never had any issues with the tires.

Everyone I have had has had tread separation or sidewall failure. My first experience was a boat trailer. Lost 3 tires of the 4 on a 2 year old trailer in a 100 mile stretch. Put on 4 new Greenballs and towed it for another 4 years well over 12,000 miles with not one single problem.

Next one was a brand new boat trailer, tri-axle bought new in Nov 2004. Lost 4 of the 7 tires by Aug 2005. Even the spare separated and had never touched the ground. Again, replaced with Greenballs and not one issue in 6 years and probably 15,000 miles.

Next was a 2004 boat trailer, tandem axle. Lost 2 tires by 2007 and less than 2,000 miles. Replaced with 4 Greenballs and not a single issue.

Numerous customers boats trailers have had issues. We have replaced with Maxxis and Greenballs and not a single issue.

Its not just Carlisle. I have has similar experience with Goodyear Marathons on my Car Hauler. Lost 2 tires hauling a 3,500# Corvette on a 120 mile trip. Trailer is a 2003 and this was in 2007. I replaced with 4 Greenballs and not a single issue. Have since hauled a Suburban, 2 1/2 tons, and maybe 20 other cars and tractors.

Yes, I check the air pressure before every big trip and at least once a month on them. Either 50, 65, or 80 PSI depending on the tire and trailer. I use a digital gauge. Never had a major issue with a car or trucks tires and never a issue with the Greenballs or Maxxis tires I replaced the Carlisle or Goodyears with on the trailers.

Google Carlisle tires and Marathon Tires. 90% of the sites are complaints just like mine.

Funny thing is I just sold a boat last Tuesday. First question the customer asked me when he called about it was he saw the tires were 2 seasons old, what brand? Not, is the boat in good shape, ect, but what trailer tires does it have. We must have talked for 20 minutes about tires before we got to the boat.

Chris

 

[grsthegreat]

very odd indeed. my Carlisle tires on my old horse trailer are about 4 years old....in great shape. hmmmm

maybe mine were made on a Wednesday. i had a set on my old flatbed that i replaced after 6 years with a cooper i believe. they never blew, just old and word down

 

[Diamondpilot]

very odd indeed. my Carlisle tires on my old horse trailer are about 4 years old....in great shape. hmmmm

maybe mine were made on a Wednesday. i had a set on my old flatbed that i replaced after 6 years with a cooper i believe. they never blew, just old and word down

It could be the load you run. Most boat trailers that I deal with run at 90% or more rated capacity. For example, tomorrow I am going 400 miles to Knoxville to bring back a 9,500# boat/trailer plus or minus. Its sitting on 2 5,200# axles. My other boat/trailer was 6,800# sitting on 2 3,500# axles. My other boat/trailer is 15,600# sitting on 3 6,000# axles. As you can see these trailers are all running near max load all the time. Same thing with most campers. You will find they are right up there also.

Now take a car hauler, GN, or live stock trailer. Yes you can load it up to max or more but most times they are running lighter than max loads. I would also venture to guess 1/2 them miles are with no load other than the weight of the trailer. For example, I drove 100 miles a few weeks ago empty to haul a old 8N back for a co worker so on a 200 mile trip my car hauler had just the trailers weight then the return trip about 3,500# worth of tractor but was still 2,000# below the max weight.

I am glad you have had good luck but most have not. Like I said, a quick search of google will tell you a lot.


Chris

 

[grsthegreat]

It could be the load you run. Most boat trailers that I deal with run at 90% or more rated capacity. For example, tomorrow I am going 400 miles to Knoxville to bring back a 9,500# boat/trailer plus or minus. Its sitting on 2 5,200# axles. My other boat/trailer was 6,800# sitting on 2 3,500# axles. My other boat/trailer is 15,600# sitting on 3 6,000# axles. As you can see these trailers are all running near max load all the time. Same thing with most campers. You will find they are right up there also.

Now take a car hauler, GN, or live stock trailer. Yes you can load it up to max or more but most times they are running lighter than max loads. I would also venture to guess 1/2 them miles are with no load other than the weight of the trailer. For example, I drove 100 miles a few weeks ago empty to haul a old 8N back for a co worker so on a 200 mile trip my car hauler had just the trailers weight then the return trip about 3,500# worth of tractor but was still 2,000# below the max weight.

I am glad you have had good luck but most have not. Like I said, a quick search of google will tell you a lot.


Chris

that could be it in a nutshell.

but remember also, do a quick look on google on ANYTHING......and youll get alot co complaints. HEHE :laughing:

 

[Diamondpilot]

that could be it in a nutshell.

but remember also, do a quick look on google on ANYTHING......and youll get alot co complaints. HEHE :laughing:

That is very true. Most people do not comment on a product. 90% of product comments are complaints and 10% are praise.

I do know what I know. I take care of about 75 trailers in one form or another and 95% of the tires problems we have had were with Carlisle tires and Goodyears. Of that I would say 75% of the problems were Carlisle.

Chris

 

[coobie]

I have a (2007)) 20ft PJ tandem axle (7000 lbs)equipment trailer that IMHO is very well made.I have hauled a lot of equipment and have not had any issues.coobie

 

[tractorboy5500]

I looked at a PJ before buying the trailer I did get, and I looked at them alot, they are well built and painted good from top to bottom, some people just dont like powered coating, I will say PJ has alot better paint job under the trailer than the Longhorn trailer I bought. And PJ uses 2x6 ret. tubing on the outter rails, and others use 5" or 6" channel iron, only one thing wrong with the 2x6 tubing is, its 1/8" thick, but tubing is stronger than channel, most channel used on other trailers are 3/16" to 1/4" thick, so Iam not sure how that might work out, than again look how many stake pockets and bracing is used on the PJ in the rub rails, alot more than most other trailers. Far as the ramps on the PJ's they operate good, and smooth, most others are sloppy and heavy. Far as the wiring on PJ's, it is mostly inclosed and use good quality wire, alot of others use them stupid crimps that dont last very long at all. All trailer makers have there pro's and con's, just have to weigh out the bad ones and good ones.
I went with the Longhorn trailer due to i got alot of options added to it with out going over 8K, if i bought the PJ with all the options I did, it would of cost me over 10.5K, the 12K axle options cost me and the lower 31" deck option, the 31"deck option cost me $400 at Longhorn and would of cost me $1200 at PJ, that is just some of the differents between the two.
Like I said all trailer makers have there pro's and con's.

 

[Charlesaf3]

I was surprised at how expensive PJ ended up being around me - and hard to get what I wanted too. So I ended up going with Pequea. Guess Mid Atlantic isn't their market.