The search for a utility trailer

patrickg · Sep 16, 2001

CP1969, I didn't consider a tilt bed cause the thought never entered my mind (don't laugh yet, sometimes they do). For price, versatility, and durability I think I got about as good as it gets for my guess at my requirements. I don't know about tilt beds in this size range for my purposes. Actually I don't know much about tilt beds for any purpose. What I've seen was used for picking up stranded cars. I don't think for my envisioned usage I'll need any features I haven't mentioned but tell me about your take on tilt bed units.

Patrick

cp1969 · Sep 16, 2001

The biggest advantage I see is no ramps to contend with. Much less of an angle to drive the piece of equipment up as compared to ramps.

Drawback is loading stuff that you can't drive on. Think about moving household articles and the like. You would need to tie down every piece as you load it. But for moving equipment, they look like the cat's meow.

bgott · Sep 16, 2001

You don't have to tilt it, keep it latched and it's a regular trailer. You can have a set of ramps built for it.

patrickg · Sep 17, 2001

HMMMMM, for a one use (hauling wheeled/tracked vehicles and thingies) trailer it sounds real convenient. Seems to me the cost of that convenience for one specific use, in my situation, is not a bargain. I shall opt for a new improved "Transformer Toy". Just like a sheath knife is superior at some things, my Leatherman is pretty good at a lot of things and as I need lots of adaptability I guess I'll have to struggle with the ramps. If it were too difficult for me, I would hinge them in place and use a small winch to raise and lower if needed to maintain the flexibillity. Course, you rich guys can buy trailers for your various needs but I'll have to go multipurpose.

Patrick

CVHoss · Sep 17, 2001

Patrick,
I'd take a look at some h/d trailers with hinged ramps. My 18' car hauler that I'm using for my 4400 has hinged ramps, and they work great. With them being hinged, the longer you make them is actually an advantage in lifting them because of the leverage involved. Have a friend who has a massive over the wheel triple axle trailer for hauling his Case 580L backhoe. It has folding ramps made from, I'd guess, 2 1/2" or 3" angle iron that easily support this tractor and, though heavy, are easily lifted by one man. Also, with folding ramps, you can have a "foot" put at the head of each ramp. This really helps prevent the rear of the trailer being pushed down as your loading and raising the rear of you truck. If you haven't seen folding ramps made like this, let me know and as soon as it quits raining here, I'll snap a pic of my car hauler's ramp system and post it here for you.

Hoss

patrickg · Sep 17, 2001

Hoss, Thanks for the offer but please don't go to any trouble as I have seen what you describe. With all the agriculture, oil field work, and construction around, I've seen most every kind of setup, haven't owned or used but have seen. I just talked with Bruce Holt of Holt Trailers in Asher, OK.

http://www.holttrailers.com or
http://www.geocities.com/holt_trailer/index.htm

They looked up my previous invoice and we went from there. I'm having the spare tire mount placed horizontal on the tongue, the 7,000lb tongue jack raised so that in max retract its foot is even with lower surface of the tongue for offroad clearance, adding three stake pockets across the front and an additional vertical brace in the front center, deleting the "D" ring as redundant considering the center stake pocket up forward, putting a mild dovetail at rear, and getting extra stake pockets for across the back. This will be an even better "Transformer Toy" than the one taken by thieves.

I bet with a little thought I could put an anti-theft booby trap on it. Something that if not turned off by thieves would cause the trailer brakes to lock up xx minutes after it was taken in tow. The electrical connector was cut off my "First" trailer so clearly they were hooking up "their" style. As the trailer has a gel cell to power the breakaway brake controls it would be easy to use a timer and a relay to give them xx minutes of time after the first application of power to the brakes or lights then lock up the brakes until the battery went dead (tow vehicle supplies power if they leave it plugged in). Ought to make them feel conspicuous towing a trailer with all four wheels locked up.

Patrick

cp1969 · Sep 19, 2001

"rich guys??"
<<head swiveling rapidly, stop to stop, trying to see who patrickg is talking to, 'cause I KNOW he ain't talkin' to ME>>

Thanks for posting their web address. I don't know why Google didn't turn it up, but it didn't. Or why I didn't just type in 'holttrailers.com"....D'OH!