Tilt trailer comparison

[JJZ 109]

I think I've narrowed it down to a Pequea T200 and a PJ T6. Both are 16' tilt with 4' stationary. Some comparisons:
Axles - Both have 2 7k Dexter/16" tires
Frame - Pequea has 7 inch channel main frame. PJ is 6"
Suspension: Pequea slipper spring. PJ torsion.
Both have 10 k drop leg jack.
Deck width is only 1/4 inch difference.
Pequea 19" deck height/ PJ 21 inch.
PJ has removable fenders. Pequea specs do not show.
PJ has LED flush mount lights. Pequea doesn't specify.
PJ has 3x16 cylinder with proportioning valve. Pequea doesn't list it. Both are gravity tilt.
Both are pressure treated 2x6 deck.
Price: Pequea $4885. PJ - $5600 for a 2017/$5400 for a 2016. No changes from one model year to the next.
Use would be mainly for a Bobcat S175. I'm also in the market for a 709 backhoe attachment for it.
I'm sorta leaning toward the PJ for things like wiring inside of conduit, heat shrink splices, lifetime LED lights and 10 gauge trailer brake wiring.
Welcoming any tips, suggestions, personal experiences with either of these trailers. No wrong answers. Just gathering info to make a final choice. Thanks in advance.

 

[George2615]

Can't comment on the Pequea trailer as I've never seen one around here. Have seen a lot pf PJ's. I had my 22' PJ 14K TF model for 3 years now and still looks like new. Actual deck length is 23' 9" including the tail. Very pleased with quality. I've added a winch and chain box. PJ claims removable fenders but mine has lights in the fenders which have to be removed to take off. It can be done but is time consuming. I've never removed mine.

 

[JJZ 109]

Can't comment on the Pequea trailer as I've never seen one around here. Have seen a lot pf PJ's. I had my 22' PJ 14K TF model for 3 years now and still looks like new. Actual deck length is 23' 9" including the tail. Very pleased with quality. I've added a winch and chain box. PJ claims removable fenders but mine has lights in the fenders which have to be removed to take off. It can be done but is time consuming. I've never removed mine.

Thanks George. I'm just a little north of you in the Watertown area. I've actually bought a couple of Fords from Burdick in Central Square.
The plan is to buy a trailer in PA, bring it home with a temp tag and then put a Maine plate on it like I have on a couple of other trailers. Will save $$ hundreds that way.

 

[frugalangler]

Generally, tandem torsion load capacity should be de-rated by as much as 25%-30% because the torsion axles are independent, there is NO load transfer between the axles. Personally, I would not push the load capacity beyond about 150% of a single axle on a torsion tandem (given the rest of the trailer is built correctly), so on a trailer w/ 7K torsion axles, a max of about 11K is all I'd load, but I tend to be 'conservatively safe' when it comes to towed loads. Hauling a implement, ride quality is not nearly as important which is where torsion has the advantage, and loaded the spring unit will be fine, unloaded you may experience more bounce than a torsion, but I doubt you'd really notice on that size trailer. Just my food for thought!

Now, there is one 'advantage' for torsion, as long as the loading limits are observed - if you blow a tire on a torsion and your load is LESS THAN that of a single axle, you usually can remove the tire/wheel and continue on slowly till you can safely recover from the incident. A leaf system will require binding the crippled axle to the frame to continue on (I personally have had this experience with both torsion and leaf). More food for thought, decision is never easy.

 

[George2615]

I'm less than a mile from Burdick. Bought my PJ and Cross Country dump trailers in NY and towed home with no plate. Dealers told me Certificate of origin from mfg. paperwork was all I needed to get it home. Also registered both in Maine.

 

[JJZ 109]

Now, there is one 'advantage' for torsion, as long as the loading limits are observed - if you blow a tire on a torsion and your load is LESS THAN that of a single axle, you usually can remove the tire/wheel and continue on slowly till you can safely recover from the incident. A leaf system will require binding the crippled axle to the frame to continue on (I personally have had this experience with both torsion and leaf). More food for thought, decision is never easy.

Actually experienced this once. Had a hub or bearing go bad on a tandem torsion axle enclosed trailer. Was able to remove the wheel and limp it to a better spot until a proper fix could be performed.

 

[JJZ 109]

Put a down payment on the PJ for them to hold it for me. Will make the 3 hour drive to pick it up in a few days.
The wiring, lights and proportioning valve led me to spend a few hundred more and go for a more known brand.

I'm less than a mile from Burdick. Bought my PJ and Cross Country dump trailers in NY and towed home with no plate. Dealers told me Certificate of origin from mfg. paperwork was all I needed to get it home. Also registered both in Maine.

I opted for the $35 PA temp tag. That'll buy me a month or so while I wait for the Maine tag to arrive. I've seen them take 3 weeks or so.
If it's still available by the end of the week I may take the trailer to Cazenovia to check out a used Bobcat 709 backhoe attachment. So the PA tag will be a plus.

 

[Diamondpilot]

After having torsion axles the only way I would ever own them again is on a single axle trailer. Just too easy to overload one.

 

[wolfpack2]

The biggest issue with torsion axles is keeping them level. As long as your loaded trailer is perfectly level, the axles are both carrying half the load. As soon as the trailer pitches nose up or down, the load rapidly shifts to the lowest axle easily overloading it. For a travel trailer or any other trailer that does not change much in weight, it is easier to setup the vehicle for the correct ball height to keep everything level. With an equipment trailer, the loads always seem to be different and it becomes very difficult to keep it level. We won't even get into the issues that arise when you go over uneven terrain or in and out of drive ways. PJ seems to build a good trailer and I am currently looking at one of their as a replacement for my tilt deck (need a deck-over). Hopefully your usage will be in line with needs of the torsion axles. I currently own trailers with both slipper spring and torsion axles and have had no issues with either. They each have their place, you just need to know the limitations and operate within them.

 

[hkbirdman]

Thanks George. I'm just a little north of you in the Watertown area. I've actually bought a couple of Fords from Burdick in Central Square.
The plan is to buy a trailer in PA, bring it home with a temp tag and then put a Maine plate on it like I have on a couple of other trailers. Will save $$ hundreds that way.

Just curious - you mention putting a Maine plate on the trailer. You advise that will save hundreds $$. Do you own property in Maine or is it necessary in order to get Maine plates? I live in a border state to Maine and register a dump trailer in my state which is not inexpensive. Thanks.

 

[Diamondpilot]

We had nothing but issues with torsion acles on boat trailers. Fill the boat up with 75 gallons of fuel and you ended up with 70% of the load on the rear axle.

Great idea that just didn't work.

 

[TMGT]

Just curious - you mention putting a Maine plate on the trailer. You advise that will save hundreds $$. Do you own property in Maine or is it necessary in order to get Maine plates? I live in a border state to Maine and register a dump trailer in my state which is not inexpensive. Thanks.

I looked into registering in Maine, I have permanent plates in Va so all I have to do is an annual inspection which isn't a problem so didn't see any advantages to Maine.

 

[JJZ 109]

Just curious - you mention putting a Maine plate on the trailer. You advise that will save hundreds $$. Do you own property in Maine or is it necessary in order to get Maine plates? I live in a border state to Maine and register a dump trailer in my state which is not inexpensive. Thanks.

For me, it's about $75 per year (each) to register 4 trailers in NY. But that varies by weight. In Maine it's $99 for 5 years no matter the weight over 3k. I can also avoid an 8% sales tax on the brand new one I bought yesterday in PA. They'll register non resident trailers as long as there are no sleeping quarters, such as a camper or horse trailer with compartment for people. Also, no annual inspections to pay for.
I currently have a dump trailer and a 7x18 enclosed with Maine tags. In the process now of getting the new PJ equipment hauler set up with it.
Your state may have more reasonable registration fees and may or may not be worth it for you.
Home | Maine Trailer Registrations

 

[JJZ 109]

The biggest issue with torsion axles is keeping them level. As long as your loaded trailer is perfectly level, the axles are both carrying half the load. As soon as the trailer pitches nose up or down, the load rapidly shifts to the lowest axle easily overloading it. For a travel trailer or any other trailer that does not change much in weight, it is easier to setup the vehicle for the correct ball height to keep everything level. With an equipment trailer, the loads always seem to be different and it becomes very difficult to keep it level. We won't even get into the issues that arise when you go over uneven terrain or in and out of drive ways. PJ seems to build a good trailer and I am currently looking at one of their as a replacement for my tilt deck (need a deck-over). Hopefully your usage will be in line with needs of the torsion axles. I currently own trailers with both slipper spring and torsion axles and have had no issues with either. They each have their place, you just need to know the limitations and operate within them.

Between the adjustable hitch on the truck, adjustable hitch on the trailer and length that should be sufficient for me to place the loads where they should be, I think I'll be OK with balancing the load.
I also opted to buy a Weigh Safe hitch while I was there to better keep track of tongue weight on the truck. Pricey, but I have 4 different trailers doing 4 different things so I hope it'll be worth it.
Weigh Safe Trailer Drop Hitch | Award-Winning Tongue Weight Scale