Top Hat Trailers vs PJ Trailers

[Lonmower]

Looking at an 18' lowboy with 5200# axles considering Top Hat and PJ trailers. PJ trailer $3,500 Top Hat $2,795 both look like pretty well made trailers. Anyone have any experiance with either brand /pros and cons? Pulling a Kubota L3710 with loader and brush hog using a half ton Ford. Could probably get by with 3500# axles but figured 5200# axles would give me a little more safety factor.

 

[PoorPlowboy]

All of my trailers are Top Hat. They are about the lightest per square ft trailers around. They tow nice and easy due to that, but can't handle overloading as well as heavier trailers such as Big Tex. Stay within rated capacity and you'll be good to go. From my brief reading on PJ, they are a little heavier than Top Hat.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Top Hat has a good rep around here. Never owned one but hear good things.

Chris

 

[Biggreenavalanche]

I've got a PJ ...good trailer, no problems in two years, very stoutly built

Rich

 

[texasjohn]

I own a pj dump trailer, no problems

 

[saltbranch]

I like the PJ trailers, that said I bought a CM trailer for a very good price. They are located in Ennis tx. It was worth the drive for me in the $$ savings.

 

[coobie]

I have owned my 20 FT PJ bumper pull trailer(7000 lbs axles)since 2008 could not be happier.coobie

 

[crusty369]

PJ is a higher quality product. Powder coated, thicker gauge, bigger wheel studs, etc. Maxi and Load and Trail aware comparable in quality, due to the fact that the owners of those two companies started out at PJ. Top Hat makes an ok trailer, but in a couple years you would see a major difference in the condition of the unit. Spend the extra dough now, and be much happier later.

 

[Gem99ultra]

Ditto on PJ. 7' x 20' 10K. All the bells and whisles. Priced right! Pulls great. 'love it.

 

[whistlepig]

I've owned a 16' PJ for 6 years now. It's been a good trailer for me.

 

[tungularafishcamp]

I have bought a couple PJ's my last 2 trips to Oregon to get stuff home and then resell. I used the heck out of the 24' dumper I bought for a couple months before coming up the alcan and they both made the trip home fine, were resold for what I paid for them and the new owners are happy with them, small town u know. I have done this same thing several other times with a "cheaper" trailer with not so spectacular results. Will be doing the same thing next trip down and probably wont even bother looking at any brand other than PJ.

 

[Rmath12]

All of my trailers are Top Hat. They are about the lightest per square ft trailers around. They tow nice and easy due to that, but can't handle overloading as well as heavier trailers such as Big Tex. Stay within rated capacity and you'll be good to go. From my brief reading on PJ, they are a little heavier than Top Hat.

I I bought a 2023 7x16 top hat dump trailer (red) from trailer world of Tulsa. Load #2 I was hauling sand, around 3 tons, the trailer is rated at 4+ tons. Tried to tailgate the sand and upon raising the bed the tail gate latch bent. I had to unbend it to get to open. Called dealer and top hat trailers Both Jody and Dalton at Top Hat, explained they don’t stand behind their warranty and would not cover the bent hollow rod used to close the tail gate; but would be happy to sale me a new one. After hauling 4-5 loads of 1.5 inch base rock the paint was stripped to medal and I had to repaint due to rust. Very poor quality for $11,000+ trailer and they will mot stand behind their product is bull ****. Don’t buy Top Hat trailers. Piss poor quality and they will not warranty anything. Rodney Mathis Retired Veteran

 

[Rmath12]

Looking at an 18' lowboy with 5200# axles considering Top Hat and PJ trailers. PJ trailer $3,500 Top Hat $2,795 both look like pretty well made trailers. Anyone have any experiance with either brand /pros and cons? Pulling a Kubota L3710 with loader and brush hog using a half ton Ford. Could probably get by with 3500# axles but figured 5200# axles would give me a little more safety factor.

I I bought a 2023 7x16 top hat dump trailer (red) from trailer world of Tulsa. Load #2 I was hauling sand, around 3 tons, the trailer is rated at 4+ tons. Tried to tailgate the sand and upon raising the bed the tail gate latch bent. I had to unbend it to get to open. Called dealer and top hat trailers Both Jody and Dalton at Top Hat, explained they don’t stand behind their warranty and would not cover the bent hollow rod used to close the tail gate; but would be happy to sale me a new one. After hauling 4-5 loads of 1.5 inch base rock the paint was stripped to medal and I had to repaint due to rust. Very poor quality for $11,000+ trailer and they will mot stand behind their product is bull ****. Don’t buy Top Hat trailers. Piss poor quality and they will not warranty anything. Rodney Mathis Retired Veteran

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

I I bought a 2023 7x16 top hat dump trailer (red) from trailer world of Tulsa. Load #2 I was hauling sand, around 3 tons, the trailer is rated at 4+ tons. Tried to tailgate the sand and upon raising the bed the tail gate latch bent. I had to unbend it to get to open. Called dealer and top hat trailers Both Jody and Dalton at Top Hat, explained they don’t stand behind their warranty and would not cover the bent hollow rod used to close the tail gate; but would be happy to sale me a new one. After hauling 4-5 loads of 1.5 inch base rock the paint was stripped to medal and I had to repaint due to rust. Very poor quality for $11,000+ trailer and they will mot stand behind their product is bull ****. Don’t buy Top Hat trailers. Piss poor quality and they will not warranty anything. Rodney Mathis Retired Veteran

I bought a brand new Big Tex dump trailer, biggest they had. Extended the sides so it measured 40 cubic yards. Took off to Florida after a hurricane. I had all that door latch mess tore off on the second day. Used a ratchet strap ever since. I never ever would expect warranty to cover that.

 

[nisaacs]

I I bought a 2023 7x16 top hat dump trailer (red) from trailer world of Tulsa. Load #2 I was hauling sand, around 3 tons, the trailer is rated at 4+ tons. Tried to tailgate the sand and upon raising the bed the tail gate latch bent. I had to unbend it to get to open. Called dealer and top hat trailers Both Jody and Dalton at Top Hat, explained they don’t stand behind their warranty and would not cover the bent hollow rod used to close the tail gate; but would be happy to sale me a new one. After hauling 4-5 loads of 1.5 inch base rock the paint was stripped to medal and I had to repaint due to rust. Very poor quality for $11,000+ trailer and they will mot stand behind their product is bull ****. Don’t buy Top Hat trailers. Piss poor quality and they will not warranty anything. Rodney Mathis Retired Veteran

They all use the hollow tube. My Lamar and PJ both bent. They are both 36" walls. The actual doors are pretty stout. The Lamar is the best with 4 hinges per side with the PJ using 3.

On my Lamar, I cut the tube and inserted a 12" bolt with the head cut off, it don't bend anymore.

 

[Hay Dude]

Looking at an 18' lowboy with 5200# axles considering Top Hat and PJ trailers. PJ trailer $3,500 Top Hat $2,795 both look like pretty well made trailers. Anyone have any experiance with either brand /pros and cons? Pulling a Kubota L3710 with loader and brush hog using a half ton Ford. Could probably get by with 3500# axles but figured 5200# axles would give me a little more safety factor.

Look at those prices from 10 years ago.
Those trailers are pushing 3 times that now in price.