Trailer Decision - Pros / Cons

[LouNY]

I just got a new trailer a couple of months ago a 22' power tilt deckover.
It's aluminum with a 14K rating and a dry weight of 2650 pounds. It tows very nicely,it's an
a Nordtek.
14K Tilting Deckover Trailer – Nordtek Aluminum Trailers

 

[Lineman North Florida]

I just got a new trailer a couple of months ago a 22' power tilt deckover.
It's aluminum with a 14K rating and a dry weight of 2650 pounds. It tows very nicely,it's an
a Nordtek.
14K Tilting Deckover Trailer – Nordtek Aluminum Trailers
View attachment 3492841

That looks like a nice trailer and with it being made out of aluminum it should give you more deck capacity and solve some of the corrosion issue's ya'll have up there from salt.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Considerations for GN v. BP trailer:

1. How much stuff do you carry in the truck bed? The GN will take up about 1/3rd of it.
2. GN’s do not track directly behind the truck, like a BP does. So you need to consider the way your driveway or shop parking area and your customer’s entrances are laid-out. I cannot access one of my shop driveways with a GN without putting the GN’s tires into a ditch.
3. GN’s allow you to access your trucks full towing potential. BP is more limited in load capacity. This is because a GN distributes weight on both of your trucks axles, while a BP relies almost exclusively on your trucks rear axle.

Most especially number 2. You would be surprised at the people who will argue that point when I tell them that's the reason I use a bumper pull to get into some of the pig trails I have to get down.

 

[Hay Dude]

I just got a new trailer a couple of months ago a 22' power tilt deckover.
It's aluminum with a 14K rating and a dry weight of 2650 pounds. It tows very nicely,it's an
a Nordtek.
14K Tilting Deckover Trailer – Nordtek Aluminum Trailers
View attachment 3492841

Damn, Lou.
Thats really nice.

 

[jk96]

I would bump the usable trailer deck to 24' minimum especially if considering side work. 20' just doesnt give you enough space in my opinion for a skidsteer and the attachements your likely to take with you. CTL, cutter, bucket. graple for me at a minimum. . The extra space gives you a little more leaway for positioning the CTL for proper weight distributuon as well.

 

[BackRoad]

Good looking trailer Mr. Lou. Looking at their website...lots of dealers fairly close.

Did you get the power tilt or gravity tilt?

Does the spare tire get in the way?

 

[LouNY]

It is the full power tilt up and down, it can also gravity down.

The spare tire is not in the way, except it is in the underside center of the bed.
I have looked at it but never touched it. The good thing is it does have safety stops for the lift for if you ever had to go in and get it.
If I ever need it on the road I sure hope one of my young nephews is around cause I don't want to have to get it out.
I have mounted one toolbox under the bed and have a second one to mount on the other side for tiedowns and accessories.

 

[LMychajluk]

@LouNY - With that trailer, can you load a Compact Tractor w/ backhoe, or is the angle too steep?

Now eyeing an 22' Iron Bull. Saw a YT video and they seem well-built at a reasonable price. The one I'm looking at is 14k w/ Megaramps (keeps me under 26k GCVWR), but I'm going to see if I can find and price their tilt-deck.

I don't think I can de-rate the trailer if I want to carry a CTL in the future, but for now, I'll stick to what I can do w/ the tractor and my current truck w/ a 14k trailer.

I've been looking at goose necks as an option, but the weight ratings I'm seeing for a GN combined w/ my truck will put me over 26K. That and the additional cost is putting me off of them for now.

FWIW, I used to have a 23' boat on a trailer. I would rent a spot for it in the back of a marble yard, where there were a couple of other boats, some food trucks, etc... I got pretty good at navigating that maze backing that boat in, and that was w/o all the towing bells and whistles on my current truck. I've never towed 5th wheel or gooseneck, though... I understand it's 'different', but I thought you're more maneuverable w/ the 5W/GN?

 

[LouNY]

@LouNY - With that trailer, can you load a Compact Tractor w/ backhoe, or is the angle too steep?

Now eyeing an 22' Iron Bull. Saw a YT video and they seem well-built at a reasonable price. The one I'm looking at is 14k w/ Megaramps (keeps me under 26k GCVWR), but I'm going to see if I can find and price their tilt-deck.

I don't think I can de-rate the trailer if I want to carry a CTL in the future, but for now, I'll stick to what I can do w/ the tractor and my current truck w/ a 14k trailer.

I've been looking at goose necks as an option, but the weight ratings I'm seeing for a GN combined w/ my truck will put me over 26K. That and the additional cost is putting me off of them for now.

FWIW, I used to have a 23' boat on a trailer. I would rent a spot for it in the back of a marble yard, where there were a couple of other boats, some food trucks, etc... I got pretty good at navigating that maze backing that boat in, and that was w/o all the towing bells and whistles on my current truck. I've never towed 5th wheel or gooseneck, though... I understand it's 'different', but I thought you're more maneuverable w/ the 5W/GN?

One of the reasons for it was to enable moving my lighter tractors. I have not loaded one yet. I do not know if the hoe would impede loading and require manipulation to load. I have considered getting a wireless controller to avoid having to work my way down and off the raised bed.

 

[LMychajluk]

I do live in the NE, but I don't think the trailer will see much use during the winter, so not too concerned w/ corrosion issues, but I think the durability of a steel trailer would be a plus for my application, so I think I'm eliminating the aluminum options for now. That Nordtek is nice, but may be a bit out of my price range right now (under $10k would be ideal).

I'm narrowed down to one of these 14k Iron Bull options in 22' x 83". They seem to hit a sweet spot in build quality vs price from what I can tell.

Regular Flatbed w/ Mega/'Rampage' Ramps, ~10,500# usable, cheapest option @ $6,800

EWB14 Equipment Trailer | Norstar Truckbeds & Iron Bull Trailers

Norstar Company's Iron Bull EWB14 features 8” I-Beam equipment, differing from our ETB model primarily in sub-frame construction techniques and materials.

norstarcompany.com

Channel Construction Tilt-bed, 11 degree tilt, ~9,900 usable capacity, ~$9,700

TLB14 Tilt Trailer | Norstar Truckbeds & Iron Bull Trailers

Norstar Company's Iron Bull TLB14 Tilt Deck offer a great alternative to ramps, steep loading angles and possible hang up points of traditional flat deck units.

norstarcompany.com

I-Beam Tilt-bed, 14 degree tilt, ~9,700# usable. Waiting on quote, est. ~$8,300(?)

TWB14 Tilt Trailer | Norstar Truckbeds & Iron Bull Trailers

norstarcompany.com

Since I probably can't pull a SS/TLB w/ my current truck w/o going CDL anyway, the heaviest load I would have would be my Compact Tractor, which should be ~6500# max w/ loader and backhoe. Even with an extra implement (or two) I think I would be well within all the weight limits regardless of choice, but leaning towards the last one ATM, w/ the I-beam construction, tilt-deck, and std. toolbox.