Trailer Purchase Decision Advice

Notforhire · Jul 11, 2013

gocards1177 said:
That sounds nice but is more than I want. I want something quick to attach and good for general chores.

I was looking to do most of the same chores as you are. Like you my truck is to small to haul my tractor, so that wasn't part of the plain. Here is what I decided on, and has been working out well for me. 14ft bed 6ft between the fenders, tandem 3,500lbs axles, the deck is 5/4 PT, weight is 1,440lbs.
I prefer having tandem axles and brakes hauling lumber.
I haven't built sideboards yet, but plain to in the future.

gocards1177 · Jul 11, 2013

Notforhire said:
I was looking to do most of the same chores as you are. Like you my truck is to small to haul my tractor, so that wasn't part of the plain. Here is what I decided on, and has been working out well for me. 14ft bed 6ft between the fenders, tandem 3,500lbs axles, the deck is 5/4 PT, weight is 1,440lbs.
I prefer having tandem axles and brakes hauling lumber.
I haven't built sideboards yet, but plain to in the future.<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=326982"/>

That's sharp looking. Is the tandem axle/14 footer easy to hook up? I'd like to pull my truck near and just lift the tongue right onto the ball by hand. My friend's 16 foot tandem is too big for that.

Notforhire · Jul 11, 2013

gocards1177 said:
That's sharp looking. Is the tandem axle/14 footer easy to hook up? I'd like to pull my truck near and just lift the tongue right onto the ball by hand. My friend's 16 foot tandem is too big for that.

Thank you. Lift it by hand? Maybe 20 years ago, but now I use the tongue jack.:laughing:
I built the trailer 14ft for two reasons. (1) I felt that I would need to haul 14-16ft pcs of lumber. (2) the 5in channel I had was 14ft long, and I hate to waste.

I was on the fence about making it 12ft, and honestly I think it would work OK too.

Even at 12ft I would want tandem axles.:thumbsup:

I have seen factory built trailers similar to mine. Trailers | Utility | Tandem Axle | Medium Duty | towiing | hauling and I'm sure there are others.

Bill

Xfaxman · Jul 12, 2013

Diamondpilot said:
You are in the right area for trailers. Sikeston Mo is trailer capital of the world. Take a trip down there and look.

In the end buy once, buy right, and go with your gut.

Being a trailer dealer I would never sell a single longer than 12' and never a axle above 3500# for a single.

Chris

Why?

I have a 6.5 x 12' tilt, with a 6K single axle that is very handy.

Even hauled my old tractor on it, back in the day.

Diamondpilot · Jul 12, 2013

A single that out weighs a tow vehicle. Been there done that. I won't sell or tow them anymore. Just hope you never have a blow out at 65mph with a single axle trailer loaded to 6K.

Chris

Xfaxman · Jul 12, 2013

Diamondpilot said:
A single that out weighs a tow vehicle. Been there done that. I won't sell or tow them anymore. Just hope you never have a blow out at 65mph with a single axle trailer loaded to 6K.

Chris

My 3/4 ton GMC Duramax weighs 7300, front axle 4100, rear axle 3200. The empty weight on the trailer axle is 1660 lbs, tires are rated at 3640 lbs. each. So I have no qualms pulling it.

I have had blowouts on a single axle horse trailer, but it was a gooseneck, so no problem.

Diamondpilot · Jul 12, 2013

Xfaxman said:
My 3/4 ton GMC Duramax weighs 7300, front axle 4100, rear axle 3200. The empty weight on the trailer axle is 1660 lbs, tires are rated at 3640 lbs. each. So I have no qualms pulling it.

I have had blowouts on a single axle horse trailer, but it was a gooseneck, so no problem.

To each his own. I tow about 10000 miles a year and even with my 7600 lb F350 I would not want a single that high. I tow as much as 25000 lbs with my truck but that is a tri axle.

Chris

Harold_J · Jul 12, 2013

gocards1177 said:
Ill call jerry James tomorrow and see how they compare.

The "premium" trailer I looked at had the gate that folded forward. Otherwise I was going to go with no gate. Since this is light duty I would make some ramps with 2 bys and angle iron when needed.

Someone else had posted on here about another dealer in Sikeston, Retco Trailers.

Look here: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...elp-needed-trailer-options-2.html#post3201653

They seemed to be quite satisfied. Of course, the lower the price of trailers you're looking at the less it pays to go riding around for hours.

gocards1177 · Jul 12, 2013

Harold_J said:
Someone else had posted on here about another dealer in Sikeston, Retco Trailers.

Look here: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/trailers-transportation/271482-help-needed-trailer-options-2.html#post3201653

They seemed to be quite satisfied. Of course, the lower the price of trailers you're looking at the less it pays to go riding around for hours.

That's my thoughts too. Diminishing returns at this price point. I never got around to calling today. I seem to change my opinion day to day. Wondering now if I should go bigger and tandem axle to max out what my truck could do. And possibly used since I'm not in a rush.