Your advice ?

[Kendall69]

I purchased a 16' Dump trailer, with ramps, and front and rear tie downs.
It triples as a tractor hauler, and dump truck, tool and equipment hauler. I haul it where needed, fill it up with debris, drive the load to the dump, come back get the tractor and off I go.

I can also use it to pick up gravel, manure, trash etc. The dump part is sweeeet. Back up and push a button. At the end of the day the last thing you want to do is get to the dump and shovel out a few ton of debris.

With just a flat bed hauler it was just a one use trailer.

 

[BobRip]

Thanks Bob, the one I'm looking at does have brakes on both axles. Have you ever taken yours out in snow or ice with a load, or is this just a big No No??

Barry, my use has been limited so far. Most of my use seems to be hay rides, parades, moving mother-in-law and taking the PT to friends houses to help them. Actually, that has been all of it. No wait, I have to drive it to get in inspected.

I had an earlier trailer with no brakes. I was coming down a hill in wet weather and lost control (just a little loss) for a few seconds. A car was coming from the opposite direction. I regained control in time, but I went out and bought a new trailer with brakes. I gave the old trailer back to the guy who gave it to me.

 

[ddonnell]

Barry,

Just a heads up that you probably already know, but if you dump that dual axle trailer in a tight spot (e.g. a deadend driveway apron) where you can't maneuver the truck to turn it around, make sure that you have a hitch hookup on the PT to do the 180 turn. Won't happen by human power!

 

[Barryh]

I purchased a 16' Dump trailer, with ramps, and front and rear tie downs.
It triples as a tractor hauler, and dump truck, tool and equipment hauler. I haul it where needed, fill it up with debris, drive the load to the dump, come back get the tractor and off I go.

I can also use it to pick up gravel, manure, trash etc. The dump part is sweeeet. Back up and push a button. At the end of the day the last thing you want to do is get to the dump and shovel out a few ton of debris.

With just a flat bed hauler it was just a one use trailer.

The dump trailer does sound really sweet, but I'm trying to keep my over head low starting out, so it will be a standard equipment trailer for starters. I’ve never been to the dump as of yet, so I would be curious as to what they charge ball park. What is the procedure for the average Joe in dumping debris..

 

[Barryh]

Barry, my use has been limited so far. Most of my use seems to be hay rides, parades, moving mother-in-law and taking the PT to friends houses to help them. Actually, that has been all of it. No wait, I have to drive it to get in inspected.

I had an earlier trailer with no brakes. I was coming down a hill in wet weather and lost control (just a little loss) for a few seconds. A car was coming from the opposite direction. I regained control in time, but I went out and bought a new trailer with brakes. I gave the old trailer back to the guy who gave it to me.

I'm sure I'll be using mine for a lot of the same uses, so no brakes does contribute to loss of control in bad weather. Even though I am an excellent driver in bad conditions. The scenario you just described is exactly what I worry about rolling along down hill in snow and ice. I’m glad you recovered in time.

Its one thing if I mess up my truck or trailer I can deal with that. It’s a whole different matter if I endanger someone else in those conditions. An out of control 6,000 pound trailer, and a mother with kids in the back of their little compact, coming from the other direction come to mind. Not sure I would ever live that down.

 

[Barryh]

Barry,

Just a heads up that you probably already know, but if you dump that dual axle trailer in a tight spot (e.g. a deadend driveway apron) where you can't maneuver the truck to turn it around, make sure that you have a hitch hookup on the PT to do the 180 turn. Won't happen by human power!

I won't have the PT with me all of the time. I just had my first hernia operation a few weeks ago. Guess that's what I get for playing Superman.

At 53, I am still very strong and husky, but I guess old age is finally starting to catch up with me. So that will be something to think about, and be a very big concern.

 

[BobRip]

Its one thing if I mess up my truck or trailer I can deal with that. It’s a whole different matter if I endanger someone else in those conditions. An out of control 6,000 pound trailer, and a mother with kids in the back of their little compact, coming from the other direction come to mind. Not sure I would ever live that down.

I will do everthing I can to avoid that situation.

 

[bbabineau]

I can't comment on the snow as I live in California and have never pulled my trailer in the snow. I would suggest that if you do not have the hitch on the PT which makes it easy to turn the trailer around that you consider putting a hitch on the front of the truck. When I first got my trailer I found that I could easily run it down my curved drive with it on the front of the truck and put it in my dead end parking area where it would be ready to hitch the next time I wanted to drive off.

 

[Barryh]

I can't comment on the snow as I live in California and have never pulled my trailer in the snow. I would suggest that if you do not have the hitch on the PT which makes it easy to turn the trailer around that you consider putting a hitch on the front of the truck. When I first got my trailer I found that I could easily run it down my curved drive with it on the front of the truck and put it in my dead end parking area where it would be ready to hitch the next time I wanted to drive off.

Sounds like good advice, here at home I have the PT to move it around. I'm more worried about when I'm out driving around getting into a tight situation, since I’ve never towed a trailer before.

We hired a contractor last month to finish our basement. He had a 12 ft enclosed and a hard time mauvering around out front. So a 14 or 16 foot trailer is going to be fun. I will be enlarging the parking area this summer with the PT. So I'll set it up for maneuvering space with the new trailer in mind.

 

[MossRoad]

We have a car hauler trailer with an all steel deck. It is great for the PT and all our attachments. It is rated at 7000# and weighs 1500# so it has a usable capacity of 5500#. That is plenty for the PT and attachments.

Theoretically, I could put the PT and two tons of dirt on it. It has brakes on both axles and I use a Tekonsha Prodigy brake controller in our van.

I like the car hauler because I can load it from the side with the PT. I put 2X12s on stakes for easily removable sides. I take them off to load implements from the side or skids with the pallet forks. I also take them off to sweep the last bits of material off the side and into the bucket. Works great. I'll try to dig up some pictures of it.

I have no trouble moving it around town or backing in and out of drives, etc... but I will mention this... I have visited your town and many other towns "out east". Your streets and drives are noticably narrower than ours! That is a fact. You just have to remember that you have that thing back there with those wide fenders and plan trips to avoid narrow roads and long dead ends that will require backing out of. I recommend that as you go out to estimate your jobs, take note of the roads leading into and out of them and make some notes as to the easiest routes in and out.

Also, don't forget the PT will fit in the back of a full size pickup with the tailgate removed and ramps that can affix to the truck. You could put equipment racks on the sides of the pickup and drive the PT up the center.