Your opinion wanted on trailer length (25' w/ 5 ft dovetail or 28' with 5' dovetail)

[pharmvet]

Previously I posted asking for opinions on what type of trailer to get. You guys gave me lots of good opinions and information. Thanks.
Now I have pretty much decided on a Big Tex (the plant is 45 minutes from me) 22GN low profile (pierced beam) duel tandem with dove tail. I have asked lots of locals what length trailer they prefer. About half of them say 25 with 5 ft dove tail and the other half say 28 with a 5 foot dove tail. Here are my thoughts:
I rarely hear someone say my trailer is too long, however, I do hear folks say their trailer is too short. I will be hauling a Ford 7710 FWA and a New Holland TB110 with FEL. At any given time either of these tractors might have a 3 pt. shredder, disk, small planter or till etc.

Arguments for longer trailer:
Can usually get entire implement on trailer without any hanging off
Can keep most of the wt of the tractor on the trailer and off the truck by not having to pull as far foreward


Arguments against longer trailer
Too long to easily turn into some gates
Too much flex
More expensive

For my needs, would you recommend a 25 plus 5 or a 28 plus 5 (please include your deciding factor / factors) thanks a million.

 

[magicheater]

at that length 12% longer just is not that much.

 

[Martian]

Keep in mind, longer trailer equals more dead weight. I looked up the specs and it's only 500 pounds more, which is not bad. I'm going to assume that 500 pounds doesn't make a difference in being able to haul what you want?

Looking at the size of your tractors (both around 7k pounds and 13' long) I would go with the 30'. A little more nimble and save yourself some money. Assuming you don't have loaders on them, there is way more than plenty of room for one of these and a 3ph implement. Putting a loader on will add a little length, but still plenty of room for a 3pt implement. If it were me, I'd be saving the cash. Once a trailer gets over 30' they really start seeming like a big load as well.

 

[QRTRHRS]

I would take stock of your area of operation. Consider the dips that the dovetail might be dragging on the ground, tight turns, etc. Within reason, longer trailers are easier to back around but you still need room for your truck to follow for situations such as backing into a side road off a narrow main road.

 

[RDrancher]

I pull a Big Tex 25+5 almost daily. Since it seems like I'm always having to pull or back into properties with narrow gates off of narrow streets, I personally wouldn't want my trailer to be any longer at all.

As far as fit goes, I have enough deck length to chain the box blade to the front of the trailer deck and still get my TC35D w/loader on it with the Bush Hog shredder tail wheel even with the rear of the trailer and the bucket flat on the deck. With the loader raised I can still pull far enough forward to flip the ramps up and down with room to spare. With the box blade attached I can haul two 4x5 round bales on the front of the trailer and then poke the the bale spear down on top of them, but I do have to chain the ramps against the box blade since they won't flip all of the way up and I can't pull any farther forward.

I'll add that if you haven't pulled a GN much, watch it when going through big dips or humps, especially when turning. I have a customer that lives on a small private drive that literally dives off of the main road. I have less than two inches of clearance between the GN and the bed rail / tailgate of my truck when I make that turn, and I have mine setup just a bit nose high. Gives me the willies every time.

 

[deerfarmer4life]

Ive got a 32 ft 28+5. Truck has a 4inch lift and 35 inch tires and i dont have any problems getting it into places. I built a rack ontop of the goose neck hitch to store attachments and still could use anthor 3 feet of deck space. get the bigger trailer you wont regret it.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Go longer. No one ever says my trailer is too long. Kind of like something else...lol

Chris

 

[slowzuki]

I've got a 27 ft bumper pull so it goes in driveways not too bad but huge tailswing, if it was a gn I'd consider a shorter one in town, if no town I'd say longer one all the way.

 

[raptor749]

28 + 5 you will use that extra 3' soon , it is like a shop / barn , tractor go one size larger .

 

[deere5105]

Ordered a 22' bumper pull a couple years ago. Standard was 18' and 20'. The extra 2' helps, but could honestly stand to have a couple more feet. Tractor, loader w/bucket flat and rotary cutter requires pulling all the way forward and still has tail wheel hanging off. Loading this way puts too much tongue weight for my preference. Going to try next time to see about taking off stand up ramps to be able to slide back a couple feet for better weight distribution. Towing with half ton truck seems to increase the need to get the load more balanced. Fortunately my trips are not very lengthy and not usually at highway speeds.