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Diamond C Trailers

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2BLAZERS

1/2 ton status
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Oct 12, 2001
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Location
KEIZER, OR
Any thoughts on Diamond C Trailers? My fav trailer place has just started carring them and I know nothing about them so please let me know! Curious most about how they compare to PJ, Big Tex, and Load Trail etc...

I'm looking at getting a 12K rated flatbed trailer or deckover trailer for hauling my K5 Blazer on and also big enough to haul a future Suburban on too. Along with general hauling like quads and RZR and friends broken down stuff.
 
Nothing yet? Someone must have one of these! I went to the trailer place yesterday and looked at them. They seem to be at least on par with PJ and Big Tex. Quite likely better the PJ and Big Tex. They've got Drexler Axles and seem to be made well.

I'm looking at the 12K 20' trailer for hauling my K5, future Suburban, and other toys as needed.
 
Do you have a class A driver's license? Think about that before buying a trailer over 10k GVWR. Never looked at Diamond C trailers in person, but they look well-built when I was shopping. I went with Carson 10k, but also have a Big Tex GN. 10k is enough capacity for a K5 or 'burb.
 
I have a Carson 12k. They all run comparable axles and brakes. Unless you get disk.

Most states you can go over 10k with a CDL as long as it is for personal use. Get paid once and it is subject to DOT regulations.

Mine will be for sale at the end of May or so. I designed it to haul my 87 Jimmy and 2 motorcycles. 102 inches front to back. 24 feet long with 4 foot dove tail. Added 2 tool boxes, winch mount and 2 spares under it in front on Chevy truck spare tire mounts.
 
KTM, did you mean without a CDL? I checked a handful of states last year and found nothing about being allowed to tow over a 10k trailer without a class A, just that it could be commercial or non-commercial, depending on whether it was for personal use. CA has been writing a LOT of those tickets lately, especially around Glamis.
 
Ca. Isoneof those crappy states. You are ok on the interstates and within 2 miles. After that there is a Ca. RV license or something like that. I know Bradley was pulling over every toy hauler heading to Glamis. I left the state will never be back.

They took enough of my money when I had my businesses there.
 
The biggest problem with the RV endorsement is that none of the CA DMV offices seem to know how to apply it (allows up to 16k without a class A license IIRC, only on 5th wheel RV). I read the manuals and asked about it when renewing my Class B CDL, and they had no idea what test to give or what the endorsement really is. Gotta love it.
Like I said, though, I have yet to find anything in any state saying you can haul a trailer over 10k gvwr without an A, be it commercial or non. Since you are indicating that it's legal to tow heavier than that if it's personal use, what is the max limit?
 
Not sure in Ca. I towed that trailer with the bikes and Jimmy on it. With a camper on the truck. Trailer is 3245 empty, Jimmy if 6550 and the bikes wer 550 together. Plus wood and fuel. Never had an issue. But that has been 6 years ago.

Yor class b does not let you tow, correct?
 
B allows driving any single vehicle and towing up to 10k. Just looked up CO CDL requirements and found they also require Class A for any towed vehicle over 10k. They don't seem to base it on GCW, which would make more sense. Can drive a 26k gvwr truck and 10k trailer on a class C, but not a 14k gooseneck on a 1ton pickup(gvwr 10-12k), which would be far less than the 36k gcwr of the legal combo. It's ridiculous.
I haven't been ticketed, despite hauling my 14k gn to Indiana and back, but I realized I was driving out of class when I was studying to renew my CDL.
 
There is one clause in the beginning of the vehicle code for CDL that states over xxx weight and for commerce. That commerce one is the big one. I have had conversations at sale houses in 14 states now. And they all tell me to have a nice day and don't bother stopping in again. It's the LEO I may have an issue with some day.

Of course this summer I will finish my CDL so it will be no big deal. Even State Farm does not require this CDl for insurance. My agent used to dive and knows what is going on.
 
Fair enough. I haven't seen anything discerning "commerce" from private when I've looked up guidelines. That's all I was going on. I think we have adequately hijacked this thread into oblivion. Sorry, 2blazers!
 
Wow guys! This is 100% personal use! I am a partner in a CPA firm so no question about this ever being for work.

Also I am in Oregon, my truck is already 'T' Plated and licensed for 26,000 and under because I own a couple other trailers rated over 8,000 pounds already. (14k dump trailer and 10K Enclosed Trailer) Here in Oregon T plates are required for 8k trailers or more. Does not matter if personal or business for the T plates. $764 a year to be rated at 26k for the truck. Trailers over 8K have Perm plates and are included in the truck license.

I want to do 12k cause its not much more then a 10K and just gives me a little more room. Who knows what I might end up with on the trailer; Tractors, diesel pickups, Suburbans, loaded with 4 or 5 quads, wood etc...it would be of coarse 100% personal use. Never for making money. As long as they don't add to the commerce definition, adding value to one's home:)

The reason for not doing 14k is my 2011 truck has a GVW just over 12K. So a 14k trailer plus a slightly over 12k truck could put me into some 26K CDL issues in differnt states. Yes it would still all be 100% personal, but I don't want to be stuck on weigh stations argueing with LEO's while on vacation.

And generally out of Oregon travel we would have our Truck Camper on the truck and toys on the trailer. So most of the time we'd be looking like an RV'r.

One thing I did learn about some of the Diamond C trailers is when they call it a 12k trailer it may have 5,200 axles...which I don't like. To me a 10k trailer has 5,200 axles, a 14k trailer has 7k axles, and a 12k trailer should have 6k axles, etc...
 
Damn, Oregon's got quite the ripoff scheme going on trailers.:doah:
My 10k has 5200# axles, both with brakes, and Carson uses the same frame for 10k-14k, only changing the axles and springs, and my 14k GN has 7k axles. I agree with you that a 12k should have 6k axles. It's not like they are expecting you to put 1600 lbs on the tongue, are they? I've also seen trailer companies put axles that are rated for the weight rating on the trailer, but put tires and wheels on that are not rated for that weight. Just one more thing to watch out for.
 
When I put new tirs on my trailer in November, I put "G" rated tires on it. Had not seen them until I bought the 5th wheel. 4200 lbs each at 110psi.
 
ktmoutfront said:
When I put new tirs on my trailer in November, I put "G" rated tires on it. Had not seen them until I bought the 5th wheel. 4200 lbs each at 110psi.
Click to expand...
Yep, That's what I put on my gooseneck trailer. Hard to find at your average automotive tire shop most of the time, but well worth it.
 
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