Trailer selection criteria

[cybrfire]

What's your criteria for selecting a trailer? What's the things you look for the most? Do you shop for something that would pretty much take care of anything you'd ever haul or purchase for what you haul the most?

Always thought I'd build my own, simply don't have the time.

 

[throttleissues]

I weighed the rig I was intending to haul (Dodge M37) and went from there. I ended up with a 10k Carson car hauler. In retrospect, with my K20 being a little wide for it, I wish I'd gotten the flat deck(over the wheels) for the extra width. I ended up building ramps to lift the tires over the fenders so I don't break my fenders off loading the K20. Just my $.02.
P.S. I would recommend optioning or adding on crank down jacks on the back corners of the trailer. I love being able to set all three jacks and load or unload without a truck under the trailer. It also makes it much more stable and safe when loading a heavy truck.

 

[ramjet gmc]

well i will take this as a chance to pime my stuff



i just but the boxes on the front for my junk camping/ truck black box and towing straps and chans in the front al box

well i have had 2 and the beast i have found is a 10k (12k might be better for you ) but the 10k is 5in lower

deck over ------- it is easy to load and unload
full wood deck--- the steel is hot and hevey and some of the places i go i can put the tent right on the trailer - less bugs, rain water and some times ther is no room
LED- i had problems with all the lights with the trailers at work the bounceing would snap the lamps

rub rails -- i can put any thing i want on it just strap it like you wouls do on a flat deck 18 wheeler - but you see i did add some d rings just for the truck better placement to my rig


and can i say to on a break controler - get that new p3 $200? towing a trailer like mine you neew a good one - i had to replace my old one - a $60 unit

 

[j20m715]

What's your criteria for selecting a trailer? What's the things you look for the most? Do you shop for something that would pretty much take care of anything you'd ever haul or purchase for what you haul the most?

Always thought I'd build my own, simply don't have the time.

You will never be 100% happy with one trailer.
Its either too big, too small, too light, or too heavy .
I have 2 trailers & still not happy.
Go as big as you can for your first.

 

[cybrfire]

The unit I am most seriously considering right now is a triple 7k axle 20+5 gooseneck. Wood deck over, Rub rails and all that. Probably not LED's but not entirely sure one way or the other.

It'll easily take care of one or two rigs. As far as I know, its as big as I'd ever need. I'm sure most of the time it'll be too big.

 

[2BLAZERS]

Besides our camping trailer we have 4 other a trailers.

A 2004 Big Tex 7K 14' Utility trailer- decent trailer but they do not have the greatest paint job. Lots of rusty areas for only 4 years old.

A 2007 PJ 14K 12' Dump Trailer - awesome trailer would do it all over again. I love this trailer. They do a great job powder coating these trailers.

A 2007 Great Northern 14k Gooseneck flatbed 20 + 5 deckover trailer. I have been very pleased with this trailer. Plenty of room for the K5 and two quads. Not long enough for two trucks. I have the fold up ramps and center popup. I also love this trailer.

A 2005 Pace Shadow GT 20' Enclosed Trailer rated for 10K. This is our quad trailer and have been very pleased with it.

The reason I have what I have is space. I have the camping trailer in the garage. The Big Tex at a farmer friends house and the other three trailer stacked up in a row on my side yard with inches to spare. If I had more parking room I would have got a 14' dump trailer, a 28' Enclosed trailer, and maybe looked at a 21k 25+5' deckover gooseneck trailer.

Have you looked at Craiglist. There has been a lot of good deals lately around here (Oregon). This is the time of the year when the trailer places are trying to reduce their inventory.

 

[ThaMule]

I got a 25+5 deckover with two 7500lb axles with electric brakes. I also have a brake controller in the cab. My thought process was that I wanted to have a trailer that would haul any truck I ever owned, including the one pulling it if the need ever came up. I have my 77 crew cab sitting on it right now with plenty of room to add some 4 wheelers as well. Only problem to watch is your total weight cause if you get pulled over and have to get weighed, they can get you for not having the proper license. I am thinking I might sell mine to get me a gooseneck though.

 

[cybrfire]

Counting down the days to taking the plunge.

 

[ramjet gmc]

LED's but not entirely sure one way or the other.

i say go that way i had a bunch of lamp go on me and all most got a ticked in front of my house -- the leds are cheeper then the ticket

any shots on the maker / model you want ?

 

[twoslo4five0]

here is what i use

20 foot 10k


here is what i did to make my truck fit on it

and it fits with h1s and 44s

39s as well

 

[throttleissues]

I like the way you cut out the fenders, that's cool. Now I gotta look at mine to see if that'll work for me. Nice truck, too.

 

[twoslo4five0]

i tore the pass side off coming off the trailer one day but i like it better like that i dont have to flip it up and down i just worry about the one on my side i dont have to get out the truck to flip one down to finish pulling it foward seeing as how i but the tire up next to the fender

which truck lol..the blazer is gone but im currently working on the yellow flatbed

 

[throttleissues]

Yeah, I was wondering whethet I should even make the panels removeable or just put a brace on the fender (mine are differnet style). I can see how it would get old swinging them up and down. I was talking about the blazer cuz I didn't notice the flatbed first time. That one looks sweet, too.

 

[twoslo4five0]

formuds are removable it seemed preety simple to do

here is his thread

http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=196839&page=2

 

[cybrfire]

i say go that way i had a bunch of lamp go on me and all most got a ticked in front of my house -- the leds are cheeper then the ticket

any shots on the maker / model you want ?

This is the place where I will most likely get the trailer.

http://www.octrailers.com/

They are within a half hour drive and have some good pricing. Load and Trail seems to be the brand they carry the most of.

Stomper recently discovered a custom builder in our area that I'd like to talk too before I buy one.

 

[COKE]

Just wandering,

How much does weight one of those trailers that you have there in the US? a 16 or 18 foot trailer for example.

They look cool with those wood beds.Would like to have one of those here..

 

[throttleissues]

Just wandering,

How much does weight one of those trailers that you have there in the US? a 16 or 18 foot trailer for example.

They look cool with those wood beds.Would like to have one of those here..

Mine is an 18ft rated for 10k lbs gross, and it weighs around 2300-2500lbs empty, according to the manufacturer. You can actually find plans for similar trailers online and build one, or have it built, yourself.

 

[COKE]

Wow,too much weight for my Blazer,or for the tow rigs that we use to have around here.
There is a guy here who build steel trailers,i asked him for a 16 ft one.
He says thet it will weight around 450 or 500 kg.empty.It is rated for 2500kg gross.
Enough for the purposuse that i need.

Regards.

 

[throttleissues]

Most are rated for 7k lbs gross and weigh 1200-1500lbs. That's a lot closer to what you're talking about. My truck was right about max capacity for a 7k trailer, so I opted for a 10k weight rating.

 

[twoslo4five0]

yep...trailers are always under rated though....think about if you have 5k on a trailer and you hit a large dip in the road..to the tires,axles and springs your load just went from 5k to 10k+ depending on the size of the dip...this is why they are always under rated