CK5
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trailer shopping, big tex ok?

I did a ton of research on this about 2 years ago.
If I remember correctly PJ and Big Tex are painted vs powder coated and the cross members are on 24" centers.
Also I believe PJ uses scotchlok elec connectors which I despise.
Lamar, Walton, and possibly Diamond C are powder coated and the cross members are on 18" centers.
Pre Covid, Lamar was the best for price but I was going to go Walton as they had the best lead time and options others didn't.
Powdercoat might be worth the extra money with the rust problems down here. I'll check crossmember spacing too. Gotta remember my cardboard @sweetk30 suggested
 
i dont know what your rust level is out there but up here in the north east we ( that deal with it ) hate powder coated stuff . holds moisture in and rusts stuff out faster after the coating is broken open and lets water in .

if going to pick a paint style in my opinion they both need the WHOLE metal surface steel shot blasted or media blasted BEFORE any coating is applyed . helps remove mill scale and promote a better textured surface to bond to it . otherwise it falls off in sheets i see it a lot up here .
 
I'm heading up to Kansas next month to deer hunt so I may work in a trip to a starlight dealer. Looking at their website, I bet the one I have now is a Starlite. It came from oklahoma

I liked the one I used. It was an 18' (16'+2') I believe. I would rather have a 20' (18'+2').

The "perfect" trailer (at least my thoughts on it):
20' (18' deck + 2' dovetail)
Dual 7k axles
Bumper pull, but with an adjustable hitch, allowing to be swapped out between ball and pintle.
Removable folding ramps with kicker support.
Front bump rail.
Diamond plate fenders
Receiver mount for removable winch.

Something like this:

Where are in Kansas are you headed to hunt?
 
i dont know what your rust level is out there but up here in the north east we ( that deal with it ) hate powder coated stuff . holds moisture in and rusts stuff out faster after the coating is broken open and lets water in .
Powdercoat done right is supposed to be more adherent, more flexible, durable and scratch and chip resistant than paint. Down here it's the salt air living on the gulf and the humidity. I've had good experience with it over the past 20 years
 
I liked the one I used. It was an 18' (16'+2') I believe. I would rather have a 20' (18'+2').

The "perfect" trailer (at least my thoughts on it):
20' (18' deck + 2' dovetail)
Dual 7k axles
Bumper pull, but with an adjustable hitch, allowing to be swapped out between ball and pintle.
Removable folding ramps with kicker support.
Front bump rail.
Diamond plate fenders
Receiver mount for removable winch.

Something like this:

Where are in Kansas are you headed to hunt?
Just north of Wichita. Wife's family lives there
 
i dont know what your rust level is out there but up here in the north east we ( that deal with it ) hate powder coated stuff . holds moisture in and rusts stuff out faster after the coating is broken open and lets water in .

if going to pick a paint style in my opinion they both need the WHOLE metal surface steel shot blasted or media blasted BEFORE any coating is applyed . helps remove mill scale and promote a better textured surface to bond to it . otherwise it falls off in sheets i see it a lot up here .
Yeah I once brought some stuff to the guy that does my powdercoating and I had already sandblasted it. He told me not to do that anymore as even places where you touched it with your fingers would effect adherence and he just has to blast it all over again anyway. I don't know if that's true or he just doesn't want me trying to get a discount
 
Powdercoat done right is supposed to be more adherent, more flexible, durable and scratch and chip resistant than paint. Down here it's the salt air living on the gulf and the humidity. I've had good experience with it over the past 20 years
up here its road salt and liquid de-icer mix on the roads ALL winter .

and yes IF done correctly its nice . most i have seen its smooth steel under the powder coat flaking off .

true clean surface yes dont touch with hands after blast . or 1 hell of a wipe down after .

i have a guy that does powder coat and if he is doing aluminum wheels he has to do min 1 -2 full oven passes to get them off gassed to the point it wont mess up the final powder coat job . but he almost wont do them anymore cause they all suck anymore for quality of the rims .
 
Yeah, I have no idea if it's a better option on an equipment trailer that's going to get the crap beaten out of it. Seems like it might be better if done right:dunno:
 
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