Continue to look for a do all trailer for trash/housewares/mulch/stone zero turn, 4 wheeler and of course wood. I could get away with a Rural King utility trailer more most of my needs and that would be easier around the house, but can't bring myself to spend 1k+ on a small trailer like that. Would like to be able to take in my grass/cornfield to get to the barn to load stuff. Would like to put sides on it to keep stuff inside the trailer and not blowing around. Don't have a compact tractor yet but would like to be able to haul it wherever when needed. I found a nice 2003 Liberty tilt trailer with 14000 gwvr but it is 16 foot for $2500. Rusty but in good shape and has pockets for rails to add boards, but no gate so I would have to fashion something. Any thoughts. Is 16' too short for any kind of tractor with implement or bucket? 18' probably better but all these heavy duty utility trailers or equipment movers are like $4-5k minimum it seems. Even the various utility trailers with 3500# tandem axles with solid metal sides are in the 4k range. Downsides to this trailer are it has drop axles so lower ground clearance for off-highway. Plus side it is built like a tank and in good shape. Thoughts welcome. I tend to overanalyze.
16' is pretty short for a compact tractor and a 3pt implement. Especially if you have a loader on the tractor.
That sounds like a nice trailer for $2500.00 tilt trailers are not cheap. 16 foot is a little tight, but if I could get that trailer for 2k I think I would take it.
It does sound like a good trailer if the rust is just surface rust. Obviously you'll want to address that before too long, something to consider if you are wanting to buy it. Talking about some series elbow grease for sure.. sounds more less typical though for a 17 year old trailer.
We haul L3130 Kubota w/FEL and mower or harrow on our 16' equipment trailer. Tight, yes, but easily managed. We even haul that tractor with counterweight on our 7x12 dump trailer.
Thanks all for the thoughts. I went and looked at it last night and it was a bit rougher in person. Wheels were rusted steel with pain coming off and now I am not sure and it was surface rust, but pretty thick. They do have some 9k utility trailers and some other PJ and AMO equipment trailers that are in the 9k -14k range for $3300-4300. None of them had solid sides of course, so would have to add wood side on all these options. The search continues. On another note, any preference or experience with deckovers vs the between the fenders "equipment style" trailers? I like the higher ground clearance for off road use, but no experience with either of them.
just saw this one after I posted. Very nice. would love a dump trailer like that, with the ability to do that as well. Just seemed like no one ever moved equipment like that! Does it drive alright? how long is that dump? I have no idea what i am doing so still learning what is possible and safe. Thanks for the reply!
It pulls good, it's 12' inside. It's a load for our truck, but does ok. If you have never pulled a trailer, be careful.
Deckovers have their place, If you were going to haul bundles of lumber, crates or stuff on pallets loaded with a fork lift, makes it easy to load from the side. Downside is your equipment os higher of the ground, increases the pucker factor when driving up the ramps.
I suggest going a size or two bigger than you think you need. I did, and still need bigger at times. The other aspect is having a truck that can pull it safely and get through some off road terrain loaded.
I'll just second the good advice given above. Deck over do give you more usable width and are easier to load materials by using forks. They are harder to load items by hand-I rolled a 600 lb gun safe onto my trailer using a dolly-wouldn't do that with a deck over. Make sure you have enough truck to pull and stop it. Many of us have had to "make do" with a less than a perfect trailer, but if you are buying for current circumstances, make it as long and as heavy as you need and add 2' and some more weight capacity as long as truck will handle it. This is coming from a guy who has went from a 4x8 1000 lb capacity trailer, to a 6x12 3000 lb trailer, and finally a 18' 7000lb tandem over the last 30 years. Most of this had to do with my needs and towing vehicles both being upgraded. The first trailer towed an ATV behind a Toyota Tacoma, my current trailer hauls a Kubota L3560 behind a Tundra with a 10k towing capacity!!
I have a 2000 Eagle Tandem axle 6x12, that I bought new, when I bought and since, I have had people ask (Sarcastically) is that BIG Enough? There have been MANY times that NO, it Isn't. Eagle builds the same trailer in 6'10" wide, and in 2' increments, if I had to replace it, I would definitely go with the 6'10" wide box and probably 16' length, and up the axles to either 6,000# each (Currently 3,500# each) or go triple 5,000# axles. You can always haul less than a trailer's capacity, but there is a limit to how much over, you can get away with, mine has a 7,000# rating, I sometimes go 8,000# on the axles, and as much as 2,000# on the tongue(2 5/16" Ball, weight distributing hitch). There have been a couple times that a smaller trailer would have been handy, but what I have will haul anything that a smaller trailer will. I would love a Dump trailer, but the Ramp gate on my 6x12 is nice for loading a lot of things, Ramp Gate vs Dump, almost completely different uses, almost need separate trailers Longer trailers have better backing manners, but obviously need more room to turn around, that can be an issue in some wood cutting situations, I have backed my 6x12 about a Mile down a Forest Circus road, but having been a Truck Driver for almost 32 years now, it wasn't as big a deal for me as it would be for some. I Second getting More Trailer than you THINK you will need, if your tow vehicle is up to it, and you are comfortable with it, but with Practice, the confidence should come Doug
Good advice and appreciate the response from all. I have a 2015 f-250 gas so towing up to 10k lbs should be no issue and that would rarely/never be happening. Now leaning towards the 18# equipment trailers instead of a utility trailer with 5200# tandem axles. Seems to be most versatile and cost is not much different. Only issue is they also have dovetails so you lose ground clearance driving in the grass/cornfield to get to the barn.
My first trailer. 6x10 dump. 10,000# I went with short thinking it would be more maneuverable in tight spaces. And I guess it probably is. Another two feet wouldn’t have hurt
I like the deck over style (and no ramps) 10,000# Not as well suited for firewood and dumping. Deck is 22' long. Battery and pump in tool box
That is a Nice trailer, that is a tilt bed, but not a “Deck Over”, your trailer deck is still between the tires, not over them Yep, Lots of different types of trailers available, each has their own uses they are best suited for Doug
Anyone have any strong opinions about PJ trailers, AMO, Corn-pro, sure-trac, load-trail, big Tex, or others? Seems like there are dozens of them, hard to differentiate. They all use Dexter axles and the equipment trailers all have 5” channel for the 10k and 6” for the 14k. I was hung up originally on the 10k equipment trailers with solid sides but you have to special order and cost is about the same (or more) as the 14k equipment where I could just add a 2x12 along the sides.... any reason NOT to get an 18 foot equipment trailer 14k? If you can’t tell, I tend to overanalyze....
I have a Cornpro 7k dual axle, I think about 6x12 or so? No issues whatsoever, its gotta be coming up on 10 years old now. Recently bought a Hawke 6x10 10k dump trailer - not enough use to speak to its durability yet but so far so good!
