Author Topic: Buying a trailer, need advice! (Read 1181 times)

PJinN.E.Texas · « **on:** January 23, 2012, 06:14:53 pm »

Fellas, I am scheduled to be home around the 15th of March for R&R. I am contracting in Afghanistan in support of US and Romanian troops. I am planning on buying a bumper pull trailer (type "14pi") from "Big Tex trailers" in Mount Pleasant Texas (50mi West of my hometown-Texarkana) while I am at home. The trailer will need to last me a lifetime and I am planning on buying a trailer with twin 7K lb axles. This "should" be stout enough to haul tractors and any logs I come across in the distant future once I return home for good and get started (part time) in the Sawmilling business. The company offers this trailer in 16, 18 and 20 ft lengths at 83 inches wide inside. I am leaning towards the 18ft'er (was quoted a price of just under 4K) as I have had a lot of past experience with 16ft'ers and the brush hog always seemed to be hanging out the back of the trailer once I got the tractor centered over the axles. I'm sure the brush-hog will still hang out with an 18ft'er but, not as much. I currently drive a '98 Chevy EXT cab 4x4 with trailer package and 3.73 gears in the rear-end. The truck has been stout enough to pull a heavy 16ft trailer loaded with a Ford 3910 tractor with FEL and a 5ft Brush-hog. The truck will be replaced once I return home (a couple of yrs from now at least) with either a 3/4 or 1 ton truck. I am requesting advice on what yall think about my trailer selection and what you would do given past experience with the trailers yall are using. I'm sure I will add some type of system to load logs at a later date such as for "parbuckling" or the type DanG came up with (still trying to find that thread again) but, that too is in the distant future. I am a firm believer in "it's better to have too much than not enough"... as long as it is still affordable! Thank you for your time fellas.

Ironwood · « **Reply #1 on:** January 23, 2012, 06:42:05 pm »

I REALLY like Big Tex. I have spied trailers for years, and theirs are up with the best of them. FIRST: over build and underrate it. I personally would go with at LEAST 16" eight bolt Dexter axles. I dare say I would use 17" trailer tires/rims for anything at 10k or above. The 17" tire will last and last. The tire is always the weak link of the trailer. Also, surge brakes will ALWAYS out perform electrics. Four 17" tires will be good for 24k, so you go with only one axle. and be good for 12k, Seems funny, but that would make some sense. Less $$$ and less wear/tear. I would use two regardless. Keep the GVW at 9999lbs unless you absolutely need more. The manufacturer can build it to a 12-18k spec and put whatever tag (vin plate) gvw they want on it, just not ABOVE the actual build spec. This will keep you out of the CDL/Med card thresh-hold. under 10k is the magic number. I like wood decks, less slippy than diamond plate.

I did just spy a Quality Trailer deck over built for our Local Ferrell Propane Gas co. http://www.qualitytrailersinc.com/ it looks like this without the drop beaver tail.

My buddy is the regional Mgr. and said it was custom made for $4,000 and was 20' 9999gvw NICE. I-beam main frame bent on a curve at the tongue transition, much like a Butler trailer (another great brand). VERY , VERY nice. I will try to get a picture trailer.

Forgot, if you go with 16" tires spec them to use G-Series Goodyears. They are FULL steel cased like tractor trailer tires, and DONT sway. Also, use digital lights.

Ironwood

Ironwood · « **Reply #2 on:** January 23, 2012, 06:46:10 pm »

Here is another custom built for a barn demo guy I deal with . It has the 17" tires. He spent 10k.
I think it is 20k+ GVW.Note the dual jacks, GREAT for a crane (stable)

Ironwood · « **Reply #3 on:** January 23, 2012, 07:01:49 pm »

VERY nice option

Sorry got hte link wrong, Try this. http://www.qualitytrailersinc.com/

cypresskayaksllc · « **Reply #4 on:** January 23, 2012, 07:16:37 pm »

Get a flatbed. A lot easier to load and unload logs and lumber

bugdust · « **Reply #5 on:** January 23, 2012, 07:39:14 pm »

Couple years back I bought a 12,000#, 16' dove tail to haul logs and the tractor. I use standards when hauling logs so I can unload with the forks. The trailer was perfect hauling the tractor until I bought the new JD. Length wise the tractor will fit, but with the wheels flipped the trailer is to narrow.

Last year I bought a 10,000#, 14' dump trailer which works great as long as the log lengths fit. I've found it to be the best for hauling logs, or delivering lumber. Now I just open the the double gates and push the button.

I suggest you plan for the future and buy a little bigger than what you need for now.

dgdrls · « **Reply #6 on:** January 23, 2012, 07:39:22 pm »

This should work for the trailer,

You may already know the Truck

Best DGDrls

Buck · « **Reply #7 on:** January 23, 2012, 08:16:05 pm »

On that trailer you've got spec'd out be sure it hitches with a 2 5/16 ball or pintle ring. Dual jacks are nice and not common on that size trailer. Also make sure the fenders are not the flimsy lightweight stuff. I don't think big tex even uses them on that size trailer anyway.

sealark37 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 23, 2012, 08:32:41 pm »

Eighteen feet bed length is a good choice. Get the flat bed with the tires under the bed. It is a little inconvenient, but is so much more flexible in loading/unloading. Be very aware of the state and federal rules regarding GVW of the trailer as well as that of the towing vehicle. Talk to the manufacturer and try to optimize the empty weight of the trailer and the max gross weight. Carefully consider what you want to do the most with this trailer. It is easy to order one with all the bells and whistles, only to find that it is too compromised to be of much use. It is easier to have 2, or 3, or 4 trailers suited to certain jobs than to have only one that does nothing well. Specify the best tires available. Don't overload it. Regards, Clark

scsmith42 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 23, 2012, 08:36:35 pm »

My 2 cents.

1 - consider a gooseneck instead of a tag-a-long. Goosenecks provide you with greater capacity, more stability, and are much, much more maneuverable. Lot's of 1/2 and 3/4 ton pickup truck in Texas have pulled gooseneck stock trailers for years too.

2 - if you can afford it, and want the very best brakes possible (short of vacuum brakes), spend the extra $ and get the electrically operated hydraulic trailer brakes. These have a master cylinder on the trailer that is operated from an electric servo, that in turn is operated from a standard electric trailer brake controller. The brakes are absolutely superb, and better than the standard magnetic electric or surge brakes.

3. Longer is better than shorter. I have trailers with decks of 16', 20', and 37'. If I could only have one, it would be the 37 footer (dual tandem, hydraulic dovetail gooseneck with 27K gross rating).

4. Get a flat deck with a dovetail, or a tilt deck trailer. Much easier to load and unload logs from the sides, and easier to load equipment from the rear. Hydraulic dovetails are fantastic.

5. In addition to Big Tex, check out Brute (nearby in Blossom, TX). http://www.brutetrailers.com/

caveman · « **Reply #10 on:** January 23, 2012, 09:52:16 pm »

PJinNETexas, The advice above is sound. Several years ago we built a trailer with 7000 lb axles and it has a 16' deck with a 30" dovetail. It has fenders, a single 8K jack with a drop foot, bull dog hitch (my favorite), and an in-deck tool box. Most of the time I haul my tractor with a mower, I wish it were longer as I often leave the ramps at home and load the tractor (Kubota M7040) while the mower hangs over the back of the trailer. If I were building or buying a trailer primarily to haul logs, it would be a flatbed. If I were hauling trucks or tractors, the low deck height and low center of gravity are advantageous. The gooseneck style trailer would suit my current needs better now. Caveman

Dave VH · « **Reply #11 on:** January 23, 2012, 11:02:42 pm »

Sounds like the trailer will be capable of more than the truck.
I have a 16' dump, and a 16' car hauler, both with dual 7k axels. Many times, they have been too short. You will never regret going longer, as long as the truck can handle it. I also have access to a 26' gooseneck, that's nice, but I usually keep a cap on my truck, and that makes it inconvienent. I went through a couple transmissions on my 1/2 ton towing dumb. Don't make that mistake, it doesn't pay. Knock on wood, my allison hasn't let me down yet, and I have really tested it. Good luck on your decision, you're doing it right with lots of research.

redbeard · « **Reply #12 on:** January 23, 2012, 11:56:38 pm »

I know this is not trailer advice but this truck deal fell in my lap when I was truck n trailer shopping. I have seen these medium duty stick and articulating boom trucks for sale in equip. Trader mags and Texas seems to have some good deals. Licence and insurance comercial is a little under 900 for a year. But I make it up on setting beams ect. For 8500 bucks I beat what I was going to spend on truck n trailer to haul tractor to get logs. And save extra trip it will haul 18' and 20' with 16' on top weight is 10,000lb pay load. You do need CDL. Its just something to consider also it dumps also and its a pretty good yarder.

Kansas · « **Reply #13 on:** January 24, 2012, 06:29:56 am »

Quote from: cypresskayaksllc on January 23, 2012, 07:16:37 pm

Get a flatbed. A lot easier to load and unload logs and lumber

Do I ever second that. I don't know how many times people come into the mill with a car type trailer hauling logs. Then you have the choice of trying to lift them off with the tongs, or drag them off the back end. The first runs a high risk of the tongs failing, and doing damage to the trailer. The second is hard on the trailer. Loading lumber, pallets, anything else is much easier with a flatbed. Also, the advice of a gooseneck is sound advice. Also getting a dovetail.

Norm · « **Reply #14 on:** January 24, 2012, 07:17:18 am »

I've run a bunch of tag a longs but after getting this one those days are long gone.

Well worth the extra money.

Bogue Chitto · « **Reply #15 on:** January 24, 2012, 11:59:38 am »

I bought a used trailer 15 yrs ago. 20 foot long with no sides works good. I haul my tractor to the sight load the logs and bring them home. Park the trailer on the side of a hill undo the binders " Get out of the way" trailer is unloaded in no time. Then go back to get my tractor.

dukndog · « **Reply #16 on:** January 24, 2012, 12:04:00 pm »

I got a Texas Bragg (made in Mt. Pleasant) also about 5 yrs ago for under $2k. Bumper pull 20' tube with drop gate 7k axels and brakes. Was around $700.00 cheaper than my local BigT dealer. Both brands are high quality and well built.

scsmith42 · « **Reply #17 on:** January 24, 2012, 05:26:08 pm »

Norm, I know what you mean!

MotorSeven · « **Reply #18 on:** January 24, 2012, 05:44:53 pm »

I would consider a 20'. 18 just does not give you any wiggle room at all and if you are like me you will end up trying to haul something that's a wee bit bigger that what you have.
If I ever buy a new trailer it will have no ramps, but a hydraulic tilt...it's the only way to fly...........

Norm · « **Reply #19 on:** January 25, 2012, 07:04:48 am »

Darn it Scott you keep upping the anty on me!

Patty!!!!!

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Author Topic: Buying a trailer, need advice! (Read 1181 times)