20' Wood deck vs. 16' Steel deck

REDLYNER

REDLYNER

Mall Crawling Race Rig
Joined
Oct 31, 2008
Location
Mountain Island
Well, after months of shopping I never found a deal that I liked on Craigslist or Ebay, so I suppose I am going to have a new trailer built. I am debating between two trailers from the same company: a 20' wood deck trailer and a 16' steel deck trailer.

I'm hauling a TJ to local events (Farm, Flats, DPG, ECORS) and will also have a once or twice a year long haul (California, Utah, Colorado, Texas, Indiana, etc). I'm using an H3 Alpha (5.3 V8) as my tow truck. That being the case, is there a massively obvious choice between the two trailers?

They are the same price. Just curious if there is info out there like "of course you should by trailer X over trailer Y".
 
I've been looking for awhile too, I've been comparing 18' wood deck vs. 16' steel deck. I'm needing one to haul my circle track racecar, and my buddies crawler. Probably going to get mine from T&W in Hudson, as they are only about 15min from my house. Anyone got any information? Would also love to see some good pics.

Didn't really mean to hijack the original thread, just sort of thought it fit good here , and could probably help OP as well. Lol
 
Steel deck
 
Would I be able to fit a UTV (rzr, rhino, etc) and the TJ on a 20'?
 
I can put a 16ft vehicle on a 20ft trailer easier than I can put a 20ft vehicle on a 16ft trailer. And having used both steel and wood deck trailers, the advantages of steel are lesser than the advantages of the length. The biggest disadvantage to the longer trailer is weight.

Duane
 
The 20' wood trailer weighs about the same as the 16' all steel trailer (~2000lbs). The jeep is right around 4000lbs so trailer and jeep put me right at my rated limit of 6000lbs. I'm thinking about picking up a sxs for the wife and son to put around and follow the TJ, but haven't decided on that yet.

I'll get an f250 or duramax at some point, but I'm not in a big rush since the H3 Alpha does the job well right now. Putting the the sxs on the 20' trailer with the TJ will probably be around 6800lbs I'm guessing.
 
I go for the 20 footer, especially if they're the same price.
 
go with the 20' & no you will have to have a 24' to fit your jeep & UTV
 
dkrajcovic said:
go with the 20' & no you will have to have a 24' to fit your jeep & UTV
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Educate me on this- couldn't I side load the utv on the front portion of the trailer (ramps on side of trailer) then drive the TJ on the rear? I've towed a single vehicle all over the country, but have zero experience with multi vehicles on a trailer.
 
REDLYNER said:
Educate me on this- couldn't I side load the utv on the front portion of the trailer (ramps on side of trailer) then drive the TJ on the rear? I've towed a single vehicle all over the country, but have zero experience with multi vehicles on a trailer.
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You could, but unless you get a tiny sxs the deck won't be wide enough. Look up the specs on them. Most have 80-90" wb for a 2 seater.

They are also about 4.5' wide & 10' long at the smallest.
 
Just buy a 24' alum and be done....
 
REDLYNER said:
Educate me on this- couldn't I side load the utv on the front portion of the trailer (ramps on side of trailer) then drive the TJ on the rear? I've towed a single vehicle all over the country, but have zero experience with multi vehicles on a trailer.
Click to expand...

it may fit but
Most UTVs a Wheel Base of 70-85" the RZR wheel base is like 78" & over 9' long
& with the jeep all the way in the rear the trailer will sway bad going down the road
& if you put the jeep in front there will be to much tung weight
 
I know a few ppl that have hauled a sxs sideways on a deckover.

If you ordered the trailer extra wide (100+"), you could most likely fit it on there. It will still be extra tight fit length wise.

I think it wouldn't be too bad on tongue weight, esp with a load distribution hitch, which i bet you use already.

Could always do 24' open center to keep weight down
 
I had an open center before (got stolen) and was thinking about a full deck this time around. Seems way easier to setup a pit for racing and good for throwing up a tent for camping.


The problem is I know eventually I'll want a 2 car hauler (24'), but I don't think the H3 Alpha could handle it until I get a truck. So I'm stuck...... I was thinking maybe the 20' would be a good compromise.
 
I've seen a Samurai loaded sideways on the front of a 20' trailer before:D and another Samurai behind it loaded like normal. I'll give you one guess who was driving the truck pulling the trailer.
 
Betty White?
 
drkelly said:
I've seen a Samurai loaded sideways on the front of a 20' trailer before:D and another Samurai behind it loaded like normal. I'll give you one guess who was driving the truck pulling the trailer.
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Bet it was one if those damn Mudevils....
 
snappy said:
Bet it was one if those damn Mudevils....
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Yep. Geoff's old stockish Sami sideways with JT's old grey stockish Sami behind it. I was following them to URE with my stock Sami on my trailer. It was April of 2006.

Looks like a Polaris RZR Sport 800 has a WB of 77", and a total vehicle length of 104". 102" is the max legal width. The Sami was definitely violating that, but they never got pulled over driving from GSO to URE.
 
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from my experience with the trailers i have owned/used over the years, i would go with a 20-24' wooden deck trailer, depending on the length of the TJ. I would order the trailer customer width so the deck was as wide as the fenders. you should be able to then load the sxs sideways upfront (as long as you get a 2 seater).

I mentioned open center because of the weight. Might be an option and put decking on part of the trailer, and possibly finish it out when you get another tow rig.

I have seen plenty of folks load the RZRs sideways without issue on deckovers, and the trailer is still under 102"

I would ask the trailer manufacture what the weight difference between 20 & 24' is. i bet its not that much. and does it matter if it has a dove or not?
 
The sxs I was looking at measures out to: 106" x 68" x 76" with a wheelbase of 76.4". Dry weight of 540lbs. Just measured the TJ and from front nerf bar to rear nerf bar it is 160", with a fully loaded race weight of 4200lbs. So bumper to bumper with the sxs would be 266" assuming no overlap and since the combined wheelbase is roughly 180", it looks like I could get away with a 22' with no dove tail.

Correct? Actually, even with a dovetail it may fit. If I knew I was getting a tow truck in the next 6 months, I would get a 24' and be done with it, but I just don't know and I'll need a trailer several before then.
 
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I
REDLYNER said:
Educate me on this- couldn't I side load the utv on the front portion of the trailer (ramps on side of trailer) then drive the TJ on the rear? I've towed a single vehicle all over the country, but have zero experience with multi vehicles on a trailer.
Click to expand...

Ive got a 16ft steal trailer, that I used to haul 2 Rhinos on an had to put a piece of plywood on the front to let the front tires go over the front rail for them to both fit. The jeep an SxS will never work on the 20ft either. Reason being the only way you might get away with it, is to side load the SxS. If you will measure the SxS you will find out they are on the average of 9ft long. If you check several states the width of what ever you are hauling is less than that. I would take the risk of hauling side ways, because if they pull you, you will leave it setting where it is, untill you can haul it correctly. You could go with a 22-24 an prob be ok.
 
I have wood deck and it works well and after slipping off my metal fenders things weekend because they were damp I will stay with wood. My shins do not feel well after the slip.
 
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