Kaufman utility trailers

Jeep_parts

Jeep_parts

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2005
Location
Kernersville, North Carolina
I am in the market for a new trailer and wanted to reach out to people on here who have bought a Kaufman utility trailer. I recently looked at a Leonard brand trailer and was shocked at the low quality of craftsmanship for such a well known name. The size trailer I am looking for is 6x12 and don’t want the mess sides that a lot of the newer trailers offer.

Feel free to comment on these trailers or other brands that are worth the money.

Thanks
 
I'm a fairly decent welder, and tend to look at the welds on anything, especially if I'm about to put my money into it.

Of the trailers I looked at when I got mine (this was in '06), Kaufman had some of the consistently best (appearing) welds. Kraftsman (outside Siler City) made a nice trailer, but looked like Fuller welds on most of the trailers on their lot. The trailers sitting at Lowe's and places like that....yuck.
 
After borrowing @DSM Turbos trailer, I would not recommend them.

Great trailers for borrowing :flipoff2: , but they are clearly cutting corners.

We bought a Kraftsman goose used and like it. Quality is decent. What I've seen of Kaufman is also good.
 
Bought a single axle basic 5x14 Kaufman two years ago, very happy with it. Nicer than my previous two utility trailers - Hallmark or Haulrite, can never keep them straight.
 
From what I understand, Kaufman and Kraftsman worked together back in the day and went their separate ways.

Kraftsman is much more willing to build a trailer FOR you...not just sell you a trailer that they build. Also, T&W will build you pretty much whatever you want too. My uncle has had two of them and they're nice trailers.

I have a Down 2 Earth and I like it as well.
 
I have a Kaufman I bought brand new in 2011 or 2012, I can't remember exactly. It was not on the lot, they had to build it for me because I upgraded the axles and had drive-over fenders installed. I've been happy with it. It's a 16 footer with a dove tail.
 
I have several Kaufman utility trailers we bought for work (5x8 and 6x12).

Been using them for years with no issues.

We bought them there because they were local, came with 3500 pound axle, and in stock. They were also cheaper than what Lowes or Tractor supply stock and those only had 2000 pound axles.

Kraftsman was around the same price but they don't stock any of these trailers typically.
 
The last Kaufman car trailer I purchased had square tires and bounced all over. I had new radials put on it the same week that I pulled it from Kaufman yard. All four of those cheap gray wheels were warped. Kaufman did offer to swap out rims if I brought them back to them.

After new wheels and radials, it pulled great. The paint was pretty pathetic too. Won't buy another one.

Bought a used t&w, it was great.
 
DSM Turbos said:
I can't wait to borrow that gooseneck and use a real trailer
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Whenever you buy a real truck, that trailer is sitting here waiting. You can't put any of your little ricer cars on it, though. It doesn't have a dove.
 
At work, we recently got a new trailer, & we went to the goose neck equipment deck over. It hauls Bobcat skid steer & implements. Between the skid operator & Boss, they went with PJ Trailers, out of Texas. They've had Hudson, Kauftman, & others. They feel like PJ is better built [Quality], better welds, wiring is fully inclosed, double landing gear, front chain box in the tongue, HD Ramps, & Powered coated [I think]. In their mind, it's the Best.
 
shawn said:
Whenever you buy a real truck, that trailer is sitting here waiting. You can't put any of your little ricer cars on it, though. It doesn't have a dove.
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Harsh!! Poor little f250 can pull it! I don't have any ricer cars anymore sadly. Only the garage full of motorcycles and a Jeep.
 
I have owned kaufman, hudson and now a copper river fab trailer. The 2006 hudson was great. The Kaufman was 100% garbage. My current copper river fab trailer is built in concord and is definitely my recommendation.
 
Kaufman would be choice. We have two getting ready to be three. As far as them special building one we had no problem when we had one built from them. I have put over 50k miles on it over the past year and zero problems also the trailer is pretty much always loaded. As for T&W trailers we had in the past all I can say is you get what you pay for. We went through several axle replacements and shackle mounts and multiple frame fixes.
 
Never had a small utility trailer, but I've had a 1, 2, and now currently have a 4 car trailer from kaufman, and I think all of them were well built. They handled all my abuse with no complaints.
No matter the trailer you get, make sure you go with radial tires.
 
If you use it everyday, a T&W is likely not your best choice. For an occasional use, they are great and affordable.

It's kind of like those jumbo combo wrench sets that you use like .1% of the time. Is a $1000 Mac set worth the $ or are the $225 harbor freight sets going to work OK? I wouldn't buy the Mac for 1 use per year but def don't want harbor freights for an everyday tool.
 
rockcity said:
It's kind of like those jumbo combo wrench sets that you use like .1% of the time. Is a $1000 Mac set worth the $ or are the $225 harbor freight sets going to work OK? I wouldn't buy the Mac for 1 use per year but def don't want harbor freights for an everyday tool.
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That's a good metaphor, if the deck boards on the jumbo combo wrench are only held down with a couple of screws, the underside of the jumbo combo wrench isn't painted, what few lights they installed don't work, the wiring is all fucked up, and only one brake works. :flipoff2:
 
I bought a 6x12 at Lowe’s on sale for around 1250 it’s not the nicest trailer made but I’ve pulled the thing all over the Carolinas without any trouble the only thing I’ve done is put new tires on it
 
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