Tilt vs Ramps

Croatan_Kid

Croatan_Kid

How's your hammer hangin'?
Joined
Nov 4, 2007
Location
New Bern
I'll soon be buying a 24' Kaufman gooseneck equipment trailer....that much I've decided. I just can't quite decide if I want the tilt trailer or one with ramps. Weight difference is minimal, less than 200lbs. Price is a couple hundred different, not a big deal in the grand scheme of things and you get a discount if you pay in full at pickup. This trailer will mainly haul my Kubota L4400 and I'm sure some vehicles now and then.

I've been leaning very heavily towards the tilt because:
- no dovetail, less chance of dragging the ass end of it all the time
- no ramps to have to pick up!
- it just seems easier

It has a 10' fixed front deck, the tilt part is 14'6.

The only question I have is, can you shut the valve on the hyd ram under the tilt to hold the deck up to load something longer, like a truck? I've talked to a sales rep for about 30 minutes and that was the only question I didn't think to ask.


So what say ye NC4x4?
 
The Kaufman ramps are heavy as fawk on my 24' deck over. They really need a spring on them.

But, I like the ramps when backing empty as I can actually see the trailer in the rear view mirror. The last one had slide in ramps and it was impossible to back up as I couldn't see it in my mirror.
 
There's not really anything that could fail on the tilt trailer the render it unusable...if the hyd ram crapped out, it would still tilt. It's just used as a damper, it's not power tilt...guess I could have specified that.

I didn't think about always using the ramps to be able to see. That's definitely a good point. I suppose I could order one with ramps that doesn't have a dove tail, but that would set me back a month or so for build time.
 
I was thinking power tilt, like a car trailer I once had. 2 speed hyd. hand pump. But it sat as low as a dove tail. Better for hauling a low slung car, but that's about the only advantage.
If your's will be gravity tilt, will it stay tilted while you load a car? Will the angle be Low enough? If it's More for equipment, it might be a problem to load a car.
 
Tilt! I've used flat trailers, dovetail trailers, manual tilt, full length hydraulic tilt, and hydraulic drop deck (designed for scissor lifts or other cool stuff like moving milling machines). My next trailer will be a full length hydraulic tilt. The drop deck is cool, but too narrow inside, too wide outside, and too limiting. With a flat deck, the rear is too high. With a dove, the rear is too low. My neighbor had an 8x24 14K PJ deckover full length hydraulic tilt, and it was invaluable when moving my shop. No issues loading 5 tons of forklift on it (and a bunch of other stuff too). Hydraulics lifted it right up, and the transition at the rear was as smooth as it could be. Wouldn't have worked with a flat or dove because of the breakover angle. Also, for winching stuff onto the trailer, full tilt is the way to go. You don't have that funny transition from angled to flat. Just winch to where you want, secure the load, then lower the trailer. That's why rollbacks are that way.
 
I like a tilt also. I can see advantages of full tilt and partial tilt. I also like the drop deck trailers or sliding axle trailers.

Rob made a good point about backing the trailer. I guess you could put a flag or whip on the back of the trailer if you needed to.
 
I feel like since it'll be a gooseneck, I'll be able to see enough in the rear view to back it and I can always see the fenders in the side mirrors.

I definitely want to find out if I can hold the tilt deck in the upright position for loading longer things....if not from the factory, all I'd have to do is add a ball valve in the loop.

I'm not too awful worried about loading cars...couldn't tell you the last time I messed with one. It's usually stock or higher trucks, equipment, or SUVs of some sort that are all higher than a car would sit.
 
This is the trailer I'm looking at. The sales rep sent me the pictures. The one loaded with the JD is also an option with 8k axles and 17.5s, but I'd probably just roll with the 7ks and 16s. The extra capacity would be nice, but I think it's 1300ish more.
 

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What happens when you need to load 2 things and it overhangs on part of the tilt from the flat spot? I would think it might limit you at times on what you can carry.
 
I did not like loading a large back hoe/front loader on a tilt trailer, sketchy. FWIW, I think spring assist ramps are standard equipment on the Kaufman deluxe trailers.
 
The downside of the fixed front tilt deck is loading long items, like that pic of the tractor with a trailer. If the item being loaded is longer than the tilt section you are basically forced to use ramps.

The only place I prefer a split tilt deck is if you were putting a camper or fixed unit on the fixed portion.

As far as holding the deck, you typically have 2 options for tilt; manual hydraulic or powered hydraulic. Both units are designed to hold position of the deck. Basically just like an engine hoist.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
 
What ^ said. Its hydraulic, so as long as there are no leaks in the hydraulics, it will hold position just fine. It will leak down over hours or days, not minutes.
 
electric over hydraulic tilt is the tits....
 
I called the sales rep and there's not a provision for holding the deck up. The hydraulics are just used as a damper to slow the deck and keep it from slamming. I could easily put a valve in it to make it hold position, but thinking about trying to load two things makes it sound like a pain...although I really just need it to haul my tractor.

I'm starting to think I'd be better off with a trailer that has ramps. I could order one with no dove tail too, but I think the breakover angle would suck.
 
PJ trailers are higher than a giraffe's ass everywhere I look. Kaufman does offer a similar trailer though.
 
I'd swear Pro Line is the same as Kaufman...

I pulled up beside one identical to mine and everything was identical except the brand name. It even had the identical "Hi-Tensile" decal in the exact same place as my Kaufman. :confused:
 
I'm thinking I'll just get the 2' dovetail with ramps. The tilt trailer would be awesome if all I ever hauled was my tractor, but this trailer is gunna haul whatever I want to haul, dammit!
 
Fwiw a buddy has a full length hydraulic tilt that also has ramps that slide in the back. They are retained by separate vertical bars. Kind d of the best of both worlds, except the ramps are in "pockets " underneath and make more noise than a coffee can full of rocks
 
The regular old equipment trailer with ramps will do me just fine, I believe. Plus, I'm trying to stay around or just under 5000. For what I keep seeing used goosenecks sell for, I figured I'd be ahead just by getting a new one!
 
Croatan_Kid said:
This is the trailer I'm looking at. The sales rep sent me the pictures. The one loaded with the JD is also an option with 8k axles and 17.5s, but I'd probably just roll with the 7ks and 16s. The extra capacity would be nice, but I think it's 1300ish more.
Click to expand...

If I were you, I'd go to colony tire and buy a set of Sailuns on steel wheels, then take them with you to Lexington when you pick up the trailer.
 
^^^this
Our Kaufman dump blew out all the original tires within 6months
 
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