Trailer options

CLRracer

CLRracer

Mopar Nut
Joined
Mar 20, 2005
Location
Archer Lodge
Looking at getting another trailer, pretty much narrowed it down to a 24ft low deck gooseneck. The brands I'm looking at offer the 102" "buggy hauler" style with the drive over fenders. Initially my thinking was if I needed a wide trailer I should just get a deck over, and most of what I'll be hauling will fit between the fenders, so I never really looked at the buggy hauler style. Thoughts? It is a decent bit cheaper than a deck over.

Second, single or dual landing gear. Most come with single, and every trailer I've ever had or used was a single, but if the dual is worth the cost I might as well get it while I'm ordering.

Any other options you wish you did or didn't have on your trailers? Mostly I'll be hauling trucks and tractors, occasionally materials like steel or lumber but not nearly as much as vehicles.

Duane
 
I prefer equipment trailers (low deck) , but deckovers definitely have their place.

The second jack is worth it. It was another 140 bucks when I built mine. I couldn't stand the thought of unhooking the trailer with it loaded and only having one jack. Plus, you usually get a bigger single toolbox between them instead of a box on either side of a single jack.

Tilt trailers are nice, but they also have their place. If you're loading something with a long wheelbase, it'll want to tilt if the front tires pass the breaking point and there's no way to lock it. It was also much easier for me to limp my excavator on a fixed trailer when it split a track, but that was a one time kinda thing.

If it has fold down ramps and stiff knees, the spring assist is worth it! Ramps are heavy as shit.

Oh, pony up for 17.5" tires/rims. Hands down my favorite upgrade. 8k axles, a little bit bigger brakes, and a helluva lot heavier tire. Don't listen to the stories about trying to find a spare on a Sunday afternoon on your way home from somewhere....you likely won't have a blow out since they'll probably never be overloaded :D
 
Croatan_Kid said:
you likely won't have a blow out since they'll probably never be overloaded
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Wasn’t aware this was the only road hazard that takes out tires.
 
I’ve had 2 “buggy haulers” with the drive over fenders. The only use you listed that might offer some irritation would be hauling steel or lumber. The fenders get in the way of loading and unloading with a forklift. I decided to stay away from gravity tilt trailers because I can’t leave anything stock for very long. Just bolting on a spare tire mount screws up the engineers math for a balanced tilt. Powered tilt... not an issue, but more $$$. And I vote normal size rims and tires for convenience. More than once, I’ve looked for a tire after hours (mine or somebody’s in the convoy). Ain’t worth the hassle.
 
BigSouth said:
And I vote normal size rims and tires for convenience. More than once, I’ve looked for a tire after hours (mine or somebody’s in the convoy). Ain’t worth the hassle.
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I saw the part about balance and spare mount... but dang....do you get all cocky n'shit when you go 17.5" and say to hell with carrying a spare (or 2)?
 
CasterTroy said:
I saw the part about balance and spare mount... but dang....do you get all cocky n'shit when you go 17.5" and say to hell with carrying a spare (or 2)?
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True story... Convoy to Harlan, KY for the 4th, @Paul lost a trailer tire. No biggie, we did our best NASCAR tire change and were back on the road in no time. Less than 30 minutes later, the spare we just put on blew. We were in nowhere BFE and Paul finds a shop with 2 used tires that fit the need. I promise you there weren’t any used 17.5’s in ol’ boys shop.
 
@BigSouth was there ever a time you didn't like the extra width and thicker fenders, or conversely a time you were really glad you had it?

As for tilt, if I could get one where the whole deck tilted I would consider it, but most are split deck, and tilt starts to put trailers out of what I'm looking to spend.

Thanks for the input.

Duane
 
CLRracer said:
was there ever a time you didn't like the extra width and thicker fenders, or conversely a time you were really glad you had it?
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Always like the extra width and I love the thicker fenders. You can stand on them, they don’t get damaged from tire shrapnel, and they’re an extension of the rub rail. I’ve leaned mine against a tree in a tight spot to pivot the trailer. Other than side loading material with a forklift, I don’t think you’ll ever regret getting the HD drive over fenders.
 
Croatan_Kid said:
Tilt trailers are nice, but they also have their place. If you're loading something with a long wheelbase, it'll want to tilt if the front tires pass the breaking point and there's no way to lock it. It was also much easier for me to limp my excavator on a fixed trailer when it split a track, but that was a one time kinda
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Hydraulic tilt doesnt lower until you hit the button and most gravity tilts have a valve you can lock so it doesnt go down until you want it to. I have dragged quad cab duallys 15 passenger vans and all kinds of tractors on it with no "lowering issues". I've also pulled plenty of broken down equipment on it with no issues at all. Mine is 24ft long and the whole 24ft tilts with a 12k lb winch mounted to the front of the deck.
 
CLRracer said:
@BigSouth was there ever a time you didn't like the extra width and thicker fenders, or conversely a time you were really glad you had it?

As for tilt, if I could get one where the whole deck tilted I would consider it, but most are split deck, and tilt starts to put trailers out of what I'm looking to spend.

Thanks for the input.

Duane
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Mine is full length hydraulic tilt, 24ft of never having to mess with ramps greatness.
 
Stuntman Autoworks said:
Mine is full length hydraulic tilt, 24ft of never having to mess with ramps greatness.
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I decided against tilt because I need the ability to side load a golf cart on the front and also load a vehicle on the rear. I also have weight restrictions with the RV. Something I never experienced before I sold my Cummins. :D
 
If you have alot of different width stuff to haul the tilt is also nice because you never have to slide ramps around to get the right width.
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BigSouth said:
I decided against tilt because I need the ability to side load a golf cart on the front and also load a vehicle on the rear. I also have weight restrictions with the RV. Something I never experienced before I sold my Cummins. :D
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That can be fixed with a tilt that has a fixed front section.:eek:
 
Stuntman Autoworks said:
That can be fixed with a tilt that has a fixed front section.:eek:
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There wasn’t a perfect fit anywhere on the market. It was gonna have to be custom ordered. My needs steered me away from it. I’m not arguing one trailer is better than the other. The more I studied it, the more I realize that there is no perfect trailer that does it all. Pros and cons to every style.
 
BigSouth said:
There wasn’t a perfect fit anywhere on the market. It was gonna have to be custom ordered. My needs steered me away from it. I’m not arguing one trailer is better than the other. The more I studied it, the more I realize that there is no perfect trailer that does it all. Pros and cons to every style.
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Deffinatly i just had tti give you a hard time.
 
I just went through this late last year. Was considering getting a buggy hauler for my wide wheeler (full width wontons with wide 42s). I decided against it because to get the tongue weight right I would have had to park on top of the fenders during transport. I didn't like that idea.

I ended up getting a deckover with spring assist monster whatever ramps for a good deal. No regrets. It being high up makes it really, really easy to hook up straps. Higher center of gravity doesn't seem to make a difference.
 
Stuntman Autoworks said:
Hydraulic tilt doesnt lower until you hit the button and most gravity tilts have a valve you can lock so it doesnt go down until you want it to. I have dragged quad cab duallys 15 passenger vans and all kinds of tractors on it with no "lowering issues". I've also pulled plenty of broken down equipment on it with no issues at all. Mine is 24ft long and the whole 24ft tilts with a 12k lb winch mounted to the front of the deck.
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Dont even bother, I had this argument with @Croatan_Kid last time the topic came up and he still thinks it's easier to go up 2 ramps instead of 1 big one :p
 
FDWTG-7K-24D 24 ft. (10 ft. fixed + 14 ft. 6 in. tilt deck) $5,490.00
+140 for dual Jacks
+380 for Cooper Discoverer HT3 tires
+285 for Cooper Discoverer HT3 spare
 
jeepinmatt said:
Dont even bother, I had this argument with @Croatan_Kid last time the topic came up and he still thinks it's easier to go up 2 ramps instead of 1 big one :p
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It's certainly not any more difficult... :flipoff2: I did seriously consider a tilt, but price won out. I'm also not sure if they made a full tilt gooseneck. I know I asked if they valved them so they could lock in the tilted position and they didn't. Sure, I could have added it myself, but I certainly don't regret the trailer I wound up with.

BigSouth said:
Wasn’t aware this was the only road hazard that takes out tires.
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It's not, but it does contribute to a lot of blowouts.


CasterTroy said:
I saw the part about balance and spare mount... but dang....do you get all cocky n'shit when you go 17.5" and say to hell with carrying a spare (or 2)?
Click to expand...

Who doesn't carry a spare? :confused:
 
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Stuntman Autoworks said:
Hydraulic tilt doesnt lower until you hit the button and most gravity tilts have a valve you can lock so it doesnt go down until you want it to. I have dragged quad cab duallys 15 passenger vans and all kinds of tractors on it with no "lowering issues". I've also pulled plenty of broken down equipment on it with no issues at all. Mine is 24ft long and the whole 24ft tilts with a 12k lb winch mounted to the front of the deck.
Click to expand...

The full tilt is definitely the way to go if you go tilt. I've seen a handful of brands that didn't have valves on them to lock them, but that could always be added. The ones I've seen kick up were the fixed front deck with the rear tilt section.
 
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