Tilt Trailers Good? Bad? Real World Input Appreciated

Spudland_Dave · Oct 22, 2009

So I'm thinking of getting a trailer....not in a "hurry" just more or less formulating what I want/what I need/what to look for...

In my head for the longest time I wanted a 20' or 21' tilt deck.... 16' Tilt/4 or 5' Stationary...

Went to local trailer dealer and they only had a 16' Tilt on the lot.....he told me that tilts were "pretty useless" because the back 6/7 feet are totally useless for anything heavier then styrofoam...load anything back there and your top speed is 10mph because the truck becomes so squirrily its not funny.....
He tried to get me into a 20' "Car Hauler" type trailer with the flip down ramps...which he had plenty of on the lot...I definetly got the feeling that he was just pushing me towards what he had...but I figured I'd check with you guys before deciding on a trailer either way...

What I'd be hauling.....my 3520 Cab, Loader, and whatever attachment I may or may not need like a Box Blade/Power Rake/etc... Other then the tractor, not really any other "heavy hauling" plans...

What

BXinNH · Oct 22, 2009

Dave,

Thanks for posting this question. I am in the same situation "looking" and have been wondering about tilt beds as well. I am anxious to see what the experiences and opinions on this forum are.

Matt.

Bird · Oct 22, 2009

I definetly got the feeling that he was just pushing me towards what he had.

I think so, too. Of course, you want some tongue weight; ideally 10% to 15% of the total trailer weight, so it you load the back end of ANY trailer too heavy compared to the weight you have in front of the axle(s) you can have a problem. So I guess he could be right if the axles are far enough forward.

Mike058 · Oct 22, 2009

I suspect you just have to make sure you get one long enough so that anything attached to the 3 point is far enough foward to keep that 10-15% weight on the tongue.

Diamondpilot · Oct 22, 2009

Tilts are nice trailers for some but not for me. If you look at most traditional trailers the wheels are about 70% the way back. On a tilt they are near the 50% point. This can lead to fishtailing. I towed on tilt and did not care for it. The other problem was the one I used was 100% tilt and we wanted to put a tiller on the front then the tractor. It worked but was way more work than just using a traditional trailer with ramps.

I do agree he is pushing you to what he has in stock.

Chris

JoelD · Oct 22, 2009

I like my tilt bed, beaver tail trailer. Clearance is good when loading and unloading.

I've used it for 12K dozer and 5K tractor, loading and unloading is easy for both.

I don't have to worry about crushing or bending the ramps.

I do get the point though on the wheels being closer to the middle which would increase fishtailing. I do need considerable weight on the tongue to avoid fishtailing.

Like most things there are pros and cons to each.

For me, as I don't trailer to far and don't trailer very fast, I am every pleased with my deck over tilt bed.

Joel

dodge man · Oct 22, 2009

I borrowed one of these once. Its kind of hard to describe how they work and the website isn't that great, but you unlock the deck and drive you tow vehicle backwards to tilt the deck down and the drive back forward to tilt the deck back up. Rollback Trailers Kwikload Trailer Roll Back Trailers Kwik Load Trailer The video on the site is not to bad.

They are kind of pricey, not double a regular car hauler trailer but close. I ended up buying a regular 16 foot trailer with a 2 foot dovetail that came with ramps. The tilt I borrowed was also pretty low to the ground, which can be an advatage or a disadvantage at times. That style tilt I listed is a really great car hauler because its low, even a lower car would drag as easy. The bad part is that they might be more likely to drag at times. I would have considered one except for the price.

flusher · Oct 22, 2009

dodge man said:
I borrowed one of these once. Its kind of hard to describe how they work and the website isn't that great, but you unlock the deck and drive you tow vehicle backwards to tilt the deck down and the drive back forward to tilt the deck back up. Rollback Trailers Kwikload Trailer Roll Back Trailers Kwik Load Trailer The video on the site is not to bad.

They are kind of pricey, not double a regular car hauler trailer but close. I ended up buying a regular 16 foot trailer with a 2 foot dovetail that came with ramps. The tilt I borrowed was also pretty low to the ground, which can be an advatage or a disadvantage at times. That style tilt I listed is a really great car hauler because its low, even a lower car would drag as easy. The bad part is that they might be more likely to drag at times. I would have considered one except for the price.

Dragging--don't know if there's that much difference between a lowboy or a deckover. The axles of the deckover limit the ground clearance. Don't the axles of the lowboy also limit the ground clearance?

Like you, I'm checking out tilts vs car haulers. The PJs look attractive.

aczlan · Oct 22, 2009

dodge man said:
I borrowed one of these once. Its kind of hard to describe how they work and the website isn't that great, but you unlock the deck and drive you tow vehicle backwards to tilt the deck down and the drive back forward to tilt the deck back up. Rollback Trailers Kwikload Trailer Roll Back Trailers Kwik Load Trailer The video on the site is not to bad.

It looks like the wheel assy slides. To tilt down, you set the brakes, unlock the slider and backup. To tilt up, you drive forward until the sliding carriage locks into place.

Aaron Z

dave1949 · Oct 22, 2009

I had a 2003 Bri-Mar 18' deck hydraulic tilt trailer. Rated at 6 tons. About 23' overall. 102" overall width. I think Bri-Mar makes a decent trailer, little light on grease zerks. The elec. brakes worked well.

I hauled my NH TC40 with FEL and backhoe on it. I parked with the bottom heel of the bucket resting on the front crossbar. Never had any fish tail issues.

I don't know if they are much of an advantage over the flip ramp type. You have to maintain the battery that runs the hydraulic pump. My model year had a known problem of blowing a 20 amp fuse in the trailer, then the battery wasn't being charged by the truck, but everything else like lights and brakes still worked. When it sounded slow while lifting, replace the fuse and you are good for another 3-4 months.

Never ran into this, but I think you could not drive up it if it had a good coating of ice/snow on it. Plus, after driving up the trailer, you have to set brakes get off and run the bed down. No big deal but something to think about. Lastly, if you are trying to load and have a battery, hydraulic or motor problem, you are stuck until you fix it, or build a temp dirt loading ramp. That wouldn't be so easy if you were unloading. Mine never failed me, but Murphy always applies.

Dave.

burnetma · Oct 22, 2009

I have a 20' Econoline 7 ton deckover tilt. I bought it to haul my JD 5420 (10,250 with loader and balast). I found it necessary to add a weight distribution and anti-sway system to make me 100% comfortable in towing. I absolutely love loading and unloading my tractor. Unlike Dave's Bri-Mar, my trailer does not have hydraulic tilt but does have a vented hydraulic ram to soften the tilt speed. While this may seem to be a disadvantage, I completely disagree. With this set-up, I know when the center of gravity has passed the tilt axis and thus I can easily judge when I have positive tongue weight. This is really important as others have discussed. Honestly, my trailer would be 100% perfect if it were a gooseneck. I bought this one on ebay for less than half the price of a gooseneck. The weight distribution and sway control solves all the problems.

Pros:
Easiest loading and unloading
No concerns with the trailer lifting the rear tires of the truck.
No issues with hanging up on the dovetail angle or the end of ramps
No lifting of heavy ramps
No need to adjust ramp widths or add ramps for narrow front end tractors
Completely flat bed

Cons:
Can only utilize 16' of the 20' length
Can not easily load multiple pieces of equipment without hydraulic tilt
Axle location near trailer mid-point
Cost

Bottom line. When time comes, I will buy another tilt bed, but it will be a gooseneck.

Diamondpilot · Oct 22, 2009

flusher said:
Dragging--don't know if there's that much difference between a lowboy or a deckover. The axles of the deckover limit the ground clearance. Don't the axles of the lowboy also limit the ground clearance?

Like you, I'm checking out tilts vs car haulers. The PJs look attractive.

The big problem is with the placement of the axles leaving more overhang off the back. It will drag easier going up over curbs like in so many neighborhoods, going through a washout like when entering a field from the road, ect.

Chris

tlbuser · Oct 23, 2009

dave1949 said:
You have to maintain the battery that runs the hydraulic pump. My model year had a known problem of blowing a 20 amp fuse in the trailer, then the battery wasn't being charged by the truck, but everything else like lights and brakes still worked. When it sounded slow while lifting, replace the fuse and you are good for another 3-4 months.

Plus, after driving up the trailer, you have to set brakes get off and run the bed down. No big deal but something to think about.
Dave.

Running a hot lead from the vehicle's battery solves most of those problems.
A hand held remote for the pump makes that problem go away.

Guess I'm spoiled, I hate using ramps now and definitely would not buy one with them.

tlbuser · Oct 23, 2009

burnetma said:
The weight distribution and sway control solves all the problems.

Pros:
Easiest loading and unloading
No concerns with the trailer lifting the rear tires of the truck.
No issues with hanging up on the dovetail angle or the end of ramps
No lifting of heavy ramps
No need to adjust ramp widths or add ramps for narrow front end tractors
Completely flat bed

Cons:
Can only utilize 16' of the 20' length
Can not easily load multiple pieces of equipment without hydraulic tilt
Axle location near trailer mid-point
Cost

Bottom line. When time comes, I will buy another tilt bed, but it will be a gooseneck.

Why are you saying you can't use the full bed ? Mine is a 20' w/16' tilt deckover. I can place a 3 bottom plow on the front then add the tractor w/ 8' disc.

LoneCowboy · Oct 23, 2009

I had a Econoline 14k 25' gooseneck tilt (4' solid up front, rest tilted) 8'd wide deckover

It was great because you got 25' of deck space, where most goosenecks are 25' plus 5' of dovetail (i.e. 30' long), allowed you to get into some ugly spots.

quick load and unload
did not have power up or down, was just balanced. you could unclick the locking pin and just stand on the end and it would come slowly down.

The 4' up front allowed you to put pallets of stuff up front, then load the tractor.

But you can't load two pieces of machinery as someone mentioned earlier. Once one is on, the whole tilt bed has flipped up. And the tilt was right at the midpoint, so getting it to tilt forward means you had tongue weight (no fishtailing). It was well set up.

But man, it rode terrible!!!!!!! I could never get it to adjust right. Even empty it would beat you to death. Was it the tilt? just this trailer? I don't know. I finally gave up and sold it

But the concept is great, I'd buy another tilt.

dave1949 · Oct 23, 2009

tlbuser said:
Running a hot lead from the vehicle's battery solves most of those problems.
A hand held remote for the pump makes that problem go away.

Guess I'm spoiled, I hate using ramps now and definitely would not buy one with them.

The fuse was never enough of a problem to dig into the real issue. I just mentioned it in the interest of giving a complete review.

It had a hand-held remote, the cord wasn't anywhere near long enough to reach beyond the back of the trailer such that you could hold it while driving onto the trailer. Maybe they have wireless now.

I don't doubt tilt trailers are a plus if you are loading and unloading frequently, pushing buttons beats lifting heavy ramps

Dave.

Spudland_Dave · Oct 23, 2009

Thanks for the responses...

It seemed to me that the 16' Tilt + 4' Stationary would allow the axles to be a little better placed...but that seems to not be the case...

So realistically it looks like I should save the "extra money" the tilts cost and just buy a "Low Deck" Equipment hauler and fab up some hydraulic ramps or something like that...

What got me to wanting a tilt is I absouletly HATE Ramps... I spent 4 years in High School unloading & Loading my dad's Kubota L2900 on & off our 24' Deckover Gooseneck and it was the part of the job I hated..

Diamondpilot · Oct 23, 2009

Spudland_Dave said:
Thanks for the responses...

It seemed to me that the 16' Tilt + 4' Stationary would allow the axles to be a little better placed...but that seems to not be the case...

So realistically it looks like I should save the "extra money" the tilts cost and just buy a "Low Deck" Equipment hauler and fab up some hydraulic ramps or something like that...

What got me to wanting a tilt is I absouletly HATE Ramps... I spent 4 years in High School unloading & Loading my dad's Kubota L2900 on & off our 24' Deckover Gooseneck and it was the part of the job I hated..

Most of us only haul with our trailers once a month or maybe twice so the extra money spent seems foolish to me. Now if I were using it daily like as a landscaper, tractor dealer, ect that would be another story.

I would rather spend the extra money used to buy a tilt and get a nicer bigger trailer with all the goodies like nice tie downs, plenty of chains and straps, nice tool box to house it all, and a winch.

Chris

Chris

BXinNH · Oct 23, 2009

I also thank you all for sharing your insights. I am slowly looking for the right trailer for my BX24. I have looked at some tilts and some deckovers, eventually I'll stumble across just what I want at the right price.

Matt.

LBrown59 · Oct 23, 2009

Spudland_Dave said:
In my head for the longest time I wanted a 20' or 21' tilt deck.... 16' Tilt/4 or 5' Stationary...

Went to local trailer dealer and they only had a 16' Tilt on the lot.....he told me that tilts were "pretty useless" because the back 6/7 feet are totally useless for anything heavier then styrofoam...load anything back there and your top speed is 10mph because the truck becomes so squirrily its not funny.....
He tried to get me into a 20' "Car Hauler" type trailer with the flip down ramps...which he had plenty of on the lot...
1*I definetly got the feeling that he was just pushing me towards what he had...but I figured I'd check with you guys before deciding on a trailer either way.

1*It's what i think.

BXinNH said:
Dave,
Thanks for posting this question. I am in the same situation "looking" and have been wondering about tilt beds as well. I am anxious to see what the experiences and opinions on this forum are.
Matt.

I want an 18* tilt with ramps .

Mike058 said:
I suspect you just have to make sure you get one long enough so that anything attached to the 3 point is far enough foward to keep that 10-15% weight on the tongue.

Or get one with the wheels in the rite place.

Diamondpilot said:
Tilts are nice trailers for some but not for me. If you look at most traditional trailers the wheels are about 70% of the way back.
1*On a tilt they are near the 50% point.
2* The other problem was the one I used was 100% tilt and we wanted to put a tiller on the front then the tractor. It worked but was way more work than just using a traditional trailer with ramps.Chris

1*Why the difference ?
2*Just Back the tractor and tiller on to the trailer .
Another alternative is to load attachments onto the trailer with a set of forks.
Another way is use a winch.