Construction trailer> good deal?

Builder · Jun 5, 2011

Rustyiron · Jun 5, 2011

Looks like a good deal. Other than the obvious things, tires, decking, lighting, rust, the other wear items will be in the suspension and brakes. But the brakes are easy (get the whole backing plate assy.) The suspension can be some real bull work because everything usually rusts toghether. If you are in the area that I think you are, HB DuVall in Frederick has a good trailer guy- Brian, he can get what you need.

radman1 · Jun 5, 2011

Seems like a good deal. I keep toying around with ideal of dump/grain truck in the future and would want a trailer like that.

SixHoeBob · Jun 5, 2011

The ramps are built too light, they are already bowed. Look at the hinge detail on an Eager Beaver trailer. The trailer pictured does not have the short link that allows the ramps to lay flat on the trailer. There should be three hinge supports
welded to the trailer per ramp.
Net trailer capacity is 30,400lbs? A new Eager beaver is probably $12K or more.
I would consider the one pictured if it appears to be in good condition.

Red Horse · Jun 5, 2011

the bottom line, it's 3700 bucks! I don't think I would want that heavy a trailer with electric brakes but if its driven with care--then again how do you keep some idiot from pulling out in front of you when you are bearing down on him with a 420 Cat sitting on the thing.

Bob Rooks · Jun 6, 2011

It's a '98, thirteen years old and who knows how many miles or how many times it's been OVERLOADED. LT tires are wrong for that application - 36,000 lbs. GVW?? Don't know if I'd do trailer business with someone that didn't know BUDD wheels. I wouldn't feel comfy hauling 30,400 lbs. on it.

$2,800.00

Builder · Jun 6, 2011

Probably the heaviest equipment placed on it would be my 19,500lb backhoe.
I think I'll move on to something else. I hate buying used trailers because they always seem to have problems, especially older electric brakes.
I just want a clean 15ton GVWR trailer.

LoneCowboy · Jun 12, 2011

i hate electric brakes on trailers.

Bob Rooks · Jun 12, 2011

LoneCowboy said:
i hate electric brakes on trailers.

There must be a reason.

LoneCowboy · Jun 12, 2011

they don't work.
they are expensive to fix and maintain (shoes, etc)
that stupid breakaway battery always dies and you can't tell and you get a ticket.

air brakes RULE!!!!!!

Builder · Jun 12, 2011

They do rule. They also cost more and I'm not going to use it more than 12X per year.
I'm not going to pass up on a clean electric braked 12-15 ton trailer if it presents itself, but I hate electric brakes, too.

Bob Rooks · Jun 13, 2011

LoneCowboy said:
they don't work.
they are expensive to fix and maintain (shoes, etc)
that stupid breakaway battery always dies and you can't tell and you get a ticket.

air brakes RULE!!!!!!

Strange, the ones on my 7 ton trailer have been working just fine. Battery is three years old and quite intelligent- left out in the freezing weather, etc., no problemo, you might have something connected improperly. Do the police pull you over to check your battery or check it at the scales? WOW! Never happened to me. Maybe your trailer looks like a giant red flag :laughing:
In WA state you have to have an air brake endorsement on your license for those.

Gale Hawkins · Jun 13, 2011

Builder said:
They do rule. They also cost more and I'm not going to use it more than 12X per year.
I'm not going to pass up on a clean electric braked 12-15 ton trailer if it presents itself, but I hate electric brakes, too.

2x. for low usage $$$ invested is a concern of mine but I do not run across scales and with the long wheel based F700 (16' flat dump) with the pintle hitch if I put 4-5K on the hitch the truck brakes are enough most of the time anyway without hitting the brakes.

Bob Rooks · Jun 13, 2011

Gale Hawkins said:
2x. for low usage $$$ invested is a concern of mine but I do not run across scales and with the long wheel based F700 (16' flat dump) with the pintle hitch if I put 4-5K on the hitch the truck brakes are enough most of the time anyway without hitting the brakes.

With all due respect, anyone that would run 4/5k ON THE HITCH (meaning 20+k on the trailer) without trailer brakes is a menace to society.
Guess you have never jacknifed.
Or mybe I misunderstood.

Gale Hawkins · Jun 13, 2011

Bob Rooks said:
With all due respect, anyone that would run 4/5k ON THE HITCH (meaning 20+k on the trailer) without trailer brakes is a menace to society.
Guess you have never jacknifed.
Or mybe I misunderstood.

The subject was air vs electric that I was replying to. If you back a 13,000 pound backhoe on the trailer you can get that kind of weight on the pintle hitch in some cases.

Tell us about the conditions that lead to your jack knifing of a loaded construction trailer.

Bob Rooks · Jun 13, 2011

Gale Hawkins said:
Tell us about the conditions that lead to your jack knifing of a loaded construction trailer.

I was a test driver for PACCAR. I've jacknifed all sorts of configurations from 20 mph split coefficients to 60 mph evasive right-angles. Test track was ex- B-25 airstrip in Madras, OR. And yes, I do like air brakes, and am very familiar with FMVSS 121 and legal trailer loading practices. You?

Gale Hawkins said:
If you back a 13,000 pound backhoe on the trailer you can get that kind of weight on the pintle hitch in some cases.

Agreed, but you don't want to go anywhere without trailer brakes of any kind, as you suggested that you did.

Duffster · Jun 13, 2011

Bob Rooks said:
In WA state you have to have an air brake endorsement on your license for those.

No. Not really. :laughing:

Bob Rooks · Jun 13, 2011

Duffster said:
No. Not really. :laughing:

You are correct. I will re-phrase:
In WA state you have to have an air brake endorsement on your license for those (unless you remain on your property or it is an implement of husbandry) in order to be legal.

Duffster · Jun 13, 2011

Bob Rooks said:
You are correct. I will re-phrase:
In WA state you have to have an air brake endorsement on your license for those (unless you remain on your property or it is an implement of husbandry) in order to be legal.

Nope. There is no such thing as an air brake endorsement in WA or any other state in the US. At least not on a CDL.

Gale Hawkins · Jun 13, 2011

Bob Rooks said:
I was a test driver for PACCAR. I've jacknifed all sorts of configurations from 20 mph split coefficients to 60 mph evasive right-angles. Test track was ex- B-25 airstrip in Madras, OR. And yes, I do like air brakes, and am very familiar with FMVSS 121 and legal trailer loading practices. You?

Agreed, but you don't want to go anywhere without trailer brakes of any kind, as you suggested that you did.

Bob that is impressive. Not sure as to why you have a need to assume people doing things they never posted that they did. :laughing:

Bob can you give us more details about the jacknifed split coefficients?