tilt vs deckover with ramps loading tractor?

[HK45]

Need some help Figure out what to do. So I just purchased a new suretrac 25 deck over gooseneck trailer to move my bobcat CT450 loader backhoe around. Problem is I find that I have to park on a very flat surface to get the ramps down. If I have to pull on to grass or anything thats a little uneven I can't get the ramps down. Im thinking of selling it and getting a tilt as it mite fit my needs better. I feel I will be better of getting around with the tilt trailer when it come to having to unload on uneven area. What you guys think?

 

[Ed of all trades]

I have used both and I love a tilt bed. So much easier to load and no ramps to fight. I would choose the tilt any day. Did I mention I like tilt bed trailers?:laughing: Ed

 

[4570Man]

You can put the ramps down and then back the truck up a few inches, this is what I do.

 

[HK45]

Never thought of that. Do you have to worry about anything bending when doing that?

 

[4570Man]

Never thought of that. Do you have to worry about anything bending when doing that?

I have never bent anything. If I have failed to bend something it is probably un breakable.

 

[kevinj]

Sounds like your trailer is high in the front. It should be level front to back

 

[Rustyiron]

Or drive your tractor forward to squat the truck, lower ramps, unload.

 

[farmer2009]

Or double hinge the ramps. You can even keep your spring assist but you have to buy an extra set of springs.

 

[4570Man]

My trailer is too high, but the adjustable hitch is as low as it goes. My tractor is already at the very front of the trailer.

 

[Fallon]

I love my tilting deck. Its low to the ground, so occasionally drags on rough ground. No big deal as its a beefy all steel deck, but dragging obviously isn't ideal.

Being low & the whole deck tilting makes loading a breeze, no steep ramps to deal with. The pivot point is the center of the deck directly between the axles. Makes balancing it perfectly trivial. Inch forward until the deck tilts level & you are perfectly balanced. Keep going a few more inches to get your 10-15% tongue weight, boom, done, perfect. No guessing needed.

Low also means less top heavy & more stable.

My trailer is to short for me really. However it has a huge neck so I can leave the loader 2-3' over edge of the deck on the neck & get everything on just fine.

 

[Tomtint]

I have a tilt as well as a trailer with ramps. ..I don't know why but the ramp is much easier to tow and does not bang the pintle as much as the tilt does. The tilt is easier to load / unload. If I were to have just 1 trailer, I would get a deck over tilt with 4 feet fixed in the front.

 

[HK45]

after ramming rocks off road with my trailer this weekend I realized I should switch over to a deck over tilt for ground clearance issues. Dove tail seems to catch everything. Whats the point of the 4 feet flat section?

 

[Diamondpilot]

I have a tilt as well as a trailer with ramps. ..I don't know why but the ramp is much easier to tow and does not bang the pintle as much as the tilt does. The tilt is easier to load / unload. If I were to have just 1 trailer, I would get a deck over tilt with 4 feet fixed in the front.

Tilts tow poorly due to axle placement. The pintle hitch just amplified the movement.

Chris

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Tilts tow poorly due to axle placement. The pintle hitch just amplified the movement.

Chris

Can you elaborate? Do people make the tounge too light or something inherent in the design?

 

[Fallon]

Can you elaborate? Do people make the tounge too light or something inherent in the design?

Mine tows poorly behind my Tacoma when empty. Adding some weight to the front of the trailer makes it handle better. When loading it you can easily get the 10-15% tongue weight so it tows better loaded than empty. Its still a 14k lbs rated trailer behind my 6k lbs tow rated truck. I did upgrade to a F250 beater farm truck which pulls it just fine loaded or empty.

I'm betting the tilting deck trailers with a partial fixed deck up front have a bit more tongue weight when empty & hence tow better.

 

[sd455dan]

I have a tilt as well as a trailer with ramps. ..I don't know why but the ramp is much easier to tow and does not bang the pintle as much as the tilt does. The tilt is easier to load / unload. If I were to have just 1 trailer, I would get a deck over tilt with 4 feet fixed in the front.

Tilts tow poorly due to axle placement. The pintle hitch just amplified the movement. DP




Must be the different designs of some tilt trailers? or More Likely the pintle. hitch?-

Love the way my 20' tilt 10k Wilson fiver pulls, has never had any bad habits towing.
Also getting some excellent mileage- Sold my pull behind JD 3 bottom hydraulic plow and delivered it using this trailer over the weekend -320 mile trip through mountains on mostly 2 lane and even cruised by a ski resort (about the only time I knew it was back there) round trip Lie o meter read 19.9 and managed 16.8 hand calced overall. That may be due more to the cummins.

only trailer complaint is being limited to about 81 inches in width.

 

[CurlyDave]

My flat bed with ramps has one sterling virtue. It is paid for, and it is "good enough".

Well, maybe that is two virtues, but they are hard to beat.

 

[George2615]

Tilts tow poorly due to axle placement. The pintle hitch just amplified the movement.

Chris

My 14K 22' PJ tilt tows great empty or loaded. Axle placement is back far enough to have plenty of tongue weight.
See my post #2 for pic of PJ

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...47627-another-trailer-thread.html#post4282659

 

[Diamondpilot]

Can you elaborate? Do people make the tounge too light or something inherent in the design?

No, for a tilt to work in most cases the axles are near the center. This makes a trailer pull poorly. A good pulling trailer has the axles set at a minimum 65% the way back of the deck.

I have 3 trailers. One is 65% the way back and the other two are around 80%. There is a significant difference in these trailers. Most tilts are near the mid point. Not only does it already have a built instability but the potential to load tail heavy exist making matters worse!

Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

My 14K 22' PJ tilt tows great empty or loaded. Axle placement is back far enough to have plenty of tongue weight. See my post #2 for pic of PJ http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/trailers-transportation/347627-another-trailer-thread.html#post4282659

That trailer would because if it's axle placement.

Chris