Big Tex and PJ Trailers

m1garand762 · Feb 4, 2018

I am looking at trailers and Big Tex seems to be the best built for the money. PJ is a few hundread more but similar quality. Does anybody have any opinions or reviews good or bad.

Peter 315 · Feb 4, 2018

Did you look at Load Trail ?

4570Man · Feb 4, 2018

I’ve got a big Tex and it’s the best value I’ve found.

Sawyer Rob · Feb 4, 2018

I have a PJ and all I can say is, I really like it.

SR

downsizingnow48 · Feb 4, 2018

Right now I have a Big Tex equipment trailer and a LoadTrail dump trailer. Before that I had a PJ equipment trailer. All three very solid trailers, I don't think you can go wrong with any of them.

jaxs · Feb 4, 2018

Check metal member dimensions with tape and thickness with dial caliper and PJ win's.

Buppies · Feb 4, 2018

Load trail great trailers I have a 2015 gooseneck very pleased. Take the time to check out the welds on any trailer you may find a few flaws undercutting porosity in the welds etc

comancheflight · Feb 5, 2018

I have a Big Tex I bought last summer. 22' (16' Tilt and 6' stationary). I originally went for a PJ but they didn't have what I was looking for in stock. The ones they had were comparable in quality by visual inspection. I really like my Big Tex but it's the only trailer like this I have owned so bottom line is DOWNSIZINGNOW48 has the hands down answer since he has owned both.

George2615 · Feb 5, 2018

I have a PJ 22' model TF. I find it to be of excellent quality. Never seen a Big Tex in my area so can't compare but due to many owners of each on this site you won't go wrong with either brand.

ProjectKing · Feb 5, 2018

Also look at CornPro if they are available in your area. Really nice trailers.

Rock Crawler · Feb 5, 2018

I've been researching dump trailers and it looks to me that the Lamar brand is the heaviest built with 3/16" floor, no welds in the floor, the top rail is above and beyond what anyone else makes, you have a single lever to unlatch from the drivers side to tailgate gravel/limestone. All around, no one matches the quality built into a Lamar brand dump trailer. The price between a lower quality and a Lamar/PJ is really not that big, so it's not like a $7,500 Lamar has to compete with a $5,000 ??? brand. The cheapest thing in the size I am looking at is around $7,000 while a Lamar is around $7,800. $800 doesn't excite me enough to consider a thinner floor with welds across it, a flimsy top rail or a loss of any of the other traits that the Lamar offers.

WM75Guy · Feb 5, 2018

I have two Big Tex and my neighbor just bought one. They are good quality at a fair price. We are not far from the factory so you see quite a few around East Texas.

pls1911 · Feb 5, 2018

LoadTrail/Iron Bull, hands down.
Quality, innovation, customer service is tops.
Made in East Texas outside of Paris.
Google for the webpage and information, call and ask for Abe.

Gem99ultra · Feb 5, 2018

I have had a 20' PJ for 8 years, and have had zero problems with it. I ordered it with exactly the features that I wanted and got a more than fair price.

I did compare it to Big Tex and was not dissatisfied with either one other than the fact that the Big Tex dealer was pretty much set on selling me what he has in stock on the yard. Price was the same for either brand, outfitted exactly the same. But, I was pretty much insistent that I wanted what I wanted, a factor that Big Tex gave little concern for. So, all things being equal and both dealers have exactly the trailer you like, or will build it, I'd say go with whichever dealer you're most comfortable with.

RichM752 · Feb 5, 2018

I've looked them all. Narrowed down the PJ and LAMAR are in my opinion the best.
Compared them side by side.
The LAMAR's 7 ga. deck is by far superior.
The LAMAR's top rail is a plus.
I've had two PJ's.
The first was great, never an issue.
The second was a lemon from the factory, and PJ refused to answer to any emails, phone calls, and the dealer was as useless.

PJ trailer rust issues - YouTube

NC419N · Feb 5, 2018

I have 2 Big Tex's one GN22 and 10ET tag well built zero issues. My next one will be tilt top

coobie · Feb 5, 2018

I bought a PJ 20ft bumper pull back in 2008 no issues whatsoever.I would also look at Corn-pro trailers.

Buppies · Feb 5, 2018

Corn pro are excellent trailers

Rock Crawler · Feb 5, 2018

For all the folks saying this that or the other.... I challenge you not to just say what you bought is the bestest in the world, but actually look at the current buyers market and compare. I would love to know if there is another brand that can go feature for feature against a Lamar. The "I have this and I love it" means nothing to me. What I care about who builds the best trailer... front to back, top to bottom.

7g (3/16") floor. Standard on Lamar. Not available on most others if any. Almost all others are 1/8" floor, and are sections stitched together that help catch a load and prevent dumping as easily.
1 piece floor plate, not a welded up sectional. Standard on Lamar. Not available on others.
Full heavy wall boxed upper channel, the part of the trailer that takes sever hammering from buckets. Standard on Lamar, not available on just about any other. Not available on others.
Heavy plate wheel wells with sliders built in, in case you drag it along something. Lamar standard, the majority... not even an option. Not available on most others.
Grease fittings on... well... everything that moves. Standard on Lamar. Very hit and miss along others, some have barely any.
Cold weather flexible cable instead of the old black cable jacket that gets hard and does not coil and store easily. Standard on Lamar, I don't think I found anyone else using it.
American made pump system, standard on Lamar, hit and miss on others.
Quality Interstate deep cycle battery. Standard on Lamar, hit and miss on other brands.
Built in charging for the battery with external plug. Standard on Lamar, hit and miss on others.
16" on center Frame cross bar spacing. Lamar standard, hit and miss on others.
Frame material selection... Lamar uses a frame material that makes half of the brands I looked at appear like kids toys.
Scissor lift hydraulic system. Standard on Lamar, pretty much optional on almost every other brand.
Single lever tailgating latch lever. Lamar standard, I did not see another with this... so I am calling not available.

The thing with the Lamar brand is that they have the best of the best features, and no negatives. You can special order and option up other brands to try to close the gap, but then the price goes to near or above Lamar. And you will not get some of the Lamar features no matter what.

The more I researched, the more I saw that saving a few bucks was bad money spent. I am sure that anyone with any dump trailer is generally happy that they can carry and dump a load. But if I am buying new and the prices are all within reason of each other.... what is the very best unit I can buy for that money that is on the market place today. After weeks of reading, driving to dealers, and watching YouTube videos.... I've found that in March I will be going to order a Lamar. Nothing else matches quality and value for the dollars spent. There is only one trailer that I will be ordering. Lamar.

The only negative I found on a Lamar was that if you wanted a 3 function tailgate, you are out of luck. Lamar gives you the option to open the barn doors, or to tailgate it. You can not open as a truck tailgate. If that is a feature that you need, obviously this would carry weight with you.