Need advice on trailer purchase

[fried1765]

I’ve never heard any man state, “I bought too much...”
Insert, “trailer, tractor, pickup, shop, tools, guns, etc.”

TRUE!

 

[dodge man]

I bet if you look at the payload of his truck he will be near the limits.

 

[Bearsixty7]

I bet if you look at the payload of his truck he will be near the limits.

Near is fine. As others said, the truck is most likely going to be updated/upgraded soon even if the OP doesn't realize it now

 

[deezler]

Near is fine. As others said, the truck is most likely going to be updated/upgraded soon even if the OP doesn't realize it now

Lol, so true. A couple times towing a proper trailer fully saddled with a compact tractor and attachments on a compact Nissan pickup.... even if just within tow rating, he'll be looking at full sized pickups for sale soon.

 

[dodge man]

The reason I brought it up again is people are just short of recommending a 20,000 pound gooseneck to tow his 4000 pound or less tractor when a 7000 pound trailer is about all his current truck will tow. But yeah, an upgrade would be nice for him, I will certainly help spend his money.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

The reason I brought it up again is people are just short of recommending a 20,000 pound gooseneck to tow his 4000 pound or less tractor when a 7000 pound trailer is about all his current truck will tow. But yeah, an upgrade would be nice for him, I will certainly help spend his money.

I didn't go all the way back thru the thread but I probably am the one who recommended the larger trailer being a 20' equipment trailer with 2 - 7k axles which will probably weigh in about 2k pounds, add a 4k tractor and he still has a 1k to work with as far as what his truck will tow by the numbers, the longer trailer will allow him to balance the load better and as many others have said buying to little of a trailer has been something a lot of us have done, he asked , so we have given opinion, hopefully whatever he decides, he will be satisfied as he has got to hear a lot of opinions.

 

[4570Man]

I didn't go all the way back thru the thread but I probably am the one who recommended the larger trailer being a 20' equipment trailer with 2 - 7k axles which will probably weigh in about 2k pounds, add a 4k tractor and he still has a 1k to work with as far as what his truck will tow by the numbers, the longer trailer will allow him to balance the load better and as many others have said buying to little of a trailer has been something a lot of us have done, he asked , so we have given opinion, hopefully whatever he decides, he will be satisfied as he has got to hear a lot of opinions.

No 14k 20 foot trailer unless possibly aluminum is 2,000 pounds.

 

[4570Man]

The reason I brought it up again is people are just short of recommending a 20,000 pound gooseneck to tow his 4000 pound or less tractor when a 7000 pound trailer is about all his current truck will tow. But yeah, an upgrade would be nice for him, I will certainly help spend his money.

A heavier than required trailer never hurts. Ok it actually does. I hardly ever use that one after I bought my 14k.

 

[dodge man]

My 7000 pound 18 foot weighs a little over 2000 pounds, I’d say a 20‘ 14k trailer is around 3000 pounds.

 

[fried1765]

No 14k 20 foot trailer unless possibly aluminum is 2,000 pounds.

My 14K 20 foot trailer weighs exactly 3,350 lbs.

 

[TMGT]

My 14K 20 foot trailer weighs exactly 3,350 lbs.

And that's actually on the lighter side for that size trailer. A HD 14k 20ft can be 4-4500lbs depending on options!.

I've been looking at a trailer to buy and this is the empty weight range of the ones I'm looking at.

 

[fried1765]

And that's actually on the lighter side for that size trailer. A HD 14k 20ft can be 4-4500lbs depending on options!.

I've been looking at a trailer to buy and this is the empty weight range of the ones I'm looking at.

Mine is a very basic (keeping the empty weight down, but nicely built) trailer.
No rub rails, no head rail (I did not want one), no tool box, has stake pockets, 16" wheels, 2-7K Dexter axles, PT wood deck, 8K jack, tilt up ramps.
Added a 9K Superwinch, that with mount adds another 200 lbs.

I wanted the most trailer bang for the buck!
No fancy bells and whistles....just a new, plain Jane 14K trailer.
I use it with a 14K Equal-i-zer hitch.
Hitch cost a whopping $700,... but I do love that hitch!

 

[TMGT]

Mine is a very basic (keeping the empty weight down, but nicely built) trailer.
No rub rails, no head rail (I did not want one), no tool box, has stake pockets, 16" wheels, 2-7K Dexter axles, PT wood deck, 8K jack, tilt up ramps.
Added a 9K Superwinch, that with mount adds another 200 lbs.

I wanted the most trailer bang for the buck!
No fancy bells and whistles....just a new, plain Jane 14K trailer.
I use it with a 14K Equal-i-zer hitch!

And nothing wrong with that, I've been looking at comercial type trailers, I beam frames, tighter crossmemeber spacing, oak deck, etc. Weight really adds up quick

 

[goldenwings]

Powder coating is absolutely the worst finish for a trailer.
Manufactures use it because it is quick, and looks great...initially.

Powder coating is also a way for the manufacturers to avoid more regulations and fines due to VOC release. Once I realized this it all started to make sense... they avoid big govt regulations and put some marketing spin on it to make it sound like its a great coating (and perhaps for something that never sees salt it is?). In the end they win and might even get to sell some poor sucker a second trailer if he didnt learn his lesson... which I am trying to impart here.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

No 14k 20 foot trailer unless possibly aluminum is 2,000 pounds.

That's funny, this one weighs in at 1990 lbs, 18' with 2' dovetail and 2 7k axles with brakes on both axles.

 

[KennyG]

That's funny, this one weighs in at 1990 lbs, 18' with 2' dovetail and 2 7k axles with brakes on both axles.

I wonder if it's amazing engineering or if it's under-engineered. My 7K 16 foot trailer weighs about 1700 lbs. Hard to imagine doubling the capacity with less than 300 additional pounds.

 

[deezler]

That's funny, this one weighs in at 1990 lbs, 18' with 2' dovetail and 2 7k axles with brakes on both axles.

That looks like a trailer built for half the capacity, that just happens to have double 8-lug 7k axles underneath it. Interesting.

 

[fried1765]

That's funny, this one weighs in at 1990 lbs, 18' with 2' dovetail and 2 7k axles with brakes on both axles.

What registration/manufacturer documentation do you have proving that 1990 lb. trailer it is legally rated for 14K?

 

[Lineman North Florida]

What registration/manufacturer documentation do you have proving that 1990 lb. trailer it is legally rated for 14K?

I don't know I would have to look through the paperwork tonight, but I'm not trying to prove anything, my post stated that it was an 18' +2' dovetail equipment trailer that has 2-7k axles with brakes on both axles that weighs in at 1990 pounds, there were a blue million of them made in these parts back in the 90's and mid 2000's and while I have never had 12k on it , it has hauled any and everything under the sun probably up to about 7 or 8k and to this day it hasn't warped or bent, I bought it from a local trailer manufacturer brand new in 2006 but I will look tonight to see what any of the paperwork says.