deck over trailer options.... spread axle, single 17.5's, etc?

4570Man · Dec 18, 2017

My duel tandem trailer pulls rough and tracks way wider then my other trailer. The pulling rougher is understandable since it's got double the capacity. It's only 5 feet longer so I guess the duel tandem has an effect on how it tracks. While it's true you're not totally dead in the water with a blown tire on a duel tandem you've still got to do something with the floppy tire. I've blown a tire in my tandem axel trailer. I had to jack it up, dismount the tire and put a block in the walking beam suspension ( no spare ). I only had my mule on it and it was capable of carrying that load with 3 tires. If it was the tractor I'd have been forced to unload or unhook and go buy a tire.

powerscol · Dec 21, 2017

Hopefully I can help here as I needed something right in your load range. PJ Trailers | 8" I-Beam Deckover (F8)

I got the 14000 GVW goose neck 20" deck with 3' dovetail and the wide heavy duty 66" flip up ramps. Ramps slid so I can load any width tractor. I also got the tool box and spare tire, Trailer had 2 7K dexter E-Z lube brake axles. I also got the 2 speed jack. They have mor options now too. Cost in 2014 was $6500 roughly. It has already hauled my neighbors 100 hp JD with ease. I think he said it was about 10K in weight. We just had to balance the load over the wheels to keep the hit weight on the truck in line. My trailer weighs about 4K Also with the GN the GVWR goes up to 15680, but I had it de-rated to stay out of needing a CDL with my dually PU. No change to the trailer, just different load rating. It has the 102" treated pine deck that I have done additional treatment to and it is holding up very well,

Hope this helps

mopardude318 · Dec 22, 2017

When the engineered beam for the gooseneck trailer begins production in mid-late january, I'm going to order a custom gooseneck trailer from Diamond C.

Fleetneck Engineered Beam | Diamond C Trailers

blackrams · Dec 22, 2017

mopardude318 said:
When the engineered beam for the gooseneck trailer begins production in mid-late january, I'm going to order a custom gooseneck trailer from Diamond C.

Fleetneck Engineered Beam | Diamond C Trailers

I'm always interested in the latest and greatest. Should you actually do this, please post pictures of your new acquisition. I'm curious, how do you use your goose neck?

I have five different trailers most have slide out ramps. Have one with the fold over ramps. I hate having fold those ramps up and over to use them. The slide outs are much easier to use and store. In fact, I found an old semi car hauler trailer and bought the ramps off of it. They are rated at 5K each, I just have to remove the old fold over ramps and spring assists and install some one inch rods the aluminum ramps will attach to. Since this goose neck isn't built to accept slide in ramps and would take some major modifications, I'll simply mount/weld some brackets on the tail end of the trailer on the sides to carry them when not in use. May not be the answer anyone else would come up with but, I really dislike the folk over ramps and would rather handle the aluminum ramps. Thanks for posting that link and keep us abreast of what ever you do.

Rams:drink:

bdog · Dec 22, 2017

Having owned a ton of trailers probably at least 20 over the past ten years the 17.5's are the way to go. Knock on wood I have never had one fail and we tow a lot of miles. 16's no matter what brand we tried we always had the occasional blow out. They were not overloaded, but close to the max. The 17.5's give you extra margin and they just seem to last forever. I have a trailer that has had the 17.5's since 2014 and probably has 50,000 miles on it and they still look new.

My tandem dual 32' gooseneck has 8 17.5's on it.

I would not get a pierced frame low pro trailer with a dovetail if you ever go off road or have ditches by roads to drive through. They are low and drag easily. The standard heights are not that tall. A low pro pierced frame might be ok if it was a straight trailer with no dovetail but I doubt that is what you are interested in.

blackrams · Dec 22, 2017

bdog said:
Having owned a ton of trailers probably at least 20 over the past ten years the 17.5's are the way to go. Knock on wood I have never had one fail and we tow a lot of miles. 16's no matter what brand we tried we always had the occasional blow out. They were not overloaded, but close to the max. The 17.5's give you extra margin and they just seem to last forever. I have a trailer that has had the 17.5's since 2014 and probably has 50,000 miles on it and they still look new.

My tandem dual 32' gooseneck has 8 17.5's on it.

I would not get a pierced frame low pro trailer with a dovetail if you ever go off road or have ditches by roads to drive through. They are low and drag easily. The standard heights are not that tall. A low pro pierced frame might be ok if it was a straight trailer with no dovetail but I doubt that is what you are interested in.

Sounds like the voice of experience. I've never had 17.5s so I can't speak to that. Yeah, I have had a few flats and a few blow outs. I agree with the comments on the low profile trailers for most folks. Myself, I prefer them but, I won't take my truck and trailers off the asphalt/concrete. If the cargo can't get to me, some one else will have to haul it. Even a small tow bill to get pulled out of a field wipes out any profit I might have made transporting the cargo/load.

I do have winches on board my trailers and can winch some loads about 150 feet but, don't see a need to do that often.

Rams