Deck over trailer?

iptman · Feb 14, 2022

Hello all,

I recently picked up some nearly new 5th wheel RV take off Dexter 7k axles, both with electric brakes for next to nothing. I'd like to build an equipment trailer for my tractor as well as for hauling vehicles and use these axles for the build. The problem is the axles are sprung over so I'm guessing unless I want to burn off the spring mounts and re-weld them under I'd have to build this as a deck over. I see heavy duty deck over trailers all the time so maybe this isn't an issue but in my mind I keep thinking the lower the deck the easier it'll be to haul and more stable. The other issue is the axles are a weird size. They're 90 inches between hub faces and 74 1/4 between spring centers so unless I want a 6 foot wide deck I'd have to build it as a deck over or some wheel inset deck setup with drive over fenders.

What do you guys think?

4570Man · Feb 14, 2022

I have a deckover and a fender trailer. The deckover has the capability to load wider equipment and is easier to load with a forklift. The fender trailer is a lot easier to drive on with the lower angle. If you can work with an 84 inch load width and don’t plan on hauling pallets everyday I’d go with a fender trailer.

3 Horse Ranch · Feb 14, 2022

For me it would likely be a 22-24' deckover trailer with a beavertail to make loading rolling equipment easier. If you want a wider fender trailer you could cut, sleeve and weld to lengthen the axles.

jaxs · Feb 15, 2022

Only thing I can say for certain is don't flip the axles,the arch would be reversed and cause squirrly handling.
A deckover really shine's moving round bales and if eqquiped with a dove, work's ok for wheeled stock. If you have one or more loads that do exceedingly well on deckover but poorly or not at all on drive over,it's a no brainer. If not for round bales and I was limited to one trailer,I'd probably go with drive over fenders. Since you are fabercating from ground up,I'll share my experience with compermising and adaptations on one I built. With a deck higth of 28"sitting on 215-65-16 passenger tires,there was never contact between tires and deck but there were blow outs. I switched to 265-75-16 to match tire size (not wheel) on one of my trucks. To gain clearance,I removed 2x8 boards above tires and fabed covers from 10 ga diamond plate and 1.5" sq tube for an additional 3" clearance. With trailer heavy loaded I pulled a front tire upon blocks until rear tire suspended in mid air to check clearance between tire and fender. I made bumpers from multiple layers of belting then clipped on frame above axles to stop tires before they contacted fender. Out of courousity I affixed 1/2"bamboo on bumpers to see if axles ever rebounded against bumpers. Bamboo was never crushed.
Having used flip up ramps on dove tails,I opted for conventional ramps stored beneath deck. 2"x3" x 3/16ths runners,2x2 cross pieces. My reason for not using flip up ramps was trailer must be on level ground to use them. With conventional ramps,tires can be dropped in a ditch or trailer backed up to an embankment to reduce incline of ramps.
I will be criticized but I build trailers weighing 20% to 30% less than comperable sizes. Much of the weight difference is between deck and goose coupling. I intentionally build to alow flex so that loading is spread accross more joints and members. I don't like to exceed rating of axle,bearings nor tires as I did initially with tires on above build but that was an experiment of sorts. Otherwise why would I put pieces of bamboo on axle bumpers?

iptman · Feb 15, 2022

Yeah, not flipping. Worst case is I'll flip the u bolts to sprung under to keep the deck height down. I think I'm sufficiently convinced not to go deck over. Unfortunately these axles aren't exactly wide enough to cover both my tractor towing needs as well as towing vehicles on a traditionally designed fender trailer. Is there such thing as a fender trailer where the deck width is the same as the outside of the fenders? Then maybe the fenders can be removed so the trailer tires can be driven over if needed?

mini14 · Feb 15, 2022

The deckovers loading height is a real problem if you plan on using it for a skidsteer.

TooCents · Feb 15, 2022

Here is reference to a the best of both that worked for me. Drop deck section is about 74" and overall width is 8'. Lower platform height gives lower loading height of about 26". I use some wooden bunks to set mower/snow plow on so I can use the full 8' width. Wider vehicles can be driven on the entire side rail. This was a used trailer that I upgraded with new axles & hitch a few years back. With the tilt-bed, I absolutely love it for UTV, tractor, skiddy etc.

jaxs · Feb 15, 2022

iptman said:
Yeah, not flipping. Worst case is I'll flip the u bolts to sprung under to keep the deck height down. I think I'm sufficiently convinced not to go deck over. Unfortunately these axles aren't exactly wide enough to cover both my tractor towing needs as well as towing vehicles on a traditionally designed fender trailer. Is there such thing as a fender trailer where the deck width is the same as the outside of the fenders? Then maybe the fenders can be removed so the trailer tires can be driven over if needed?

Why wouldn't you just make drive over fenders? It might get squirrely driving on tires.

3 Horse Ranch · Feb 15, 2022

iptman said:
Yeah, not flipping. Worst case is I'll flip the u bolts to sprung under to keep the deck height down. I think I'm sufficiently convinced not to go deck over. Unfortunately these axles aren't exactly wide enough to cover both my tractor towing needs as well as towing vehicles on a traditionally designed fender trailer. Is there such thing as a fender trailer where the deck width is the same as the outside of the fenders? Then maybe the fenders can be removed so the trailer tires can be driven over if needed?

The trailer I have is an 18' car hauler with removeable fenders. Two bolts per fender and they come right off. The other option I've seen is fenders of a heavy diamond plate that allow a vehicle to be driven over them.

This is the same as mine, 18' long a full 7' between the fenders, 8'6" total width. The lines point to the two bolts that hold the fender on. I paid $3500 out the door in 2017, the one pictured is a 20' with the same GVW of 9900 and is listed at $5895 on the lot. Tare weight of my trailer is 2300#. The only thing I wish it had is some kind of jacks on the back that would keep the tongue (and pickup) down when loading something heavy. As it is now I use cheap Harbor Freight jack stands to accomplish that.