Deckover Trailer opinions and options

[elginfarm]

Hello all, I am considering going from my 7k utility trailer to a 10 or 12k deckover trailer. I am going to a skid steer to go along with my tractor and I often pick up pallets of supplies for the farm. The deckover would be easier to unload with pallet forks and it would be easier to center the load. I would also be using it to haul hay. I tow with an 08 F250 diesel. If necessary I will use a load equalizer hitch.
I am concerned about center of gravity issues with the higher trailer, even though the trailers I have looked at are about 34 inches to the deck. Also tilt versus ramps. I have also seen them with ramps and a powered dovetail that raises to the height of the bed and lowers to give you a better loading angle with the ramps. I have also seen ramps that when folded equal the angle of the dovetail and give you a totally flat deck. I figure an 18, or 20+2 would probably work for me. I am looking for advice and opinions.
Thanks

 

[ovrszd]

Think big.

Think to the next equipment you might buy and get the trailer to match it.

Kinda like buying a tractor. Alway buy a size larger than you currently need unless money prohibits it.

 

[Rustyiron]

Although they are higher than a "deck between the wheels" trlr. I have not found that to be a factor in stability while driving like you should. They are as you point out, much better for loading, esp with "forkable" stuff. As for the tilt decks, I'm not a fan unless I was hauling a single machine all the time. The axles in relation to the bed are set forward to allow for a lower loading angle, usually leaving a bunch of trlr deck out back empty. For me an old fashioned 3' beavertail with fold over ramps is hard to beat, nothing fancy, no extra moving parts or mechanism to give you troubles. Your truck should be fine when loaded properly so you can leave all that load equalizer crap to the camping crowd.

 

[dieselcrawler]

I tow a 20' (16'+4' dove) 10k lbs deckover regularly with my '99 f250. I haul trucks, tractors, logs, hay, junk, you name it I haul it... if you're gonna haul a tractor with loader and brush hog get 20'.

That's a 32" x 16' red oak on the trailer in the picture...

 

[rustyshakelford]

I'd look at a GN deck over. Mine is a 25+5 with tandem 10k axles. Pulls great and takes something big to be over weight. Don't really have to worry about out growing it for a while.

Brett

 

[Ken45101]

I agree with rusty ^^^

I have a 20+5 (14k) gooseneck and it pulls like a dream. Other than slower acceleration, I can't even tell that it's back there. Totally stable

 

[Diamondpilot]

I personally hate GN and 5th wheel trailers. Had both and loss of bed space was a deal breaker for me. All my trucks have handled just fine with BP trailers.

Chris

 

[Xfaxman]

I personally hate bumper pull trailers. Had both and for me Gooseneck handles better, and I can still put a lot of stuff in the bed. Here is my favorite, an eight year old Delta, 4' popup dovetail, 14k deckover.

Here is a good thread: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/trailers-transportation/273476-stand-up-slide-ramps.html

 

[MBTRAC]

I'd second that - we run both ball hitch & much prefer goosenecks which invariably work out a far superior set up for ease of use (including control, stability, hitching & less strain on the tow vehicle) - as for ramps unless it's low loader dedicated to moving our larger earthmoving equipment we avoid dovetails & fixed ramps (primarily because of loss of usable deck space & the compromise of carrying around consistently the additional "non-productive"weight )
Below is our most versatile gooseneck which we made up c.10years or more ago & still going strong - c.10,000lb, 14'9" tipping lower deck with drop sides/8'2" fixed upper deck (over gooseneck) complete with a removable stock crate:

 

[Ken45101]

Now that ^^^ is a versatile trailer!

 

[bcp]

Now that ^^^ is a versatile trailer!

And being pulled with one of those trucks we can't get in the USA!



Bruce

 

[newbury]

<snip> Your truck should be fine when loaded properly so you can leave all that load equalizer crap to the camping crowd.

Unless your hitch requires a WD for over x,000 lbs. My hitch is rated to 12.5K with WD, 5K without. I got a WD rather than a new hitch.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

I think you need to look up your truck ratings and find a trailer that will get you the most bang for the buck. What I mean is, a 25+5 10 ton GN with tandem duals looks great, but they are heavy enough that your not going to have much capacity left over to legally carry around. If you found a nice lightweight Quality or appalachian trailer (I personally don't like either one since they are so lightly built) then you should be able to get a respectable payload on it and not be dragging around an anchor when empty. I sold my BP trailer last year becase it sat around rusting away. I am running my 20+5 Moritz with an adjustable tail now and it does almost everything I need. I can get that thing into places a small bp would have trouble with. Being able to turn past 90* is something a BP will NEVER do. (although I never do it loaded) The ease of loading and unloading from a deckover is great. If your really concerned with the height, they have low profile trailers that pierce the main beam to get you a couple inches lower. It really does make a difference when your climbing the tail to get up on the deck.

 

[ovrszd]

I think you need to look up your truck ratings and find a trailer that will get you the most bang for the buck. What I mean is, a 25+5 10 ton GN with tandem duals looks great, but they are heavy enough that your not going to have much capacity left over to legally carry around. If you found a nice lightweight Quality or appalachian trailer (I personally don't like either one since they are so lightly built) then you should be able to get a respectable payload on it and not be dragging around an anchor when empty. I sold my BP trailer last year becase it sat around rusting away. I am running my 20+5 Moritz with an adjustable tail now and it does almost everything I need. I can get that thing into places a small bp would have trouble with. Being able to turn past 90* is something a BP will NEVER do. (although I never do it loaded) The ease of loading and unloading from a deckover is great. If your really concerned with the height, they have low profile trailers that pierce the main beam to get you a couple inches lower. It really does make a difference when your climbing the tail to get up on the deck.

Yep, I agree about the weight. My 28+4 dual wheeled GN weighs 6850lbs. You don't gain as much payload as you'd think. But,,,, after blowing a tire at 75mph with two Jeep Buggies on I won't go back to a lighter single wheel trailer.

The ability to turn a GN around also appeals to me, as well as how smooth they pull. My learning curve was that they shortcut more than a Bumper Pull trailer.

I've got both types and pull the GN most. I can't back a BP trailer for squat now......

 

[MBTRAC]

And being pulled with one of those trucks we can't get in the USA!



Bruce

Interesting perspective, being that "DownUnder" us Aussies also admire the trucks we can't get buy locally that you guys have in the USA - F series, Rams & the like.........:thumbsup:

 

[RedNeckRacin]

Yep, I agree about the weight. My 28+4 dual wheeled GN weighs 6850lbs. You don't gain as much payload as you'd think. But,,,, after blowing a tire at 75mph with two Jeep Buggies on I won't go back to a lighter single wheel trailer.

The ability to turn a GN around also appeals to me, as well as how smooth they pull. My learning curve was that they shortcut more than a Bumper Pull trailer.

I've got both types and pull the GN most. I can't back a BP trailer for squat now......

I def agree about the single wheel trailers. I'm really ready to upgrade to a tandem 12k axle 40 footer with a hydraulic tail when the budget allows but for the money they want for them, id almost be money ahead to just buy a older semi and drop deck trailer. The 10 ton GN trailers are so heavy that if you get the 10k axles, you really dont gain much payload for alot bigger trailer. Its funny you mention about backing the BP up, I used to be pretty proficient with them, now its almost comical after having the GN for so long.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I def agree about the single wheel trailers. I'm really ready to upgrade to a tandem 12k axle 40 footer with a hydraulic tail when the budget allows but for the money they want for them, id almost be money ahead to just buy a older semi and drop deck trailer. The 10 ton GN trailers are so heavy that if you get the 10k axles, you really dont gain much payload for alot bigger trailer. Its funny you mention about backing the BP up, I used to be pretty proficient with them, now its almost comical after having the GN for so long.

I personally hate dual wheels. I had a 25'+5' GN with 12K axles.

Maintaining it was a pain and tires were tough to find. My current trailer is a tri axle. Same load capacity, normal 16" tires, simple to do bearings and brakes on, ect.

And no, tire scrub is not a issue. It pivots around the center axles. No worse than my tandem trailer.

Chris

 

[RedNeckRacin]

DP, I think you and I are just going to have to agree to disagree.


I prefer duallies (For towing heavy, they aren't much for daily driving), tandem duals, hydraulic or adjustable beaver tails with fold down ramps, and Goosenecks(Though with the prices of the bigger ones, I'm think a semi trailer is in my future). Your experiences tell you different and thats fine. We will just have to argue it out.

:stirthepot:

 

[brain55]

I def agree about the single wheel trailers. I'm really ready to upgrade to a tandem 12k axle 40 footer with a hydraulic tail when the budget allows but for the money they want for them, id almost be money ahead to just buy a older semi and drop deck trailer. The 10 ton GN trailers are so heavy that if you get the 10k axles, you really dont gain much payload for alot bigger trailer. Its funny you mention about backing the BP up, I used to be pretty proficient with them, now its almost comical after having the GN for so long.

Isn't that the truth, I joke that I used to be able to parallel park my bp trailer. Now after having my gn for 5 years I get all crossed up with a bp.

Brian

 

[MBTRAC]

Following on from my post#9 & acknowledging the photo's below of one of our specialised trailers is far larger than probably what the originator of this thread had on mind, conceptually we are also considering building something similar in a smaller c.5T scale dual axle single wheel set up to move our skid steers around - IMO for fast ease of (relatively) safe/stable loading it's hard to beat (by lowering the ramp approach angle, minimising the ramp length & for track machines eliminating the ramp over tilt/balance - this set up lessens/eliminates the highest risk areas of the loading cycle being the source of most accidents/injury when relocating machinery )->