Help me decide deckover or low pro

GreatWhitehunter · Apr 4, 2016

I need a little help deciding which trailer type to go with.
I had started a thread a little while back on deck over widths and thought I was set on the deckover.
I had planned to buy new and order it as I wanted but found a deal on what looked to be an ideal deckover. So last week I made a 4 hr journey to central NY to purchase the trailer. It was a 20' PJ deckover 16'+3' 14k 2006 model. The seller assured me it was in excellent condition although the pics were really poor but being that the seller seemed techo challenged I gave the benefit of the doubt. Upon arrival it was obvious the trailer was in poor shape. PC peeling off in sheets,deck and tires all used up. And then I come to the hitch channel. All mangled up to where I would be able to use it on the lowest holes as I need for a 1 ton.

So after telling him no thanks I began the trip back, I decided at that point I wasn't going mess with someone else's issues and I'd order a new trailer.
I really wasn't fond of how high the deck was and it seemed to me that my 110 TLB would be sorta top heavy on a deckover. The deckover's also seem to weigh more than low pro's and cost more. I had thought the deckover would make the trailer more versatile for uses other than tractor hauling, which is what pushed me towards the deckover in the first place.

Over the weekend I came across a new Cam Superline low pro split tilt that really caught my eye. Of course the trailer available isn't long enough so I sought quotes for a custom ordered unit. I was pleasantly surprised at the price today of just under 7K. That's for a 21' low pro with fork pockets 12k jack painted NH blue( matches the truck) 16k derated to 14k to stay under 26k combined 10 week lead time delivered. The width is 81" so the only attachment that I'd need to watch would be the 8' Woods rake. And best of all Cam doesn't use powder coat so touch up won't be an issue.

I'm thinking this trailer would really serve my purposes well as it'll easily hold palletized items as well as logs and other misc items it haven't thought of yet.
Cam does do some unusual stuff on the gvw, what I mean is they factor in the tongue weight to the gvw. So two 7k axles rate the trailer for 16k, two 6k axles get a gvw of 13800. This is the first manufacture I've noticed rate this way. With the 110 weighing in at 8k roughly and liking to take extra attachments I'm opting for the 14k gvw which they'd normally rate at 16k.

Anybody have any words of wisdom before I place the order?:confused3:
I've never struggled with this kind of purchase before but this one is really causing me headaches.

Matt

RDrancher · Apr 4, 2016

Since the majority of equipment trailers are deckover, I don't think you'd find your TLB to be a problem, although I feel that anything less than 20+5 is too small for a tractor with loader and something on the 3pt or a TLB. I haul my tractor, CTL and excavators all the time on a 20+5 SRW deckover GN and I've never found it to be a top heavy at all. That said, I've entertained switching to a lowpro type trailer, but I unload stuff with forks quite a bit and the fenders get in the way.

Diamondpilot · Apr 4, 2016

Sounds like you had a typical used trailer buying experience.

I think you have all the bases covered. I would strongly consider disc brakes and oil bath hubs though.

As for paint vs PC you see why so many hate PC.

Chris

GreatWhitehunter · Apr 5, 2016

I've had most of my trailers PC and not had peeling issues like this, I do dislike trying to spray paint PC stuff. I think the PPG paint job is going to be better overall. I've also been fortunate to find some trailer scores this just wasn't one of them.

I think I'm going to pull the trigger with the low pro.

Matt

RedNeckRacin · Apr 5, 2016

They make low profile deck over trailers as well so make sure you look into that. It typically lowers the height 3" or so. The low profile trailers generally limit your width of loads and can be really tough trying to load or unload bulky materials around the fenders.

ovrszd · Apr 5, 2016

RedNeckRacin said:
They make low profile deck over trailers as well so make sure you look into that. It typically lowers the height 3" or so. The low profile trailers generally limit your width of loads and can be really tough trying to load or unload bulky materials around the fenders.

Ya beat me to it concerning low pro deckover.

I'd question a manufacturer that creates their own trailer weight capacity formula so their's sounds heavier.

RDrancher · Apr 5, 2016

ovrszd said:
Ya beat me to it concerning low pro deckover.

I'd question a manufacturer that creates their own trailer weight capacity formula so their's sounds heavier.

And if the higher trailer rating is listed on the tag (in some cases) it could also put you in CDL territory.

The Fred · Apr 5, 2016

I bought a new Sure-Trac deckover last year and it is powder coated which I do not like.

Big disclaimer in the warranty section about the paint job......NO WARRANTY whatsoever.

Cam Superline sure does make a nice looking trailer. If I had time to order one it would have been a Cam for sure, Fred

THEN I had to screw with my CDL that I don't use for 20 years. Good thing I kept it up. They derated me somehow so I don't need a physical card because it's my equipment and only work for myself. What a PITA trying to get the state to figure that one out.

Luke'sScreenName · Apr 5, 2016

The Fred said:
I bought a new Sure-Trac deckover last year and it is powder coated which I do not like.

Big disclaimer in the warranty section about the paint job......NO WARRANTY whatsoever.

Cam Superline sure does make a nice looking trailer. If I had time to order one it would have been a Cam for sure, Fred

THEN I had to screw with my CDL that I don't use for 20 years. Good thing I kept it up. They derated me somehow so I don't need a physical card because it's my equipment and only work for myself. What a PITA trying to get the state to figure that one out.

Fred, how has that Sure-trac held up? Concerns/problems? They seem like one of the better "budget" brands available arrond here.

downslope · Apr 5, 2016

ovrszd said:
Ya beat me to it concerning low pro deckover.

I'd question a manufacturer that creates their own trailer weight capacity formula so their's sounds heavier.

Actually including the hitch weight in GVWR is becoming more common, I've seen it on several brands. Nothing wrong with it as long as you understand what you're getting in terms of axles, wheels, tires, etc. And OP did say he was having the tag de-rated to stay below CDL with his truck.

I don't think the between-the-wheels trailers are generally referred to as low pro. They're just car haulers, equipment trailers or skid-steer haulers. It's implied that they're lower to the ground just because of what they are, between the wheels...

The OP should think long and hard before deciding if the narrow and shorter trailer will serve his needs, both current and future. If it will, then go for it.

The deckovers can be built lower profile via pierced frames. All the big manufacturers have them. Like RedNeck said, drops the deck about 3 inches.