Just before the end of the year I got a great deal on a Big Tex 14TL, 22' bumper pull and so far very happy. The paint on the underside is a bit thin and sporadic but an hour with my old gravity gun and some Tractor Supply paint with hardener and catalyst will fix that. I would have considered PJ or Load Trail but couldn't find a dealer with any stock within 200 miles of North Alabama. The Big Tex dealer was 20 miles away in Fayetteville, TN and real nice folks. PJ makes a big deal on their powder coating but they charge a premium. There are some folks that say they haven't had the best luck with the PJ surface prep so that makes touch up much tougher than enamel. Every trailer gets dings and nicks and after a few years very few are beauty queens. I can buy a lot of paint for the upcharge. The PJ has Torflex axles and the Big Tex is a spring trailer. I've got Torflex axles on another trailer and they are very nice but I can swap a bad spring axle a whole lot easier. That is a personal choice but don't know that it really makes a big difference. Welds look good and the steel sizing looks right to my eyes. I'll probably tweak the wiring this summer as I don't think there is builder that doesn't use Scotchlocs and instead solders and heat shrinks all the connections. I'm a bit OCD on that but then I KNOW my lights and brakes work!
Having lived with fold up ramps and dovetails for 20 years the tilt deck is absolute heaven! Bada bing, bada boom, and you are loaded. My back is very happy with the new trailer. Tows well behind my '02 F250 7.3 and the brakes are like throwing out an anchor if you have the gain cranked up. Not the lightest trailer but then you have double the iron in the side frames for the tilt. It is overkill for my 3240HST Kubota with a loader and 6' bush hog but everything fits and balances well. I know I have load behind me but for then I'm hauling a tractor...duh.
