Newbie to Trailers... Looking but no idea what for

[JohnnyMX]

I was under the assumption that my truck wasn't large enough for towing the MX5200 with loaded tires, loader, and an implement. If it is, then getting something that would handle it would make more sense. I have no real idea what the weight is for that combo. When I say pallets, I mean more like an implement on a pallet from EA not a pallet of roofing shingles or something in the 3k/4k range.

Are trailers one-size-fits-all, or do people end up with a dump, small utility, and car hauler sized? Prices do seem very high right now and inventory seems to be all over the map and goes very quickly. I guess you can put anything on a large trailer, but not on the smaller ones.

 

[mwemaxxowner]

My opinion is no, they are definitely not one size fits all. Technically I could do anything with my new 20' trailer that I can do with my small trailer, but man it's nice to only use the small one for certain tasks.

I have a 5x10 tilting trailer with 2' sides, that sits fairly low to the ground even without being tilted. It's great for certain tasks. I've used it to haul and wrestle a big refrigerator by myself, and were it not for the low to the ground stance and the tilt I could not have done it. The sides also make it easier to haul things like boxes and totes and scrap loads and whatnot. Loading down and securing moving boxes on my flat bed trailer is interesting, and requires a ton of straps. It's also great for when I just need to haul a four-wheeler or lawn mower, or say a few couches.

I'd say a large dump trailer gets really close to being able to do it all, if anything can.

 

[RichM752]

This Lamar 16' dump does it all.

 

[dodge man]

It looks like your tractor weighs about 3800 pounds without a loader. With a loader and implement or ballast, probably more like 6000 to 7000 pounds. You could get by with a 7000 pound trailer if all you need to move is the tractor, but if you want to move an implement and the FEL, you need a 10000 pound trailer.

What will your truck tow? You said 9500 pounds, where did that number come from. What is your payload? On newer trucks it printed on the door jamb tire sticker. For example mine is 1940 pounds. That payload is all fluids including full fuel but nothing else. My example above my truck has a payload of 1940 pounds, take my weight and my tool box and other stuff in the truck, I’m down to 1550 pounds. Say your trailer weighs 10,000 pounds, and you load it perfect 10% hitch weight, that’s a 1000 pounds. Say it’s a little nose heavy than it’s a hitch weight of 1500 pounds and my truck is barely adequate.

Also keep in mind half ton trucks come with a class IV hitch, which requires a weight distribution hitch for anything over 5000 pound trailer weight or 500 pounds of hitch weight. Also ignore all the towing hype listed for trucks. Ford says they make a half ton truck that has a 3000 pound payload and will tow a 13000 pound trailer. They hardly make them because that would be a half ton regular cab, 2 wheel drive with no options.

 

[JM7500]

Also consider where the tractor sits on the trailer so most of the weight is on the trailer wheels with the proper tongue weight. Unfortunately, with my brush hog with the tail wheels folded up, it puts the tractor tire on the front set of trailer wheels and I have too much tongue weight. I use a weight distribution hitch with a trailer brake controller. I do not recommend this. I do it because I only have to pull the trailer 4 miles. It's a 2 lane state highway and I feel my risk is less trailering than driving the tractor on the highway.

 

[bigtiller]

Also keep in mind half ton trucks come with a class IV hitch, which requires a weight distribution hitch for anything over 5000 pound trailer weight or 500 pounds of hitch weight. Ford says they make a half ton truck that has a 3000 pound payload and will tow a 13000 pound trailer.

That's yesteryear. The new electric Fords will tow a 1.3 million-pound train.
It's true, I seen the commercial.

 

[mwemaxxowner]

Ford says they make a half ton truck that has a 3000 pound payload and will tow a 13000 pound trailer. They hardly make them because that would be a half ton regular cab, 2 wheel drive with no options.

Meh, sort of. The heavy duty payload package carries a 7850 gvwr which can still net a decent payload with some options for a half ton. Here are a few of the best I've seen, but you're right it's a rare package. And with a max tow you can achieve that max tow rating even with 4x4 and some options, if you get the max tow package with 20" wheels. However in most cases it's hard to balance that with the payload ratings unless you buy a truck that is both HDPP and max tow.

Some of the more capable HDPP trucks I've seen.

This one is 2wd but a decently optioned XLT

4wd XLT

2wd single cab. Only way to get 3000 lbs

In my opinion it's more about familiarizing yourself with the options and the packages and knowing what you're selecting. Especially in the half ton market they offer a huge range of capabilities, both in payload and towing. People see the commercial and don't realize those numbers are a specific package. They make an f150 that can only tow 5,000, a s one that can tow 13,000. They make one with a 1000 lbs payload, and one with 3000 lbs payload. With the current j2807 testing standards the numbers are a little bit more regulated than they used to be.

 

[dodge man]

I feel lucky mine is at 1940 on payload. You see a lot of the highly optioned ones like Platinum models that can get below 1500 lbs.

 

[mwemaxxowner]

Platinums, lariats, king ranches definitely carry low payloads. I think that's a matter of choosing the right tool for the job. You can get a really well optioned XLT. Mine has the large touch screen infotainment system with Android Auto, power seats, pedals, and windows, power sliding back glass, heated seats, remote start, door keypad, cloth seats, color matched bumpers, grille, and door handles, boxlink cleats in the bed, premium 18" wheels, in bed lighting. And probably some stuff I can't remember. I can't fathom what else I could need.

Anyway I guess if my goal and my need was a high payload, I would understand that I need to cross those upper trim levels off my list.

 

[Gee Ray]

This type of trailer with a flat deck will give you good versatility. You could make side boards for it to allow dirt or such if needed. I would buy it as a straight deck and add aluminum curved aluminum ramps to load the ZT or ATV. There is no problem with loading from the side with a forklift. The lower deck trailers with the high fenders are a pain because the fenders are always in the way.

Look at page 4 of the brochure:

Deckover Trailers | PJ Trailers

Our Deckover Trailers are built to handle your biggest adventures.

pjtrailers.com

Ramps for example only:

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Carry-On-Trailer-Arched-94-in-Aluminum-Ramp/1000875464?cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-hdw-_-google-_-lia-_-214-_-trailersrampsandtowing-_-1000875464-_-0&placeholder=null&ds_rl=1286981&gclid=CjwKCAjw47eFBhA9EiwAy8kzNJsqa_s54ksjG7OTSs9hYUhIAWQSPV-pkEfX_zNk7_K1cxnKAKH62BoCFUoQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Some one wrote about staying under 10,000 pounds. You can de-rate a trailer to a lesser weight when you by it new so that you can stay under a problem with some regulations.