PJ Deckover Trailer Questions

[Runner]

Hi All,

I am still looking for a trailer to haul my JD2520 with loader and rotary cutter, cars, building materials, etc. on. The tow vehicle is a 2004 F350, V10, 4WD, automatic, longbed, extended cab, with camper and snowplow packages and a 4.30:1 rear end.

Now for the question. I am looking at a new, bumper pull, PJ 8 inch I-beam flatdeck trailer with 22 feet of flat deck and 3 foot dove tail, 96 inches wide with 7000# axles and brakes on all wheels (see picture). Here is my delimma - from what I have read on the web, this thing probably weighs around 4000# empty. According to the information in the brochure on the PJ web site, there is 11.5 feet of flatbed (plus the 3 foot dove tail) aft of the centerline of the wheels and 13.5 feet (plus the tongue, say about 5 feet) ahead of the centerline.

If my calculations are correct, this makes the tongue weight of the empty trailer at least 1000#, which seems like an astronomical amount for an empty trailer. Does this sound right, and if so, does this sound like it will work with this truck?

I have no doubt that the truck is capable of pulling the weight, but the tongue weight issue concerns me.

Should I be looking for a lighter trailer or at least one with different wheel placement?

 

[just_Dave]

I would call PJ with that Q ... should be simple for them to obtain for you. But by the looks of that trailer it will have a decent amount of toung weight when empty, It kind of resembles a minature version of a trailer you would find behind a Dump Truck which wouldn't have any issues with toung weight. It also kind of looks like a GN version but with a bumper pull instead.

I would say loaded you would want the machines weight mostly on the trailer axles with attatchments, forward. of the machine. So you don't end up with a lot of Toung weight.

If your worried aobut the hitch in regards to Toung weight, I would check out Tow beast and Tourqe lift hitches.. I have a Tourque lift hitch on my dodge and they rate it for 1,500 lbs toung weight and 17,000 lbs towing

Dave

 

[Diamondpilot]

It will be heavy but that is the price you pay for a big trailer that will pull good. With the truck you have you should not have a issue but check the ratings of the actual hitch on your truck. I broke the factory hitch on my 2004 F-250 PSD 4x4 pulling just over 14,000#. Had to upgrade to a heavier hitch. When I ordered my 2006 F-350 PSD 4x4 Single Rear Wheel I said the only way I was taking it was if it had the new 2.5" unit they were putting on the Duallys. They made it happen and no issues with it pulling as much as 25,000# off the rear bumper.

Chris

 

[bearmtnmartin]

I think you are right. That trailer looks like it is set up for a heavier truck. I have a 12K deckover that is 18 feet long. With my 10000# TLB on, I am around 1500 on the hitch. Actually I suspect I am a little more. But My axles are closer to center, so they pack most of the weight. You probably would have a big chunk of unuseable trailer up front. Mine for the record weighs about 2600.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Just for the record I have a 2006 F-350 SRW with the Powerstroke and its a 4x4 short bed super cab. It has the highest SRW GVWR available of 11,500# and it handles this boat fine with 1,800# of tongue weight and a total weight of the boat of 15,600#.

I had a 2005 Dmax 3500 SRW 4x4 bong Bed crew cab that had a GVWR of 9,900# and it would not handle it nearly as well as the Ford and my 2004 F-250 4x4 SRW short bed Powerstroke with 10,000# GVWR would not handle it very well either but did slightly better than the Dmax.

Chris

 

[Runner]

Diamondpilot,

How much does that 1800 lbs make the rear of your F350 sag? I assume you're not using a weight distributing hitch with the boat trailer. Does it cause you any steering problems, etc.?

I suppose I could go to a WD hitch, but it seems like overkill for the type of towed loads I'll be having.

The biggest thing I've towed with this truck so far is my 24 foot cuddy cabin, and I had to move the trailer bogies as far back as possible to get even 300lbs of tongue weight out of that.

I wish there were a few more choices of trailers around here, but deckover bumper pulls seem to be a rare commodity.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Diamondpilot,

How much does that 1800 lbs make the rear of your F350 sag? I assume you're not using a weight distributing hitch with the boat trailer. Does it cause you any steering problems, etc.?

I suppose I could go to a WD hitch, but it seems like overkill for the type of towed loads I'll be having.

The biggest thing I've towed with this truck so far is my 24 foot cuddy cabin, and I had to move the trailer bogies as far back as possible to get even 300lbs of tongue weight out of that.

I wish there were a few more choices of trailers around here, but deckover bumper pulls seem to be a rare commodity.

The F-350 only drops maybe 3" and feels rock solid. I have towed upt0 25,000# with this truck 30 miles @55 mph and it did ok. But again it has all the packages like Snow Plow Prep, ect to give it the highest GVWR of 11,500# I had to order it that way. For example my 99 F-350 only had 9,900# GVWR.

My F-250 with 10,000# GVWR and my old Dmax 3500 that boat would drop a good 6-8" and was not comfortable to drive. The steering really suffered.

Chris

 

[aczlan]

I had a 2005 Dmax 3500 SRW 4x4 bong Bed crew cab that had a GVWR of 9,900#

No wonder you had so many issues with that Duramax, it was always taking a hit from the bong bed

Aaron Z

 

[kennyd]

Just my :2cents: but I think that is WAY to much trailer for what you are intending to haul. A 10K 18' or 20' will serve you well and let you keep some money in your pocket.

 

[Beavis]

My two cents: Too heavy of trailer for your needs. I have a JD3320 and use a 24' PJ 6" frame trailer to move it around when needed. I went with a LONG trailer so I would have plenty of room to move the load around, which helps adjust tounge weight. The empty trailer is approximately 3,400 pounds.

In the attached photo: the 22' version of my trailer and my old tow vehicle.

 

[tlbuser]

I'm kinda agreeing with Kenny. What are you planning to move and how often? Most easily available building supplies are 20 feet or less. A 20 foot bumper pull would probably be more manageable in most situations. 25 feet of trailer plus the length of your truck will require wide turns and alot of turn around room. Takes a bit of parking space at home too.

Ask the dealer to let you borrow one for a spin around town. Take it places you normally go and see how well it fits and feels for your needs.

I found with our 3 horse GN rv trailer, I had to modify some of my local routes to get where I want to be.

 

[Diamondpilot]

No wonder you had so many issues with that Duramax, it was always taking a hit from the bong bed

Aaron Z

I wint 2 publick skool so mi spellan aint vry goood!

Chris

 

[Runner]

I see everyone's point on this being overkill for what I need. Something with a channel frame and about 12000# rating would probably handle anything I could ever imagine putting on it.

Beavis, I have admired your trailer from previous posts and if I wanted a lowboy, I would be looking at one just like yours. However, I am looking for a deckover, and PJ doesn't seem to make anything lighter in a deckover until you get to their 5 or 6 inch channel models, and they seem a little too light, no dove tail available, etc.

I like the idea of actually hanging something like what I'm looking at on the back of the truck and trying it out, but nobody seems to have anything like this around here. I've been all over my metro area and all I can find are gooseneck deckovers, car haulers and lawn equipment trailers.

As to the length thing, I measured the 2520 in the longest configuration, which is with the loader bucket and rotary cutter attached, and it is about 21 feet long. PJ says this trailer is available in 2 foot increments, so it's 20 or 22.

One of the long-time trailer dealers here sells a brand called Falcon, and another sells one called Maxey. They seem lighter than the PJ, but also don't look as well built.

I wish there was a dealer with decent selection around the Kansas City area.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Runner

With you living in MO I would make a run down to see some of the builders in Sikeston. Its just south of Cape Giradeau. Its the trailer capital of the midwest. We have bought many trailers there and you get a lot of bang for your buck.

Do not get me wrong, PJ is a good trailer, but over priced in my eyes.

Here is who I have bought from. I am sure they can build you what they want.

Welcome to Jerry James Trailers

Chris

 

[GATC35]

Runner.........I had that same exact trailer you show in your orginal post. I pulled it with a 1999 F-250 7.3L PSD 4x4 ext cab - long bed. It was a great trailer, but as you suspect and others have confirmed, it was really tounge heavy. I have rear air bags on my truck which really helped to level things out, but you still had to be careful on how you loaded the trailer. I bought the deckover so I could load bricks, blocks, sod, etc. on pallets with my forks with out worrying abount fenders sticking up. I also wanted to be able to carry two buckets or a grapple with me, that's why I wanted a longer deck lenght. I finally found a deal on a gooseneck and up graded to it and sold the bumper pull. I really like the quality of PJ trailers. I feel thay are probably one of the best made.

I'm at work now, when I get home I'll send you some pics of my two tractors and Bobcat on several different trailers.

If you have any specific questions on the PJ deckover just let me know and I'll try to answer them.

 

[GATC35]

Runner.........I had that same exact trailer you show in your orginal post. I pulled it with a 1999 F-250 7.3L PSD 4x4 ext cab - long bed. It was a great trailer, but as you suspect and others have confirmed, it was really tounge heavy. I have rear air bags on my truck which really helped to level things out, but you still had to be careful on how you loaded the trailer. I bought the deckover so I could load bricks, blocks, sod, etc. on pallets with my forks with out worrying abount fenders sticking up. I also wanted to be able to carry two buckets or a grapple with me, that's why I wanted a longer deck lenght. I finally found a deal on a gooseneck and up graded to it and sold the bumper pull. I really like the quality of PJ trailers. I feel thay are probably one of the best made.

I'm at work now, when I get home I'll send you some pics of my two tractors and Bobcat on several different trailers.

If you have any specific questions on the PJ deckover just let me know and I'll try to answer them.

 

[Runner]

I guess that's another way to go; just bite the bullet get a gooseneck hitch and be done with it. Kind of didn't want to modify the truck but maybe that's the best way.

One concern is that this truck sits a little high for a gooseneck.

 

[Dargo]

I am looking at a new, bumper pull, PJ 8 inch I-beam flatdeck trailer with 22 feet of flat deck and 3 foot dove tail, 96 inches wide with 7000# axles and brakes on all wheels (see picture). Here is my delimma - from what I have read on the web, this thing probably weighs around 4000# empty.

Wow, I have heard good things about PJ, but that sounds like a very light built trailer. I really need to replace my smaller trailer because I've purchased heavier equipment and I need a dual tandem trailer rather than just a tandem trailer. The trailer I'm talking about is a 20' + 5' tail with folding ramps that makes that 5' flat with the ramps up. Rather than the 8" I-beam, mine has a 12" I-beam that weighs 19 pounds per foot (relatively heavy I beam). Personally, I'd never consider a trailer with only 8" beams under it in the 14,000 pound class of trailers (two 7,000 pound axles). I realize that it's a whole lot less expensive to only use 8" I-beams than 12" I-beams, but there is a HUGE difference in their strength!

My exact same trailer with 2 10,000 axles is what I need in place of the one I have. The 20' + 5' works great for me, but I need more weight capacity and with more weight capacity, I need tandem duals rather than just tandem axles. At full capacity plus I'm looking at blowing a tire on a gravel road even with the 10 ply load range E tires I have. My trailer itself is built heavy enough to handle the extra weight, but it just wouldn't be cost effective to swap out the axles. It's harder to make sharp turns with tandem duals, but that's not an issue for me since the sharpest turns I make is when I park the trailer. When I do that, I use a forklift with a ball on the end of a fork and easily park the trailer in the back corner of my barn.

I'm going to have to really watch my tires this spring and see if I'm stressing them too much or if they are heating up on me. If so, I'll have a like new 14k 20' + 5' trailer that's far heavier built than the PJ you're looking at for sale.

 

[HCJtractor]

I guess that's another way to go; just bite the bullet get a gooseneck hitch and be done with it. Kind of didn't want to modify the truck but maybe that's the best way.

One concern is that this truck sits a little high for a gooseneck.

I had your same issue when I bought my trailer last year. I looked at the PJ, both in the bumper pull and gooseneck. I decided that the bumper pull was just too much trailer to hitch to a standard hitch without weight distribution, so I bought the gooseneck version. As far as modifying the truck, I don't see that as an issue. B % W makes a great bolt on model, and the only alteration is a hole in the bed, but it is filled with the removable ball and causes no issues. When I traded my '97 F 250, they could not care less that it had a hole and hitch, if anything, it made it more valuable. Luckily, my 06 F350 had the hitch already installed.

So if you truly need a 14,000 lb. trailer in a flat top, I would go with the gooseneck. It is superior if you really load it to the max. The height of the truck should not be a problem. Yeah, you lose your bed, but with several thousand lbs. on the bumper, what could you carry anyway?

 

[Duffster]

One concern is that this truck sits a little high for a gooseneck.

Your truck height isn't the least bit too high.