Trailer regrets....

[denverdave66]

After buying my 2012 16' Doolittle Landscaping trailer I am wishing now instead of buying it with the mesh gate I would have went without the gate and just got the ramps instead that you take off and store underneath the trailer. The gate even though it is mesh it acts like a parachute and you can really tell the difference when it is up compared when your pulling the trailer empty with it folded down. Also, I am disappointing that Doolittle did not put any grease fittings on the springs. I try and keep it greased but if there was a fitting it would be much easier. Also, I have been thinking about adding on some rear jacks to the trailer. I noticed the other day when John Deere dealer was loading my tractor how much the back end of the trailer squats down. You would think as much as I spent for my trailer (I bought it new) that it would have came with jacks.

 

[Code54]

Sorry to hear that. You could add jacks if you wanted - they are about $20-60 depending on the size, and often can be bolted on the rear. If your gate is removable can you pull it off and just buy some ramps?
It seems most trailers don't have grease fittings on the springs anymore. I have a 12K trailer that is fairly well made and equipped but it does not have fittings on the springs. Overall that has not concerned me but I do understand that some people prefer them.
Good luck

 

[bcp]

Mesh is worst than solid on a pickup.

Tailgate Up or Down

Busting the open tailgate myth wide open | Local | News | Sault Star

Bruce

 

[joshuabardwell]

I don't typically see landscape trailers with jacks. I think that's more common on car and equipment haulers.

 

[schmism]

I had always heard there was no comparison between a 20' equipment trailer and a 20' travel trailer (RV).

I pulled my new livestock trailer for the first time a few weeks ago and even empty couldnt manage better than 8mpg. ive had 8000lbs of gravel on my 20' equipment trailer and still managed to get 10mpg. empty i can get as high as 12 on highway.

the air resistance is nothing to dismiss.

 

[denverdave66]

I don't typically see landscape trailers with jacks. I think that's more common on car and equipment haulers.

I noticed when the dealer was backing my John Deere on the trailer it really lifted the back end of my truck up, maybe that is normal I am inexperienced at this trailer stuff.

 

[joshuabardwell]

I noticed when the dealer was backing my John Deere on the trailer it really lifted the back end of my truck up, maybe that is normal I am inexperienced at this trailer stuff.

I'm not saying whether that is or isn't normal. Just I think that landscape trailers are usually intended for lighter things, like mowers and ATVs. Popping up the rear of your truck can lead to unhappy surprises if your parking brake is the only thing keeping you from rolling away, so do be careful. Adding jacks to the rear of your trailer is no big deal, although you can also just carry a couple of jack stands with you.

 

[grnspot110]

My 16' trailer uses legs instead of jacks, just swing them down when loading & back up to store. Legs are a couple inches off the ground when empty, you can back up or pull forward if there is too much weight on them when loaded to swing them back up! ~~ grnspot

 

[handirifle]

Can you cut the gate in half height wise? Make a hinge from 1/2" steel bar and 1/2" ID sched 40 tubing, and linge the gate halfway up. That way you can fold it for transport and it's only half as much resistance. Or just cut it down and add the ramps anyway. It can be done, but I understand the frustration of not getting it right the first time. It's called experience. It usually comes from mistakes we made. if we're lucky it's from mistakes OTHERS make, and we learn from.

Put the jacks on it, fix the gate. If your heaviest load rolls up the gate with no issue, I'd just hinge it. Just make sure it's reinforced at the hinge area to take the load when driving over it.

 

[Larro Darro]

Mesh will mess with your mileage. I have a little 12' trailer to carry my lawnmowers. It doesn't have a gate, the bed tilts down to load the equipment. As long as I turn off the overdrive on my truck, you can't even tell it's back there. At my work, we have a 12' trailer with the full mesh gate. When I pull it you can hear the difference in the sound of the truck. To do 55 it sounds like you are doing 75. Anytime we are hauling anything other than wheeled vehicles, we take the gate off. It just takes a few minutes with two people and hauls much better.
So cut the gate down, and/or get you some ramps made. You will make up in fuel mileage whatever it cost you.