Utility trailers - what should i know?

[Torvy]

Thanks. We're neighbors, of a sort, so if I ever need a bigger trailer, I'll let you know.

If I remember, I'm going to call my trailer guy and add the 2 ft. I'll ask about the LED lights. I also checked and my truck has a port for both kinds of light harness. I've heard the round one is better...but no explanation as to why.

Thoughts on color...TYM red or Summit Green (like my house siding)? The truck is Barcelona Red Metallic. He had a nice looking dark blue on the lot, but my wife didn't like it for our trailer. Maybe the red with the ramp/gate in black?

 

[WM75Guy]

There is very little cost difference going to LED lights, if any. Less maintenance is worth it for me. Round 7 wire plug if it has brakes. Rectangular 4 wire plug is lights only.

 

[3Ts]

There is a 6 pin round plug that includes lights and brakes as well. Not very common and I would recommend against it because it's not common. The 7 pin RV plug is the same 6 pins plus one for an "always on 12v supply".

 

[Blue Mule]

I just read a great many pages of this thread. One thing I've heard repeated is that with the tandem axle you can always get to the side of the road. What in the heck difference does that make, single axle, tandem axle even triple axle they all can and will get to the side of the road. If you are contemplating hauling it a mile or two with a flat then multiple axles may make that easier. Otherwise it makes no difference. Does you truck stop immediately with a flat tire, or do you drive it off the side of the road to get to a place to work on it. You can gimp most anything off the road and to a bit of safety. Several years ago I got a flat while traveling it was on a very busy divided highway with construction going and the road narrowed with concrete barriers, I just drove slowly on the rim till I got to an opening in the barriers and pulled off the highway to change the tire, yes the rim was chewed up. When we stopped for the night I found a used rim and tire for a new spare, issue over and done with.

Well, with a tandem axle if one tire blows the other axle will hold that wheel with the blown tire up off the roadway. The tire is already trashed, but at least the wheel won’t also be trashed since it’s being held up off the roadway due to the fact that you’ve got another good tire on that side to support the load.

With a single axle, the moment the tire blows you just lost a tire AND wheel....unless you're extremely lucky.

I disagree. I have a couple single axle trailers and a couple duel axle trailers. Two axles travel down the road a lot better. No sway, or moment like the single axle does. I'll add that the single axle trailers are shorter, and they serve their purpose, but they would be a lot better if they had two axles.

Exactly. Tandems reduce sway, reduce tire wear, don't rock back and forth when they're unhooked from the truck like a see-saw, and are generally just a lot safer.

 

[EnderlePropertyService]

I currently have 8 trailers and own a trailer service company, amongst others.
My observations over the years and having dealt with tons of tractor owners, small businesses and homeowners.
First, you’ll almost never regret buying the bigger trailer. I run a 20’ tilt deck twin 7k tandem for my tractor and have eyeballed or considered making a 24’. My tractor is used in my property services company for all sorts of projects and there are times when I carry multiple implements. Implements are big. While your *Tractor* may fit on a 14 or 16’ trailer, your tractor with a ‘Hog…won’t.
Second, Used is a possibility but make 1000% you check the wheel bearings, replace and grease maybe even before you leave the place you bought it.

Third…Brakes. Trailer brakes are a must if you carry heavy loads. It’s not that your truck can’t tow the load, it’s that your truck brakes aren’t designed to STOP that much weight. Trailer brakes need to be adjusted unless they are self adjusting. I’d say 98% of people with trailers that have brakes never adjust them and never change them. Yes, they do wear.
Fourth, A dump trailer is the most useful trailer you can own, utility wise, but it’s a royal pain with a tractor. Plus the prices now…yeah.
Fifth, a utility gate sounds like a good idea. In practice, they are too flimsy to handle a tractor. Ramps or better yet, a tilt deck is the way.
Last…You might see and be temped by tandem flatbed trailers for cheap that are converted RVs on Facebook marketplace. Don’t.
Those frames are too light to carry an equipment load. Crossmembers are stupid thin and half of them start out bent. Unless you have the ability and time to reinforce them…don’t.

 

[4570Man]

Well, with a tandem axle if one tire blows the other axle will hold that wheel with the blown tire up off the roadway. The tire is already trashed, but at least the wheel won’t also be trashed since it’s being held up off the roadway due to the fact that you’ve got another good tire on that side to support the load.

With a single axle, the moment the tire blows you just lost a tire AND wheel....unless you're extremely lucky.



Exactly. Tandems reduce sway, reduce tire wear, don't rock back and forth when they're unhooked from the truck like a see-saw, and are generally just a lot safer.

Have you ever had a blow out on a trailer? If you had torsion axels you might fair a little different but with walking beam suspension it does the job it’s supposed to and puts the blown tire on the ground. Not only that the pieces of the blown tire along with being overloaded will promptly blow the good tire. You might limp a duel tandem trailer but limping a regular tandem axel is a myth.

 

[bcp]

I feel so unsafe having only single axles on the front and rear of my truck. What if I have a blowout?

Why doesn't someone make a 3/4 ton pickup with tandem axles front and rear?



Bruce

 

[ArlyA]

I feel so unsafe having only single axles on the front and rear of my truck. What if I have a blowout?

Why doesn't someone make a 3/4 ton pickup with tandem axles front and rear?



Bruce

Most trips in our truck and with the trailer, we have multiple blowouts. What I'm I doing wrong?

 

[tradosaurus]

I feel so unsafe having only single axles on the front and rear of my truck. What if I have a blowout?

Why doesn't someone make a 3/4 ton pickup with tandem axles front and rear?



Bruce

You have dual axles. Just spread out further apart than a trailer.

 

[JWR]

I feel so unsafe having only single axles on the front and rear of my truck. What if I have a blowout?

Why doesn't someone make a 3/4 ton pickup with tandem axles front and rear?



Bruce

Good sarcasm...

 

[Torvy]

Finally took delivery. There was more paperwork than I expected and a few minor issues that needed to be worked out, but the builder made it all right.

5200 lb axle with brakes. Round 7 pin electric. 14'. It is listed at 1000 lbs. I opted to forgo the mount for the spare. Once we are done moving (150 miles each way), the trailer will rarely leave the property except when we need something 'big' at TSC or Atwoods. The spare can ride on the trailer or in the bed.

 

[Jstpssng]

Nice looking trailer. That's a heavy axle they put in it. You could easily fashion a spare tire carrier from a couple of heavy bolts, for a lot less money than they would have charged you.

 

[Gord Baker]

No need for Rack stake pockets. a 1" pipe securely welded on each side two inches below the top angle works for tiedowns. Make sure the tires are embossed Trailer Use. Ramp should be longer. Axle should be forward 6" or 6" past Centre. Drill the upright for Two 1/2" dia bolts and bolt spare to front of trailer resting on Diagonal.
Purchase a cover for it.

 

[Torvy]

Thanks. Tires are trailer use. I haven't decided if I'll bother with mounting the spare. My old trailer had it horizontal on the yoke.

Why would I need a longer ramp? No lawn mowers or anything with low clearance. What am I missing? It will occasionally carry a SXS to/from the dealership. Otherwise, it will hold timber, saplings for planting, drywall, fencing materials, tools, etc.

Even if I was inclined to put my tractor on a single axle, it would have to be sans loader to work. Tractor plus loader is right at 5k. That doesn't even count loaded tires, attachments or other accoutrement.

Also, the price was $2005 out the door including farm tag fee.

 

[JWR]

Thanks. Tires are trailer use. I haven't decided if I'll bother with mounting the spare. My old trailer had it horizontal on the yoke.

Why would I need a longer ramp? No lawn mowers or anything with low clearance. What am I missing? It will occasionally carry a SXS to/from the dealership. Otherwise, it will hold timber, saplings for planting, drywall, fencing materials, tools, etc.

Even if I was inclined to put my tractor on a single axle, it would have to be sans loader to work. Tractor plus loader is right at 5k. That doesn't even count loaded tires, attachments or other accoutrement.

Also, the price was $2005 out the door including farm tag fee.

Yeah, your 55 horse T574H is just too big and heavy to be hauling on a 14ft single axle trailer. You might get away with it for a 10 mile gingerly tiptoed trip to a repair shop or something but I wouldn't do it on any regular basis. My Stagecoach brand trailer (made in TX) has the 5200 lb axle too and very glad I upgraded to that. Being old and feeble I LIKE a very short ramp because it is lighter and easier to handle. Mine is that way (short) because I got a short beavertail at the rear of mine. What brand/manufacturer is your trailer?

 

[Torvy]

This was made by a mom and pop shop in Tyler. There are tons of trailer manufacturers near us. For the same features, a PJ was going to cost more than 50% more.

 

[JWR]

This was made by a mom and pop shop in Tyler. There are tons of trailer manufacturers near us. For the same features, a PJ was going to cost more than 50% more.

I paid $2124 in 2017 for a Stagecoach brand trailer made in Naples TX, sold via dealer in Shreveport, Naples being around the same distance from Dallas and/or from Shreveport as is Tyler. Mine has the 5200 lb Dexter axle, spare tire mount, small beavertail and short (nice!) ramp. I've been extremely happy with mine. Hauled logs, mulch and one trip to Iowa to bring home a Kubota B2150 (with ease, the perfect tool for that job.) The heavier axle seems to automatically come with stronger tires and wheels.

 

[Torvy]

I can see a trip to South Dakota with mine at some point when my dad passes. He is 91.

I'll probably need to haul things down here. A piano, for one. I may be able to just use the truck, but it is nice to have options.

 

[JWR]

No need for Rack stake pockets. a 1" pipe securely welded on each side two inches below the top angle works for tiedowns. Make sure the tires are embossed Trailer Use. Ramp should be longer. Axle should be forward 6" or 6" past Centre. Drill the upright for Two 1/2" dia bolts and bolt spare to front of trailer resting on Diagonal.
Purchase a cover for it.

Why 6" past center for the axle? Not sure if you mean 6" forward of the center of the bed or aft of the bed center? Confused by the way you stated that. I have noted with interest there are many variations of axle placement on trailers. This includes both single and dual-axle models. Some have the axle placed far to the rear and others closer to bed center. I have not seen a good write-up on the pros and cons of various axle placement philosophies.

 

[Jstpssng]

I can see a trip to South Dakota with mine at some point when my dad passes. He is 91.

I'll probably need to haul things down here. A piano, for one. I may be able to just use the truck, but it is nice to have options.

I wouldn't want to haul the piano in a trailer. It will bounce around a lot less in the pickup bed, tied as far forward as you can get it. That'll leave plenty of room in the trailer for other things though.