Your towing rigs and trailers

[aeblank]

So then, why did you say it? Haha.

No doubt we need to shorten the cables and we have the tools to do it.

Just to poke fun, of course.

I did some 3/0 wiring on my camper. A custom cable with proper lugs is quite nice.

Again, awesome trailer. Maybe someday for me..... Didn't mean to derail so much.

 

[fried1765]

Just to poke fun, of course.

I did some 3/0 wiring on my camper. A custom cable with proper lugs is quite nice.

Again, awesome trailer. Maybe someday for me..... Didn't mean to derail so much.

Best bang for the buck trailer is built not too far from you.
Quality Steel & Aluminum in Elkhart, Indiana.

I ordered a 14K - 20' equipment trailer from them 3 years ago.
No extra bells and whistles.
I added a 9500# Superwinch myself.
How fancy does a trailer really need to be?
I need it only very occasionally.

 

[aeblank]

How fancy does a trailer really need to be?.

For most of us, it's a want vs a need. Like so many other things in life, really.
I, too, be getting an economy or used trailer when I do get one...

 

[DavesTractor]

I think a trailer does not need to be fancy at all, if fancy means cool paint, polished diamond plate and so forth. And a trailer does not have to be super stout either for most users. It is the guy that is near the GVWR limit that hauls often that can use a better built trailer. Like the Diamond C 48HDT is an I-beam construction trailer. Makes it lower and very strong. The 45HDT can be had at the same rating, and it is a pair of stacked channels. Also very strong, a few inches taller.

My first trailer years ago was so awesome. Why? because I didn't know any better, and truth be known it never let me down. It was a cheap angle iron frame, tandem axle with no brakes. I pulled it around and loaded it stupidly on occasion. And for that usage, it worked fine. I did not understand 25 years ago why the inner fender spot welds would always pop. I did not realize the frame was flexing that much. It worked, and worked fairly well and it was cheap. What I am saying is that these heavy duty very strong industrial grade trailers are not needed by many people. Especially occasional users. It doesn't take a lot of trailer to haul a 4000 lb tractor to the shop occasionally or to go help a buddy.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

SR

 

[Garandman]

We bought a Harbor Freight 1,750 lb 4x8 trailer kit for $250 years ago. Added tie downs, a sheet of plywood, LED lights, and they had a tire recall so it has Carlisles. Used it a ton, although I've since purchased an Aluma.

We use the Tahoe to tow our sailboat trailer, just had new brake controller and LED lights installed.

 

[USMC2001PSD]

Sold my little New Holland to my neighbor and got a very clean BX2360 last year.

 

[bmoore]

I have an Aluma 6.5x12 that has been an awesome little trailer. Planning to buy a tractor this spring though, so will likely have to upgrade to bigger one. Likely will be getting an LS MT125 TLB which with the hoe and loader would put me about 500 lbs overweight for this 3K rated trailer with 2400 lbs carrying capacity.

 

[ultrarunner]

That is quite a load on your trailer...

I own a lot of trailers... always have but the one I use 90% of the time is my little 4x6 box trailer with steel floor and low deck height... it was move the garden tractor... 1 yard of rock and one time a $500,000 Excimer Medical Laser 3 miles... with two of my friends driving for escort... this was in 1995...

The medical mover wanted several thousand dollars to make the move and the hospital CEO said I should move it!

It was under full service contract...parts to smarts... so she was not worried... but I was!!!

 

[bmoore]

That is quite a load on your trailer...

I own a lot of trailers... always have but the one I use 90% of the time is my little 4x6 box trailer with steel floor and low deck height... it was move the garden tractor... 1 yard of rock and one time a $500,000 Excimer Medical Laser 3 miles... with two of my friends driving for escort... this was in 1995...

The medical mover wanted several thousand dollars to make the move and the hospital CEO said I should move it!

It was under full service contract...parts to smarts... so she was not worried... but I was!!!

Yeah, it took some creativity to get it all tied down securely! And you can never have too many trailers, I also have a 5x8 enclosed trailer I use when we're only hauling our two motorcycles behind the campervan.

 

[fried1765]

For most of us, it's a want vs a need. Like so many other things in life, really.
I, too, be getting an economy or used trailer when I do get one...

I bought the least expensive NEW 14K equipment trailer that I could find, that met my build specifications.
New steel, new decking, new brakes, new 16" wheels/tires, 16" spaced x-members, and powder coating...which I did not want..
Mfg. was Quality Steel & Aluminum.....shipped from Elkhart, IN.
Kaufman Trailers price was close.
I would not buy any used equipment trailer, unless I was prepared to replace many parts & pieces.

 

[BigBlue1]

I bought the least expensive NEW 14K equipment trailer that I could find, that met my build specifications.
New steel, new decking, new brakes, new 16" wheels/tires, 16" spaced x-members, and powder coating...which I did not want..
Mfg. was Quality Steel & Aluminum.....shipped from Elkhart, IN.
Kaufman Trailers price was close.
I would not buy any used equipment trailer, unless I was prepared to replace many parts & pieces.

I bought a used one. It was one year old and in like new condition and I saved about $800. Not everything used is junk.

Rob

 

[ultrarunner]

Paid $200 for the my 4x8 box trailer used and best $200 I ever spent. Not a week goes by without using it...

It was actually a friend of Dad selling... I didn't think much of it because I had a 5x9 stake trailer...

But, having a steel floor and low load height with ramp soon made the little trailer a joy to move appliances and furniture...

Doubt I have lost anything...

9 trailers and all bought used or came used with equipment bought used...

 

[Timm250]

Had to take my tractor in for a front axle leak repair.

 

[BigBlue1]

Had to take my tractor in for a front axle leak repair.View attachment 592145

I'm curious... Did you have something else behind the tractor on the trailer? If not, what was the reason for having the tractor so far forward? Looks like it may have been a little better balanced to have it back a few feet.

Rob

 

[cat fever]

I'm curious... Did you have something else behind the tractor on the trailer? If not, what was the reason for having the tractor so far forward? Looks like it may have been a little better balanced to have it back a few feet.

Rob

I agree, I always put my tractor so the back tires on centered between the axles.

 

[fried1765]

I bought a used one. It was one year old and in like new condition and I saved about $800. Not everything used is junk.

Rob

Yep..... you were lucky to find one like that.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

I'm curious... Did you have something else behind the tractor on the trailer? If not, what was the reason for having the tractor so far forward? Looks like it may have been a little better balanced to have it back a few feet.

Rob

Yet the truck looks level.

 

[3Lfarms]

Cat’s gooseneck is a tandem dually, while Tim’s trailer has singles. Big difference in GVW. Tim has to forward load the tractor to put more weight on the truck to avoid overloading the trailer’s axles.
I’d also bet Tim has airbags on his truck to help with the extra weight.

 

[BigBlue1]

Yet the truck looks level.

I'm not being critical, just asking. Because that's not how I've always understood trailer loading best practices to be. As far as looking level, it does, but that means it is squatting quite a bit from unloaded. Here's a pic of my 2500 unloaded. Notice the rear wheel clearance compared to his. I think his is a 1-ton, which means even stiffer springs so I wouldn't expect it to squat any more unless it was severely overloaded (which I'm not saying it is), but that doesn't mean loading the tractor further back isn't a preferred position.

Just looking for Tim's reasoning because I like to learn...

Rob