Negative report on tilt bed trailer

[NIsaacs]

I just spent 40 hrs rebuilding a customers 21' x 14k gvw tilt bed trailer. Overall it's not a bad trailer but I don't like the design, I can see where it would be limited on what you haul and placement of the load. Most of the repair was abuse, with some just age but some poor manufacturing habits. The main deck was 48" on one side and 47.5" on the other, they use inferior torsion axles standard with Dexter an option. The axle mounts were only 1/4" brackets and all broken, the center cross member is 1/8" wall x 3" square tubing, only welded to the bottom of the frame rail, all broken. If it were mine I would have just removed it before it fell out on the highway. I welded 4" plate on each end to try and save it. The tilt latch was trashed and the 12k jack and mounting was trashed from abuse. The jack and mount was bent back at about a 30 degree angle from forgetting to lift the foot and driving off. The actual foot front edge was as sharp as a knife from draging on the pavement. Job security for me

Nick

 

[JR]

That's basically the same trailer I've got, at least in design. I used 4" 3/16 channel 12" on center, and built a head ache rack up front to mount a winch on top to straight line pull when the trailer is tilted. It works pretty well for the most part, although I would like to add a cylinder to dampen the drop when you reach the fulcrum point so it doesn't just slam down. It takes a bit of a balancing act to get it to drop gently.
No torsion axles either, I picked up a pair of 7k lb Dexter spring axles with greaseable pins and complete brakes on both axles for $300.

 

[JLeake]

From my experience the trailer manufacturers build what buyers want, lowest possible price, and as a result they build cheap. Electrical connectors that are push on junk, frames that are marginal at best, etc. You get what you pay for in general, unfortunately. I am very hesitant to buy one without a thorough inspection and background check on the manufacturer.

 

[jelag]

I bought new a 2 axle 12K lb hydraulic tip box trailer with 5 yards capacity..... when it was new I couldn't buy from the local steel company and axle supplier all the parts to make it new for what I paid for it..... and now after maybe 20 years.. I've welded a new floor in it.... now 12 gauge instead of the 14 gauge.... and have done a lot of work to keep it up.... but all in all its been a good trailer ... I used it for trips to a land fill with brake block... 2 - 3 times a month at gross weight.... now I haul pine needles, and bark dust... and continue to have to fix it when I loan it out... its come back 2 times with the door ripped off from not locking the door open when the bed went up.... and we found it parked in the lot after a friend borrowed it and punched a hole in the tire.... he drug it home with the bad tire......

But I take care of my stuff.... so now if someone wants to borrow it... I might take it and help... but no more do I loan it....

Just my thoughts....