Which Trailer To Buy? HELP!!!

[Doughboy21kd]

I am looking at 2 different trailers and need the Pro's and Con's of them both and of course anyone with a good opinion... .



I have been doing a lot of in town hauling and am just wondering on what trailer to $$$.



I am looking at a Gooseneck 20 or a 25' with a 5' dove tail... . maybe possibly even a 35' just dont know how big i wanna go yet??????. . Now the question is I have narrowed it down to 2 trailers as far as options go(not brands yet).



I am looking at one with 3 axles single tires(7K axles = 21K), or would a 2 axle dually(10k axles) with oil bath axles be better.



If i could hear the pro's and con's and opinions. . THANKS

 

[champspa]

I have a 3 axle 7k each , it is a nice trailer , I believe that a 2 axle 12k or 10k each is better as it turns easier with a load , the tires on mine are in a real bind in a sharp turn. just my $. o2 worth

 

[GWBourne]

i agree, if you are doing a lot of in town stuff then a tandem dual setup would be nicer to tow with.



it wont tow on the interstate as nice though due to tracking on the semi ruts.



what are you hauling? just general stuff? if so maybe two 7 k axles would cut it, but limit the trailer on use from time to time.

Grant

 

[Doughboy21kd]

Please i need some opinions

 

[Sled Dog]

Please i need some opinions

Check out www.brutetrailers.com



I have a 32' dual tandem, with 5' dove tail and ramps. Pulls straight empty or loaded down the highway, fast or slow, no problem.

Better yet look on Ebay for one of there trailers, more info on them there.

 

[CSnyder]

I do hotshot and have owned 13 gooseneck trailers in my life of all different brands. My theory is if you plan on traveling rough roadways, haul heavy loads, or keep the trailer until it is wore out, then you will want to buy a trailer that has great reputation and the manufacturer has been around a long time. I know of a local shop that builds goosenecks in their welding shop when things are slow and their trailers look awesome BUT they are constantly getting welded on and repaired by the guys who bought them because the shop hasnt got the knowledge of the weak points on a gooseneck trailer yet figured out. I currently run a PJ trailer with tandem duals and oil bath hubs. It is 32 foot with flip over ramps and is a low profile deck over wheels model. The only problems I have encountered with it thus far is once going down an interstate at 75 mph and very rough I hadnt chained the ramps down and one flipped over and caused the guy tailgating me to have to stop for fresh underwear and the rear lighting wires were all just strung along the frame like most goosnecks are and I live on gravel roads so the wires got chewed up but I cured that by running everything through conduit. All this said I would recommend a PJ trailer and oil bath hubs for dependability and life span because of all my experiences with the "other" guys trailers.



Chris

 

[McCRam]

When I make corners with the triple axle all loaded up, It looks like the tires are about to get ripped off. I am not a big fan of them, but that trailer does have great brakes. I would go for the two dual axles If I had the choice.

 

[PatrickCampbell]

Dual tandem and oil baths definitely better than triple axles and grease!!!

 

[JJW_ND]

Jmho....

From years of delivering new trailers, tandoms pull harder then singles. If I was making this decision, I would seriousely look into super singles. You can get up to 10K axles with 17. 5 single tires. We run this size tire on our 16K trailers (8K axles) and get great tire wear. The tire rim is around 6K carrying capacity. Lots of tire choices in 17. 5.



I also would get hydraulic disk brakes. Still plugs into the factory trailer connector and is controlled by a standard electric brake controller. The cost with a new trailer should not be the much more over standard electric. We have over 80K miles running disks on two trailers that run alot of gravel and country delievery situations. Not a single repair or adjustment in two years and 80K miles. AND the brakes stop as good as the day they were new!



Keep in mind the longer the trailer with intown use where you need to do lots of jackknife turning will require regular alignments to keep the axles true.



Oil bath axles..... We run oil bath axle hubs on all our trailer but run grease in them. Most of our trailer run hard for a short period of time and then site for months. We were told the sitting is not good for oil. THe oil bath hub and cap is much better design ... cap threaded in(for us running gravel). Never lost or broke a plastic oil batch cap but have lost many steel pressed on grease hub caps. Better seals in the oil bath setup. We are running 20k miles between services with our Disk brake setup and finding no issues and grease still in good shape.



jjw

ND

 

[TX Gooseneck]

We build a triple 7k on occasion, but not that many. My personal trailer is a triple 7k 36' drop deck style. I can not stand this trailer. It tears up the road (or my field) and it also destroys tires. In regards to pulling, it doesn't make much difference in terms of feel or ride quality with the 3 axles vs the tandem duals. But the peace of mind you have with the TD's is far greater than that of the triple 7's. When I have a flat I need to get stopped ASAP to fix it (I attempted to push it one time because I was close to home and lost the other two). You can limp a bit further with the duals.



If you have any questions email me at -- email address removed --

 

[CBari]

I Have Sold And Delivered Trailers For The Last 10 Years. I Also Use Them Regularly On The Farm Usually Trade Ins Or Demos, Thus I Have Had Experience With Many Different Brands And Types. Personal Preference Is Dual Tandems, Triples Don't Take To The Abuse Of Sharp Jack Knife Turns That You Always Find Yourself Having To Do No Matter How Hard You Try To Avoid It.



As For Brakes I Have Not Had Any Personal Experience With Elec. Over Hydraulic But Have Been Debating About Puting Some On My Horsetrailer.



My Personal Favorite For In Town Hauling Of My Backhoe Is With Is A 20 +5 Dovetail Big Tex. I Think Big Tex Has Got The Ramp And Dove Tail Design Down To A Fine Art. There Is A Company In Missouri That Is Called Rice Trailers And They Make An Excellent Trailer.



If You Weren't Going To Be Using It In Town I Would Recommend You Buy As Long As You Can Afford Because To Me The Different Lengths All Pull The Some On The Open Road To Me And I Am Always Needing 2 More Feet Haul Something Else.

 

[TX Gooseneck]

The electric/hydraulic disc brakes are worlds ahead of conventional electric brakes. The performance gain is unbelievable. The e/h drum brakes are decent and offer a good middle of the road brake.



The biggest problem with electric brakes are the wiring. Most companies use a 16ga or an 18 ga wire. There is just not enough room for proper electrical current to flow. We use no less than 12ga wire and the difference is night and day.



In regards to axles, there is also a night and day difference between Dexter (our preferred brand) and Alko-kober or Quality axles (PJ uses both of these axles). Dexter is the only brand to have, the other two are lower prices alternatives and it shows in the quality and the parts availability.

 

[CBari]

I Am With Tx Gooseneck On The Axles Dexter Is The Only Way To Go.



Tx Gooseneck Whose Do Recomend On The Electric Over Hydralic Disc To Change Out An Exsisting Electric Drums.

 

[TX Gooseneck]

You have to change axles. The 10k Disc are a 10k HD axle. The Dexter e/h actuator is the way to go (I believe the current model - silver/round is made by Dexter, the last model gold/rectangle was made by Carlisle).



The change out requires different hangers (10k HD uses 12k hangers and equalizers) to be welded on and then the axles. The lines have to be run and the actuator has to be wired in as well.

 

[MMeier]

Tandem duals here on a PJ 35' +5' pop up dovetail. Hauls 48' HC containers , and everything else with ease. A lot more stabile then my buddies 40+ 5 triple 7k trailer. Wider track over the triple axle set up also, alot more stabile in high cross wind situations. Me and my buddy were hauling up I 15 in 70 MPH winds, semi's all over on their sides, buddies trailer whipping all over heck and creation... . mine a little side angle, but nothing I was worried about! Note sig!

 

[Alan Reagan]

Dual tandem and oil baths definitely better than triple axles and grease!!!

Right on.



Tri-axles are hell on bearings and tires when turning, especially backing situations where the truck is shoving the nose of the trailer hard around.

 

[JWashburn]

Put 10 tons of hay on the trailer, and I guarantee you'll pick a tandem dual every time. Whether its just out of the field or down the highway.

 

[bjonesAZ]

Many of the newer high end RV 5ers are going DT instead of triples. Out here in the middle of no where DTs are the norm with triples few are far between. Oh, and what the other guys said too.



Bob