I encourage anyone contemplating the purchase of a trailer to take a close look at the tires load rating. My 7000# gross Haulmark came with a set of tires that were max load of 7200# at max pressure of 50#. The tires are too close to the max load rating to have a good safety margin. I am careful about keeping the tires inflated - checked prior to any trip of any length - as well as keeping the load under the trailer gross. You have to watch the wheels as well. My wheels have a max of 50# air pressure so stepping up to the next size will require a wheel swap if I stick with trailer tires. I have been looking at pickup tires that are the right size, run at 50# and have a considerably higher load rating than the tires that came on the trailer. Two of which came apart on two very short, one lightly loaded, the other running empty trips of about ten miles each. And one complete failure with blow-out etc. that I've posted pics of before. The tires were about 3 1/2 years old and like you'd expect, made in China where quality control makes sure they are black in color and mostly round. The Jacobsen utlity trailer I owned for 15 years + had American made trailer tires and they still looked good when I sold it 3 1/2 years ago....
I agree with Weasel, I've got a JimGlo trailer, it's the 4th trailer I've owned, and it'll be the last I'll ever need. I love the tilt bed! no ramps to fool with, easy to load and unload. Both fenders are removable. I've got a winch to pull up the non-ops, and unload anything. I haven't had anything on it yet that I can't open the door on (some had to take fender off). I found mine used, but looked a llooooooonnnnggggg time to find it. You just don't see many people getting rid of them, and I agree, it's because they are great. I didn't care for the "surge" brakes, I switched over to all electric. Unlike others, I check my tire pressure before any trip, and haven't blown a tire yet (but will someday). JimGlo is out of Willcox, Az........I can get you contact info if you want it, they may even have a website, I don't know. Bill
I have a Trailex trailer...excellent...aluminum and very light weight. www.trailex.com As for tires...I had the same problem as F'n-100 but found it it was probably my fault...towing too fast with too little tire pressure. http://tinyurl.com/ytsvya "Industry standards dictate that tires with the ST designation are speed restricted to 65 MPH under normal inflation and load conditions unless a different speed restriction is indicated on the sidewall of the tire. Based on industry standards, if tires with the ST designation are used at speeds between 66 and 75 mph, it is necessary to increase the cold inflation pressures by 10 psi above the recommended pressure for the load. o Do not exceed the maximum pressure for the wheel. o If the maximum pressure for the wheel prohibits the increase of air pressure, then the maximum speed must be restricted to 65 mph. o The cold inflation pressure must not exceed 10 pst beyond the inflation specified for the maximum load of the tire." I've never had a problem after watching my speed and tire pressure.
Mine is a Perone....It's open with a full steel deck. It has a stone guard on the front to protect against the obvious. It also has a beaver tail to load my low vehicles. We added a portable winch system mounted with a 2 inch hitch receiver, for those projects that don't run. I too am trying to develops a new fender mounting system so that the drivers side fender can be removed. I'm not a big fan of box trailers....too big, sometimes a pain in the *** to tow(often the truck you have isn't big enough to tow the trailer you want)...always an eyesore to store!!! Although they do make excellent temporary sheds and work wonders instead of a moving truck!!!!!
Be careful of the tilt's unless they have a way of stopping the downward travel. If you're putting a car on that you have to push on or wench on, they will start to tip down once the front of the car gets about half way on the trailer and the back wheels are still 2' from the back of the trailer.
Another thing that's great is if the trailer takes the same wheel and tire that the tow vehicle does, that way you can have two spares. I've never ran trailer tires on mine. At the present time it has 6000# axles under it and 8 lug wheels with 10 ply truck tires the same as the truck. I've run this trailer well over 30,000 miles and only had 2 flats, one had a screw in it the other was a faulty tire which was replaced by the dealer. Keep the inflation up as the biggest killer is heat buildup
I looked into a Towmaster tilt trailer for equipment. They sell models with a knife edge for fork lifts, and such. They are a little pricey, but very good quality. The construction company I work for rents one all the time. They very heavy, though.
JK, if you stay local, Terry's or Frank's would be where I'd go. http://www.terrystrailers.com/ http://customtrailersalesinc.com/services.html That being said, one of my buddy's had a Texas Roll Back and I loved it. It had removable fenders and the front air dam/rock guard and it was great. http://www.texasrollback.net/ The biggest complaint I have about most open trailers is prep work for the paint. They don't prime them and usually don't remove the rust from them prior to painting. Wiring is usually sub-par as well. Right now I'm planning on building my own. I have a buddy that has a tube steel one that sits low, dove tailed and has a long tounge. The only fault I have with it is it's only 16' long on the deck. I plan on taking measurements from it and fixing the problems and probably ad some deck boxes and a tounge box/rock guard.
Couple of things: 1. When you buy a commercially built trailer, check for screws in the tire treads. Some dealer's low priced help can't be bothered to check! 2. Check wheel bearings for lubrication and for correct adjustment. 3. Check all wiring, especially brakes. This might be of help: I fabbed a pair of 18"long with 5" rise wooden ramps to drive my tow vehicle rear wheels up onto. This lowers the rear of my enclosed to reduce the "hinge-hump" when driving my low-slung roadster into/out of the trailer. Takes less than a minute to place these mini-ramps and drive up onto them. Also, got a flat on a tandem axle trailer tire? Run the good tire up the mini-ramp - it will lift the flat tire enough to change it; don't need the jack. Works for me on the torque flex tandems. (Not sure how it works on the dual leaf spring set-ups) Flat decks pull easier than enclosed; you're not trying to punch a large hole through the air behind your tow vehicle and they are lighter weight - it should be obvious.
First, I don't currently own a trailer. At 61 years, I'm still young enough to drive. But several of my friends have trailers. Most use steel open trailers and are very happy with them. They tow their rods and customs all over the place east of the Mississippi. My wife's father owns an 18' all aluminum trailer made by Exiss out of El Reno Oklahoma. It is exceptionally welll built open unit, but a little pricey. He paid in excess of $5k thru a local dealer in Florida, but he loves it (he's 70, so he's allowed to trailer). Only thing I don't like about his, is that they build in a 4" lip on both sides (for structural strength, I guess) which makes it damn tough to try to get under the car from the sides. (hurts the back big time). He has never had any problem with his tires, but the other friends have blown out several each. His Exiss is fairly light - less that one ton, so it is easy to pull. If you are in Ok, and have the time and money, you should check them out. I believe they also make enclosed trailers. As for me, when I'm ready I may look at the Texas Roll backs as I am basically lazy.
I bought a used open trailer 8 years ago from a company that used to haul pickups and Suburbans with it. It's pretty basic with a tool box in front, ramps store under the deck, no tilt and no winch. I used it to haul my '35 sedan home from the desert when I first bought it, and my son has been using it to haul his drag racer, his "sand truck" to the dunes and of course it's retrieved all sorts of broken vehicles of friends and relatives. I believe in the versatility of an open trailer, it'll haul a slammed chopped lead-sled or the kids lifted, big tire sand truck and everything in between. Oh, by the way.......my sedan hasn't been back on that trailer since the day I towed it out of Kingman, Az. back in 1999.
I use my trailer for parts, projects, donors and swap meets. The cpe has NEVER been on it as a runner. At 61 your just a pup. LOL
I have a jimglo trailer 2005. 20' enclosed. gull wing door on left side with removable fender for easy exit of car, and low to the ground. they are erodynamic electric winch door and door in front for tie downs. Its lined on the insideand has all aluminum diamond plate floor. Very nice trailers. I will be buying another one once I sell the one I have. Need one much taller now because have a cabover p/u to put in it. They are lightwieght and easy tow. If you haven't seen on go on jimglo's website. Good luck
Have to offer a resounding DITTO on the Sloan's kwik-load. I started with a dove tail, saw the kwik-load.....bought one a short time later....That was about 8 years ago and I have hauled, literally, a few hundred loads. It has been a 'star attraction' everywhere I go. Only thing I can't understand is why everybody doesn't already have one. I have an 8000# Warn winch with a receiver style mount, so it's easily removed, and I have long "jumper" cables with those quick disconnect terminals used on electric forklifts. I have short pigtail on my truck's battery to power the winch. No worry about the trailer battery going dead etc. It has tandem 3500# Tor-flex axles and electric brakes on both axles. I did add additional tie down rings to the 4 provided. It also solves the concern about opening doors. When loading, the deck slides back, the car is driven or winched on, and the correct position of the car usually allows room for opening the door. The deck slides back up into place. When unloading, you tilt the deck before entering the car. Really no need to get in before that in most cases. I have no interest in Sloan's Kwik-load except for being a totally satisfied owner! Ray
JK, come look at my open trailer sometime. It was shop-built by a friend who builds professionally, using my personal design. I'd put it up against ANY commercially-built open hauler out there. I have a #5,000 Braden winch on mine, and I would NEVER haul without one ever again! My rig is a dovetail, and I've hauled everything from a 2-ton '50 Dodge truck, to a Corvette, to a Viper, to dead rollers. I've never had a problem opening doors because of the trailer fenders, or s****ing the bottom of a car on the split between the deck and the dove. If you go with a commercially built trailer, I'd recommend Tisdale Implement on NE 23rd in Nicoma Park. I've known Tony for years. They build to spec on-site, and ge offers a top-quality unit. The quick-load trailers are pretty nice, too.
i've got two: #1 is a 16' flatbed with 3 axles and 12,000lb rating. And as expected, rides like a haywagon. Has a 15,000lb Warn winch, and has ripped a truck in half. Uses those 14.5" open center wheels for which tires are pricey. The trailer was a good deal. #2 is a 16' (14+2'dove) with two axles. Extra wide. I got GOOD trailer tires, mounted them on steel wheels, and its gone probably 10,000 miles. Has a smaller winch, rides better, and is good to 90mph so far. I buy used, plan on putting new tires on, rewiring, and also repacking the wheel bearings and making sure the brakes are good. The only stuff I trust is that which I do myself.
I am glad this came up I am in the market to buy a trailer and am not convinced with whats out there. You know all the adds on craigslist and online for the cheap haulers, I really like how uhaul trailers tow and that is the feel I am looking for, I normally rent trailers, but I could have already bought one with the amount i have spent on renting..... i know but its time to step it up. Thanks for teh kwik load site, that is one nice trailer. I think i am going to bite the bullet and get one. BTW....RIP C9......saw his post (#31) and realized he was a huge contributor to the HAMB. he will always be with us in spirit.
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