Trailer frames and ratings

[Haywire Haywood]

24" detachable tube sides that sit in stake pockets.

Ian

Talked to them today about detachable sides. He said that the attached rails are structural and in order to make them detachable, they would have to beef the frame up to 3x5x1/4 and that drives the price up to the point that I would opt for the Kaufman. Bumping the rails up to 24" is a $100 option, so that makes it total out at $2161 vs the $2190 for the Kaufman. There would be the added expense of building sides for it, but since I would be still adding wood to the rails of the LW, the only real added expense would be the uprights.

In talking to Kaufman, they were trying to sway me to a 10k trailer when I told him that I would end up putting 5k of wood on it at least occasionally. He said 5 or 6K of wood on a 7k trailer that weighs 2300lbs empty was pushing the envelope. I can only assume that a 10K trailer weighs even more.

So... do I get the better build flat bed Kaufman and sacrifice payload, or for a negligible cost savings, get the lesser angle trailer that has more headroom for payload? I can only assume that the better built trailer would handle the occasional overload better than the angle version.

On to the PJ site...
Ian

Ian

 

[Haywire Haywood]

Hey... the PJ channel utility comes with detachable sides. I called the local (50mi) dealer for a quote, but they're basically shut down for the holidays. She said that she had to go in tomorrow anyway to do some paperwork and would email me a quote. I asked for 24" sides, brakes on both axles and if they could upgrade the 2.5x2.5 cross members from 3/16 to 1/4. It has a 4" channel tongue and frame and weighs 1400lbs in stock form.

Ian

 

[KMB]

I've been to the PJ site (and others) many times today. They have lots of options. I priced the 83" x 12' single axle channel utility (U8) with a 5200lb. brake axle, straight deck w/4' gate and a spare tire mount. $1995. I'm not sure if the fella heard me correctly...some folks have a little trouble with my 'so called' Canadian accent . My thought on the trailer would be to get a little over 2/3 of a cord on the trailer and the rest on my truck...but I gotta think long term about my next truck and I would probably have need for a longer deck.

I think the 83" x 16' tandem axle channel utility (U8) with 2 - 5200lb. brake axles, straight deck w/4' HD gate, 16" o.c. crossmembers, and a spare tire mount would be almost perfect for my current situation...and for the future. Not sure if I'd opt for the 2-5/16" coupler and 7K jack. The site says that the base 83" x 16' trailer weight is estimated at 1540lbs. Not sure how much weight would be added with the options I listed. I'm afraid if I price this one, I might have to be sitting down...

Kevin

 

[KMB]

Hey... the PJ channel utility comes with detachable sides. I called the local (50mi) dealer for a quote, but they're basically shut down for the holidays. She said that she had to go in tomorrow anyway to do some paperwork and would email me a quote. I asked for 24" sides, brakes on both axles and if they could upgrade the 2.5x2.5 cross members from 3/16 to 1/4. It has a 4" channel tongue and frame and weighs 1400lbs in stock form.

Ian

Sounds like that might be the perfect trailer for you. Hope the price works out for you.

Kevin

 

[Haywire Haywood]

Didn't notice some of the options... 24" expanded metal sides was one, and 16 on center cross members was another. the detachable sides are an option too, thought it was standard at first.

Anyway, I expect after all the options I want, it will be too much green for my wallet. We shall see.

Ian

 

[KMB]

Didn't notice some of the options... 24" expanded metal sides was one, and 16 on center cross members was another. the detachable sides are an option too, thought it was standard at first.

Ian

If I understand what the site has it looks like the 2" x 2" removable side rails are standard, and the 2" pipetop removable side rails are an option.

Anyway, I expect after all the options I want, it will be too much green for my wallet. We shall see.

I'm expecting the same thing when I call...but at least I'll know.

Kevin

 

[les-or-more]

<a href="http://s244.photobucket.com/albums/gg31/les-or-more/welding%20projects/?action=view&amp;current=CCI01242009_00002.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg31/les-or-more/welding%20projects/CCI01242009_00002.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

If you guys are going that heavy you might as well go to an 84"x16'+2'.
You would get 8" channel frame 3" channel crossmembers 6k axles and 12k jack. 2400#

 

[KMB]

If you guys are going that heavy you might as well go to an 84"x16'+2'.
You would get 8" channel frame 3" channel crossmembers 6k axles and 12k jack. 2400#

By your picture, I'm guessing that you're suggesting a pintle setup...correct? What trailer builder are you referring to with those specs? 16' + 2' must mean a 2' dovetail. The trailer I use has a dovetail and it will usually scrape a little at the back on the slope of the approach into my yard. It is nice for manually rolling on big rounds, but I still don't think I want one (dovetail).

Kevin

 

[les-or-more]

By your picture, I'm guessing that you're suggesting a pintle setup...correct? What trailer builder are you referring to with those specs? 16' + 2' must mean a 2' dovetail. The trailer I use has a dovetail and it will usually scrape a little at the back on the slope of the approach into my yard. It is nice for manually rolling on big rounds, but I still don't think I want one (dovetail).

Kevin

No Kevin I was just being a wise guy, I mainly built bigger trailers we put adjustable couplers on, so I kept a pintle ring on my welder to move them around with. Most left with a 2-5/16 coupler, I posted the pic so you could see a very popular option, a locking chain box. The dovetail was about 50-50 those lo-pro trailers aren't very high to begin with, so many opted for the flat deck.

 

[KMB]

No Kevin I was just being a wise guy, I mainly built bigger trailers we put adjustable couplers on, so I kept a pintle ring on my welder to move them around with. Most left with a 2-5/16 coupler, I posted the pic so you could see a very popular option, a locking chain box. The dovetail was about 50-50 those lo-pro trailers aren't very high to begin with, so many opted for the flat deck.

LOL...understood. Regarding the locking chain box...I'm such a pack rat that a box like that would be full of everything else besides chains. It would be a nice option for sure.

Kevin

 

[les-or-more]

LOL...understood. Regarding the locking chain box...I'm such a pack rat that a box like that would be full of everything else besides chains. It would be a nice option for sure.

Kevin

There seemed to be a universal theme when people were ordering a trailer that their chains and ratchet straps grew legs and walked off somewhere.LOL
That trailer design was very popular as it allowed a lot of options and good payload capacity.

 

[les-or-more]

<a href="http://s244.photobucket.com/albums/gg31/les-or-more/welding%20projects/?action=view&amp;current=CCF12162009_00007-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg31/les-or-more/welding%20projects/CCF12162009_00007-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>


Here is same design with a 5" frame with side rails and without the chainbox and heavy duty jack.

 

[jimbojango]

straps and rachets stolen or used for somethign else off a trailer! no way!!!!!!!! lol... i keep putting them in my tool boxes on my trucks... and keep buying more cause i can't find them when i want to use them

 

[KMB]

Here is same design with a 6" frame with side rails and without the chainbox and heavy duty jack.

What did that trailer weigh?

Kevin

 

[les-or-more]

<a href="http://s244.photobucket.com/albums/gg31/les-or-more/welding%20projects/?action=view&amp;current=CCI01242009_00003.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg31/les-or-more/welding%20projects/CCI01242009_00003.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Here is another shot of the same trailer, we hung most of them on the scale but I only wrote down the weights of a few of them in my notes. The majority fell between 2200-2500# depending on how they were spec'ed out.

 

[kstill361]

<a href="http://s244.photobucket.com/albums/gg31/les-or-more/welding%20projects/?action=view&amp;current=CCI01242009_00003.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg31/les-or-more/welding%20projects/CCI01242009_00003.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Here is another shot of the same trailer, we hung most of them on the scale but I only wrote down the weights of a few of them in my notes. The majority fell between 2200-2500# depending on how they were spec'ed out.

I see trailer frames made from channel with flanges in and others out, whats the reasoning behind this if any ?

 

[les-or-more]

I see trailer frames made from channel with flanges in and others out, whats the reasoning behind this if any ?

We made them both ways normally with the flanges out for speed, unless the customer wanted them in or we needed the side flat to mount a rub rail or something.

 

[Haywire Haywood]

Holidays are over and I got my quote today. PJ 14x77 tandem axle trailer, both axles braked, 24" sides with expanded metal, 16" on center cross members, ramp gate. Price? A mere $2800. Not gonna happen.

They said that they could sell me essentially the same trailer made by Lawrimore but with paint instead of powder coat for $2100. Lawrimore's website is down at the moment, I'm curious to see how they're built.

Ian

 

[Mntn Man]

Nice trailer you have there. Any idea of how much wood is on there? Kevin

I finally got the trailer unloaded this weekend (all the others too). I had about 2.25 cords on there. Two stacks 16'x6'x18 inches and then some.

 

[KMB]

I finally got the trailer unloaded this weekend (all the others too). I had about 2.25 cords on there. Two stacks 16'x6'x18 inches and then some.

Good load! So...2.25 cords x 5000 lb/cord (roughly...don't know what kind of wood you were hauling) = 11,250 lbs...you were making your trailer and truck earn their keep for sure. That's alot of stacking...bet you were glad when it was done.

Kevin