Car Hauler Pros/Cons of Dove Tail vs Flat

[shatra04]

I have an 18' flat trailer i use for my bronco... I love it! It tow's great, i just did a 1200 mi trip with it and had no problems. Even though i have 38's on my bronco i havent tried to drive up on the trailer without the ramps... seems like it would put too much stress on the hitch???idk Anyway, i like mine and im glad i got it!

 

[Jeff76]

I bought an 18' dovetail trailer originally intended to haul my 20hp diesel tractor. It works great for the Bronco, though, and tracks awesome behind my F150. Advantage is that is was relatively inexpensive compared to a car hauler.

I have two regrets: Few cars can be loaded on this type trailer due to clearance, and I probably only have 3-4 total inches of side to side clearance with the wheel wells. It I go to a significantly bigger tire or a wider axle, I will have to upgrade the trailer.

So, my two cents: Flatter and wider brother!

 

[Broncobowsher]

I bought an 18' dovetail trailer originally intended to haul my 20hp diesel tractor. It works great for the Bronco, though, and tracks awesome behind my F150. Advantage is that is was relatively inexpensive compared to a car hauler.

I have two regrets: Few cars can be loaded on this type trailer due to clearance, and I probably only have 3-4 total inches of side to side clearance with the wheel wells. It I go to a significantly bigger tire or a wider axle, I will have to upgrade the trailer.

So, my two cents: Flatter and wider brother!

That picture is of a flat trailer with folding ramps, not a dovetail.

 

[TwoDalesDad]

In my thinking...it's whichever you can afford...the day you drop 2k..I myself have an 18early flat deck/ diamond plate deck and have towed lots of cars trucks equipment and stuff. THE MAIN USE IS THE EB..OF COURSE...

 

[jw0747]

we use my dovetail to haul various types of vehicles constantly. if it was flat it would be almost impossible to load most small foreign cars due to their low ground clearance and a Corvette of any vintage would be impossible without banging everything on the underside. just too sharp an angle between rear edge of trailer and top of ramps.

when loading or unloading the EB we always place a piece of 4x8 under the trailer's back end to keep it from being pushed way down.

 

[av8rds]

have dragged trailer tail all over the East Coast I vote flat deck. With the 18ft or the 32foot you always find a place to drag! Potential high center and damage to the trailer for sure, ask me how I know!

I wish my 18 foot was flat so I didnt roto-till my lawn every time I put the trailer away!

 

[Jeff76]

That picture is of a flat trailer with folding ramps, not a dovetail.

Duck Tail ?

 

[.94 OR]

Duck Tail ?

That looks almost exactly like my F150 and my Bronco is green, I had to go out in the garage and see that you didn't pay me a visit.

 

[Broncobowsher]

Duck Tail ?

From that angle you can see the dove tail. first picture it is completely hid and it looks like a flat deck.

Keep in mind there is another option that keeps getting overlooked.
Tilt deck.
I have a friend at work that has an H&H tilt deck that is my favorite car hauling trailer. Of course it is also the most expensive (by only a few hundred dollars). But it is slick and he can load and haul off non-rolling cars. He does demo derby, it has loaded and hauled a bunch of junk a lot easier then any flat deck or dovetail.

 

[hyghlndr]

I bought one of these and really like it. Great for cars, broncos, 4-wheelers and even the golf cart.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EXxnQFqPbw

 

[sprdv1]

From that angle you can see the dove tail. first picture it is completely hid and it looks like a flat deck.

Keep in mind there is another option that keeps getting overlooked.
Tilt deck.
I have a friend at work that has an H&H tilt deck that is my favorite car hauling trailer. Of course it is also the most expensive (by only a few hundred dollars). But it is slick and he can load and haul off non-rolling cars. He does demo derby, it has loaded and hauled a bunch of junk a lot easier then any flat deck or dovetail.

Seen a couple nice tilt ones but a little out of the price range.

Future plans are a gooseneck

 

[sprdv1]

I bought one of these and really like it. Great for cars, broncos, 4-wheelers and even the golf cart.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EXxnQFqPbw

That's pretty nice. Bet you love it.

 

[rmfreeze]

I can't offer any different opinion than what's already been stated. If you were talking hauling something low to the ground the dovetail comes in handy but for a Bronco? Doesn't matter.

What I would recommend is checking the deck width if you are going with a trailer that has the deck inside the trailer wheels and not over the wheels.

 

[Fitz24]

All depends Dave. I liked my 20' flat bed but it was an equipment trailer rated for 10k. Flat or dove, you have to watch the terrain your driving on. I dragged the back of mine many times pulling into parking lots, my yard, etc.

I loaded cars (ex. Camaro). Just used the tong jack to lift the front of the trailer to reduce the angle at the rear. Of coarse it was an equipment trailer and had a heavy duty tongue jack.

Just sold it. Too heavy for my new 1/2 ton. Going to be trying to make the same choice you are going through. Need shorter and lighter now.

Let me know what you end up with and what kinda deal you made.

Good luck.

 

[sprdv1]

I can't offer any different opinion than what's already been stated. If you were talking hauling something low to the ground the dovetail comes in handy but for a Bronco? Doesn't matter.

What I would recommend is checking the deck width if you are going with a trailer that has the deck inside the trailer wheels and not over the wheels.

Most definitely. My guy is building it so I have enuff room between the fender wells to drive thru and not hit.

 

[sprdv1]

All depends Dave. I liked my 20' flat bed but it was an equipment trailer rated for 10k. Flat or dove, you have to watch the terrain your driving on. I dragged the back of mine many times pulling into parking lots, my yard, etc.

I loaded cars (ex. Camaro). Just used the tong jack to lift the front of the trailer to reduce the angle at the rear. Of coarse it was an equipment trailer and had a heavy duty tongue jack.

Just sold it. Too heavy for my new 1/2 ton. Going to be trying to make the same choice you are going through. Need shorter and lighter now.

Let me know what you end up with and what kinda deal you made.

Good luck.

Will do sir.

 

[Laker]

Question too? Would an 18ft be long enough for the EB,an atv and an mx bike?
Also what axle weight ratting would be minimum required? From what I have seen the 2X3500lb axle traliers seem to have fairly light hitches.

 

[sprdv1]

Question too? Would an 18ft be long enough for the EB,an atv and an mx bike?
Also what axle weight ratting would be minimum required? From what I have seen the 2X3500lb axle traliers seem to have fairly light hitches.

I would "personally" think a 20' er would work better for the 3 of those.

For weight, you would be pushing it with 2 3,500lb axels, probably would want at least 5klb axles.. if those are available. I'm no expert.

 

[Fitz24]

Question too? Would an 18ft be long enough for the EB,an atv and an mx bike?
Also what axle weight ratting would be minimum required? From what I have seen the 2X3500lb axle traliers seem to have fairly light hitches.

I just sold my 20' flat bed. Before someone stole my ATV, I loaded it accross the front and then the EB. Still had some room on the back but with straps it may be hard to load a MX behind it.

My EB then had a soft top but still had a weight of 4950 lbs with tools and spare parts (trail ready). My ATV was a 700 polaris with EFI which weighted in at 750 lbs. That's about 5700 lbs total without consideration of the trailer weight. So if the trailer was more than 1300 lbs, it would have been overloaded with 3500 lb axles. Mine had 5K axles and total weight of the trailer was probably close to 2800 lbs.

So it you want to haul everything at once, go with 5000 lb axles and make sure you have a 3/4 ton or heavier truck to pull it. Smaller truck might pull it but won't handle breaking and emergency situations safely.

 

[Lebe]

Just replaced my trailer in October. Had a very heavy duty tilt bed originally purchased to move a fork lift. It had 7,000 lb axles but sat so high it was difficult to drive my EB with 37" KM2 onto it and tilting was a problem with anything else loaded at the front of the trailer.

Got a nice Performance Trailers 16' dove tail with drive-on fenders (I'm running full 1-ton axles), steel floor and bumped up to 5,200 lb axles . Only wish I'd gone 18' long as with the EB centered for best trailering it is difficult to drop the tail gate to load and stand on the trailer behind it. Get pushed off the back of the trailer.

In my view dove tail is the only way to go. Pulling out ramps too much PITA.