Quick Trailer Tech Question?

[needabronco]

I'm looking at two different trailers, both are PJ 18' 7K# car haulers with 2' dovetails. The only difference (besides color) is that one has wood decking on the dovetail (ramps store on the side) and the other has a diamond plate dovetail (ramps store in the back). The diamond plate dovetail appears to have slightly more ground clearance in the back.

The price is the same for both and I'm slightly leaning toward the diamond plate dove (I'm not a fan of diamond plate but the the fact that there's less to drag out back appeals to me), but what are your opinions and why?

Thanks.

 

[broncobilly72]

Wood eventually rots out, diamond plate does not.

 

[68rockcrawler]

Wood eventually rots out, diamond plate does not.

It must be nice being from NM or CA where diamond plate does not rot out! Here in Pennsylvania steel rusts out very quickly.

Depending on what your trailhead parking lots are like I would recommend the one with more ground clearance. There is one trailhead parking lot that I have driven through where I drag the heck out of the tail end of my trailer and I have a dovetailed trailer that sounds like the one you are looking at. I like my trailer but wish I had more ground clearance. Just being able to slide the ramps out instead of carrying them around would be nice too.

 

[bknbronco]

Go with the one with more clearence! And lift the ramps that you have to carry around to the side, sometimes they are a backbreaker! The wood being thicker than the diamond plate must be why they cant fit ramps inside the channels! And a 18footer seems a bit big for only being a 7000lber. My 16' enclosed is a 10,000lber and i know that just having the bigger tires than the similar 7000 lb ones mine sits a few inches taller and is way more heavyduty. Heck i even got them big spindles and tires under my fish house and i can tell you that having that extra clearence is why i can drag my house to places where others just plow snow!

6000lbs axles with 8 bolt wheels and hubs and bigger brakes

I second that!

 

[needabronco]

Here's the one I'm looking at.

Both are 18', 2' dovetail, rub rail, and spare tire w/ mount. I 'think' they are led lights also?

http://www.pjtrailers.com/detail.cfm?ID=C5

 

[SpareParts]

The diamond tread is real slick when wet. On the other hand, my trailer is 10yrs old and I have replaced the wood already once. That was a couple of years ago now so in another couple of years it will be due again.

The ramps coming out the sides are a pain in tighter parking areas or agains curbs. I have seen the ones that come out the rear and they look to be easier and won't be obstucted by parking next to something.

If I would have it to do again, I would buy the diamond tread with the ramps out the back. Just my opinion.

David

 

[bludorbronc]

i would not buy a 7000lbs trailer. i have a 20ft trailer and the combined weight of trailer and truck i figured about 8500lbs. my trailer started with 3500lbs axles and i was always blowing tires so now i run 6000lbs axles with 8 bolt wheels and hubs and bigger brakes. now after a trip i can put my hands on the hubs and they are cool. my suggestion would be steel open center, torsion 6000lbs axles and equalizing hitch and two spare tires.

 

[Stock68]

It must be nice being from NM or CA where diamond plate does not rot out! Here in Pennsylvania steel rusts out very quickly.

I'm guessing the diamond plate in question is aluminum

 

[broncnaz]

Go for more clearance. I'd probably upgrade the axles to the 5200 lbers as well. Seems like when ever you have a trailer you always find you need one that hauls more weight

 

[SpareParts]

I do agree on the bigger axle upgrade. I know I'm taxing my axles on mine as well. My next trailer will be a 10,000 lbs - (2) 5000 lbs. axles and will be a 20 footer as well.

I don't know what the cost of the upgrade would be but if you could swing it I would highly recommend it.

David

 

[needabronco]

Right now, I can barely swing the base trailer. If I had a bigger tow rig, I'd be buying an inclosed hauler with a kitchenette and bathroom to pull double duty..... That's a long way down the road. I figure I can always upgrade the axles in a few years, or trade up when the time comes.

I'm still in between which trailer? The wood dovetail has less ground clearance, and the diamond plate has 3-4" more. I don't really want to drag my new trailer all over the place.....

 

[SpareParts]

Hands down if would be the steel decked one. If you want to upgrade the axles later make sure the frame will be strong enough, that's what I'm up against right now. I would gladly buy the bigger axles but my frame is only 3x5 angle. Something I didn' think of when I initially purchased it. To upgrade I would have a 5" channel or I possible 6". I totally understand about just affording the basic, been there many times.

David

 

[starkypdx]

If you plan on only hauling your bronco a 7k trailer will be just fine. My 77 weight is 4250 with fuel, dog, wife, hardtop and winch bumper.
Blow outs on the smaller trailers happen quite a bit. Most manufacturers will save a couple $ and you'll buy a trailer with small junk rubber. All the trailers we've ever bought for customers end up getting tire upgrades before they go out OR we specify with the builder exactly what tire and wheel we want on it before we pick it up.

If you can afford it wait a little bit until you have the extra dough and get a 10k# trailer that has the 16" -8lug wheels and a good E-rated tire. You will be glad you did. The cost difference shouldn't be that much. For reference one of our local NW builders only charges about $600 more for a 10k tilt trailer vs a 7k ramp trailer. If you try and upgrade later you'll end up spending more money and the trailer frame might not be heavy enough. Spend it once, do it right.
http://www.bulldogtrailers.com/inventory?view=category&id=2

Don't get caught up too much on the height difference on the trailer. You aren't off-roading the trailer. 99.9% of the time I'm sure that badboy will be cruising the flat highway's and byways of the US interstate system. I've never hung up a trailer aside from the occasional scrape on a drive way entrance that has a steep angle to it.

Good luck which ever way you go!