10K buggy hauler vs. 14K deckover

What I really want is a 28ft tri-axle gooseneck, but...

I'm getting close to buying a trailer for hauling tractors. We have a reasonably-priced PJ Trailers dealer close by. He's less expensive than any other brand in the area, and has a decent trailer as far as I can see.

Two options:
1. 10K GVWR "buggy hauler" with an 8.5'x20' deck and drive-over fenders.
2. 14K GVWR "beavertail deckover" with an 8.5'x16' deck, 4' beavertail.

For now, I'm looking at hauling Farmall H-sized tractors, sometimes with a 2-bottom plow. However I would like the option to haul a Farmall M-sized tractor, or even maybe a 560.

The heavier tractors kind of kill the buggy hauler, but it would be nice because it sits about 12" lower on the deck than the deckover.

Buy the biggest and highest gvw trailer you can afford. some times wish my 24'x 14000lb gvw trailer was bigger.

Several considerations from what I read . . . and I'm assuming these are both tag-alongs, as opposed to the larger one being a gooseneck.

The 10k is OK for weight for what you're proposing IF you're talking about a single tractor and an occasional implement. If I'm reading right, it's a flat deck, no beavertail. The advantage of the flat deck over the beavertail is having more room to move things fore and aft to find a balance point to avoid fishtailing (tail-heavy) or having the trailer drive your tow vehicle if too nose-heavy. The trailer by itself will weigh something like 2500 and the 7500 to spare would take an H and plow no problem. Driveover fenders are a plus.

The 14k capacity might be called for if you plan on hauling two tractors at once, but two thoughts come to mind. 1) It's a beavertail, and 16' of flat deck and what you can use of the beavertail ain't much room to get two tractors the size of an H on, and have any wiggle room to balance your load. And this assumes that your ramps stow somewhere below and aren't flipovers that rest on the beavertail in transit, eating up deckspace [even if you can pull it on and later back onto the flipped-up undersides of the ramps, and, 2) I'm not sure what's out there for a tag-along hitch frame that's rated for/will stand up to 14k.

For a single tractor with an implement, or two smallish tractors (say an H and an A) the 10k would be my choice.

Always a delicate balance/choice between weight and length. It balances differently of course from a tagalong, but I have a 20+5, 14k gooseneck that tares about 5k by itself. There are several short excursions each year to the local holiday parades, and my showgirl/baby/trailer queen BN and the turd hearse behind her take up all the deck, without ever weighin' down the trailer or the Ram. (What trailer, officer?) On the flip side, I've had short-length loads (four one-ton pallets and change) that pushed weight limits over length or deck space.

As long as your load doesn't exceed the weight restrictions, I'd favor the 20' flat deck you described. It'll be a lot more versatile.

HTH

If you have a CDL or intend on getting one, and going to pay for all of the extra insurance, tags, taxes, etc. then get what you want. But, if you are not CDL, you are limited as far as staying "legal". Many run overweight and it is not a problem unless or until they get in an accident. It does not matter if you are at fault or not, if you are checked and out of spec on tags, insurance, and CDL, your nice days are over and so are your savings and holdings that you worked so hard to accumulate.

Dont be afraid of a beaver tail. If you chain your tractor down good it will stay there. I have a 25+5 20k trailer and I love it. One thing I wouldnt buy is a tri axle. They use to be big around my area but then guys found out that you cant keep tires on them. Even if you have drive over fenders I dont think you will like them. Get the deck over. And dont let anyone fool you about having a cdl, you dont need one if your hauling your own stuff.

I used to have a 20'+5' and I could get 3 farmall M tractors and a farmall C on it. Are you saying that a beaver tail is a bad thing?

Sorry if you misunderstood. No, I don't think a beavertail is a bad thing. My point was that it doesn't gain you anything for capacity IF it has the flip up ramps that rest on the beavertail -- if you wanted to shift part of the load to ride on the underside of the ramps you'd have to load everything aboard the flat of the deck, flip your ramps up, then back part of your loand onto them for balance, etc. With ramps that stow underneath, or with the hydraulic style, or with a loading dock so that you load and secure right on top of the folded up ramps you don't have that drawback. My 20+5 with the flip up ramps, I can spread my load out over 25 ft, but am limited to loading only as much as I can get onto the 20' flat before I flip the ramps up. Re your post up above, if you have an open beavertail, and adequate securement, the beavertail is as usable as the flat deck for a load.

What do you have for a truck?

(quoted from post at 06:57:14 03/05/10)

And dont let anyone fool you about having a cdl, you dont need one if your hauling your own stuff.

Click to expand...

That is 100% correct ---- in some states. And it is 100% dead wrong ---- in other states.

In WI, if you are not a farmer, over 10,001 pounds truck + trailer + load and you are classified as commercial. Stupid, but there you have it. Don't need a cdl, but you do need USDOT numbers, commercial insurance, flares, safety inspections, log book, etc etc. VERY stupid, but it's the law as passed by the politicians, so what else can you expect?

The only way to tell for sure is to get the regulations. I would [u:2b839ead2c]strongly[/u:2b839ead2c] urge anyone with a larger trailer to get the straight skinny from the local state trooper headquarters. Don't take a verbal answer, ask for the applicable regs on a print out so you can "study it at home". I initially got 4 wildly different answers from a total of 3 people! The final answer was different from the four too. I have the printouts in the truck to support my activity.

I have a 14,000 PJ trailer that is a 20 ft. deck with 5ft beavertail, making for a total of 25ft. It's a great all around trailer. You could easily haul any of the tractors you mentioned. I've hauled anywhere from H's to 886 with mine. My thoughts: go with the larger of the two mentioned, and consider adding a 4-5ft to the deck length.

Here's what works great for me! 14,000 GVWR, 24 foot flat deck over

How far do you haul that Ford? what does it have for ramps? Do you live anywhere near the Dodges?

Showcrop,
I usually haul the tractors back and forth from New Boston to Hollis, (about 20 miles)
I live on the south side of town and the Dodges are on the north. About 5 miles away.
Dave

Here's a picture of the loading ramps that go with the trailer, they're 8' long.



Here's a picture of my loading ramp of choice!

Did you know Carroll Spaulding in Hollis?

[u:96b60dffa2]Very well![/u:96b60dffa2] Sad! Rented from him in the '60's! Hauled his tractors to pulls in the '70's! Brothers & son worked for him over the years! Believe it or not, he was converting to Kubotas at the end, (had 3 of them!) Jeff is contemplating carrying on the haying operation, time will tell!
Dave

I just found that I trashed the wrong email, the one with the information about the gathering for Carroll at the Lawrence Barn tomorrow. What are the hours?

Glad you mentioned that! I had forgotten that it was the 13th! :shock:

It is from 1:00 to 4:00!

Maybe I'll see you there