Finally admitting it’s time for us to pick up a utility trailer/ flat bed for farm use (picking up fence supplies, lumber, moving small equipment like a skid steer and lawn tractor, picking up hay, etc). I’m honestly not sure what to look for/ what I need. I’m thinking a dual axel 14-16ft with brakes on one or both axels with two rail sides, wood floor, and spring assisted ramp. Does that seem like it would work? It would be great if it could be used to move our compact tractor too but not sure if that would greatly increase the length needed. Any brand or other recommendations?
Also consider a dump trailer:
Those will do all you want to do plus take trash, brush and skid loader or tractor along.
We have an older low profile #14,000, 14’ double axle, #7000 each axle, we bought with a neighbor and both of us use all the time.
It has ramps for machinery, gator, skidster, mower.
A solar panel keeps the battery charged.
Be sure your tow vehicle will pull it.
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I definitely l would love one of those but the price jump is crazy between a standard utility trailer (about $3K for what I described, new) vs any kinda of dump trailer.
I would go with a trailer without side rails so materials can be loaded and unloaded from the sides.
Tandem axle as you stated, but with brakes on both axles.
Include a spare tire and a mount for it, and a tool box on the trailer tongue so all the ratchet straps and tire changing tools will have a place to be stored.
Now, your compact tractor. Does it have a FEL and will you be transporting it with a three point implement like a brush hog? I am asking because that all affects trailer length requirements. And also, fold up ramp or ramps will not allow having the implement extend beyond the rear of the trailer deck. Perhaps consider slide out ramps if you will be hauling things longer than the trailer deck. Make sure any ramp is rated to handle the weight of your tractor.
Make sure the trailer comes with ST (special trailer) tires, not P (passenger) tires. And radials versus bias ply tires as well, though bias ply tires are cheaper and trailer manufacturers frequently use them to cut cost and increase profit.
Don’t skimp on length. Buy two feet more than you think you need. Extra length also allows you to move a tractor forward and back to get the trailer tongue weight close to ideal.
Trailer decking is another consideration. I agree with wood. Cheaper trailers and many quality brands use pressure treated pine boards, But oak boards are better in my opinion. And if your skid steer has tracks you will definitely need oak decking.
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This is so helpful thank you!
We do have a FEL and 3 point attachment on the tractor at all times, but in a pinch could remove them and haul the tractor “bare”.
There are plenty of flat bed trailers with sides that do drop down, if you need to place, say, a concrete pallet in there.
Or as above, get one without sides, just front and portable ramps for the back.
Plain farm flat bumper pull trailers come in all sizes and carrying axles.
Also frames, some wimpy angle iron, some stouter pipe, the flimsier ones are not really safe.
I have seen someone pulling one with two big round bales that the frame of the trailer was bowing from the weight, scary to drive behind that.
If you are going to use yours for machinery, double axle and 8’ x 16’ would probably work best all around.
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Ours is pipe, with a pull-out ramp, and it’s been very useful. We’ve replaced an occasional floor board (only a few over time), but oak was not an option when we purchased the trailer over 15 years ago.
Not having a lift-up ramp means that we’ve been able to carry loads that hung over the back a little bit (for instance, square hay bales).
Having sides is sometimes inconvenient, true, but over all it’s worked out better for the way we typically use the trailer – hay, taking the garden tractor in for service, stack of lumber, etc – it’s easy to tie a load down securely with rachet straps
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Any manufacturers that you (g) recommend? Or recommend to stay away from?
With the way used prices are, in our area at least, it makes more sense to go with new.
PJ, Big Tex, Kaufman, Diamond C, and Hudson are pretty consistently in a top 5 list. But there are many, many equipment trailer manufacturers who make quality trailers that sell primarily in regional markets, so look around to see what brands are made near you. And ask anyone you come across pulling a trailer in the big box store parking lots, gas stations, and such. Folks with trailers love to give trailer advice. You can learn a lot just by asking and having someone point out to you their likes and dislikes about their trailers.
I have a 16 foot trailer with a 2 foot dovetail. The dovetail helps in driving onto the trailer but lessens the flat deck surface by its 2 feet. I also went with removable ramps that slide in under the deck from the side for storage. I went with them because I did not want a permanently mounted rear ramp. But the original ramps were steel and tough to manage because of their weight. I later bought aluminum ramps, same size and weight rating, which weigh about half of the steel ones. I can recommend www.discountramps.com , they manufacture their ramps in Wisconsin and workmanship is great.
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I have an 8x16 foot trailer that I bought used. That size holds 4 3x3x8 bales or 4 bundles ( 21 bales) of hay perfectly. It also is more than adequate to haul my tractor to be serviced. It is a beotch to back down the drive into the barn but then so is my horse trailer. I have separate ramps that I leave at home when I go get hay. I put the spare tire in my truck.
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