Poll between two HS trailers

You do not want a hydraulic dovetail on a non-cdl setup it adds too much weight. You need the trailer to be light as possible so you can carry more weight. Also, have you checked insurance rates with cars on your policy? That occasional car will add a lot to your insurance cost depending on what state you base out of.

Also for the record for freight HS the standard trailer is 40ft for auto hauling HS the standard trailer is a 3 car. What you will find is trying to put together loads is really tough if you don't fall into either of those two categories.

HS freight = 40ft trailer can run non CDL or CDL (more weight the more loads are available)
HS auto = 3 can minimum you really need a CDL to run 3 cars consistently at good rates.

Don't try to go too far away from either of these basic formulas. They are kinda the standards because they work.

Freight off the spot market is all geared around a 40ft trailer be it prices for LTL or full loads. Auto's for hotshot really need 3 cars to be consistent on your rates. I'm running a 2 car right now and even with good rates, it's a struggle to put loads together out on the road.

One other thing, be wary of going too big as auto hauler HS if you decide to go that way. Meaning don't just assume a 4 or a 5 car trailer is better than a 3 car. Yes, you stack more money per mile by adding more cars but also that means pick up and delivery times get longer which means more time between reloads. Meaning what happens is guys start just trying to fill the trailer with 4 or 5 cars going to the same place but don't end up with the best rate per mile whereas if they pick and choose 3 separate cars they can end up with much better money per mile for nearly the same time invested. I'd say stay away from bigger car trailer until you have experience under your belt because it's also a lot of weight sitting high off the ground with those trailers.

Just my take anyway.. if you want to do non CDL stick to the 40ft but you have to meet that legal 65ft length.. so find 40ft that lets you be legal. dovetails and ramps on them are ok to load tractors and trucks, suvs but cars will probably struggle to get up them and will likely need car ramps. (but double-check the insurance rates because adding cars to your policy can add a very big expense)

Anyway, I just added a bit of extra info there that I know you didn't ask for but I wanted to give you the logic behind my reasoning of staying with a standard set up at least when you 1st start. In short Jack of all trades is expert at none.. Be an expert at least one or the other with your truck/trailer set up.

 

The F-max seems like a way better built trailer, with that deck camber, in house engineered beams, & new neck design. However they're shooting themselves in the foot with 108" neck. It's just too long to legally work with today's crew cab long box pickups for 40' deck length & meet the '65 foot rules some states require..

I agree with crocky. I'd want 40' of deck. In the end, it's choice only you can make. You're giving up payload for a heavy spec trailer. In turn it's causing you to consider giving up deck length to get that payload back, cause you don't want 7k axles. 8k axles are really the best choice for under CDL hotshot. I digress..

So if these were my only options, I'd have to go with the 22gn. I'd expect a deep discount being that it's used. Like $7-$8k off sticker, especially with the current state of our country.. Also is there really anyway to verify the said 50k miles on the wagon.? I doubt that.. Check the build date, can easily be a year old with 100-120k miles depending how hard the previous owner ran..

Now the big tex will put you over, but only by inches. Never seen anyone ticketed for inches. All the DOT enforcement I've personally asked said they start handing out citations at a foot over length..
Now I'm making some assumptions about you truck, so correct it if not accurate..
Going to assume crewcab, longbox, factory front bumper..
Big Tex, 40' deck, 8'1" neck= 577"
2017 f350 crew, longbox wheelbase=176"
2017 f350 center of front axle to front bumper=36"
577+176+36=789" or 65' 9"..
If you can get the goose ball mounted a couple inches ahead of the rear axle you can shave off another 2-4" depending.. Either way, if the trailer is priced right, 9" or less is a gamble I'm willing to take..

 

I went through this exercise a while back and ended up with a 38' Fmax due to the 65' rule. So far that 2' of deck space hasn't cost me any work yet. Can still haul containers if needed with just 2' of overhang which is a big plus. So keep that in mind before you commit to a 35' trailer.

 

Let me direct you to my Level 1 from January at the Harrisonville, MO scale. I was 6 inches over 65ft. I thought I knew what 6 inches looked like...

 

D amn!! Were you really cited for 6" over length!?
I generally never advise anyone to intentionally break the law, but I was pretty confident on this. As I asked at least a handful of DOT that were inspecting me. They all said "we'll give you inches, but a foot is where I draw the line."

I had my hotshot built as 39' deck because I was nervous about it 1st getting started. That's why i asked the lawmen all the time. Was always kicking myself because they said they'd have let me get away with that. Oh well, I made the correct decision in the end I guess..

 

Nice looking starter setup. Have you scaled yet? Learn all the ins and outs of the hydraulic system and keep spare parts, hydraulic fluid and tools before you head out. These things cost a fortune at truck stops.

 

All the best to you. I've yet to find anyone give a bad review on a Diamond C, as for the others, well you looked at 'em 1st hand so you know. I see no mention of Kaufman out of NC. I've been looking hard at their 40' tilt decks, at some point I might have to take a trip down there 1st hand...