Thinking about buying a trailer

turnanburn · Jul 15, 2014

This guy specializes in these kinds of trailers. I don't know much about him except the time I went down there he has this cavernous warehouse full of really nice old trucks: http://www.truckpaper.com/dealers/detail.aspx?CID=2000763270

Heavy Hammer · Jul 15, 2014

Oscar the KW said: ↑

Lol, and here I thought that you would be one of the guys that would have all the answers that I WANTED to hear.
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No, no, no...I'm NOT a salesman, I'll tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear!

Mack427 · Jul 15, 2014

if you go brand new you ever look at Liddell? there L series is stout. they have a new series out that is supose to be pretty light weight. I have not see on of those in person yet.

Oscar the KW · Jul 15, 2014

Heavy Hammer said: ↑

No, no, no...I'm NOT a salesman, I'll tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear!
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Ok I'm all ears, why do you suggest that I not buy a trailer?

Cat sdp · Jul 15, 2014

Is the increase in pay enough to make it worthwhile ...?

Oscar the KW · Jul 15, 2014

Cat sdp said: ↑

Is the increase in pay enough to make it worthwhile ...?
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I believe so, this round that I am on know will take about 6.5 days to complete, if I had my own trailer that would add an extra $1300 to my settlement.

This is a pretty typical round for me, at least gross dollars wise, so I would figure that dollar amount three times a month.

3 x $1300= $3900 month x 10 months= $39,000 a year

Cost of the trailer depending on options looks like anywhere from $75,000-$125,000.

Maintenance, tires, brakes, etc. I would estimate at $5000 a year, and I think that is pretty high.

Heavy Hammer · Jul 16, 2014

Oscar the KW said: ↑

Ok I'm all ears, why do you suggest that I not buy a trailer?
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Because this is a dumb business, and now that you've posted "some" numbers another idiot will think "wow, I can make that much! I'm gonna buy a trailer too, I'm makin a little cash at $2/mile hauling freight, I can make a killing by undercutting Oscar by 15% and have ALL of his work!"...sad but true...

I'm jaded, I had it too good for too long, in my opinion with this economy, we're not busy enough to justify large investments. I'm pulling money out of trucking and investing elsewhere until I see reliable growth. There are pockets that are good, but not on an overall large enough scale.
Cat has virtually no orders for the Decatur plant, and is getting loans to build product for a "potential future order" (that will go into inventory/storage) to avoid long term layoffs to hedge against losing their experienced/qualified staff. Right out if the Decatur newspaper...and personal sources (I just loaded a machine there on Monday, hint, hint...the plant is currently shutdown for about 6 weeks)
The Aurora facility is a ghost town...last fall there were over 600 excavators, now there is barely 100. They haven't built one there this year, they have moved excavator production to TX and increased foreign production to supply the offshore market.
We have seven, yes that's 7 machines in our yard...we typically have around 100.
Both my son-in-laws work for Cat's competitors, and they both say they have zero orders for the rest of this year...the one boy said one of their customers had a machine burn up in a fire, and they're not replacing it "for the foreseeable future".
Consequently, my new trailer plans are "on hold"..."for the foreseeable future" as well...
But YMMV, this is just a dumb truck drivers opinion...

Heavy Hammer · Jul 16, 2014

Oscar the KW said: ↑

Just like the title says, seriously thinking of buying a trailer. I am leaning towards a Trail King, as that is all I have ever pulled, and I am comfortable with the build quality of them. More than likely will want a mechanical trailer, unless I can be convinced that a hydraulic trailer with a pony motor (in good condition) will not give me problems in the northern US winters. I would actually prefer a hydraulic trailer because they are easier on the truck when picking up a loaded trailer.
Hammer;
Hydraulic, hydraulic, hydraulic! If you disagree, let me remind you how much fun it is too pick up a loaded detach in the winter...I rest my case...
Honda, do not compromise, ONLY a Honda for the pony motor...that's what I run even up in -40 in Canada, gas line antifreeze is your friend. Use high quality synthetic oil. I use Petro-Canada HVI-22. Another popular one is airplane synthetic hydraulic oil as it has to flow at cold temps, much better grade than ATF.
Brand is personal preference, my belly button is there are better built than T K.

Has to be a three axle with the provisions for either a flip and or a stinger/ booster. What is the difference between a stinger and a booster?
Hammer;
Depends on your definition, but some call a "spreader bar type" a stinger, and a full attach/push type a booster.

I want to be able to add an axle(s) to meet the frost law requirements in MN and ND.
Hammer;
Adding axles helps during "road bans/restrictions" that require legal only axle weights during these times, however, ND also limits GROSS weight, thereby not providing any benefit. 105,500lbs.

Drop side or flat floor with the center open? Drop side would be nice for the majority of what I do, but a flat floor (what I pull now) is handy for those odd loads once in a while. Gensets, crates, etc.
Hammer;
Dropside, commonly known as "Cantilever" definitely can give real advantages in height issues with track or wheel machines, so thus becomes a question best answered by you. A little info goes a long way so...
a Cantilever is two trailers in one, and it has a higher tare weight. It is a Rail or Beam (whatever you want to call it) and also a deck. Most Rail trailers have taller and heavier built rails as they don't have the extra support of the deck structure. This is the foundation that a cantilever is built upon as you can use it like a rail trailer so it must have the necessary structure. However it also has a deck component...and in order to build that deck nice and low, it must be built of heavier than traditional deck material, as well as more closely spaced cross members to give the necessary strength and support. Typically you can figure a cantilever section as weighing approx 10-15% more than an equal length of traditional deck section.
I think you understand a flush deck so I'll leave that part open...
A cantilever can always be built up to be a flush deck, but knocking a flush deck down to be a cantilever is time consuming and expensive!
Open center is handy, but I had a customer refuse to load a high value load on one, and know of several guys that that has happened to...

Trailer must have a 29' well, trailer I pull now is 29'9" in the well, with the neck flipped down it is 57'6" total length. Reason for the longer well is I haul a lot of Cat haul trucks that need to be close to the neck and far from the first axle, normally at 57,500 on the trailer, they will not work weight wise in a 26' well with a triple, they do work with a quad though. But, I really don't want to drag another axle around all of the time just for the haul trucks.
Hammer;
Well length is work type specific, best answered by you or a good long conversation with someone doing your type of work...what works for me, may not be right for you.
Options are;
-pin jointed trailer with section(s), you can add or remove as required, allowing you to shed tare if necessary...(the greatest selection of options, you can always add, remove, or change complete from deck to rail. My personal belly button is this is the only real option)
-short section of extendable (25' well extends to 30') but adds tare weight that can't be shed...
-fixed length...obvious, but it can't be lengthened or shortened, so get the length correct! (You'll probably change your mind next year)

Swing out outriggers, bent d-rings, etc.
Hammer;
Outriggers...HELL YES!!! I hope I wasn't confusing with this answer...unless you go man trailer and get a Rail, then you can laugh at all those sissy deck guys...
Bent D-rings...HELL NO!!! If it has been bent, it has been weakened, unless it was forged that way (it wasn't)

45, 50, 55 ton?
Hammer;
Four axle tractor or single axle jeep? Want to be able to slide a tandem jeep under for road ban season?
What is the payload range you are looking at? And just as importantly, the concentration of said payload? (ie: Dozer on a Rail sits in 5', same Dozer on a deck spreads across 16'...big difference!)
Not enough info to properly advise this question...

Trailer must also have a neck or flip neck that can give me 127" from the center of the king pin to the front of the neck, with a 300" wheelbase I need that to get weight up front.

Thoughts and ideas from those that have been there done that are welcomed.
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Here is some thoughts for you to process from the peanut gallery...this one will cost you a beer!

TAfool · Jul 18, 2014

You might want to check my favorite toy box:
http://www.rockanddirt.com

Jumbo · Jul 19, 2014

Heavy Hammer, you have never seen bent D rings from the factory? I will see if I can get a picture of one for you.

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