3500 Dually - Upgrading from 3 Car Wedge to 4 or 5

Scares me to look at . People never think about the stopping part of the job until it becomes pucker time .

 

I've personally pulled a Mini 5 with my 13 F-350 dually with 6.7 engine, it's doable but you will push the truck to its limit. If you are choosy picking your loads only compact and midsize vehicles you should be ok. But for the same price why not get a F-550? For $50k you could buy a nice F-550 or RAM 5500. A Mini 5 frame design is much better than a 4 car, but loading a Mini 5 top deck is not for those with a weak heart. You can always choose NOT to take a 5th car with a Mini5, but that 5th car could be all gravy.

 

I would highly recommend you upgrade the brakes to electric over hydraulic and the leaf springs to 7-leaf 4000 lbs springs. The Mini5 is a good design but it has some flaws that need to be addressed to make it 'perfect', it wouldn't cost a lot more money maybe $1000 more but I don't know why Kaufman keeps on cranking out cheap units. Especially the brakes Kaufman should make hydraulic brakes standard on this trailer.

 

Yes, hydraulic brakes and don't forget the leaf springs and go for the 8000 lbs OIL-BATH axle. The 7-leaf 4000 lbs springs do exist on the market for $59 per spring with free shipping. On my Mini5 the axles have label on them stating 8000 lbs but then the springs are 5-leaf 3500 lbs, I think Kaufman did not install the correct springs at the factory but I bought the trailer used so I have no recourse.

 

IF you’re bent on going this way, make sure you use a 5th wheel. A standard gooseneck ball n hitch is not safe with topside weight and easily over turned.