Cottrell 5309 19.5" or 22.5" axles assemblies

The 19.5's are rated plenty high enough, but there are other reasons to avoid them. The tires are hard to find, brake parts are ridiculously expensive, and the when I had them they were prone to seize on the hub. It actually took a porta-power to get them off a couple times. Loading height doesn't matter, you can get a dump valve on the trailer to help with approach angles when loading the top (Which isn't a huge issue on that trailer anyways.) But if you haul where 13'6" is a critical issue, that extra bit of tire height might make the difference.

I wouldn't spend the money on aluminum flippers, you weight problems will be the rear axle getting heavy long before you get to gross. I ran one hauling POVs for a while, and only once did I manage to gross it out without the rear axle being heavy. The belly pans are nice if you run where they put a lot of gravel down in winter, and it's nice not to have to worry so much about chain slack dragging.

Something else to consider: That is a very versatile trailer, but it has it's limitations. Except for the back bottom unit, you will move every deck on that trailer to get any unit on/off the trailer. That includes the one on the 5th wheel. The tip deck in the belly is very difficult to chain down, as access is very tight, especially on the right. And that's a chain trailer, I don't think it's available as a strap unit.

As far as combining straps and chains, that's not a good idea. Chains physically hold the vehicle in place, straps mainly increase the traction at the tire. The two aren't interchangeable.

I've not run one, and I hear they're expensive and heavy, but I'd look hard at the CX-5308, especially if you run more cars than trucks. They load quick from what I've seen, and they're a strap unit.

We have a C-5307, and it's not horrible, but too many limitations (especially to a highrail guy like me) for me to ever recommend getting one. If you haul trucks with one, the middle unit's tires fall in the wrong spots, and you'll have to brace the decks where they sit. The angles in the belly are horrible, we can't even load MKZ's or Mustangs in the belly, as they bottom out. The unit backed over the tandem often has to be placed in a less than desirable position to be able to get out of it. You can't really use the belly for trucks: Most of them are too tall to go all the way forward where they need to be.

I'm sure these other guys will have more ideas for you, as some of them like the high-mounts. Me, I'm too much of a stinger guy. And the legal gray area the high-mounts are stuck in is just too much risk for my tastes.

 

I hear you. Another thing before I forget... there's a hella lot more to slip plate on the 5309 compared to any of the other highmounts. It's really just a 7512 with a nose put on it, so at this point your looking at a design that's about 20 years old. I'd think real hard about how often you'd use that 9th spot compared to one of the new 8-car strap units.

 

Get axles that have oil bath bearings. several of the greased wheel bearing good for a million miles have caught fire. Also get a grease bank on the zerks for the 12 locations to grease brake componets. a shot of grease while standing next to the trsilrr once a week keeps brake parts lubed. practically impossible to get under trailer to grease unless you are over a pit.

 

Sure. Every cylinder drives a sleeve up and down a post, right? Think of how many more cylinders there are on a 5309 vs 5307. Yes, some of the belly decks share posts with the top, but all those individual decks mean more posts. I count 17 posts and slides on the 5309, I think the 5307 has 8.

 

This statement. I just don't know what to say.