hotshot flatbed recommendations

I occasional see a really nice aluminum gooseneck for sale on Craigslist. Sometimes the seller doesn't know how much it's really worth because he's pricing his trailer with the heavy steel trailers

 

Check into a red rhino. Google go bob pipe red rhino trailers. Very dependable trailer and made to last. 2nd off you're looking at the wrong GVWR's for your trailer. The trailers you're looking at won't haul a 5 ton load. the GVWR's are 14k the trailer alone weighs almost 6k. won't work. And when you're overloading goosenecks bad things happen. I've seen necks crack, axles bend, and springs break. It's not pretty when that happens going down the road either. I'd recommend a min. GVWR of 22k Dual tandems period. You'll have a little more weight added, but you're increasing your payload. PJ makes a very good trailer, what you're hauling is a big factor though as well. I'd stay away from tilt decks, or hydraulic dovetails unless you're going to go with a brute. Honestly that's the best hydraulic dovetail trailer I've seen over the years.

For flip over ramps it'd be a red rhino for my first choice PJ second. Big tex makes an alright trailer but it wouldn't be my first choice by any means.

for what you're looking for this sounds like a better trailer IMO. I'd go with a 25+5 red rhino. They will add the torque tube standard and they hold up very well, it'll be a dual tandem 22.5k GVWR. about a 6500lb tare weight give or take. You'll have the payload you need and a trailer that will last, the ramps have feet so you don't have to be hooked up to the trailer to load it, and it takes all the flexing and bowing out of the main beams and that is what eventually will kill your trailer. I've seen beams crack and welded, it's never a good option or a good fix. I would stay away from a tilt bed, personally. You can get a hydraulic dove that is the same basic principal. I would also look into a lo pro trailer as opposed to a standard 40" deck height. That 3" makes a difference. Good luck with your purchase and what you choose make sure the trailer is going to do what you need it to do. And don't worry so much about cost. You can buy a cheap trailer and replace it more often, or pay a little more for a good trailer that's going to last you 10 years.

 

I have pulled PJ and Big Tex... have good things to say about both. The PJ are a little heavier, when pulling with a 3/4 or 1 Ton PU, it's all about weight... With that said, I own 4 trailers now, leasing out to other drivers and the Big Tex seems to be a favorite. I set them up with 25+5...(25 ft deck, 5 ft dove tail) and it's a mix on the 3 ramp or 2 ramp with a pop-up center. We occasionally have a need to use a 3 ramp but not that often....however the pop up centers cost about $300 more when purchased new. You'll want a dual jack and a tool box...Also make sure you carry a spare tire. I see a lot of hot shots without a spare and as someone already mentioned, when things go bad, they go bad fast....lose a tire, you'll lose a second one if you try to limp down the road....best to stop, toss on a spare and drive on to where you can replace it. Simple things to have on your truck to make life easier... 12 ton bottle jack, 4-6 chains/binders/breaker bar, 12-14 tie down straps, 2 steel tarps, 2 Wal-Mart throw away tarps, carpet squares to save your straps from getting cut by the load, good duck tape, 30-40 bungee cords and a bag of zip ties... That is a good basic set up that will pretty much cover anything you'll be strapping/chaining down for loads as a hot shot....

The trailers you mentioned have 7,000lb axles so don't overload... Average 3/4 and 1 ton (non duels) PU and trailer will tip the scales around 14,000lbs give or take.... That gives you 12,000 lbs of payload...which is 2,000 under your max rating on your trailer...That combination also keeps you under the 26,000lbs DOT laws for non CDL drivers... If you're just starting out as a hot shot, this is a good set up...

 

I also see those kind of advertizing in craigslist. I don't know if they are true.