Trailer brand quality- which ones?

[PeterG]

I have had Walton

I once bought a brand new small duel axle Walton dump trailer. Nice looking and seemed nicely built. Only problem was the dump hydraulics were undersized and it couldn't lift any heavy load. If I picked up just two yards of gravel and it was loaded towards the front, it wouldn't be able to lift the load and dump. So I was always loading it tail heavy which made driving it a pain as well as having to shovel the load out until it would dump. It was also a power down lift, and would not drop smoothly and slowly. I would load up into it my Takeuchi TB016 2 ton mini excavator raising the bed up a bit to make it easier to get it in with the ramps. Then when lowering the bed, it would come down in short rocking hits with the power down button, finally slamming down on the trailer frame and rocking the towing vehicle. Even damaged the hitch on one truck. This was several years ago.

 

[KSSS]

The Walton goose neck was better than that. I had it for 20 years, and it worked well, its was not as heavily built as the Diamond C but I never broke it.

 

[Rhinoc69]

I once bought a brand new small duel axle Walton dump trailer. Nice looking and seemed nicely built. Only problem was the dump hydraulics were undersized and it couldn't lift any heavy load. If I picked up just two yards of gravel and it was loaded towards the front, it wouldn't be able to lift the load and dump. So I was always loading it tail heavy which made driving it a pain as well as having to shovel the load out until it would dump. It was also a power down lift, and would not drop smoothly and slowly. I would load up into it my Takeuchi TB016 2 ton mini excavator raising the bed up a bit to make it easier to get it in with the ramps. Then when lowering the bed, it would come down in short rocking hits with the power down button, finally slamming down on the trailer frame and rocking the towing vehicle. Even damaged the hitch on one truck. This was several years ago.

I have been pondering the same question as I too have a TB016 and would like to haul it on occassion. However, my quandry is the cost of quality as you most always get what you pay for. I have done a lot of research and have come up with "Top Shelf Trailers" out of Jacksonville, FL. as being my first choice and then "Texas Pride" as my second. For what I want, a 6' x 12' x 2' would be about $10k and I just don't want to put that much into a dump trailer that I would only use on occassion. (My son and I would use it on his property). And finding a used one that is not ready for a complete overhaul is just about impossible. So, here I sit w/o one. LOL.

 

[PeterG]

I would keep looking around for used ones. The key considerations for me are the following.

1. Ramps. Although the TB016 is just 3500lbs, that's as heavy as a Subaru Outback. It seems like a a lot of these trailer ramps are designed with the strength to load a riding lawnmower. Get heavy duty ramps and a set up that doesn't allow the trailer to dip when loading the excavator.

2. Check out the dump system - How high will it go at what angle, and how much will it lift?

3. D-Rings. If you load equipment in it, you need at least 4 qty D-rings if not more like 8qty.

That's why on a used one, it may be easier to do some welding/fab on it, add some removeable sides, a wind up load cover, steel mesh chain storage area, etc.

On a used one too, if it doesn't suit your needs, you can sell it for what you got into it.

 

[Rhinoc69]

I would keep looking around for used ones. The key considerations for me are the following.

1. Ramps. Although the TB016 is just 3500lbs, that's as heavy as a Subaru Outback. It seems like a a lot of these trailer ramps are designed with the strength to load a riding lawnmower. Get heavy duty ramps and a set up that doesn't allow the trailer to dip when loading the excavator.

2. Check out the dump system - How high will it go at what angle, and how much will it lift?

3. D-Rings. If you load equipment in it, you need at least 4 qty D-rings if not more like 8qty.

That's why on a used one, it may be easier to do some welding/fab on it, add some removeable sides, a wind up load cover, steel mesh chain storage area, etc.

On a used one too, if it doesn't suit your needs, you can sell it for what you got into it.

Thanks for the input. I have the same concerns regarding ramps and securing it.