OP
Ordering a trailer for hauling my LJ
- Thread starter LJtheunicorn
- Start date
OP
I skimmed over this some time ago but forgot about it. I’ll go back through and rear it again, thanks for bringing it to my attention
Here mine, Big Tex 14ET, 14k GVWR, 20' w/ dovetail. I know some don't care for the dovetail, I love it, I can drive either Jeep right up and it's not loud AF driving down the road. haven't had any issues in JV
I've had several trailers custom built to haul rigs. One thing I've always done is to forgo the dovetail. For me, I'm often pulling the trailer off road, and that gives me better clearance out back, and drags the ass end much less. It also gives me two more feet of usable deck space. The only down side is that it requires longer ramps, if you use ramps. But thinking about it, I guess a dovetail would allow easier loading without ramps, so there is that.
I'd say make sure you are planning for the future. I've had my trailer for 2 years and it's been to Moab twice and out to the Rubicon. After it makes its third trip to Moab it'll go to it's new owner. I'm switching to a gooseneck for hauling both LJ's.
I'm a big fan of aluminum trailers, it's so easy to move around if needed. Even with the wooden floor. And, no rust.
I'm a big fan of aluminum trailers, it's so easy to move around if needed. Even with the wooden floor. And, no rust.
OP
I would love alluminum but here in Texas the steel trailers hold up great, I’ve got a trailer I bought back in high school that was built in 2006 and it looks good as new and only just recently had to replace floor. I’d love a gooseneck but it isn’t an option with current truck and location I plan to store the trailer. Also I am looking into a truck camper one day which would further eliminate the gooseneck. However I agree they offer a much better towing experience especially if looking to haul two Jeeps
Here's an example of what NOT to get. I just read the post from MrBlaine from the forum a couple of years ago about this topic and I cracked up laughing because my current trailer is almost EVERYTHING he said to not get except for the walls and I lost brakes when loading up my ZJ and I'm glad I had the walls.
But every tailgate hits the tongue jack, no light works, no brakes, decades old 3,500 lb axles and short enough it's hard to evenly load. Even without the dovetail I'm hitting mud in the front of the trailer and the rear everywhere I go. Of course in my state this is 100% legal.
But every tailgate hits the tongue jack, no light works, no brakes, decades old 3,500 lb axles and short enough it's hard to evenly load. Even without the dovetail I'm hitting mud in the front of the trailer and the rear everywhere I go. Of course in my state this is 100% legal.
OP
Haha I can just see reading this and being like damn this guy knows me too well! My trailer will have a front bumper instead of being completely flat and a tool box mounted up there. I hate sides because when hauling cars you can’t always open the doors but definitely on the front. They don’t even require brakes in KY?!
Head Lice
TJ Addict
Oh you should see this trailer it's completely every bit of redneck as it comes. For a decade as I'd run down the road, the bed would fly apart and you had to be careful where you walked on it. The "winch" i've got is an incredibly slow and super cheap hand crank I got at HF and it's mounted so when I use I almost rip the front of the trailer off and have to gauge by the deflection how much I can get away with.
No we don't require tags, lights, brakes, and stuff flying off is frowned upon, but it happens.
A diesel truck really pulls our Jeeps with ease. My trailer is 2k lbs and my Jeep is probably a little over 4,500 lbs and I have no brakes and I can stop it really well. Also the engine really controls descent really well. I can creep down some really nasty inclines and not touch the brakes, but most gas engines you'll be riding the brakes.
A gasser isn't terrible I towed a Willy's CJ with my TJ when it had the 4.0 and 3.07s 45 miles and that sucked.
My only recommendation, get more trailer than you think you need today, one day you'll be glad you did.
For bumper pull, 14k equipment trailer and nothing less, IMHO. Might be overkill today, might not tomorrow.
Gooseneck is another story completely, one which I'm happy to make recommendations also.
For bumper pull, 14k equipment trailer and nothing less, IMHO. Might be overkill today, might not tomorrow.
Gooseneck is another story completely, one which I'm happy to make recommendations also.
I pulled my TJ on a 20' Big Tex trailer and my old 1500 Silverado about had a stroke. That thing was as heavy as the truck. I had a lighter one built by an outfit down in Waxahachie. It's a 16' with a 2' dovetail it pulled great with the 1/2 ton and I don't even feel it behind my 3/4.
OP
'15 with the 5.3 and the 6 speed auto with 3.73s. It pulled it, but it was heavy and was jerking the truck around pretty good.
OP
I have a buddy with a 16 Silverado 1500 and he had the same complaints when towing my Jeep, hook it to my f-150 and it’s a totally different world. Ford has the half ton towing game knocked out of the park. I had a 2006 gmc 1500 years ago and it was horrible at towing anything.
I have a good friend with a f150 ecoboost. He has been towing his Jeep with it for years using a steel trailer and it does great. He has even towed from Georgia to Moab and back. Gas mileage when towing is pretty bad though.
OP
Mpg is about 8-9 when towing my Jeep from Dallas to hot springs Arkansas, the test will be when towing from Dallas to Moab in April.
When towing my center console boat I get about 6 from Dallas to fort Myers Florida
The mpg is definitely not something to brag about but it handles everything like a dream.