Not skiff related, but I am looking at aluminum utility trailers to haul my Kawasaki Mule Pro FXT. It comes in at approximately 2,000 pounds. I am looking at a 15’ trailer with a single, 4,250 lb axle but it is a tilt tailer. I think I might prefer a trailer with a folding ramp. Something just feels wonky to me about tilt trailers, but my mind could be changed. A tilting trailer would be more aerodynamic without the ramp sticking up, but the Mule is one honking big machine so I think it will catch all the wind anyway. Also a tilt trailer would be easier to load anything with smaller wheels. What would be your preference and why?
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I like a ramp and I really like a ramp that is able to fold flat onto the deck when the trailer is empty.
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Not a fan of tilt trailers. Never had a 15’- i think mine is 12’. I welded it closed with angle tabs. For small stuff- mowers,4x,utvs- I really like the cambered aluminum ramps from TSC.
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Actually never had a tilt trailer, but I can see, and have been in some situations where one would be nice. Hauling a mule though, wouldn’t be one of em.
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I’ve never owned one but worked at a company that used one for pick up and delivering mowers. Basically a 2 man operation with a tilt where a ramp is one man. The tilt trailer we used was a lot smaller than what you will need, but you need to check the load angle on a tilt vs ramp. Ramp would be easier.
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I like ramps and not a tilt. I have a Big Tex 60PI (tandem) with ramps that store within the frame of the trailer. I don’t care for the type where the ramp folds up because I want the ability to load pallets on it, such as pallets of water for people in the aftermath of severe storm damage that I often respond to. Also, the ramps that I have are much stronger than the folding ramps where the extruded wire mesh bends the first time you load something such as a UTV on the trailer.
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Yeah, I have a 18 foot steel trailer with two 5k axles that I am thinking about selling. The only time it gets used is when we go buy square bales for the next year. That place is local, and if need be, I could make two trips with a smaller trailer. The only time I would need a big trailer is if I had to take my tractor (7k lbs) into the shop for some reason and I could just take the front end loader off and rent a trailer for that if need be.
I’m leaning towards a trailer with ramps. They just seem to have more structural integrity with the bracing off the tongue tied into the body of the trailer. I’ll be at around 70% of GVWR with the mule on there so it will be doing some work on dirt roads.
Ramp for sure if you are like me and need to offload the Mule in the field at various inclines and declines.
Good point.
I wish I had gone with an aluminum tilt trailer sooner!
Purpose built straps also help with peace of mind while trailering.
I’m interested
Only thing I can add is id be careful about how stiff you get the leaf springs, 3500 lb would ride smoother even if you get torsion axel, to stiff it will beat the crap out of everything on trailer…… I say 3500 because im figuring the weight of your ride 2000 plus a few coolers and gear or another 4 wheeler…
Better option, and more utility, would be a high wall dump trailer.
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Don’t disagree. Trying to keep weight down for 1/2 ton truck purposes.
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Then tilt with hydraulic dampener. Simple one man operation.
I am currently building a 12’x6’. It will have a 2’ slight dove tail and a 3’ by fold ramp. It is all steel so that’s how I’m getting away with the folding ramp.
