Update: Some photos and comments after a few delivery runs, and hauling a compact tractor with back blade.
16'; tagged 15,400 gvw. No options ordered.
Hooking up is pretty easy. There are fender marker lights visible that help aide lining up. The trailer is wider than the truck. I have hooked it up by myself once without issue. Generally Margaret is around and helps spot me. The 16' part is very nice so far. Even in a very difficult delivery spot, the length makes backing quite easy. And it tows well, although so far all very light loads. The compact tractor w/fel and back blade had only inches to spare with bucket flat. Being high sided, not much option for anything that's over length. Tie downs are spaced oddly. There are six, two front and two rear. The mid points are forward of center due to wheel wells and fenders. It does allow a small load to be centered over axles and strapped. The tailgate ramp is delightful for equipment, especially unloading, and personal access. The back blade barely rubbed the drive when loading. This could be avoided by adjusting attachment height, or raising trailer jack. The diamond plate covered pump box, tongue and supported fenders are very solid for standing on, viewing load, or accessing back of truck without worry of any spot being to flimsy or damaged by stepping on it.. There are numerous grease zerks, in all the expected areas, lift, lift tailgate, suspension. The suspension bracket between axles is gusseted, and slipper springs are used. The box floor framing is pocketed for the scissors hoist, and top of hoist design seems to support this floor area when not raised. I imagine you would not want to drop concrete or heavy loads there however, as a precaution to the rod packing. But I could be wrong. The spare matches the wheel set, and has steel inserts to combat loosening lug nuts sometimes associated with aluminum trailer wheels. The tires and wheels supersede the gvw requirements, and seem significant. The tires are industry standard, imports. The spare is also accessible without raising the box. There is a very long cabled control allowing full access to rear of trailer and then some. One concern is that this controller does not have an on/off switch. Therefore, when traveling I have placed the hydraulic mode selector on axillary/tailgate because the tailgate locks. If a button was inadvertently activated the pump might run, but the tailgate is locked down and pinned vs the dump function which could theoretically raise the box when traveling. There is also a fob to run the pump. The location of the antenna on the pump box makes for spotty reliability. I would like to relocate the antenna to the rear of the trailer through the main frame. There are wiring access areas. Lastly, I initially was going for the highly visible green paint option and decided on black because of industry wide poor quality paint preping, thinking a green trailer with rust streaks from chips could soon be rather ugly. The paint has some road chips from my usage, and those have quickly rusted. It's a tool and going to be used. We will see what it looks like in a year. Another small note is that it is a noisy trailer moving in the wood lot, as the high sides allow folding down, there is a small bit of rattling. A huge positive to date is the very easy to use tarp system. Two bungees, and slight lift on the hoop, then some back pressure to avoid slamming on retract. Two bungees to secure. Love that when delivering.
I have adopted the Japanese style "point and speak" system. I use this a lot as a double check of myself, pointing, and verbally saying what I'm pointing at, after hooking up the trailer. Hitch latch/pinned, emergency brake...connected, safety chains crossed/connected, lights/brakes...connected. Same at customers. Overhead limbs/wires...point and speak.
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