I'm finally making a run @ going into business for myself, auto transport and I got a deal on a 30ft flat bed with an extended tongue and pindle hook for the coupler. Is it a good idea to leave it on there or hack it off and put a 2 5/16 ball coupler on it? I'm pretty sure the coupler is the way to go.

I'm picking up the trailer for $2000.00. Seems like a pretty fair price. It's 96'in wide but only 72'in between the wheel wells. If I cut the currant wheel/fender liners off and replace them with an open style I can get another 6'in out of each side. I should be able to squeeze a car through? With the extended tongue, I'll be able to add another 4-5ft up front?

Thoughts?

 

This is just my opinion, but I'd go with the ball. Might want to check and see what the law books say about towing those too. Sounds like a good deal on the trailer though. Hope you can make it work out.

 

I think you'll be fine with the pintle hitch... I've hauled plenty of loads behind dumps that were on pintle hitch trailers.

Thing is with a 30ft trailer you're going to be real tight getting 2 cars on there. If you have to haul a truck its not gonna fit with anything else but a Smart car. 72" between fenders should be enough for most cars you'll haul, but I'd be more worried about tongue weight.

 

Stay with teh Pintle... Easier to hook up by your self (back up till you hear a bang and it wont be your truck) less parts to wear. I pull a buddies 24' with a pintle a good bit and I like it ALOT better then my ball set-up.

 

There's a lot more flex to them too, so if you have to take the trialer through some rough stuff you don't have to worry about popping a coupler off.

 

Thanks guys! With the tongue extension on it, I may add some extra feet of decking to it. I was thinking about tongue weight as well, but with 2 cars on there, I think I should be ok?

If I replace the pindle with a coupler, I'll be able to add a weight distribution set up and a anti-sway controller, Yes?

 

Tye.....with a trailer like that you wioll want about 500 lbs of tongue weight when empty...............get yer scale out there and make it happen.....................then when ya load cars on there adjust them so yer just settin on the overloads barley............very stable this way

 

I'll definitely being adding airbags to my truck. This is just to get me started for the next 6 months and hopefully be able to upgrade to a 4 car trailer with a new 5500 Dodge!

 

I personally hate pulling a pintle trailer. Every time I pull one it beats me up when I am stopping or starting. Sounds like you got a good deal on it though. If you have the option I would switch it out though. Just my $0.02

 

That's what I'm concerned about as well, all the slop, jerking, moving around back there.