Tilt vs airbag trailer?

I will soon be in need of a new trailer to haul 2 rigs. One is a YJ on 42's and the second is a buggy on 37's. The jeep is 4700 lbs and the buggy is 2800 lbs.
Total of 7500 lbs. I need 26 ft of deck minimum. I am considering building a trailer myself. I have one now that I built and it works perfect just to short. My current trailer works too good to cut up and change so a new one is needed.
The towrig is a 2002 F-250 7.3L srw 4wd cc with an ugly paw paw camper shell on the bed that is way better than any tent I've ever slept in. It keeps everything dry to and from the parks so that rules out a gooseneck.
I have been thinking lately of building a tilt trailer or using airbags to eliminate ramps. I could go hydraulic tilt without issue since I already have a electric hydraulic unit if needed.
Tilt trailer loading plan would be tilt the rear section of the trailer (dovetail) down load them up. Raise the dove and tie down.
Air bag trailer would be set up using 4 trailing arms+ trackbars. Airbags and shocks. Loading plan would be dump bags, load, raise and tie down.

Failure of the tilt would be little issue, a jack or a buddys ramps and I'm on the road. Airbag failure = cutting firewood to hold the axle up?
Both designs would yield a good departure angle. Hydro tilt is less complicated to build but the airbags sure would ride nice.
Anti sway, weight distribution hitch is a given either way.

Any advice from those than like to drag things around with their truck?

Current setup

Not much advice here. I used to tow 2 rigs with that type of ford...switched to a drw and a gooseneck and it's a big difference that feels much safer and flat out works. I'd try to keep it as simple as possible.maybe a small set of mini ramps/dovetail and call it a day. Most of our rigs can climb on a trailer without ramps/air/hydro.

Re: Re: Tilt vs airbag trailer?

I have a 34' kaufman bumper pull, always pull 2 rigs with a 2500hd Chevy.

I've never had a problem getting around with it.

I actually sold my 20' car hauler, so the "big trailer" is my only option for hauling rigs/cars

I would keep it simple. Hydraulics,air bags, raising axles,tilt...... Sounds like a bad idea to me. Just build you a 28' flat deck with 2' dovetail and drive over fenders. Your rigs will climb on trailer with ease. Build a couple short ramps that slide under trailer just incase one rig is broke and needs to be winched on.

Build the trailer with a motor, trans, and drive shaft with DBW so that it helps the truck out.

patooyee said:

Build the trailer with a motor, trans, and drive shaft with DBW so that it helps the truck out.

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Crazy as that sounds we have twin engine CAT scrapers at work that are setup just like that.

I have been studying designs on the net and I am leaning towards a 28' deck with a 12' gravity tilt at the rear. That would allow me to load the buggy first and still have room for the tilt to function.

RustyC said:

Crazy as that sounds we have twin engine CAT scrapers at work that are setup just like that.

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I figured some heavy equipment trailer somewhere had already done it. I would like to see pics of that if you get a chance.

28' pumper pull, I do not see any need for a tilt

Re: Re: Tilt vs airbag trailer?

TBItoy said:

I have a 34' kaufman bumper pull, always pull 2 rigs with a 2500hd Chevy.

I've never had a problem getting around with it.

I actually sold my 20' car hauler, so the "big trailer" is my only option for hauling rigs/cars

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This setup of a trailer is quite nice. Much less complicated than what you are thinking, unless you are wanting to be different for fun.

I have a tendency to over complicate things most of the time. The standard 28' low deck drive over fenders and ramps is what I will probably end up with.
I started thinking after my last trip to Morris Mountain in the rain and struggling to load the Jeep because the ramps were slick and the tires looked like big orange balls of mud, that and trailer that is lower in the back would be easier to load when muddy.
My driveway at home has a sharp uphill transition that a dovetail would drag on prevents me from going that route.

RustyC said:

I have a tendency to over complicate things most of the time. The standard 28' low deck drive over fenders and ramps is what I will probably end up with.
I started thinking after my last trip to Morris Mountain in the rain and struggling to load the Jeep because the ramps were slick and the tires looked like big orange balls of mud, that and trailer that is lower in the back would be easier to load when muddy.
My driveway at home has a sharp uphill transition that a dovetail would drag on prevents me from going that route.

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I have to drive over a fender on my trailer and at GAP last time my tires were slick. I slipped off the trailer 3 times trying to get on it. I definitely see where you are coming from there. Had I not had 4wd it would really have been an issue.

I've considered building a trailer in the past. Not sure how I would address the fender issue. I've had higher trailers without fenders and longer dovetails in the past and liked those a lot. Using torsion axles lets you egtt he whole thing a little bit lower than leaf springs.

Countless times in my cucv...pulling the grill trailer...on my deckover....ive been in 2wd, 3wd...etc...wet...muddy...thats why all my trailers are deckover.