20 Ton tag trailer questions.

[baxlan]

Hello, been watching from the side lines and finally signed up for HEF. Looking to buy a 20 ton tag, was thinking of the following brands, Eager Beaver, Rogers, Felling or Talbert. Not looking for a tilt, was toying with the idea of hydraulic ramps and tandem jacks. There is quite a price difference between the the different brands. Any information would be appreciated.

 

[blowerman]

My preference is Towmaster. I've owned others, but for 20 & 25 ton had the best results with Towmaster. They all seem similar until you study them. Like many things in life "you get what you pay for". From time to time I went cheap and never though the term "throw away" would apply to a trailer, but it has.
I also like the Felling trailers, but listed the ones I own now.

 

[YEC1998]

I have a 20 Ton Eager Beaver and have had no problems with it. I like the Roto-Rings for the chainng of equipment.

 

[Canadian_digger]

I have both eager beaver and towmaster both 10 ton trailers. Both have been good trailers. Between the two my vote would be the eager beaver. The cover for the tool box on the towmaster is flimsy and cheep. Freezes up in the winter break off at the hindge. The other problem with the towmaster is the smaller springs on the flip over ramps tend to break and need replacing about once a year.

The only thing I don't like about the Edgar beaver are the roto rings. They can be a pain in the but. If your chain is at a sharp angle, the chain tends to bind in them and will come loose down the road. In my opinion they are useless. I welded some of my own d ring on the trailer because of this problem. If you custom order your trailer find out if you can just get normal d rings. You will be more happy in the end. Other than that great trailer.

 

[baxlan]

I had a 10 ton beaver that I sold to upgrade to a twenty and currently have a 6 ton contrail/towmaster. I was pleased with both of them. I'm not afraid to spend a few bucks extra for quality. I didn't mind the roto rings on the beaver. I've seen so many used trailer with ramps destroyed??? Felling dealers seem to stock them with the tandem jacks and hydraulic ramps. The tandem jacks seem like a good idea if you can unhook the trailer loaded. Is is safe enough to unhook loaded? Also with the jacks against the headboard there's more clearance from the jack handle and the back of the truck. I would rather buy one off the lot than have to order one, not even against a used one that's clean. Blowerman how long have you had your towmasters for?

 

[blowerman]

the 20 ton is a 2004 and the 25 is a 2000. I did redo the 25 ton with new brakes, bearings, ramp springs in 2010. So after 10 years it got a once over and is good to go for another 10 years.

 

[06Pete]

I like the eager beaver trailers I have a 07 20 ton. I have had no problem with the roto rings. The ramps have held up well but tracks tear them all up if you don't load straight. This was my first with abs and I love it no flat spots on the tires loaded or empty. I have not had any thing else but a 1971 general which was bought out by eager beaver and it held up well but the 07 is a huge improvement. I normaly haul a 315 or 953 and also double load my 240 Tak and 335 bobcat ex it hauls them all well. I also un hook loaded with the single jack and load and unload as the brakes hold it and it falls right back on the jack ready to re hook I think you will be happy with the eager beaver.

 

[CM1995]

I have an '05 Betterbuilt 22.5 ton tag. It's been a great trailer. Double jacks and hyd. ramps. The hyd. ramps are a must on a trailer this size, saves back pain and WC claims.:cool2

Tracked machines do play hell on ramps. My D5G is the worst as far as the grousers catching on the ramp steel.

 

[DoyleX]

Like the blowerman said you get what you pay for in trailers. If you are running bigger steel tracked iron make sure your beavertail is cleated or self cleaning angle iron. Ive have a pucker moment with bare wood. Another thing I put on my trailers is a winch track for 4" trolley winches like flatbed trailers have. I like a heavy C channel outside rail like the big loboys for simpler securing.

 

[baxlan]

Blowerman, are both of your trailers beaver tail? DoyleX what are you running? Should I be looking into a tilt, no ramps to get destroyed? I was staying away from a tilt because I will be loading a SS and a mini together at times. Another option is an air tilt trailer and no ramps so two pieces can be loaded at the same time, is anyone running a setup like that? Is it a PITA to deal with? Right now I only own rubber tire and rubber track machines, I don't have any experiance loading steal tracked equipment on a trailer. Thanks for the info so far, hoping to get this right the first time.

 

[DoyleX]

I run my ctl and mini on a old 20 ton beavertail w/ramps. I like the older trailers because of the simple heavy iron, and fit new running gear if your handy with fabrication. For picking a good trailer look at steel, the more the better. It dose not sound like weight will be a big factor yet so any 15 or 20 ton will do. Your trailer will be one of the most customized pieces of equipment in the arsenal over time. Now what are you going to be towing it with??? A 3/4 duramax lets hope not...

 

[baxlan]

No, I have a Kenworth T300 tandem axle dump setup to pull air trailers.

 

[DoyleX]

Well it sounds like you know how to do it. Go with a beaver tail w/spring or powered ramps and think for the future. You might want to look at a 25 ton tri axle and be done with it if things grow.

 

[blowerman]

If I were you Id go with a 25 ton beaver tail set up. Easy to load ctl and mini heavy duty to haul 160-200 sized hoes. Since this is WI, pull unit is a quad T800 with c13 cat

 

[baxlan]

Thanks for the info, I'm going to try and get some prices tomorrow.

 

[joispoi]

I have an '05 Betterbuilt 22.5 ton tag. It's been a great trailer. Double jacks and hyd. ramps. The hyd. ramps are a must on a trailer this size, saves back pain and WC claims.:cool2

Tracked machines do play hell on ramps. My D5G is the worst as far as the grousers catching on the ramp steel.

CM, the guy that used to move my PC300 for me kept 8 used small car tires on his flat bed at all times. He put the tires down on the ramps to protect them during loading and unloading.

 

[Jim Dandy]

I have a 03 eager beaver 20 ton with a beaver tail and ramps. The roto rings don't bother me. I have had a few slip and slide moments on my wooden ramps and beaver tail. It is only an issue when wet. Then you can greatly help the situation by positioning the trailer to take advantage of any available slopes to reduce the loading angle. I haul both skid steers and minis as well as a 160 size trackho. I tow with a tandem dump and take it easy and have never felt that I was pushing it. Main Thing is to keep a good following distance and don't try to make lights. Also have a 12000 lb felling tilt deck and love it. I do hate lifting the manual ramps.

 

[390eric]

IF you are looking to double load, I would go with ramps over a tilt. We have a tilt at work and its a pain to load a skid and mini. Need a min of two guys to do it. Shouldn't have issues with tearing up ramps with rubbered machines. We have also started to have an issue of the frame for the deck starting to bend with the heavier machines on it now. Its catches on the main frame as it comes down and won't go down all the way. Not even sure of who makes our tag at work, I know our low-boy is a talbert.

 

[ctkiteboarding]

take a look at bws

 

[Eddybow]

hi everyone at HEF. Iam new here, hope I find everyone well and happy.I need to get a15-20 ton tag a long trailer, for a track loader with a back hoe attachment on it.Iam looking at a Felling 30,000 wooden deck tilt 24 feet long or a BWS 21ton 27 foot air tilt . Are these good trailers . Built to last or throw aways. Should I stay away from these and look at better quality brands