[Bullrack]

Kanman, you were probably there when Terry Cameron was Vice-President of Transportation. You did'nt say if you were out of Mt. Pleasant or Midland/Odessa plant? Nice Pete 379 EXHD's and Superduty's throughout the company to boot.

 

[StuMas]

Chris, I sent you a couple of P.M's. Thanks

 

[1samson]

[ QUOTE ]
Small utility trilers, Big Tex uses cambered axles, how many people actually know what's under their trailer? If you have a straight axle and load it down, what happens to those wheels and tires? Yep, if you have a cambered axle, and your not loaded down, not much weight are on those tires edges so no irregular wear. When cambered axles are loaded down, which most trailers are most of the time, the axle then straightens out, allowing the tires to wear flat. Just a whole meal for thought before you buy just any trailer.

[/ QUOTE ]
Didn't know what cambered axles were, but the 12ET model I think I'm gonna get has them.
But that got me thinkin now, because I'm only gonna be hauling 8600 pounds 90% of the time on this 12,000 GVW trailer, would the axle flatten out enoufgh with a load like that?

 

[DukeJH]

I've got a BigTex 5x10, 3500 lb with tailgate that I use for general utility and hauling bicycles, motorcycles, go-karts, etc on. I looked at other dealers in Fort Worth and was not impressed by any of them except BigTex. I was actually suprised to see a cambered axle on a trialer this small. I will also second the paint quality and overall fit and finish of the trailer. The only problem I've had is the bolts for the gate lock pins are slightly out of alignment. I'm just too lazy to get around to adjuxting them.

 

[Bullrack]

10-4 You would be surprised how many people call the plant because they think they have a bent axle if their particular dealer did'nt explain cambered axles to them. Half-way through the explanation you could almost see the lightbulb become illuminated and they would change the story(You know, I could use another trailer) and you know the rest of the story.

 

[1samson]

OK well I finally made up my mind and I'm gonna go to the dealer first thing tomarrow morning and pick up the 12ET.
Thanks for the info everybody

 

[AutoRotate]

http://www.diamondctrailers.com/index.htm

This is who I buy from and strongly recommend.

 

[Kanman]

[ QUOTE ]
Kanman, you were probably there when Terry Cameron was Vice-President of Transportation. You did'nt say if you were out of Mt. Pleasant or Midland/Odessa plant? Nice Pete 379 EXHD's and Superduty's throughout the company to boot.

[/ QUOTE ]

I ran out of Midland mostly although I did pull a few loads out of Odessa too. I really don't know any of the Odessa guys at all. Not many spoke that good of English LOL. I remember Terry, very nice guy. He took me **** huntin one night when I got stuck with out a load. Where is Terry these days? When I left they had 4-5 of the big Condo Freightliners (drivers was all fighting over them) and only had a couple of Petes left. I drove a black Pete a few times. It was somebodys dads truck? Man its been a while now, and i cant remeber the story behing it. He had a heart attack ran off the road and wrecked it pretty bad or something???

 

[Bullrack]

Kanman, the Freightliner deal was shortlived as they were all leased, but has since gone back to Pete's. About Terry Cameron and his **** hunting, I do believe this man has hunted with everyone in 2000mis. When we were not roping at Big Tex Arena we were probably **** hunting. Someone mentioned Diamond C Trailers, I also know Mike Crabb the owner pretty well and these trailers are of great respect also. As good as Big Tex but don't have the extensive dealer network. I also remember the accident that took out the black Pete with the blue and white graphics on the side, they actually fixed this truck and I've driven it several times even after they sold it. A local cattle hauler bought it and is still running it today. I meet it out around Hale's Corner,Tx. when I'm dropping cattle out there.

 

[j_apetersen]

Sound like you are stuck on Big Tex. Me I would not give you a plugged nickel for one.They are at least 2000 dollors over priced. The welding has something to be desired. Look underneath one. Ive followed one and had ramps fall out from underneith the trailer. Lucky for him we both pull for the same company. There are a lot of trailer builders in east texas.I can think of 4 in Mt. Pleasent alone.We have at least 8 in Paris alone. I would put a PJ trailer up aginst a Big Tex any day.And for dexter axels they are not the best but they are the cheapest. Try finding parts for them when you break down.Dexter dealers only. Hayes axels you can find most parts at napa and other aut parts stores. You get what you pay for in a trailer. You probly did not walk on the lot and say I want that truck without looking it over first. So look over the trailer. Dont like what you see. Dont buy tell the sales person what you want and let him find it for you.

 

[Bullrack]

Tell Mark Buster and Richard Drake hello for me when you bump into them. Did I hear right that Riverby Trucking shut the doors or something?

 

[NicholsStu01]

I've read all of the posts for this article. I think most of them are fair, even the ones with a little "rubbing." I think the folks who posted the negative responses are the same here as you would find anywhere in life where generally unhappy folks beat down a good thing to make themselves feel a little better,,lol..Just my opinion.
I can tell you that my first time around Big Tex was in the Late 1980's when they were producing some 12,000 trailers annually and shipping them coast to coast. Somehow they have managed to grow even well beyond that and only a well managed, consumer service oriented operation with an eye out for quality and value could possible achieve the stats they have. Plus as the former sales manager mentioned, Big Tex has product liability insurance. No one else in this low profit margin industry seems to be able to figure out how to accomplish this in order to protect their customers and dealers. I've spent years in the trailer business and then after that operating my own companies. I can tell you that at 40 years old I'd love to be part of the Big Tex team because they "got it!"
Good Luck!
P.S. Ohh yeah, one other thing I failed to mention. I saw some concerns about the weight of their trailer? LOL,,WOW,,upset because they put a lot of steel and bracing into a trailer! That alone should justify any price difference. I do remember sitting in Ricky Bakers office (the owner/founder of Big Tex) and he was on the phone. He told who ever he was talking to that "so far I've never had any of my Gooseneck trailers frames' twist." Even at that point he'd produced thousands of trailers for many year running.

 

[Black05]

T-Bone -- Go visit the Brute trailers web site. The quality and value speak for themselves and they will build you whatever you want. www.brutetrailers.com

 

[rrangus]

Another well built trailer is Trailerworld in Bowling Green, KY. I have bought several of their GN trailers and grossly overloaded them. The only one that I ever had trouble with was one that I turned over when the road shoulder gave way. www.trailerworld.com

 

[cheks73]

big tex are some good trailers I myself have a 25ft gooseneck that is a couple years old and at times still gets loaded to the max and some more, and ive never had an issue with it. awesome trailers

 

[txslowpoke]

After having to reweld broken welds on 2 BT trailers that my buddies own,( this was back in 1999/2000) you bet I can say never owned one, never will. One of them we ended up flipping over to make it easier do the the amount of rewelding needed. I will tell you a topnotch trailer manufacturer though
May trailers in Ada, Ok.
My 97 model (8k empty with boxes and chains)has well over a million miles on it and no broken welds, and its lighter than BT..... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif which means you can haul bit more poundage /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bleh.gif and get a bit more $ /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smokin.gif
The BT trailers I saw scaled in at 9500 to 10 k empty at 40'.
I have owned May, Koening(built in Wharton Tx) and TWF (7400k empty)G/N trailers May trailers is the best overall, TWF is the lightest.
FYI - West Wind did not build all their trailers, outsourced to many different manufacturers, so basically you got the lowest bid trailer, rebadged. RoadBoss is a good example of a supplier to WestWind.I bought 3-18' carhualers from RB, went to pick them up in OK from them. That was eye opener for sure, regretted that purchase.
Adios, have fun /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bleh.gif

 

[txslowpoke]

Hauling frieght with a 1 ton , you look for the lightest well built trailer, so yea empty weight is an issue if you are a for hire carrier. Design and durability are the key here, to keep empty weight in check. So added steel/bracing really effects the trailer and is a viable concern.
I am 38 yrs old and really would like to be apart of the May trailer team.

 

[txslowpoke]

Here is what you need to look for in trailers. Primed and automotive paint on the trailer. Sealed wiring harnesses. Crossmembers on at the least 24"centers, using 18 wheeler style bed screws to secure the floor to crossmembers, -- not just flatbar at the end of the boards. Go under the trailer and make sure the wiring is ran thru tubing/pipe, not just between the board and crossmembers( which by the way I have a angle iron BT 16' er to take pics and show you the lack of quality on this, IMHO. I bought it used to haul my hunting buggy and kept blowing running light fuses. They ran the wires thru washers welded to the frame/crossmembers-- OK so how long is the insulation on the wires going to hold up to bouncing down the road before it wears thru? Keep in mind they used just the basic wiring harness that many other trailer guys use, not a sealed harness etc.

 

[bbess00]

I have a '98 PJ I bought new in 97 or 98 and have NO complaints. This trailer has plenty of miles. NC to AK, AK to UT, UT to VA, and soon VA back to AK. That's the big trips, but in and around quite a bit at each duty station. I'll admit it "looks" some what rough at this point, but you pull ANY trailer up the Alaskan highway with 35" AT tires in 99 and it(rock damage) will take the paint off the fenders...

I was 'poor' at the time of purchase and had to walk away from the sticker shock of a Tex at the time. If I had to buy one today I would compare the two and go from there... I will not knock a Big Tex, but my PJ has done me right /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[caryt]

I have a Big tex..10k and it tows like a dream, no problems .

cary