I'm in the market for a new bumper pull equipment trailer. Kaufman Trailers over in NC is doable for me, time and expense wise. Just wondering if anyone thinks Kaufman trailers are better built/lower cost than the competition. I'm looking for something that might justify my buying there versus buying semi-locally.

And if someone thinks Kaufman isn't up to snuff, I'd like to hear that too.

Thanks.

 

I owned a 24' lowboy gooseneck from them when I lived in NC several years ago. It was a very good trailer and well built. 4 pallets of sod with heavy red dirt was no problem. I would have put 5 on but the roving weigh guys in NC are very particular and that 96 big block chevy dually swallowed gas like a whale.

 

A friend of mine has a 24+4 gooseneck flatbed with tandem duals by Kaufman. It's a pretty stout trailer. The only complaint he or I had about it was the fact that they drug it through the paint booth @ 90 MPH, and threw a quart of paint at it. Poor quality paint and not much of it

 

I had a 14K GVW 24+4 with the "pop up dovetail" and ramps. The ramps were VERY heavy and could have used a spring assist. The welds on the popup dovetail broke from the rear end bouncing around so much. The lights were all non-sealed and all of them went out within 1 day... probably from the vibration on the back of the trailer. The front lights never went out.

I would get the "Sealed wiring harness" option or at least I would put LEDs on all of the rear lights and never worry about them again (also very bright for safety). I would NOT get the pop up dovetail unless you need it, and I would get the spring assist on the ramps. I think even just storing the ramps flush with the dovetail instead of storing them pointing towards the sky would probably help a lot because those things are HEAVY and bounce around during driving.

Overall it was a decent trailer and I would get another one, but I would just change those few things.

Also yes, the paint job sucks but that is the case on most trailers (?)

 

Don't forget to check Kraftsman... very similar.. As I recall, the Kaufman & Kraftsman were once partners, and then split..

Buddy bought a nice 32' low boy goose, open steel deck with spare for $4k.

 

They sure LOOK like nice trails in the pictures

 

I got mine used, but have no complaints. (came with the truck)

Mine's a 20 ft + 4 ft flatbed GN. Tows great.

The only thing I have noticed, is the wood they use for the deck doesn't seem to be well treated. I had one board pop up, and another one start, and the trailer was only a yr old.

I would also prefer the axles not be so far back. To get a decent tongue weight, I can't use the front 6 ft of the trailer.

 

You may wish to check Hudson tag trailers (Indian Trail NC). I have a 16' 5ton, pulls like a dream behind several different trucks, and have had NO problems in several years; the state DOT and other local contractors use a bunch of them. When getting a GN however, I've found that Kraftsman (Asheboro, NC) offers a wider selection and has a better overall price than other comparables, several friends have them and have heard no griping. No affiliation with either company.

 

We have several NC trailer companies listed @

http://www.gorowan.com/gr_fetch.php?BizTypeID=2.6

 

I got the GN you see in my photo album at Country Classic trailer sales near Raleigh on Old Randallman Road. It was about $4k out the door on the road. It is a 24 foot flat with four foot dove tail rated to 14000 pounds. The only thing I found wrong was the wiring, it was shaky at best. My son and I stripped it and completely rewired it about six months after I bought it and I installed the LED lights on the rear because it was blowing bulbs about every two weeks.

 

kaufman has a dealer in bristol tn. great prices and he takes trades. 423-538-6979.

 

Thanks to everyone replying. I've received some good info, and I appreciate it.

DTE, Kaufman claims to have no dealers and to only sell direct these days. I believe they went that way a couple of years ago. Are you sure that dealer still handles Kaufman?