New trailer purchase options. Bubba's Vs PJ?

[jeeper]

This may get long winded..

I am in the market for a new trailer. I sold my last large trailer yesterday, and needed one today, so kind of in a hurry. I will be in layton and ogden tomorrow and could pick up a new one from any of the manufactures up there if I want. I sold many of my trailer in anticipation of buying a dump trailer.. but those hopes were dashed due to some other issues. I have always had a utility style trailer (flat bed with 18" sides) The trailer has been awesome, and has been used for every thing possibly imaginable, and many things not imaginable.. one of the best purchases I have ever made. The trailer was still in good shape after 14 years of heavy use and abuse.

I have determined, through my special trailer algorithm, that I would like a 18' or 20' car hauler (without sides) that I can build expanded metal removable sides on. I was settled on an 18' 7k trailer. But my wife asked why I would not get another 20' like the last one, and then reminded me that I always overloaded the 7k, and that I should be getting a 10k trailer.
I have narrowed my options to a PJ or Bubba's trailer.

My last trailer was a Bubba's. The salesman at the time (2001) was an honest, straight talker, who negotiated himself down, while giving me upgrades. That is the service a person returns for. My phone calls to them now have been very unsatisfying. Very short answers, and not polite. I have credited this to the many calls they must get each day of people just window shopping trailers. I expect a different response when I am standing in person with money. But none of that has anything to do with quality of the trailer. I felt like my last bubba's trailer was a very good trailer, and I will return because I was very impressed. They are also the cheapest priced trailers that I can find.

However, I like the aluminum fenders on the PJ's. They are bolted on, and can be removed if ever I need to pull on a vehicle with a little extra width. (I specifically do not want a drive-over fenders trailer) PJ claims that their box frames are more durable and stronger than bubba's angle iron cross supports. The PJ will run me about $600 more than the Bubba's.

I am hard on trailers. They get used, a lot. I am afraid of spending more on the PJ, especially because I don't want to ruin a pretty fender.. but on the other hand, if I do, I can replace it.

Does anyone have enough experience with both brands to claim one superior?

Thanks!

 

[jeeper]

Also.. The bubba's tail lights are outside of the frame, which drives me crazy, while the PJ's or in the back of the frame which I prefer.

But, I would also like to add additional tie down points, and a second hitch on the back of the trailer.. I can have Bubba's custom build one for me like last time so I could have all the additional stuff powder coated at time of build, instead of adding them later and rattle canning the welds.

 

[TurboMinivan]

From back when I was shopping for my car hauler:

I was considering three trailers: a Big Tex from Lone Peak; a PJ from Wasatch; and a Big Bubba from, well, Big Bubba. They were all priced close enough as to not matter, so it came down to the trailers themselves. The Big Tex and Big Bubba were remarkably similar overall, but the more I looked at the PJ the more it stood out. It was mainly a host of little details: flush-mounted lights all around, aluminum fenders, pivoting jack, and so on.

I feel I got a very nice trailer and felt it was worth the trip to Layton.

In all of my side-by-side comparing, the PJ definitely stood out as a superior product. So far, I have been perfectly satisfied.

 

[mbryson]

I've had both. Happy with both. I broke the alum fenders on the PJ. They flapped around a lot. I just welded some replacement steel fenders on and am pretty happy with that. I bought it because it was built fairly light but heavy enough. I was going to buy a class C to tow with (who knows what I'll do next?)

i liked the 2003 Bubba trailer I had. Sold it to buy my 26' (kinda wish I still had that one--favorite trailer so far) Paiute.

 

[jeeper]

Thanks guys!
Heres another issue... Car hauler trailers usually have 4-5' ramps. My utility trailer had 7'. When loading a small sedan with shorter ramps the car bottoms out! Why do car haulers have short ramps???? I've only used an actual car hauler 3 times, and each time the car bottomed high centered and had to have extra work to get it on the trailer.

 

[Jeromy]

We went to bubba's a few weeks ago to look at a 16 footer to haul my jeep. I bought a ten foot one from them for the rhino in 2007 and have been really happy with it. That said they had a bunch of raw frames sitting out front I'm assuming waiting for coating. Some of the welds looked like total junk. Also many of the finished trailers had spots the coating was missed and were rusting already.

i left without a trailer. I think they have cheapened everything up.

 

[Caleb]

I expect a different response when I am standing in person with money.

Be prepared to be disappointed. When I was recently shopping for an enclosed, I expected the same thing and was somewhat surprised when the sales guys at every lot from Layton to American Fork could have cared less I was standing there with cash in my pocket ready to buy. Wasatch Trailers was the exception, even though they are a little ways away, I'll be going back there for future trailer needs.

 

[TurboMinivan]

Wasatch Trailers was the exception, even though they are a little ways away, I'll be going back there for future trailer needs.

Thank you for mentioning this, as I failed to do so. When I said it was worth the drive to Layton, this is because I bought my trailer from Wasatch Trailers. This was another great aspect of my purchase, as their customer service was excellent. I did much of my research via telephone, and they were all too happy to answer every question, point me to further answers on the web, etc.

 

[sawtooth4x4]

I like PJ trailers. Just for another vote for those.

 

[sawtooth4x4]

I use a trailer like this. I love it. It doesn't really matter what kind of car you haul on it, it'll be easy to load.

 

[amp713]

Not trying to thread jack here but what if the trailer is a 5th wheel set up? anyone have experience there? Want to get one later this year.....

 

[mbryson]

Not trying to thread jack here but what if the trailer is a 5th wheel set up? anyone have experience there? Want to get one later this year.....

fifth wheel or gooseneck? Supposedly you'll love the towing with a goose vs a bumper pull. Goose is more forgivable for weight distribution but you can do all kinds of things with a big bumper pull. It's just more critical for weight distribution. I have a weight ticket for my '99 SuperDuty grossing just under 20k with two rigs on my 26' trailer. Truck handled it surprisingly well after getting the right tongue weight. I had mine custom made by Paiute in Salina, UT. I'd buy another if I decide to go to a two rig hauler again.

 

[Jinx]

Not trying to thread jack here but what if the trailer is a 5th wheel set up? anyone have experience there? Want to get one later this year.....

I tow all the time with a goose neck and two rigs. I use an old Cummins and love it.

 

[amp713]

Goose not fifth sorry, and ive towed some stuff bumper pull versus goose and if i buy a trailer new it will be goose for sure!

 

[Jinx]

Goose not fifth sorry, and ive towed some stuff bumper pull versus goose and if i buy a trailer new it will be goose for sure!

they are a lot more forgiving and easier to tow, but I hate that I lose the truck bed. I can haul a little in the bed but nothing like a camper or something like that...

 

[neagtea]

Wasatch trailers owner is a fellow jeeper.
Ask for todd.
Also Dave Poulsen at Poulsen trailer in Logan is a fellow wheeler.
I would go to either one.
My PJ has been great.
I do want a featherlight though.$$$$$ someday.

 

[jeeper]

Not trying to thread jack here but what if the trailer is a 5th wheel set up? anyone have experience there? Want to get one later this year.....

I've been running 5th wheel campers for years. I enjoy the security and weight distribution. But I HATE the bed loss when towing.

 

[LT.]

This is what I use. This is the best bumper pull car hauler I have ever used. http://www.diamondc.com/trailers/car-haulers-motorcycle-trailers/12chs/ Make no mistake about it you are going to pay a high price for a trailer like this but, once you use it you will appreciate every aspect of it.

LT.

 

[UFAB]

Personally from experience, big bubbas are not worth the cheap price. PJs are a step up.

Poulsen trailers have been around a long time.

 

[jeeper]

I have determined that trailer shopping at a dealer in NOTHING like car shopping. Car salesman try to talk you up, talk about the features of a car, show you the options, etc.
This is a trailer dealer:
Me: Hi, I am interested in buying a trailer. I am looking for a car hauler, 20'.
Them: ok. That's this one. It's xxxx amount of dollars.
*****silence*******
Me: that looks really nice, what makes it better than so and so's trailer?
them: ours is better quality
*****silence****


Wasatch told me they sell more than 150 trailers a month . No wonder they don't care to chit chat, they don't need my sale..