Kaufman trailers

[J Bouchard]

Am considering purchase of a 28 ft triaxle gooseneck rated for 22,500. I expect this will have a payload around 15-16K pounds in addition to the wt. of the trailer. Anyone with comments on the quality,constuction etc on this brand of trailer. Thanks

 

[john in la]

While triaxle trailers have a place and use when you get into really big trailers; I do not like them on smaller applications because the front axle will not lift up. This makes them very hard on tires when turning sharp.

You do know a trailer this size will put you in CDL territory and all that it implies.

Kaufman as a brand is a OK trailer.

 

[J Bouchard]

Where is the cut off for the cdl capacity? Where is one able to go to and stay under that restiction in weight capacity?

 

[Dennis Benson]

Trailers of 10,001 pound or greater GVW require a CDL. A truck of 26,001 pounds or greater require a CDL. I don't know why, but a couple years ago they came down hard on trailers especially. Air brakes require a CDL.

 

[john in la]

While you will get all kinds of answers as to who needs a CDL; I can only tell you what I know from years of experiance.

The cut off for CDL is 26,001 total RATED lbs.
In other words if your truck and trailer is rated (can haul) 26001 lbs but your actual weight is 25000 lbs you still need a CDL.
A trailer this size (rated over 10000 lbs) also means you need a class A CDL.

If we assume you have a average 3/4 or single tire 1 ton your truck should come in at about 10000 lbs. Look at the tag on your door post and it will tell you GVWR. That is the # you need. Now subtract that # from 26000 and this will give you the max trailer size you can pull without getting into CDL area. Most likley 14 to 16000 lbs.
In other words if you add the GVWR of the truck to the GVWR of the trailer and the # is 26001 or bigger you need a CDL.

Just to keep others from reading between the lines and adding comments.........
There are cases where you can weigh over 26000 lbs total and still not need a CDL but you do not fit this catogory with your trailer.
There are other exemptions such as Farmers in some states; RV's; that can get around CDL laws but again you may not qualify.
Do I need a CDL

 

[ricky c]

if this is kaufman trailers out of lexington nc. i had two and 48ft goose deck over neck and 3 section raisable dove. and a 34ft goose deck over single raisable dove. will not buy anything else from them. trailer will twist or flex real bad, only 2x2 square tubing for flex tube.blew 6 tires on 48ft before i figured out the rubber over brass valve stems and china tires were junk. would not warranty them. deck is screwed down every other cross member and with all the twisting the boards will break the bolts and popp up. on the 34ft 14k trailer the axle snapped at the wheel leaving the stranded with a load. both trailers was ordered with every thing you could get on them no money spared. they was used 3 to 4 times a week and the 48ft was rated at 25900 and generally hauled 3 to 9 k on it. the 34ft was rated at 14k and generally hauled 2 to 7k on it. i run a pro trak out of texas that is a 48ft loaded has a 6 inch round torque tube rated at 20k 8 tires and in 2 years and 50k miles no problems. nock on wood. tires hold up good also. this is personal experience not my opionion. ricky

 

[ScottyHOMeY]

Trailers rated greater than 10k only require a Class A CDL of the combined weight ratings of the tow vehicle and trailer exceed 26k. A trailer for 14k towed behind a vehicle rated for 11k for a total of 25k does not require a CDL of any class unless placarded for hazmats, or somehow the tow vehicle is capable of carrying 16 or more people.

Class A -- Any combination of vehicles with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds provided the GVWR of the vehicle(s) being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.

Class B -- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing a vehicle not in excess of 10,000 pounds GVWR.

Class C -- Any single vehicle, or combination of vehicles, that does not meet the definition of Class A or Class B, but is either designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver, or is placarded for hazardous materials.

 

[J Bouchard]

Thanks for the input and advise. jb

 

[Anonymous-0]

I have pulled both 3 axle trailers & dual tandem.The dual tandem will be easier on tires if you have you have alot of turning & will pull easier on soft gravel roads.If you need this heavy of trailer get it & liscence accordingly.I have never had any one say they bought to heavy a trailer.

 

[Orangefever]

Had a 24ft kauffman trailer and loved it the down side is most of there trailers are made with channel and not I beam which does make a differance in strength. and if it applies to you you can pull a large trailer on a class B cdl if the registration says class G and providing your truck does not have air brakes it's the only exception in the book this is how alot of guys that haul cars with wedge trailers get by pulling a 53ft trailer with a pickup

 

[mattofvinings]

I have a 2006 Kaufman 20+5 @ 14k GVW.

It has been an excellent trailer for my use...which was heavy at first when moving my shop, then has tuckered out and sits mostly. Probably hauled 10k miles loaded and 10k miles empty.

I just completed a 2100 mile trip last week to Northern MA hauling machinery back to NE GA and there were no problems. Around 7k payload.

My opinions are this: Kaufman is a lower price point trailer. You'll be able to buy a brand new Kaufman for what other people are asking for well-rusted trailers.

I bought because a trusted friend in the same type of business had good luck with a Kaufman and I did like the price.

Couple statements of fact: the axles are not Dexter, I think they are essentially knockoffs made at a nearby manufacturing plant in NC but I would not vouch that they are knockoffs to the point of interchangeable spares. I am considering asking about service parts shortly as I think I blew a grease seal and lubricated a brake drum. The tires are not USA, they are Beijing but I've had no complaints. Some other manufacturers use bias-ply tires as a way to keep the price-point down, I have the radials which run well. (although I did purchase 2pc complete spares at the time of purchase...but never used them yet). The tires still look good as far as weather checking, etc. The standard/base wiring harness is built with scotchlocks...which is fine for a few years' use but eventually will become a liability. I have plans to modify and seal the wiring harness at the same time. There is an extra-cost option for a sealed harness which I did not get.

The trailer is slightly more flexible than I'd considered. I do not have the torque tube. The double-jacks would probably have been a wise choice. However, any heavy load has been carried centered and near the axles so there hasn't been any significant offset loads up near the neck.

I plan to add some more crossmembers to the trailer (1x3x11ga square tube). For transporting my forklifts there is too much span for the 2x6s.

Another issue, again, specific to cushion tired forklifts, is that the ramps and dovetail aren't on the same plane, there is a slight offset for the I-beam that caps off the rear, lower edge of the trailer. I had to create some custom heavy steel ramps to bridge across this. For big-tired rolling stock like tractors, just load away...no issues.

In the end, I am an occasional user. The trailer has done everything I've ever asked it to do without complaint. I would buy another one if I had it to do over again. I hope the comments were helpful.

 

[ed almony]

two of my friends have Kaufman trailers. They haven't had any trouble. I have a three axle PJ trailer and would recommend getting a two axle. Six brakes and drums to replace instead of four on a two axle. You are going to have to combo this unit for 26000 to keep away from CDL. In Maryland they require you to register the pickup at 10,000 and the trailer gets N/A in the weight box. Cost more but it keeps you from having a CDL and everything that goes with it. Oh by the way the PJ is two heavy. Its almost 2,000 pounds heaver then the Kaufman.

 

[rcola]

I have a 10 ton 28 ft Kraftsman from Ramseur NC. Was a good price I think but boy does the deck twist! Brought home 3 jd's from Ohio few weeks ago through WV turnpike and the 2 60's were nosed beside each other with enough room to walk between. They kissed and dented one pretty good. I think I was told kraft. and kaufman where brothers or one formed their own company.