Choosing a trailer for your hot shot business can be time consuming and difficult. Today we are reviewing my Kraftsman gooseneck trailer and comparing it to a few other manufacturers.
There’s is not one bad weld on the Kraftsman trailer? You proved that statement wasn’t true. Just giving you a hard time, this is a good review. I like they aligned the axles to prevent premature tire wear. I’m in the market for an equipment trailer so I’ll be checking with Kraftsman trailers.
You’re right, one of those welds wasn’t perfect. The Trailer themselves in my experience have been pretty good. I did speak with someone else who did not have the same experience. One thing I would definitely do if you pick up a new trailer from them grease all the light connections and every crimp connection. They did use heat shrink connections, but they did not use the proper crimper and pierced every single one of the connectors. This led to corrosion within a few months. Overall, I would definitely look at buying another one. Good luck on your search!
Thanks for all that info. I've been looking at equipment, and I think I'm seeing a lot of folks purchasing cheap stuff just to get out there and get going. You're helping me a lot with your videos to get my head wrapped around this industry and what to look for as I get started. Thanks.
Just be very cautious. The numbers we could generate a year ago are vastly different than we were able to do this spring and summer. And it’s getting even worse out there right now. Do your absolute best to generate your own customers. Keep your cost low, and unfortunately, your expectations low as well. Be safe.
@ninefingerstrucking5735 Good to know. I currently am an electrical contractor and have a lot of contacts with suppliers. I will be trying not to use loadboards, and building my own clients, while I work on getting my CDL.
Great video I just got a quote from Keith at Kraftsman. I'm not a hot shotter , general contractor. Couple option maybe I could get your opinion. You think they are worth the up charge? 1. Air ride suspension 2. EOH brakes 3. Polished aluminum rims
@@n229dh6 starting with a polished rims, they sure are pretty. Obviously that’s a choice you have to make as to whether or not it’s worth the expense. Electric over hydraulic brakes, absolutely. The air suspension? I guess it would depend on what you are hauling. If it’s just equipment and General building materials and such, then I would say no.
I appreciate your logic and attention to detail. Am considering ordering a trailer from Kraftsman myself. There's not as much info on them online but everything I've seen so far has been positive. Thanks for doing the review.
You are very welcome. Of course, there’s a few things on the trailer I would change. That being said, I think they are great value. On a sidenote, they sure are a lot of one or two-year-old trailers for sale right now. You might be able to save yourself about $10,000buying used
I wouldn’t buy one again, not powder coated, paint chips off really easy, front jacks suck, to cheap to put jacks that have extended feet on it, so I run out of crank just getting off my truck on a flat surface, terrible frame flex, they use a small torque square compared to a torque tube, dovetail is to steep 1st shorter. Wiring is terrible, my brakes never worked, had to rewire it, and they didn’t crimp the wires correctly, warranty is terrible, only good for 1st owner, very limited coverage. Get what you pay for. A big Tex would be like a diamond C if you are comparing this to a big Tex directly. I got my kinks worked out, if you want to buy mine I’m in NC. 40k rated 30ft flat 5ft dovetail. $22000. Less then 5k miles I am getting a 20+5 Gatormade
@ninefingerstrucking5735 good point. I have been on the lookout for a used one, but need a 40k trailer and they are hard to find. Kraftsman gave me a very attractive quote on a 25+5 with 16k axles this week, I may run to their shop and look at some of their work in person.
@krice24 small world I actually messaged you on marketplace about that trailer. I am the guy who wanted disk brakes. They have great reviews on google, so it's good to know about the negative feedback. What year was yours built?
@@bennygibbons5417 it is a small world, this just popped up on my RU-vid and I happened to see a craftsman review, thought I’d share mine. Works like a champ now I fixed the lights and brakes. Problem was they used crappy crimps and the crimps didn’t splice through the wire insulation and make contact with the wire. I know that With my 24k excavator it will stop the truck as well. (That’s why I said the disks are gimmick, as if your axles are Dexter and working correctly they stop like hell, the Gatormade 40k 20+5 I had to special order has discs, but they won’t let me get it without them, otherwise I would be o save money) I can say at least they do use Dexter axles, I wouldn’t have bought it if it was lippert axles (diamond C uses)! If you have had lippert, Rockwell or other off brands then yes discs are a must. Mine was August 2022. Never used till November 2023.
