I am looking to buy an open trailer to pull my wife's car on our upcoming move. I missed out on a really good deal on new 20' PJ. So, the search continues. I wanted to know what are some good makes and models. I was hoping for something about 20 feet long. My budget is something like $3,000. I have no problem with brand new or slightly used as I want something in good condition and reliable.
No I will not build my own 
What say you GRM?
I have a 1997 Load Trail 18'. It seems beefier than the $1795 brands and has served me well up here in everything rusts land. When i was shopping gooseneck haulers last year theirs looked better than some of the cheaper brands. After my experience and seeing other people's trailers i would not hesitate to recommend the brand.
I have a 7k trailer that weighs a little over 2k, so maybe 4,800 capacity. Eighteen foot deck and two foot dovetail. The extra length is great. The low capacity isn't perfect, but usually is enough. But my dad has a similar size trailer with 10k axles, so I use his for heavier stuff. Everything about his trailer is heavy-ramps, wheels, tongue.
Best features of my trailer are the 20' length, the full, metal floor, the stake pockets, and the D-rings. I paid $1000, but put new wheels and painted it properly underneath.
Look for one with a higher rate weight and a sealed wiring harness. I bought a Double A rated at 12000 pounds but everything except the tires were rated for 14000 pounds. I used it in my business for 13 years and when I sold it all the lights still worked and the only repairs I did during ownership were tires and brake shoes.
Look at your state licensing laws and make sure your weight rating matches them. There are a lot of trailers in CA that are plated at 9990 pounds due to the 10K pound bumper-pull limit with a regular license.
yupididit wrote: I am looking to buy an open trailer to pull my wife's car on our upcoming move. I missed out on a really good deal on new 20' PJ. So, the search continues. I wanted to know what are some good makes and models. I was hoping for something about 20 feet long. My budget is something like $3,000. I have no problem with brand new or slightly used as I want something in good condition and reliable. No I will not build my own
Dude just come get my rollback. It'll haul two. It's only about a 4K mile round trip if you want to borrow it. 
Seriously though, my current trailer has an 18 foot deck although I prefer 20. It also has 5k axles (each), brakes on both, a mount for a removable winch (I prefer this over permanent mount), d rings on the deck, and aluminum ramps. I love those aluminum ramps....after years of using heavy steel ones I'll never go back.
Also I highly recommend the snap in straps and axle straps like these:
I've also used the axle straps through wheels, around suspension, etc.
Enjoy the permanent California trailer plates as well! My FILs dump trailer has them.
I had a 24 foot Big Tex. It was ok. Worked fine, but the load height on the deck sucked. A friend of mine had the exact same trailer with a dovetail and the difference in ease of loading was dramatic. Made me think a lot about what I want a trailer for.
In reply to Cotton:
How about you bring me that Pagoda or s600 on the rollback?
In reply to Mazdeuce:
What was the load height?
In my area, used trailers are almost the same as new ones. Most brands I'm seeing are BigTex, Carson, PJ.
It's the same everywhere. Trailers do not lose value.
Trailers don't depreciate much unless they're damaged or in need of work. If it's been maintained, a 10 year old trailer in good condition is pretty much functionally equivalent to a new one, hence them selling for similar amounts of money.
I went with new over used to save money from replacing tires, brakes, and rewiring. Titled, taxed, and out the door I paid $2700 for a powder coated 18 footer with 3,500lb axles that weighs about 2k.
Nitroracer wrote: I went with new over used to save money from replacing tires, brakes, and rewiring. Titled, taxed, and out the door I paid $2700 for a powder coated 18 footer with 3,500lb axles that weighs about 2k.
What did you get?
I went with a Gatormade - https://www.gatormade.com/flatbed-car-hauler-trailer-slide-in-ramps/
Never heard of them. Must not be sold on this side of the country.
mazdeuce wrote: I had a 24 foot Big Tex. It was ok. Worked fine, but the load height on the deck sucked. A friend of mine had the exact same trailer with a dovetail and the difference in ease of loading was dramatic. Made me think a lot about what I want a trailer for.
I just picked up a 20ft BigTex dovetail.
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