2019 Big Tex Trailers 14ET Equipment Trailer — Should You Buy One?
Typical asking price: $6,000–$10,000. There are 3 high-severity known issues you need to know before handing over a check.
Kestrel Take
Big Tex builds the most widely used equipment trailers in North America — contractors, farmers, and landscapers all haul with them. The 14ET is a tandem-axle equipment trailer rated for heavy use. At 6 years old and likely used for real work, inspect the frame, deck, and wheel bearings.
What we checked
Not checked against public records
Towable trailers are in NHTSA’s database and we intend to use it. We have not switched it on yet because recall notices name sub-brands and floorplans rather than the model we key on, and folding them in carelessly would put another trailer’s recall on this page. What follows is our own write-up, and it has not been reconciled against an official record. Treat it as a starting point, not a verdict.
Known Issues for the 2019 Big Tex Trailers 14ET Equipment Trailer
Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents. How we decide that.
Equipment trailers see severe stress from loading and hauling heavy equipment. Inspect all weld points, especially where the tongue meets the main frame and where the axles attach. Cracks here are a safety issue.
Repair cost (estimate): $300-$1,500 to re-weld
Source: not yet checked against public records.
Pressure-treated pine deck boards on equipment trailers rot and split with age and water exposure. Walk the entire deck — soft or cracked boards need replacement.
Repair cost (estimate): $400-$1,200 to replace deck boards
Source: not yet checked against public records.
Equipment trailers under maximum load stress the wheel bearings severely. Check for play and heat buildup in the hubs. Bearing failure at speed is catastrophic.
Repair cost (estimate): $100-$400 per axle
Source: not yet checked against public records.
Electric brakes on tandem trailers must function correctly at this size. Verify brake controller response and check for corroded wiring at the axle connections.
Repair cost (estimate): $200-$800
Source: not yet checked against public records.
Walk-Away Red Flags
- ✗Any frame weld cracks at tongue or axle attachment points
- ✗Soft or rotten deck boards
- ✗Wheel bearing play or heat after a short drive
- ✗Brake lights or electric brakes that don't work
Good Signs
- ✓Frame welds solid on visual inspection throughout
- ✓Deck boards solid when walked
- ✓Bearings packed within 2 years and showing no heat or play
- ✓Electric brakes responding correctly to brake controller
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Also in the guide: RVs & Motorhomes
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