Trailers give contractors a low-cost solution to bring more tools and equipment to job sites. If any tools or equipment doesn’t fit in the back of your truck, buy a trailer.
Choosing the best trailer for your company isn’t easy. Trailers are deceptively simple, but there are a lot of features that distinguish one from another. And choosing the right combination of features will help you maximize your performance and minimize haulage costs.
What are you hauling?
The first thing you want to consider when purchasing a trailer is what you plan on hauling with it. If you haul heavy equipment, such as mowers, tractors, loaders, or excavators, you require a flatbed.
A flatbed is an uncovered trailer; it may or may not have walls. It may come equipped with storage space appropriate for varying sized tools. These are usually located at the front of the trailer or underneath it. A toolbox located on the trailer neck is an option on flatbed trailers.
How much are you hauling?
Regardless of the type of trailer you require, your first two concerns when choosing a trailer are maximum haul weight and trailer length.
Calculate the total weight of all objects you plan on hauling with the trailer. Check machine manuals for machine weights, and add 10% to 20% to the total. By doing so, you increase how much you can haul without needing another trailer. Your company may invest in larger equipment or add more tools, and your trailer should be able to grow with you.
Also check your truck’s manual for its maximum towing capacity. Your truck’s towing capacity will determine the maximum weight you can put on the trailer.
Then, consider how much space your items will take up. Trailers have an exterior width of 8.5 feet. However, the actual trailer deck width will be 6 to 12 inches shorter than that. Think about how you will organize your equipment and then calculate the length you require. Again, 10% to 20% extra in case your company adds new or larger equipment.
Once you’ve determined length and weight requirements, the next most important factor is the location and structure of tie-down points. Ensure they are durable and located in spots that are logical for your equipment.
Loading and unloading your equipment
Then, consider how you will load and unload your machine(s) onto and from the trailer. There are different ramp types that are better suited for particular equipment types.
Ramps come in pairs that fasten at the rear of the trailer — one to the far left and one to the far right. Machines with a narrower profile will require wider ramps. Some ramps can shift to the left and right to accommodate equipment with a narrower wheelbase.
Most ramps are metal grate or metal ladder, but you can get wood covered (to match the trailer top). Metal grate helps operators avoid tire or track slippage. Ramps that resemble a metal ladder are very cost-effective options, but smaller wheeled vehicles get stuck in the holes between each “step.” However, larger-wheeled machines and tracked machines can use these ramps without issue.
If you haul wheeled equipment, such as a skid steer loader, you will want to get a trailer that dovetails down at the rear. When a machine approaches the top of a ramp, the front part of it is in the air until its weight shifts and the front comes down hard, and then bounces. The dovetail down design mitigates this effect.
This feature is less beneficial for tracked equipment, and it adds to the cost of the trailer.
Customize to your needs
If you plan on hauling crates or pallets, you will want side rails. Some trailers come equipped with side rails permanently fixed, and some are removable. Removable ones are handy if you side load/unload using a forklift.
Fixed side rails can be posts or solid. Solid side rails allow for several other options. You can haul loose materials, such as soil, mulch or waste. You can add a cage, which is ideal for road signs and long equipment, and they allow for side ramps for faster loading and unloading of multiple machines.
For really wide loads, some trailers are equipped with two strips of grated metal that extend along the sides of the trailer from the rear to the front. They extend over the tires — whereas most trailer decks remain inside the tires. This allows for loads of 8.5 feet (or wider with a permit). These trailers are nicknamed buggy trailers for their ability to haul rock trucks.
Once you’re familiar with the different trailer types and how their features can serve your business, you can make better trailer purchase decisions.
