A trailer’s ability to haul construction equipment reliably, safely and profitably hinges on quality. Here are some features to look for the next time you go shopping for something on which to tow your critical equipment.
At first glance, it’s easy to view a trailer as a major expense rather than as an income-producer. After all, you can’t use a trailer to dig a hole, move a load of gravel or push a pile of dirt. But just try getting your excavator, backhoe or skid-steer loader to a jobsite without one.
“A trailer just may be your most important piece of equipment,” says Shawn Kimmerly, northeast sales manager for Towmaster Trailers. “Without the ability to move your earthmoving equipment reliably and safely from one jobsite to another, you’re dead in the water.”
If you buy wisely — selecting a well-designed, well-built trailer — the money you invest can pay off for years to come. “With proper maintenance, a trailer should last you 20 years or more,” Kimmerly adds.
The right match
“Before you go shopping, make sure you know the specs of the machines you’ll be hauling,” says Ted Rose, vice president of sales for Luby Equipment, Fenton, Mo., which carries four lines of construction trailers.
“The length, width, height and weight of your equipment pretty much dictate the size and type of trailer that’s best for you. Make sure the maximum trailer weight rating is appropriate for the gross vehicle weight rating of the trailer. At the same time, you should also be familiar with any road width or overhead height restrictions in your area, which limit the width and deck height of your trailer.”
A choice of styles
Over-the-wheel decks, which offer the most width for hauling a machine, typically measure 102 inches from side to side. Available in single-, dual- and triple-axle versions, these tag-along trailers can carry loads as heavy as about 20 tons. A sloping rear deck or beavertail and ramps are used to drive equipment on and off.
Because they are lower to the ground, between-the-wheel decks provide more overhead clearance for excavators and backhoes. However, the width of the deck between the right and left wheels of the trailer limits equipment width to less than about 82 inches. The lower deck height also reduces the ramp angle for easier loading and unloading.
Both the over-the-wheel and the between-the-wheel designs are available as tilt beds. The deck tilts up and down hydraulically, allowing the rear of the deck to sit on the ground, eliminating the need for ramps and providing even easier loading and unloading. Load capacities range from about 3,000 to 50,000 pounds, or more.
Goose-neck trailers with over-the-wheel flat decks allow for tight turning and offer more stability when towing. With load capacities of about 7 tons and up, this style of trailer can be used to haul equipment ranging from the larger skid-steer loaders to big machines. Low-boy trailers offer the advantage of the most overhead clearance and the ability to haul the heaviest equipment.
Eye on cost
Trailer prices can vary significantly due to the wide diversity of models, features and manufacturers. Also, features that are standard on one make and model, such as spring-assist ramps or a heavy-duty parking jack, may be optional or even absent on another brand that is similar in size and design.
The price, however, isn’t the only cost to consider, notes John DeGeorge, national sales manager for Eager Beaver Trailers. “You should also look at the cost of the trailer over its life,” he says. “That includes the costs to maintain it and its resale value. A better trailer costs more in the short-turn, but it can lower costs in the long-run.”
Opting for some extras can also add to your overall satisfaction, too. “Some contractors who buy the shortest trailer for their machine wish later that they had bought a longer deck for hauling other items, like attachments and materials,” says Todd Niermeyer, a senior manager with Colorado Machinery, Fort Collins., Colo. “A longer trailer is also more stable when towing. Other items owners often wish they had bought include a more durable deck, a tool box, a spare tire and more tie-down rings.”
Quality indicators
In sizing up trailer quality, there are a number of key factors to consider. Here are a few of the top considerations:
Construction
Much of a trailer’s ability to withstand twisting and turning when crossing ditches, curbs and other terrain features on construction sites depends on the choice of materials used to build the frame, such as C-channels, I-beams or tubes; and the types of steel, whether mild steel or the stronger high-tensile steel.
On some tag-along trailers, for example, the drawbar is made by bending the two main beams to form a point. This weakens the steel and increases the risk of cracks forming at the bends, notes DeGeorge. However, one-piece, high-tensile main rails that are cold-formed (no cutting, re-welding, or plating) and that extend from the front of the drawbar to the back of the trailer, eliminate this problem.
Also, cross-members with 12- or 16-inch spacing produce a stronger, more durable frame than cross-members spaced 24 or 48 inches apart. Decks made with hardwoods, such as oak or the even stronger, rot-resistant apitong, offer a longer life than pine or fir. Although steel decks add weight, they’re also more durable.
Brakes
The better trailers have brakes on each axle. Typically, tag-along trailers with a load capacity of about 30,000 pounds or less have electric brakes. They feature an electric break-away switch designed to automatically engage the brakes if the trailer should separate from the towing vehicle.
Instead of using a wet-cell battery, which can lose power over time if not re-charged, to operate the break-away switch, Kimmerly prefers a gel-cell battery enclosed in a weatherproof case. “Electricity from the towing vehicle trickle-charges this type of battery, so that it’s always fresh to operate the break-away switch,” he says.
Air brakes are used on larger trailers. The best, says DeGeorge, have spring parking brakes that automatically apply the air brakes when the air line from the towing unit is disconnected from the trailer.
Lights
The best trailer lighting systems route wires through a sealed, modular harnesses rather than attaching exposed wires to the bottom of a wood deck. The rubberized conduits of the harness protect the wires from corrosion, while the modular design allows you to test individual sections of the system for easier troubleshooting.
Rubber-mounted lights offer pro-tection against shocks and jarring, while circuit breakers can protect lights against electrical feedback from the truck or a bad ground. The newest development in trailer lighting is LED lights. They are brighter than incandescent lights and, with no filament to burn out, they offer virtually unlimited life.
Looking deeper
Those key points aside, here are a few other items that should figure in a wise trailer purchase decision:
Security. Well-placed tie-down rings can save time and labor when securing equipment to the trailer. A rub rail along the side of the deck gives you any number of tie-down points, while helping to protect the frame from impacts.
Hitches. Ball couplers and pintle hitches that adjust up and down allow a trailer to fit towing units of different heights. This flexibility can save valuable time.
Ramps. Spring-assist eases the chore of raising and lowering ramps.
Jacks. Electrically controlled hydraulic jacks on the front of the trailer eliminate the need to raise and lower the parking jacks by hand. A jack on either side of the trailer offers more stability than a single jack in the center.
Liability insurance. In the event of an accident, a trailer covered by a manufacturer’s product liability insurance protects you from damages caused by a defect in the trailer.
Greg Northcutt is a freelance writer based in Port Orchard, Wash. He can be reached by e-mailing this publication at editor@onsite installer.com.
