Open Trailer Question

[Lynden-Jeff]

Hi,

I have a question for all you open trailer owning folks. What do you do every night with your equipment? I don't really have enough space to unload everything so I was thinking about just locking down everything and tarping the trailer with a heavy duty tarp. Would this work? I will have everything under video surveillance and heavily locked down so i'm not worried about anything getting stolen.

Thanks
Jeff

[mrbray101]

I have 10 by 15 storage now but I used to just lock up the trailer and chain everything together that wasnt already locked in racks. I bought trimmer covers and threw them on the trimmers and edgers and my trailer has a truck toolbox on the front of it which locks up all my odds and ends, like loppers, oil, gas, string, etc etc. Throw a big tarp over everything and anchor it somehow so it doesnt blow off. My stuff was never even wet from the dew. Make sure to get a good lock for the front of the trailer. The one i had actually went into the coupler and locked it so no one could take it.

[Mrk'sLawn]

I do the same. A few long chains and a few locks.. Cover with tarp, fasten tight and done.. I'm lucky though. I store my stuff on my parents property. I back the trailer into the drive and cover. My Dad, with lots of complaining, lets me put my 2 cycle stuff in his garage.

[ed2hess]

I keep one trailer behind the fence but they kept stealing the shovel, gas, and sprayers out of the back of the truck. I put in one of those lights that come on when you walk up and the camera that scans back and forth and now I have gone 2 years without any problem. I think it is high risk to leave a trimmer locked in such a way that they could use bolt cutters and snatch and run. You might get a 2x2 cage for the blowers/hedge trimmer etc. and take trimmers inside.

[lawnboy dan]

i take everything off and put it in my garage. its less hassel than trying to hook up the trailer by yourself . i leave the trailer connected to my work truck.

[Boonman]

If it isn't going to rain, It all stays on the trailer. If it going to rain, it gets unloaded in the shop. My new shop will have deep enough bays that I can back the truck(s) and trailer(s) in and keep them hooked up. But that isn't for another year...

[Runner]

The whole trailer gets backed into the shop and the truck goes in next to it.

[bnorton]

Trailer gets backed into garage loaded, makes it nice to just hook up to the next morning and go.

[Drew Gemma]

I'll have to post a pic for you guys! Give me a day or two!

[29 Palms Property Management]

Trailer gets backed into garage loaded, makes it nice to just hook up to the next morning and go.
That's what I do. It would be nice to have a shop to just pull into, truck, trailer and all, and leave it. Unfortunately I'm not to that point yet. Probably at the beginning of next year. But I guess I'm just lucky to have a garage for now.

[mike lane lawn care]

around here there is no reason to even lock your doors, nevermind your truck and equipment. theft is extremly rare around here.

[K.Carothers]

around here there is no reason to even lock your doors, nevermind your truck and equipment. theft is extremly rare around here.


Only from your two senators :laugh:


kc

[6'7 330]

All open trailers go in the shop.

[topsites]

I back mine up against a tree, so then I can leave the Wb on there. Thou the trailer has locks, I agree that a bolt cutter snaps that right off.

Once I get the door keyed, I'll start taking 2-cyclers inside and locking the place up underneath the house, it's a stand-up space with lights and all, I use that space for all my stuff, it's great, even the air compressor fits down there nicely.

[rustyb265]

Jeff,

I think it depends on your situation. I personally dont have a garage or a shop like alot of these guys. My trailer stays in my driveway loaded most of the time. I cover it with a tarp. I dont even lock things down. I just dont need to in my area. Never had anything stolen. But it depends on where you are. THe tarp works find though

[ClayMcC]

Obviously, inside storage is best, but locking and tarping is the next best thing. My advice: Don't use plastic type tarps (*) which are available in the garden section of Lowe's/Home Depot. Go to Auto Zone or O'Reily's Auto Parts (or the auto parts store of your choice) and get one of the cloth types designed to cover cars. A good car cover is made from two or three layers of waterproof fabric which repels water, but even more importantly, allows air to flow. Air flow is important when the wind whips up! An outdoor garden type tarp will become a huge sail; but a car cover will simply "wave" in the breeze. Car covers also have cloth attachments which makes them very easy and fast to attach to something on your equipment or trailer. I.E., there's no need for built in eyehooks and fooling around with pieces of rope and tiedowns. You don't need to cover your trailer... just your equipment... so a car cover intended to cover a Lincoln Town Car or equiv. should be large enough to cover everything on a 14' to 16' trailer.

(*) I use the word plastic only because I don't know what they're really made of... probably nylon or something.

[TURF DOCTOR]

He is right,tracter supply has the old style tarps also the canvas.

[29 Palms Property Management]

Jeff,

I think it depends on your situation. I personally dont have a garage or a shop like alot of these guys. My trailer stays in my driveway loaded most of the time. I cover it with a tarp. I dont even lock things down. I just dont need to in my area. Never had anything stolen. But it depends on where you are. THe tarp works find though
Man, I would have a flock of crack heads around my stuff if I left it out or unlocked. The neighborhood I live in is good, but it's used as a cut through to get to a trashy neighborhood. I would find my stuff in a pawn shop and see the dude buying crack on the corner. Lucky you!

[PMLAWN]

This one is easy--- Get an enclosed trailer!

[MowForLess]

I had one of those hydrolic lifts installed. Put the trailer in then lift it and truck goes underneath. Pretty James Bond if you ask me.

Then I woke up only to realize it is all still parked in the shed.......:(