Trailers

[doitforjohnny]

Hello,
I'm a newbie on this forum. I am starting a new Lawn Care business and need a trailer. I wanted to know if you guys knew of any place online or other where I can find a good used trailer. I am thinking I need maybe a 5x8 or something close to that? I have been looking on Craiglist but there hasn't been anything on there. I am looking to spend around 800. I live in Riverside California. Any suggestions, advice is very much appreciated!

Thanks,
Johnny

[grassmedics]

i would say find a nice 6x12. i have a 5x10 now and just bought new rider, well needless to say when i got home to put the 48 inch walk behind on, the gate would not close unless the 48 was on sideways. just saves you the hassel if your going to be getting more than 1 commercial mower

[doitforjohnny]

Hey Grassmedics,
Thanks for the reply. Yeah I think a 6x12 would be the best size for me. I only have one commercial and 2 walk behinds right now. I plan on getting 2 commercials in the future so the 6x12 would be smart.
Do you know of anywhere to get used trailers of that size?

Johnny

[BQLC]

the best advice is to get what you can afford you can possibly out grow a trailer JMO

[doitforjohnny]

the best advice is to get what you can afford you can possibly out grow a trailer JMO

Your right. Right now my crew consists of me myself and I. I am starting with 2 small commercial acounts that I just got. One is a small office building and the other is a small school. I have no residential yet. I lucked out with the 2 commercial accounts. I have 2 honda push mowers and one Toro ride along. I will only need to bring the Toro for one of the accounts. The other I will just need one push mower. Even when I start picking up some residential I will only be taking one push mower. So I am thinking that a 5x8 would be ok for now. If I need something bigger in a year or so I'll just expand. Thoughts?

Johnny

[lawnpro724]

Buy either a 16' or 20' if your planning on staying in this business for very long and they also have better resale value if your not.

[doitforjohnny]

Buy either a 16' or 20' if your planning on staying in this business for very long and they also have better resale value if your not.

20' ?? Isn't that kind of extreme? It's just me right now and I'm just starting out with only 2 small commercial accounts? When my business starts to grow and I realize that I need a larger trailer well then I'll get one then. Isn't 20 feet the size of a semi truck? Thanks for the reply! :)

Johnny

[TandM]

:waving: :waving: Buy something that will last you when you grow you will also need space debris and brush when you clear something or big tree limbs because will grow there is no sense in buying 2 trailers trust me.

[amos_moses]

I have a 5.5x8.5 that I put four-foot sides on. I haul a 50" z, a 21" pusher, two trimmers, an edger, a BP blower, and a small to medium pile of debris on all the time. It serves me fine. Homemade all the way. I've had to be creative when I've trimmed shrubs or limbs, but I've made do. I'l spend my $1k+ on a 16 footer during the winter, but not right now. Just my $.02.

[doitforjohnny]

I have a 5.5x8.5 that I put four-foot sides on. I haul a 50" z, a 21" pusher, two trimmers, an edger, a BP blower, and a small to medium pile of debris on all the time. It serves me fine. Homemade all the way. I've had to be creative when I've trimmed shrubs or limbs, but I've made do. I'l spend my $1k+ on a 16 footer during the winter, but not right now. Just my $.02.

Makes sense! Worth more than $.02

Thanks for your reply.

Johnny

[toac]

What are you hauling with?

[GLLawns]

I started with a 5x8 and it wored out ok till I could afford a bigger one. That being said I still wish I would of gotten a bigger one right away. If you plan on staying in this business you really should get as big as trailer that you can afford. Believe me you will be surprised at how fast business will grow as long as you are good at it, and reliable. I would say go no smaller then a 6x12, preferably a 6.5x16 ft. I bought my 16 ft last year and it filled up fast with the trimmer, blower, water jug racks, tool box, and all the other hand tools. As the others have said you will need space for debris, cause people will ask you on the spot to take branches and other stuff while you are there mowing. Only you can decide in the end, but getting the bigger to start with is a wise business choice.

[doitforjohnny]

I started with a 5x8 and it wored out ok till I could afford a bigger one. That being said I still wish I would of gotten a bigger one right away. If you plan on staying in this business you really should get as big as trailer that you can afford. Believe me you will be surprised at how fast business will grow as long as you are good at it, and reliable. I would say go no smaller then a 6x12, preferably a 6.5x16 ft. I bought my 16 ft last year and it filled up fast with the trimmer, blower, water jug racks, tool box, and all the other hand tools. As the others have said you will need space for debris, cause people will ask you on the spot to take branches and other stuff while you are there mowing. Only you can decide in the end, but getting the bigger to start with is a wise business choice.

Like you I can't afford a bigger one right now. Today I purchased a 5x10. I hope it works out. I was going to go with a 5x8 but I paid a 100 dollars more for 2 more feet. It will be ready in 3 weeks. Right now I am pulling it with a Chevy Equinox. I know it will look stupid but I don't plan on using that for long. I will be getting a truck soon! Timing will be perfect. The 2 commercial accounts that I will be getting won't start until september. They have to give their current lawn company 30 days notice to break the agreement. I had to go with a new trailer because I couldn't find a used one anywhere! I needed to get one fast and have it ready by the end of this month or else I could lose these 2 accounts.

Johnny

[DPAT]

Good Hope It Works Out For You

[BQLC]

you will not regret the extra 2'

[doitforjohnny]

Thanks guys,
I'm happy I got the extra 2 feet. I'm sure one day I will grow out of it, well I better grow out of it!! :)

I've been going nuts getting all this stuff together!!

Johnny

[doitforjohnny]

So today I changed my order to get a 6.5x12 trailer. I hope it's not to big now! I am temporarily pulling it with a chevy equinox. It was only 230 dollars more for the upgrade.

Johnny

[josh3338]

Hey johnny I'm a socal guy too san diego where did you get your trailer from and how much was the 5x10? I'm in a 5x8 and need a little more room. Thanks for the info

Josh

[doitforjohnny]

Hey Josh,
5x8 - 1250
5x10 - 1350
5x12 - 1450
6.5x10 - 1535
6.5x12 - 1565

I ordered mine from a Carson Trailers a local dealer down the street from where I live. 951-737-2618

Johnny

[Sweet Tater]

the best advice is to get what you can afford you can possibly out grow a trailer JMO

Amen to that, This is my first year and thank goodness I listened to some one that told me to go no less than 6' wide and 10' long. all my stuff fits on this as it would not a smaler one and I still need more room for a tool box on the front. Looking for next season to find a 7'x14'

[Sweet Tater]

the best advice is to get what you can afford you can possibly out grow a trailer JMO

Amen to that, This is my first year and thank goodness I listened to some one that told me to go no less than 6' wide and 10' long. all my stuff fits on this as it would not a smaler one and I still need more room for a tool box on the front. Looking for next season to find a 7'x14'

"If a man will not work, neither shall he eat."
2 Thess 3:10

[Sweet Tater]

20' ?? Isn't that kind of extreme? It's just me right now and I'm just starting out with only 2 small commercial accounts? When my business starts to grow and I realize that I need a larger trailer well then I'll get one then. Isn't 20 feet the size of a semi truck? Thanks for the reply! :)

Johnny

Get bigger, its easier to grow into a trailor than growing out of it.

"If an man will not work, neither shall he eat"
2 Thess 3:10

[Isobel]

When I started my landscaping company I had a 6x14 enclosed trailer that I had previously bought. When i started using it for landscaping I found it worked just fine.
though in retrospect I would really have like a trailer with tie-down points. I had to add my own last year.

[twade3056]

Is there one out there who makes these trailers that has us lawncare and landscapers in mind? Please provide a company name and/or website.

Thanks much !!!