Trailers: Enclosed or Open?

[MTS2357]

This year is my first with enough work and equipment that I will need/ want a trailer. Some opinions please.

[Big G]

9 out of 10 LCO's in our area have open trailers. Of the LCO's with enclosed trailers not all have their company name on it. Lot's of stealth LCO's in our area.

My thoughts are these:

Enclosed trailers are better because:
*Better on equipment (Keeps them out of the elements)
*Looks more professional
*More storage space
*High security
*MOVING BILLBOARD!

If you decide on an enclosed trailer, make sure to:
*Get the biggest you can afford
*Get tandem axle
*Get electric trailer brakes
*Get spring assisted rear fold down door
*Make sure your truck can safely pull it/stop it.
*PUT YOUR COMPANY NAME & PHONE NUMBER ON IT!

Hope this helps!

Big G:)

[stslawncare]

ditto what said above also make sure u get brakes either way enclosed or open, its not so much being able to pull but to stop. also dont forget to look into where u can park ur equip, do u have a shop or is leaving it on a trailer parked somewhere a requirement (enclsosed)? also check out the search feature

[proline32]

I have been looking into this as well, Currently I have an open trailer that I really do not use that much any more and lately have been using the truck by itself. However I really thought of a good enclosed rig set up would be great, You can protect your tools much better from the elements and oportunist looking to steal something real quick, and if you do a nice job of lettering it really looks professional.

[AL Inc]

If you can swing it , go with the enclosed, and as posted above, the heaviest you can. I just bought a 16' Haulmark and I love it. We have everything we need, locked inside, out of the elements. I also like having a wide variety of tools with us, so if a client needs us to do small "spur of the moment" jobs, we can do it immediately, and not have to make a separate trip. Mike

[LawnLad]

So far all positive feedback on enclosed trailers - so how about some feedback on the on the drawbacks to enclosed trailers. What about the pro's to open trailers?

Pro's for Open:
1) Easy access
2) No gas fumes
3) Easy to paint/repair and maintain

Cons for Closed:
1) May be more difficult to drive due to reduced visability
2) Damage is more costly to fix - paint can won't do
3) Increased weight

[AielLandscaping]

if it's enclosed you won't get as much storage space...

[Dennis E.]

My next trailer will be enclosed. (Unless I break down and go for the Isuzu cab-over with the landscaper bed.)
I like my open 18 ft. trailer but with the weather here and the dirtbags that like to steal equipment I'd feel better with an enclosed trailer.

(Yes,everything is chained up and locked.)

[mdb landscaping]

I have a 8 by 14 ft enclosed trailer, and i really cant think of too many reasons why you shouldnt get one. its so nice to just unhook, lock it up and drive away. some people say its a pain when you gas up because you have to unload everything, but i havent found it to be that big of an inconvenience. the pros definately outweigh the cons.

[ADMowing]

We had a 6 x 12 open trailer with ramp/ 2' mesh sides/ weather treated plank bottom/ black/single axle/handmade trimmer/edger rack. Stuff was not that much easier to access on the open trailer, IMHO. It was A LOT lighter and we use more gas hauling the enclosed around. But the pros outweigh the cons for us.

The open trailer served us great, but like Dennis E. said, here in Florida the weather is so bad in the afternoons on most days in the summer that you need to have an enclosed trailer. We spent close to $1000 on electric work on our equipment last year due to getting caught out in downpours! Also, we always had someone near the truck all the time so wannabe theifs couldn't do their deed! We never went into stores together. We also worried about it being outside at home. Even though we had stuff locked up, it was in view and easier to lift. Now we virtually have a rolling garage with our 6'8" x 16' trailer with spring ramp, side door, vent (to get rid of fumes), lights, rack in front for storing stuff, interior jungle jim rack for trimmers, edger and backpack blower, electric brake system. It is easy to get in and out of with equipment! We do not have our name on the trailer, but are thinking about it. We like being "stealth." No one knows what is in the trailer. But we also would like to advertise our business because we're proud of what we do!

P.S. Have you ever sat down on a hot mower seat in August while wearing shorts?! Not a problem with the enclosed trailer!

[MTS2357]

Thank you all. I will try search for more information. On working "stealth" perhaps a removable sign might work to advertise, then remove to protect the contents.

[Flex-Deck]

I have an enclosed 24' trailer that I have all the tools, a 55 gallon diesel barrel , and an aircompressor in that holds three 455 JD tractors. It doubles as a garage for my equipment, I have all the advertizing on the side, and those are things that count in my book. An open trailer is just for transporting, and then you need a garage and shop. With an enclosed trailer it is all in one.

Thanks, Brad

[ADMowing]

MTS -- Good idea on the "stealth" problem with removable signs on side of enclosed trailer. Magnetized signs won't work. Any ideas anyone? We had magnetized signs for our truck before, but hate what it does to the truck. Since everything is locked up so good in there, I really shouldn't worry about it getting stollen, plus we use a tongue lock. Thanks!

ADMowing
Sunny, hot and dry Florida -- send us some rain guys!!!

[KirbysLawn]

Originally posted by AielLandscaping
if it's enclosed you won't get as much storage space...

Not true. I have two 7x16 walls to store my stuff on and have huge shelves for storage.

Ditto what BIG G said, good post.

[MTS2357]

Originally posted by ADMowing
Magnetized signs won't work. Any ideas anyone?

ADMowing
Sunny, hot and dry Florida -- send us some rain guys!!!

HD Velcro?

[Pro-Lawn]

I have an open trailer , built up in front to stack grass up in. What is the best system to unload a 6ft. tall mound of grass. I bag with my walker and shoveling it is getting costly, let alone a pain in the a##. The trailer is a 16ft , by 6ft , dual axle. Anyone have any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Eric Goodwin
Pro-LawnCare

[AielLandscaping]

i'd like to see some pics of how much stuff your enclosed trailers hold... i personally don't own either type but i'm looking for an open one.... but all your talk about theft makes me second guess that decision... space is the main issue to me though, and i don't see how an enclosed one can hold more or even close to as much as an open trailer...i wish i had a picture of how i had my truck set up for awhile... had two 4x8 sheets of 1 1/8 " floor boards onto of my truck rack... i could store a lot of stuff up there... clippings, wheel barrows, spreaders, and it didn't take up my bed space... oh well that's off topic anyhow...

[ronslawncare]

how about horse trailers some guys use them around here they look nice and big.

[yorkpaddy]

i'm thinking of getting a compact tractor or dingo sometme soon. And I would have an easier time findnig an open trailer with the floor to handle one of them than an enclosed trailer. any thoughts on this, or maybe a bobcat or mini x. with those two your getting towards a heavyduty equipment trailer.

[TLS]

As for more negatives about enclosed trailers:

1) Fuel stops can turn into a rodeo at the gas station. Park away from pumps, unload mower, drive over to pumps fuel up mower drive back on trailer, repeat. Not what I call efficient.

2) Will not fit in my garage! For those without a garage, an enclosed would be O.K., but for me, it would be sitting out in my driveway. Although enclosed trailers are pretty, they don't look pretty to your neighbors!

3) Been discussed before, but grabbing a trimmer real quick turns into opening up ramps/doors, climbing around mowers to get to the rack, unload trimmer, climb around mowers again, go out door, close door.....you get the idea!

4) The size, and rearward visability are usually LARGE, along with the increased weight.


As for the STEALTH issue.....why advertise? There are a LOT of stealth guys around me. All that trailer advertising gets you are PITA customers anyway. I haven't advertised with signs, ads, flyers, in over 12 years.

[KirbysLawn]

Ok, here are a few photos:

http://www.unionturf.com/rays/DSC00233.JPG

http://www.unionturf.com/rays/DSC00236.JPG

http://www.unionturf.com/rays/DSC00238.JPG

[JML]

i love our encloseds. I have two beefs with them. The equipment doesn't really cool down in the summer going from job to job, we even have the flow through vents as well, and they are hard for the guys to back up, other than that they are great...

[Big G]

As ADMowing said, the air vents are an important feature that I forgot to mention, it keeps the trailer fume free.

Thomas, I commend your ability to need no advertisement whatsoever, someday I hope I won't either. Not the case now.
I still feel it looks professional.

I use plastic five gallon gas cans (6 of them) to fill at the gas station when I fill up my truck. I leave these in my garage at home and always fill the mowers at the end of the day and take one five gallon can with me during the day. Its as quick as anything & no problems unloading equipment at the gas station.

Side door is critical too, as is where you store all trimmers etc that you need to grab every stop, this way it is quick to grab.

Big G

[Big G]

Kirby,

Can't say you don't store plenty in your trailer! Did you put heavy plywood over your interior walls on your trailer or did it come that way?

My only gripe with my trailer is I did not get the extra thick interior walls, so it does not allow for hanging anything heavy on them. I was thinking of screwing/cementing another layer of plywood over them to make a more heavy duty interior so I could hang more stuff with some weight to it.

Big G

[ADMowing]

Good point, TLS, about the stealth issue. We get so much work by word of mouth advertising that we really don't need to advertise. And we are wondering why we should add that expense to our books when we really don't need it. Other than pride, which we already get by the quality work we do and seeing our lawns finished and fresh looking, there really isn't much point to it for us. If we needed more business, it might be good, but you are right, we have been followed around town (when we had the open trailer) and stopped by people wanting lawn service who ended up being PITAs. But we got a few good ones too! So, we have to weigh it out for ourselves. What is important to us is our customers and the job we do for them. Adding more expense by advertising on the side of our trailer isn't going to make things better for them. And, they are the ones getting us more business too!

Also, Kirbyslawn, those pictures are GREAT! That is somewhat what the inside of our enclosed looks like and we don't have a problem getting equipment out at all. We actually carry the backpack blower around in the back of the truck while we are out working. We haven't had rain in Florida (but NEED it). When we get the rain, we'll keep it inside. But we have to back the 61" Bunton ZTR out in order to get the backpack out. The handheld blower is on the rack on the front and accessible from the side door. We have a rack for shovels, rakes, etc.... too! We get three riding mowers in this one trailer (which we don't take everyday -- why use all the gas to haul it). But we CAN get them all in there. We got a good deal in the Tampa area on our enclosed trailer. Anyone in the area need a good trailer, Dennis White Trailers is a great resource. E-mail me and I'll send you a phone number. Our 6'8" x 16' cost us $3350. Cost is also a factor between the open and enclosed too! Our open trailer cost us $900. Big difference, but our business was ready for the enclosed.

[Soupy]

Can't Haul Mulch, Rock, Top Soil, Etc. with an Enclosed Trailer.

Soupy

[KirbysLawn]

Originally posted by Soupy
Can't Haul Mulch, Rock, Top Soil, Etc. with an Enclosed Trailer.

Soupy

Can't with most open trailers either unless they have solid floors and high sidewalls which most don't.

My trailer came with the walls already there.

[ADMowing]

Hey Soupy -- If you have a really big call for that type of work a dump trailer would be worth its weight in gold! We have one and we wouldn't trade if for the world. When we go to the dump, we see lots of people trying to get stuff out of the open trailer and they are having a heck of a time! Believe me, it is really worth the investment! You can rent them also.

AD Mowing -- Florida
We washed the truck and trailer today -- so we're hoping for rain!!!

[accuratelawn]

Enclosed

[ADMowing]

Kirbyslawn -- We like the idea of the tiedowns on the ZT mower in the back of the trailer. Our ZTs were jumping around and we didn't think of tying them down until we saw your pictures! THANKS for the idea!

ADMowing - Florida
Rain Please????

[KirbysLawn]

Well......if you look closely at the edger on the bottom of the rack you will notice it's broke. The mower bounced over and snapped it off, after that I started with the straps.

[strickdad]

trader ray, ahh jus pickin, you got any pics of the new hustler?? (were still stuck on danes)

[wxmn6]

Originally posted by MTS2357
This year is my first with enough work and equipment that I will need/ want a trailer. Some opinions please.

If you are starting out, then an open trailer would be a good one to start with. It is less expensive, easier to manuever, and lets people in your area sees that you are doing business, so you could pick up more accounts. 6'6" x 12' or 14' open trailer would be a good one to start with. If you are planning on expanding your business, such as a full time LCO, get the dual axles trailer if it fits your budget.

[AGG Lawn Maintenance]

I never had a enclosed trailer just the open ones. Some of my friends have enclosed trailers. The good thing about the is that you can put weed wacker and blower racks in them as well as spare parts, blades etc. You can also run a generator and add a grinder to sharpen blades right on sight. At lunch you can lock up and go eat.

[wattsup]

I have both open and enclosed. I only use the open trailer for hauling mulch, etc... The enclosed trailer is great, except I have not found an inexpensive way to hang tools on the walls. I have JJ Gear Caddy, but I need to hang everything else. Does anyone have any ideas? Kirby?

[KirbysLawn]

I got most of my hooks from Home Depot, My sprayers sit on 2 each that supplor the tank, the top is held by a bungee cord, I think I have a photo somewhere.

[ProMo]

i used two 2x4 on wall of my trailer and screw in hooks from the depot to hold my trimmers cost under 10 dollars and works great