Bringing Up The Rear: Trailers

But while contractors may focus heavily on their trucks, it’s actually the trailers attached to those trucks that do the real work hauling equipment from the shop to the job and back each day. And, as more contractors take long-term views of their equipment expenditures and see trucks and trailers as true investments, the industry is moving away from traditional trailers and purchasing more chassis-mounted bodies, enclosed trailers and enclosed truck hauling setups.

A survey conducted via Lawn & Landscape Online found that 41.4 percent of respondents favor traditional open-style trailers with rear gates and 37.9 percent use enclosed trailers, which shows how popular enclosed trailers have become in the industry.

PUT ON THE ROOF. “I started my company after working for a larger company where we used all open-sided trailers,” noted Mark Smith, president, Environmental Design Landscape, Charlotte, N.C. “The problem with those trailers is protecting the equipment, keeping it dry and keeping water from getting into the fuel and the fuel systems.

“You can put plugs on the spouts and caps on the vents, but those are only as good as the people putting them on. Then, when you have a cold day, the moisture collected in the carburetor will freeze up and the equipment won’t start,” continued Smith, adding that he only uses enclosed trailers now for his company. “Enclosed trailers cost a little more, but the cost is inconsequential because of the savings we get protecting the equipment and the protection from vandalism or theft as well.”

Randy Lewis, national sales manager, Featherlite Trailers, Cresco, Iowa, pointed out that contractors can take advantage of the enclosed sides of a trailer for tremendous marketing opportunity.

“An enclosed trailer with a professional vehicle presents a quality image of a company as it’s moving down the road,” Lewis observed. “It’s basically a traveling billboard once the contractor adds graphics, the company’s name and its phone number.

“Plus, the enclosed sides essentially give contractors a garage on wheels that they can move, park, lock and leave secure when going into a restaurant for lunch or when on the job working,” added Lewis.

Tony Bass, president of Bass Custom Landscapes and Super Lawn Trucks, Boanire, Ga., speaks from experience when he talks about switching over to enclosed vehicles for transporting equipment.

“I wanted to eliminate trailers entirely from my business and use a heavier duty truck designed for commercial applications,” reasoned Bass when recalling his switch from open trailers to enclosed truck bodies mounted on a chassis.

“The key difference between open and closed trailers is the marketing potential, with security coming in a close second,” Bass continued. “Putting a company’s name and phone number in such a visible spot as the side of a truck helps potential customers find you. Plus, the company also stands to make a huge impression on the general public by not exposing itself to other risks associated with mobilizing equipment like having equipment fall off trailers or giving a sloppy image of your company.”

Larry Hemmer, midwest sales manager, Wells Cargo, Elkhart, Ind., noted additional benefits to using enclosed trailers vs. open trailers.

“In order to reduce labor or driving time, some companies will use one truck to drop off a couple of trailers on large jobs where the crews will work all day,” Hemmer commented. “That way the entire crew isn’t being paid to drive from the shop to the job, and then the truck can just come by at the end of the day and bring the trailer back to the shop.”

“Also, brake replacement is a big issue on trucks towing trailers all day,” added Bass. “And a driver can operate a vehicle with a cab-over design and an enclosed body in a much smaller area than he or she can with a half-ton pickup truck and a trailer.”

TRAILER TIME. When it comes to using open-style trailers to transport equipment, some contractors have found a successful solution by mounting a landscape bed directly on the chassis of a truck.

“Our most popular length bed is the 14-foot model, and then we add a 5-foot dovetail slanting down to the ground to the end of that and a 4-foot drop down ramp,” noted Terry Whitaker, sales manager, Wil-Ro, Gallatin, Tenn. “Springs can then be added to the ramp’s hinging system to assist technicians in lifting the ramp each time they load equipment to reduce worker’s compensation claims.”

Nancy Hammond, fleet account manager for Peterbilt Carolina, Charlotte, N.C., said landscape beds as Whitaker described are increasing in popularity in her market and throughout the southeastern part of the country.

“Contractors really like the flatbed style with a 12- or 18-inch high side that can fold down,” Hammond related.

“Incorporating the drop-down sides lets contractors use a forklift for loading and unloading plant materials or pallets of sod,” noted Whitaker.

“Eliminating the trailer entirely saves the contractor some money and maintenance time in terms of insurance, tires, tags and wiring, and there’s less maintenance required for bearings, breaks and shocks with a chassis-mounted trailer,” added Hammond. “Plus, it’s much easier to maneuver a truck with a mounted bed around a culdesac than it is to do when pulling a loaded trailer.”

Even after deciding on a trailer style to employ, contractors have some decisions to make in terms of outfitting trailer with various accessories.

“Contractors have a number of options from installing heavier duty plywood side wall lining to tie down systems that secure equipment in place for transportation and a number of options for the floor deck,” remarked Hemmer.

“We recommend contractors use a metal floor for the trailer to make it easy to wash out any gas or oil spills or grass clippings and dirt that accumulates,” added Hammond.

ON THE PRICE TAG. So many marketing, theft protection and functionality benefits don’t come without a price, of course, so contractors can expect to pay more for a chassis-mounted trailer bed or enclosed trailer than they would pay for a traditional, open-style unit.

“A ¾-ton pickup truck and a 16-foot trailer will probably cost about $25,000 for a contractor, whereas a cabover body and a mounted body will cost about $27,000,” recognized Whitaker.

Hammond agreed that a landscape bed costs about $3,500 on average, and even those models can be enclosed for an additional $2,000 to $3,000 depending on the whether the sides are made of aluminum (which is less expensive) or fiberglass reinforced panels (which is more durable).

Meanwhile, purchasing an enclosed trailer, which most manufacturers say will last eight to 10 years, to pull behind a pickup truck can cost anywhere from $7,500 to $12,500 for a 20-foot model.

The author is Editor of Lawn & Landscape magazine.

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