Enclosed Trailer..

Ok so I'm looking into an enclosed trailer for my business, thinking a single axle 6x10 with ramp and side door will suite me fine. Is there a certain brand you guys recommend? Shopping for trailers is a pain, seems like there is so much overpriced junk out there and I'm having a hard time making a decision. I'm in Virginia so it would have to be a brand I can source, I'm not opposed to driving to get one. I have searched used but that seems like a lost cause as all I'm coming up with is beat up trailers people are pricing for like $500 less then new. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

I don't know a lot about trailers but what I do know.... go bigger than what you think you need, maybe a foot or two as long as you have room to store it, and go with a 2 axle trailer if possible.

 

How much weight will you be carrying? Working out of the trailer or just hauling stuff to the site?

Look Trailers bought out Pace American a few years ago and is a quality trailer. Dexter EZ Lube american made axles, LEDS for all the lights, V-Nose with front slope for a little more aerodynamics and stylish look, 3/4" floors, 3/8 side walls, 16" on center on walls and floors is pretty much standard for them now as well as 1" tube for the walls instead of hat channel. Another good brand is Forest River. Same on most items but they don't do LEDs on all the lights and they have a traditional V-Nose, rounded V or flat.

If you are working out of the trailer then a few options which I would consider a must

6" extra height at a minimum, if you are taller go 12".
Insulated ceiling (its like $100 upgrade on most brands and well worth it IMHO especially for a dark trailer.
Have it framed for an A/C unit. Even if its the furthest thought from your mind, framing it after the fact is expensive. From the factory its like $50-75.
30amp AC service

If you are hauling a lot of weight, 2500+ I would go tandem axle. Tandem will give you brakes on at least one axle, 7-way plug and some piece of mind if you blow a tire you can still get down the road and keep it out of the ditch...

 

mostly my painting supplies, and tools, ladders. Pretty much what I have in my truck bed plus some extra since I will have the space. I'm going to check out the Look trailers, I also came across Kaufman trailers in NC that I can pick up factory direct.

 

Ive done business with mid Atlantic trailers near Richmond.

http://midatlantictrailersales.com/

 

Kaufman makes a nice open trailer and their car haulers are nice too. Not sure about their enclosed. Just make sure it’s got a good set of options like I posted, especially the axle. Some manufacturers will use the Chinese knock offs, good luck finding beatings when they go out on the ride home lol.

 

I think Kaufman is relatively new to the enclosed trailers, here is the specs:

• Specifications

GVWR 2,990 lb.
Max Payload 1,800 lb. if evenly distributed
External Length 10 ft. or 12 ft. plus 18 in. of usable space in the nose of the V.
External Width 6 ft.
Interior Height 6 ft. at center
Interior Width 5 ft. 10 in.
Exterior Skin .030 painted aluminum (color choices available for same price)
Rear Door Type Barn doors or ramp gate - same price for either. Door opening is 5 ft. 2 in. wide and 5 ft. 6 in. tall.
Side Door Type 32 in. - RV style
Main Frame 3 in. x 2 in. tubing main frame and tongue
Floor Crossmembers Formed channels - 16 in. o.c.
Wall Studs 1 in. x 1.25 in. tubing - 16 in. o.c.
Roof Members 1 in. x 1.25 in. tubing - 24 in. o.c.
Roof Type One piece aluminum
Axles 3,500 lb. EZ lube - 4 in. drop
Lighting LED tail lights - LED bullet running lights
Tongue Jack Top wind
Stoneguard 24 in. Starbright ATP - nose covered
Tires/Wheels 205/75 R15 Radial Load range C - on silver mod steel wheels
Fenders Brushed aluminum
Coupler 2 in. a-frame
Floor 3/4 in. Dry Max - High Tech enclosed trailer floor material - does not swell when it gets wet
Interior Liner 3/8 in. plywood
Roof Vent Standard
Style of Front V-nose
Exterior Fasteners Screw down - 16 in. o.c.


That trailer is priced pretty well to $2600 for a 6x10, I will have to call and see what trailer axle they use. I like the Dexter axles, my open trailer and pop up camper have these axles. My pop up camper is a MY2000, I was able to call up dexter and get everything I needed to rebuild it. So you are right about avoiding the Chinese knock offs.

 

Thats not bad at all. Most of your cheaper brands are either press board (really cheap brands) or fit and finish issues (cream of the crop cheap or next up and coming brand). I would go with the ramp door at the rear, its easier to resell if you ever needed to and more versatile IMHO. With some extra height that benefits you and opens up the market to a motorcycle hauler, again for easier resale if needed. If its an EZ-Lube its usually a dexter but better to call and verify than to be sorry. The 4" drop is nice, easier loading and better center of gravity. Also give it a chance of fitting in a garage, although that usually requires a torsion axle with drop.

 

The thing I don't like about single axle trailers is they're see-saws when unhooked. You can't get into them without it tilting fore and aft. Tandem axle trailers prevent this. Not to mention they don't track as well as a tandem.

 

We use Kaufman equipment trailers at work, I've dealt with them on the sale side as well since I do our vehicle/equipment purchasing. Really easy company to deal with and very high quality products. We do not take it easy on anything.

Outside of work I always take notice when I see a Spartan Trailer. They just look really sharp and it seems like they put a lot of effort into the design of them. A place up the road from me sells them as well.

Go double axle, easier to balance loads. Yes you have 4 tires, but each has to do just a little bit less work.

http://www.spartancargo.com/index.html

 

The Spartan's look good, I'm researching them now. I agree with the statements on the dual axle aspect, my only issue with going dual axle is that its pretty much going to push me into a 14' trailer. I rarely come across a 10' or a 12' dual axle, the 14' can be a chore in tighter neighborhoods.

 

Looking for an enclosed trailer to haul our rail to the desert and camp in once we get there. This site took up a serious amount of time!

www.completetrailers.com

 

This stops the seesaw in its tracks.

 

You can order a 6x12 or 7x12 tandem from most manufacturers.

 

6x12 Wells Cargo Fasttrac single axle with brakes. (3500lb capacity)
Tows fine. Been cross country back n forth 2x

Only thing I’d do differently is barn doors.
I don’t have tilting issues. Turns on a dime in tight driveways!!(can be issue in residential I’ve found with tandems)

Before I added cabinets and electric $3150 with spare plus tax.

I try to never tow without trailer brakes if possible.
My $0.02
Good luck


2016-3yr warranty

 

I think this will be the perfect size/setup for what I need, that's not a bad price. Heaviest items will be my pressure washer and paint sprayer, I will be going with a ramp though as it will be easier to load my pressure washer since its a heavy commercial unit and line lazer when needed.

 

I’ll message you where I bought.