Total Landscape Care Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/85891
equipment matters T railers are an integral part of many indus- tries, including landscaping. What makes trailering landscaping materials different from, say, trailering industrial chemicals, crushed stone or household appliances is that landscape trailers must haul a wide range of materials, usually in urban settings, and be towed by a pickup truck driven by someone with no professional training in towing a trailer. We talked to three industry specialists to get in- sight into how you can get the right trailer for your business. Landscape specific One solution for the diverse needs of landscaping is to have a trailer that combines elements, such as a flatbed and being enclosed. But such units can quickly become too long and may put too much weight on the hitch, says Sam Gayman, manager of sales and marketing, Bri-Mar. "Contractors should use math to assess their needs, to figure out how much space they need, how much weight they're hauling and how often they need those multi-use features," Gayman says. He notes dump trailers are increasingly popular because they can also haul tools and equipment. Bob Pace, Midwest regional sales manager, Towmaster, agrees. "Our models with hydraulic dumps and ramps are becoming our highest-volume sellers." Although configurations vary, Pace says a typical dump trailer has the hydraulic motor driven by a battery on the trailer that is charged through the seven-pin connector from the tow vehicle, the same way a RV trailer's battery would be charged. The unit is operated by a remote control with a 12-foot cord. It's important to buy a trailer designed for the landscape business because it will have features appropriate to that application. Tom Holt, national communications manager for Pace American, Look Trailers and Cargo Express, cites their pass-through fueling doors as one example. "An employee can refuel mowers and other equipment inside the enclosed trailer, which saves 26 TOTAL LANDSCAPE CARE / August 2012 5 1 2 3 4 5 Things to Ask When Buying a Trailer What is the tongue weight of the trailer? It must be within the load range of the hitch and tow-vehicle-axle rating. What materials are used in the floor and walls, and how thick are those materials? Floors should have commercial grade ma- terials such as DryMax, Advantech or kiln-dried treated plywood of 3/4-inch nominal thickness. Walls should have commercial-grade material such as plywood or a construction-grade engi- neered wall liner of at least 3/8-inch nominal thickness. What weight rating are the tires? Make sure the combined rating of all the tires equals or exceeds the total GVWR of the trailer. What is the payload capacity of the trailer with optional equipment added? Make sure there's enough capacity left for the intended use. Where can I have the trailer serviced? Make sure service is available in your area, preferably from the dealer where you bought the trailer. – Tom Holt a lot of time." They also offer a V-nose trailer with a front and rear door and ramps to provide quick ac- cess to equipment from both ends of the trailer.