Hey guys,

As some of you may know, I started my own lawn service business this summer so that I can stay in college the rest of the year!

With that said, I'm beginning to look into getting an enclosed cargo trailer to haul my mowers in and all my equipment. It would be SO NICE to have a workbench in the front of the trailer where I could make repairs in the field and not skip a beat.

What would you guys recommend brand-wise? I'm new to cargo trailers, so all I've looked at so far is Haulmark since this is what my local dealer sells. Are they as good as any? I'd like a gooseneck, but bumper pull is probably more feasible. I'm after a fairly wide one, say 8 feet by 20 to 28 feet long.

I'd appreciate any feedback!

The best trailer for you may be the cheapest one you can get your hands on.

That would min. cutting into the profit margin.

I don't think you want that big of a trailer unless you got some serious mowers.

I think that an 8X20 or 8X16 could be had fairly reasonably.

I've seen the Hallmark brand as well as the Wells Cargo. Both seem like decent trailers.

Beyond that, I'm not much help.

make sure you get a title with whatever you get (if its used). I am still trying to get a title for my 8x16 that i bought about a year ago.

Wells Cargo's are very nice. Carson's are not too bad either. Also, as DavesDmax said, a 20+ footer would be serious overkill. A good 14 or 16 footer should leave you plenty of room. The shorter ones are easier to find, and usually a fair amount cheaper.

I agree with Dave. Most any name brand mfg will work. I looked at them all and ended up with an Interstate enclosed sled trailer. I went steel vs aluminum. You can buy a lot of fuel for the extra cost and I can fix a steel trailer. I had two features that really sold me. Look at the door latches. Some use cool looking hardware but mine have bars that grab the door sides high and low. Even if the trailer flexes the doors will stay locked and tight. I run down very rough dirt roads with no problems. The other thing for me was the ramp length inside the trailer. Being a sled trailer all of them have a ramp inside to make the door taller and an easier slope. Most have a long slope which is fine for sleds or atv's cause you just park them and tie them down. The problem is long slopes don't allow you to store anything flat in that area. Mine has a short but steep slope. Tha tractor drive deck doesn't hit but it gives me a large flat deck to work on. Remember what Dave said. Cheap!!!

I've got a Pace American 7 x 14 tandum. It pulls very nice and easy. The Wells Cargo don't come with plywood on the walls. They come with 1/4" paneling. Not strong enough to mount anything on. The Pace comes with plywood walls at no extra charge. I have had my trailer for 4 years now.


Mark

I appreciate the input guys...it's great to get lots of opinions.

I've never been into "cheap." I either buy quality, or I go without--that's just my philosophy in life. "Quality is the best economy." However, I'm with you guys that I don't need the fanciest all-aluminum trailer out there--money is definitely an object.

Maybe over 20' is overkill--but by the time I have a toolchest and workbench up front, two zero-turn mowers, a pushmower or two, trimmers, fuel tanks (diesel and gas), an air compressor possibly, and a generator.

Business would go way smoother if I could make more repairs in the field and be more organized.

I have two Pace American trailers and both of them have been flawless. They cost more upfront but the quality shows after a little time. I would go with an eighteen footer, I think that it would be big enough to haul everything but still manuaverable.

ALl the lawn services around here use open trailers.. The Manufactures are building special trailers built just for that purpose.. 8 x18' most of them with big ramps, racks on the the sides for gas cans, racks for the trimmers and holders for the hand tools along the front... Expanded metal sides and made out of steel. Most everyone pays for a cheap enclosed boat stall at the storage lots to park them at night...

Here ia a link that has Pictures. http://trailercityhouston.com/landscape.htm

Good luck with school!
Steve

.. and with a longer trailer (24' or so) you'll have a car hauler when you get out of college and make the big bucks to go shopping for your favorite old muscle car.

Well, I ended up buying a 2004 Haulmark 8.5' X 20' that was used in a neighboring town. The thing is like new, and I think I got a great deal on it--so I'm really happy so far. The DMax of course toys with it, but it does have a lot of wind resistance, so that makes it seem heavier than it really is. All in all, I wish it was a little higher quality, such as a Featherlite or ATC, but this gets the job done just fine and was WAY cheaper. I'm starting to look like a full-fledged pro now! :)

Can it haul a car if you wanted?

Yep, should be no problem fitting up to a mid-size car in it. With it being 8.5' wide, there's lots of room. Do you need something hauled? :)

No, but I wouldnt mind having a trailer like that.

Tell ya what, you buy a similar size Featherlite or ATC brand trailer, and I'll come to MN to trade ya. :)

I have a 28' Classic Manufacturing trailer. Best trailer I bought.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/CRTracing/P6200013.jpg

That is a nice looking trailer. Shiny, too!

I looked around alot when I was buying my bike hauler. My opinion was that Pace was the best for overall quality. Not that any of them were bad. (Wells Cargo, Interstate, Haullmark, Carson.....) Pace had thicker plywood on the walls, better fit and finish inside, much more dustfree, torsion axles, good exterior hardware and locks etc. Pace was also slightly more expensive than the others. If you want to hang stuff on the walls (Seems like you would) the cost of replacing the thin plywood on the Wells Cargo, Interstate etc. would probably be about the price difference with the Pace off the bat.
One thing to look out for, Pace has a line of low end trailers, (Journey) that has regular springs, smaller tires, thinner skins etc. for those who are price concious. The Cargo Sport or Conquest are the heavy duty units. The drop down ramp door on the Cargo sport has dual springs, and a heavy mechanism. Something some of the competative units skimp on. For landscaping that might be a consideration as well if you are going with the rear ramp door.

When you get it consider getting it "Rhino Lined" or similar. On mine they ran the liner up 6" up the sides and put garnet in the mix when the sprayed the ramp door (Don't have to worry about slipping when wet). No slipping, and all you need to do to clean it out is hose it down. This flooring has been the envy of all my riding buddies.