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Unlike a skid-steer loader,
mini-excavator, or other piece of compact construction equipment,
you can’t push dirt or dig a trench with a trailer. But, when
it comes to making a profit in the earthmoving business, a good
trailer more than pulls its weight.
“If you think a
trailer doesn’t make you any money, just remember, your loader
or excavator can’t get to the job site without a safe, reliable
way to haul it there,” says Marv Odegaard. He’s national
sales manager for Trail King Industries, which builds trailers ranging
in size from 16-foot, 6,000-pound capacity tandem axle units for
hauling a compact track loader to a 23-axle, 200,000-pound behemoth
for transporting a power plant transformer.
Randy VanConett, who
owns Accurate Construction and Excavation, Grand Junction, CO, appreciates
the value of a trailer. In fact, he owns several trailers for hauling
various types of earthmoving equipment. They include a 16-foot tandem-axle
model with a 4-foot dove tail and folding ramp, made by Eager Beaver
Trailers. Although payload capacity is 16,000 pounds, he says, he
uses it to haul loads of about 8,000 to 10,000 pounds. Usually,
this includes a skid-steer loader or compact-excavator plus various
construction supplies, such as rebar or sacks of concrete.
Since purchasing the
trailer 13 years ago, he’s used it to haul equipment more than
100,000 miles across mountainous terrain. Although he can tow the
loaded trailer with a three-quarter-ton pickup, he prefers the extra
stability of pulling it with a one-ton pickup with dual rear wheels.
One of VanConett’s
key considerations in selecting a trailer is balance, how well it
distributes the load over the length of the trailer. “If the
trailer carries the load too far forward or too far to the rear,”
he says, “steering and braking suffers, and it’s very
hard on the truck’s and trailer’s suspension.”
The trailer’s oak
deck has held up very well, he reports. “The trailer is very
low maintenance,” he says.
His trailer is equipped
with a tongue-mounted tool box for hand tools and chains and he’s
added a 2-inch by 6-inch channel iron along the sides of the trailer
to contain pallets or small gravel or dirt loads.
VanConett has equipped
his towing units with a Draw-Tite Activator III controller switch
that allows him to vary the flow of electricity to the electric
brakes as needed, depending on the load. “I can adjust the
amps up or down to increase or decrease the braking power,”
he says. “It gives me much better control of the brakes than
that of a typical electrical brake controller and it allows me to
match the braking power to each of the three different trucks we
use to tow the trailer. This much more precise control has at least
doubled the life of our brakes compared to a fixed-amp brake controller.”
Jimmy Harris, Harris
Construction Co., Dumfries, VA, has two trailers for transporting
his construction equipment—a 12-foot flatbed Beck trailer,
which he bought 15 years ago as part of a package when he bought
a skid-steer loader, and his newest one, a 20-foot, 14,000-pound
capacity two-axle Kaufman flatbed trailer. “The trailer is
plenty big enough to haul anything I have,” he says. That includes
his new tractor-loader backhoe or skid-steer loader. It will also
accommodate his next planned equipment purchase, a compact track
loader.
He chose a steel deck
for lower maintenance costs than a wood deck, and electric brakes
for better control than surge brakes, he says.
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PHOTO:
KAUFMAN TRAILER
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Harris, who does a lot
of research when buying equipment, shopped around before selecting
his Kaufman trailer. “I wanted to get the most for my money,”
he explains.
When the job calls for
his compact equipment—a 7,700-pound skid-steer loader and an
11,500-pound excavator—golf course renovation contractor Dan
Soushek loads them both on his 22-foot, tandem axle, CZ trailer.
Soushek, who owns Golf Plus, Maple, Valley, WA, uses a variety of
equipment in his grading and excavating work.
The trailer’s 20-ton
capacity and beavertail design gives him the flexibility to transport
the compact machines or other equipment, including a small dozer,
a track excavator or a 5-yard dump truck. “I wanted a trailer
to handle a variety of needs,” says Soushek who bought the
trailer new 12 years ago. “This one is perfectly suited for
what I do.”
The trailer, which he
tows behind a tandem-axle dump truck, features an oak deck, D-ring
tie-downs, a pintle hitch, air brakes, and spring-assisted ramps
for easier lifting.
When hauling his compact
equipment, Soushek loads the skid-steer loader first. Carrying a
set of pallet forks in the attached bucket, he backs the loader
up to the front of the trailer. Then, he backs his compact excavator
up to the skid-steer loader, resting the excavator’s stick
and bucket on the beavertail. If needed, he carries his other attachments—a
trenching bucket and a grading bucket—in the back of his dump
truck.
The beaver tail design
was an important consideration for him in buying this trailer. The
main deck sits about 36 inches above the ground, while the beavertail
slopes down to about 2 feet above the ground at the rear of the
trailer, he reports. This helps shorten overall height when transporting
his taller equipment, like his track excavator.
A Growing Market
When it comes to buying a trailer to haul compact equipment,
there are plenty of makes and models, not to mention standard features,
options, and accessories.
One industry observer
estimates that more than 200 companies manufacture trailers of all
sizes in the US. Some contractors buy their trailers from the dealer
who sold them their skid-steer loader, mini-excavator, or other
piece of compact equipment. Others shop among various trailer dealers
or buy direct from the factory.
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PHOTO:
TRIPLE L
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Depending on the size
of the machine and the number of attachments being hauled, trailers
best suited for hauling a skid-steer loader or compact excavator
generally have decks that measure no longer than about 18 feet and
no wider than 8 feet with payload capacities of 14,000 pounds or
less.
Bob Cramer, sales manager
with Redi-Haul Trailers Inc., Fairmont, MN, estimates sales of such
trailers have increased about 25% to 30% a year for the past decade
or so. This, he says, reflects the growing demand for compact construction
equipment to fit into tight work spaces in cities and shrinking
residential job sites in the suburbs.”
The two most popular
EZ Dumper trailer models for hauling compact construction equipment
are the 12-foot and 14-foot long deck units, reports Christian Baillie,
national sales manager of the Waynesboro, PA, company. Either model
has enough deck space to hold an appropriate-sized skid-steer loader
with attached bucket.
Not long ago, the 10-foot
deck was the most popular size for transporting skid-steer loaders
and compact excavators, Baillie notes. “The growing demand
for larger compact equipment and the availability of larger pickup
trucks to haul the units is driving the sales of the longer trailers,”
he says. “I expect this trend to continue and we’ll probably
be selling more 16-foot to 20-foot deck trailers in the next few
years.”
A Broad Selection
Probably the two most important decisions facing a contractor
when buying a trailer are size and type of deck.
“It’s probably
best to buy a trailer with about 25% more payload capacity than
the weight of the base machine you’ll be hauling,” Cramer
says. “Then you can also carry attachments and other materials
needed on the job.”
Using this rule of thumb,
then, a suitable trailer for a mid-size 6,000-pound skid steer loader
would offer a 7,500-pound payload capacity, while a good match for
a large compact excavator weighing 11,000 pounds would have a payload
capacity of close to 14,000 pounds. When it comes to decks, you
can choose from several different styles: tilt beds, which eliminate
the need for ramps; flat beds recessed between the side frame or
wheels for lower deck height, or mounted on top of the frame or
above the wheels for more useable width; multi-purpose trailers
that can haul and dump dirt as well as drop-off and pick-up equipment;
and gooseneck trailers, favored by some contractors for their more
stable towing characteristics and ability to turn tightly.
Among the Many Choices
Utility and Tilt Units
Redi-Haul Trailers sells three series of models for
transporting compact construction equipment. They include flatbed
utility models with an 8-foot-wide, 20-foot-long deck, two 5-foot
ramps, and dual 6,000-pound axles; tandem axle equipment transport
trailers and tandem axle full tilt trailers available in deck lengths
of 14 feet to 18 feet, with payload capacities from 10,400 pounds
to 15,730 pounds; and equipment transport trailers with 12-foot
to 16-foot decks and 6,000-pound to 17,260-pound payload capacities.
Trail King trailer models
include a utility trailer with a 12-foot-long, 95-inch overall width
(76-inch-width between the fenders), has two 3,000-pound axles and
two 5-foot-long self-supporting loading ramps. Loaded deck height
is 18.5 inches. The company’s tilt utility trailer has a 16-foot-long
and 102-inch-wide deck (82 inches between the fenders), which rides
on two 6,000-pound-capacity axles. With a 20-inch loaded deck height,
it offers a load angle of 11 degrees.
Kaufman Trailers manufactures
a variety of models for hauling compact construction equipment with
deck lengths of 12 feet to 18 feet, a deck height of 21 inches and
axle capacities ranging from 3,500 pounds to 7,000 pounds.
No-Ramp, No-Tilt Transport
JLG Industries Inc., Hagerstown, MD, offers
another alternative—the Triple-L line of trailers, which includes
flatbed, utility trailers with sides; and enclosed trailers that
eliminate the need for ramps or tilt beds. The entire deck lowers
to the ground for drive-on loading and then raises for transport.
The flatbed trailer decks, most of which operate hydraulically,
range in length from 8 feet to 14 feet, with payload capacities
of 2,200 pounds to 10,000 pounds
Multi-Purpose Trailers
EZ Dumper trailers, equipped with standard
21-inch-high steel sides and hydraulic lift, can be used to deliver
and pick up equipment and for other jobs—like hauling and dumping
dirt, gravel, and other materials, or serving as mobile trash bins.
The low-profile trailers feature an 80-inch-wide deck that sits
between the wheels for a lower deck height. Three models are available
in deck lengths of 10 feet, 12 feet, and 14 feet. A two-way tailgate
opens like a barn door for loading and unloading skid-steer loaders
and excavators. It can also be configured like a tailgate on a dump
truck to dump and spread dirt and other materials.
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PHOTO:
TRIPLE L
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A Specialty Trailer
for Mini-Loaders
ProHauler Trailers, a division of Compact Power,
Fort Mill, SC, makes trailers designed specifically to haul Kanga
and Boxer mini-wheel and mini-track loaders. Available in 4-foot,
5-foot, or 6-foot widths, and lengths of 8 feet, 10 feet, 12 feet,
and 14 feet, these trailers feature as many as seven different compartments
for transporting a loader and various attachments efficiently and
securely. “It’s a rolling toolbox for taking your machine
and all your attachments with you to the job site,” says Lisa
McCarley, marketing manager for the company.
Custom-Built Trailers
In addition to their standard models, many
manufacturers offer custom-built models. This is a way to tailor
a trailer to meet your individual hauling needs and preferences—from
deck length and type of ramp, to jack size, tie-down locations,
and paint color—and to add or delete features to match your
budget. Kaufman Trailers, for example, charges $200 for each 2 feet
of extra deck length.
Evaluating Features
Because of the wide array of models, features, and manufacturers,
the price of trailers for hauling compact construction equipment
can vary widely. While you can probably buy one of these trailers
for under $2,000, you’ll generally pay a higher price for a
higher quality product, say the experts. These higher price tags
might include, for example, $3,500 or so for a trailer with a 6,000-pound
payload or $5,000 or more for one that can haul a 12,000-pound payload.
In comparing prices,
keep in mind that standard features on one make or model of trailer,
like D-rings for tying down equipment, stake pockets, rub rail or
heavy-duty jack, may be optional or even absent on competitive makes
similar in size and design.
When deciding on how
much to pay for a trailer, Odegaard suggests finding answers to
three questions: What’s the purchase price? What will it cost
to maintain? What is its resale value?
“A quality-conscious
buyer will consider all three questions because the answers represent
the total cost of the trailer, he says.
Features and Components
to Consider When Shopping for a Trailer
Construction
Because they venture off the road, trailers used for
hauling construction equipment are subject to more wear and tear
than over-the-road trailers, notes Cramer. “Towing trailers
through ditches, and over curbs and other obstacles increases the
stresses put on the frame, suspension, and tires of these trailers,”
he says. “Building these trailers so they are more rugged,
will reduce maintenance costs and increase the service life of the
trailers.”
The choice of frame components,
such as C-channels, I beams, or tubes, and the type of steel used
to build them, such as mild steel or high-tensile steel, will affect
the strength and durability of a trailer. So will spacing of the
cross members. For example, cross members spaced on 12-inch or 16-inch
centers produce a stronger, longer-lasting frame than those spaced
on 24-inch or 48-inch centers.
The type of material
used to build the decking also affects durability and maintenance
costs. Wood decks, typically 1.375 inches thick to 1.5 inches thick,
are available in pressure-treated pine or more rugged materials,
such as oak or apitong (an even longer-lasting wood). Although steel
decks provide less traction, some contractors prefer their increased
durability over wood decks.
Axles
Manufacturers of higher quality trailers will
use name-brand axles, like Dana, Dexter, or Rockwell. Low-cost trailers
may have axles designed for mobile-home use.
Brakes
Most trailers used to haul compact equipment
have drum brakes, usually actuated by an electromagnet rather than
a hydraulic system. Electric brakes provide more consistent braking
action than surge brakes, which are prohibited in many states
Hitch
Some manufactures offer ball-couplers that
can be adjusted up and down to better match the height of the towing
vehicle. Pintle hitches also adjust up or down to fit the height
of different towing units.
Fenders
Enclosed fenders will help keep mud and debris
off the deck and the equipment. Also, a walk-on fender with a steel
tread plate can make entry and exit from equipment easier.
Wiring
The better wiring systems are made with sealed
beam, rubber-mounted lights and soldered and jacketed wiring harnesses
with no butt connectors. Other desirable features include LED turn
and tail lights and 10-gauge or 12-gauge-wire enclosed in plastic
conduits and protected with rubber grommets to prevent chafing where
routed through frame members.
Ramps
Heavy-duty ramps with feet will help stabilize
the trailer and prevent the rear wheels of the pickup truck from
lifting off the ground when loading and unloading machines. A spring-assisted
ramp can make raising the ramp a one-handed job.
At least one manufacturer
offers a ramp that stores in a compartment at the rear of the bed
for easy access. The ramp slides out and over into an attachment
slot.
Load Security
Depending on equipment being hauled, the location
of tie-down rings can be important in reducing the time and effort
required to secure the load. A rub rail along the side of the trailer
deck provides an infinite number of tie-down points as well as impact
protection for the frame.
Jack
A hydraulic jack can turn the job of raising
and lowering a loaded trailer into a push-button operation.
Safety
A headboard, safety chains, and a breakaway
switch—that automatically applies the brakes if the trailer
becomes disconnected—add to safe operation.
Paint
Better finishes include the use of sandblasting
or chemical treatment to prepare the metal prior to painting, as
well as polyurethane paint or a powder coat finish.
Warranty
Warranties can range from six to 12 months
for components to as long as five years for the main frame, depending
on the manufacturer. Odegaard also suggests checking to see if the
trailer is covered by a manufacturer’s product liability insurance.
“That insurance protects you from damages due to defects in
the trailer in the event of an accident,” he says.
Greg Northcutt writes
frequently on construction and business issues.
GEC
- May/June 2005
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