Selecting The Right Cargo Trailer For Your Needs

Exterior & Colors:

All of our cargo trailers come with a minimum of 0.030″ thickness aluminum exterior and are available in a wide variety of color options. We have both options of screwed or screwless exteriors on our trailers. Both types of finish have their advantages. Screwless (commonly referred to as bonded exterior because of the high bond tape that is used to install the panels) provides a smooth, flat surface that is ideal for decals or wraps. Screwless installation takes more time, so generally will be more expensive then a screwed exterior trailer. A benefit to choosing a trailer with screwed exterior asides from the savings at time of purchase is if you ever have to do a panel repair. It’s relatively quick and you can replace just the damaged panel, where with a screwless exterior it is much more time consuming and costly because you have to replace multiple panels because they are bonded together. One of the features on some of our trailers is bright dip aluminum or aluminum tread plate on the front corners, sides & rear of the trailer. This is commonly referred to as an appearance package. The appearance package can also be ordered with a matte/flat black powder coated finish – a very popular and affordable upgrade to make your trailer stand out! There will always some ATP (aluminum tread plate) on the front bottom and nose of a V-nose trailer, which is referred to as a stone guard. The stone guard protects the front of your trailer from rock chips and other common road damage. We offer both roof types of galvanized with seams every 4′ or one-piece aluminum. Aluminum is not subject to rust; however it is not as thick or strong as steel. Trailers roofs are secured around the top outer edge with self taping screws, and then covered with adhesive caulk.

Interior:

Our trailers typically have a 3/4″ plywood deck that is supported with cross-member studs at 24″ or 16″. We even have a few with 12″ on center floors for extra heavy loads! Walls are typically 3/8″ plywood or engineered paneling that is specialized just for cargo trailers. The wall studs are at 24″ or 16″ on center; however the majority of our trailers come with 16″ on center walls because it lowers the risk of failure due to accidentally overloading, making our trailers more durable and longer lasting. Ceilings are typically 24″ or 16″ on center. There are many options like insulation, vinyl & metal walls, finished ceilings, aluminum tread plate, rubberized tread plate, or vinyl floors, cabinets, electrical packages. Our parts department offers a wide variety of in stock accessories that can be added after-market to any trailer. Please contact our customer service representatives for a full list of available options!

Ramp or Barn Doors:

Will you require a barn style door, which will be easier for loading cargo using a forklift, or a ramp for rolling or driving cargo into the trailer? Barn doors also are more desirable in confined spaces, as a ramp door will require additional spare to open the ramp. With barn doors, you also have the option of portable ramps which still easily allow you to get your cargo in and out of the trailer. With a ramp door, you may also want to consider adding an extension on the ramp for loading cargo with a low clearance height. Another option is to add a transition flap between the trailer and the ramp door. This is very useful if you and your cargo are rolling up the ramp has smaller wheels. Ramps and doors are available on all sides of the trailers. Talk to one of our customer service representatives about all the options!

Axles:

Cargo trailers typically come with either single or tandem 3500lb axle(s) as an industry standard; however you may want 5200lb, 6000lb or 7000lb. You want to try and size the axles based off the combination of the actual trailer weight & your anticipated load. Our customer service representatives will be able to help you calculate this. You may also want torsion axles over lead spring axles. Both axle types have their pros and cons. Torsion is more expensive, offers a lower ride height and a smoother ride loaded as it allows for independent tire & wheel movement. Leaf spring axles are cheaper, ride smoother empty and are much easier to repair or replace due to cost and availability.

V-Nose or Flat Front:

We carry a wide selection of both flat front and v-nose trailer options, ranging from an 18″ wedge up to 5′! The v-nose gives you additional cargo space, along with handling better due to its aerodynamic shape. V-noses can also be equipped with ramps in the wedge to drive sleds, quads and other toys off so you don’t have to back them out. These optional ramps can also be used for accessing the front of your trailer if you have it already loaded with large cargo.

Flat Roof or Rounded Roof:

We stock a variety of both flat roof and rounded (commonly referred to as radius) roof options on our cargo trailers. Flat roofs are more cost effective due to less material, while round/radius roofs have an advantage in our northern climate as it helps shed the extra weight of the snow & ice.

Aluminum or Steel Frame:

We offer a wide variety of both aluminum and steel framed cargo trailers. Steel frames are more popular as they are more budget friendly. Aluminum trailers will not rust, but all of our steel frame trailers come with premium under coating, which will increase to longevity of your trailer as well. Aluminum frame trailers are lighter then steel and have a much higher re-sale value. Typically aluminum trailers also come with longer warranties over steel trailers.

Brakes:

Typically a single axle trailer does not require brakes, while tandem & triple axles do. A trailer with brakes can stop in half the distance! Not only that, it saves on wear of your vehicle brakes, makes it easier to get control of swaying vehicle and comes with a brake away kit. Like everything, adding electric brakes will increase the cost of the trailer. This also means that the vehicle pulling it requires a brake controller to activate & utilize the brakes! Yes the trailer can hook up, plug in & still roll without the controller; however you will not be able to take advantage or use the trailer brakes without a controller in your vehicle.

Ventilation:

Cargo trailers seal up relatively tight. A wide variety of our trailers come with passive side ventilation or manual crank roof vents. The passive vents (also referred to as sidewall flow thru vents or salem vents) are good for trailers that have vehicles or fumes, because air is forced into & out of trailer as it moves down the road. Manual crank roof vents are nice & can have a 12-volt fan installed to add some flow. Air conditioners can also be added as an option. They do require the A/C brace to accommodate the additional weight & a wire that runs from the vent frame down the sidewall of the trailer to hook up the electrical. Often time’s customers add a full electrical package when selecting this option. Optional windows that open with or without screens can be added to your trailer on the walls or doors. These can be ordered from the factory installed or installed by our service department after-market.