I’m considering purchasing a trailer to store tools, etc. to leave on a job site. I want all the info I can get as far as setting it up, length of trailer, and storage of ladders on top. I would appreciate suggestions, etc.
Bare in mind this is my first visit to breaktime outside of magazine viewing!
Replies
I think a job trailer is a great idea! I'd have one, but I am an employee rather than an owner.When the time is right, I would buy a min 16', tandem with 1 side enrty door and barn doors on the back. Steel shelving and lockers down one side and material, ladder racks down the other side.
I will outfit the trailer as a mobile shop, with generator , compressor. lighting etc. I think it would be great for production to have all tools/ladders/fasteners etc. etc. present in a safe secure container throughout the building process. We build custom homes from start to finish.
check FHB back issues as they had an article about a year ago.
this was kicked around about 6 months ago..
we got a 7x14 Carmate, dual wheels, barn door rear, right side door, e-track on the right , 3 ladder racks on the top, jack stands on the rear quarters....
the wheels are outside the box you can also get 8' with the wheels inside the box...
7x14 is a lot of trailer.. i'd try pulling one before i went to a 8x16
pretty standard from mfr. to mfr. ... so go for the best price & service, you have to get your truck set up .. the electric brake pkg ran about $500 installed..we pull with a '91 F-150 set up with a trailer pkg.
see if i can post a link to a pic...
http://curve.phpwebhosting.com/~luka/attachments/1408-LTL_trlr.JPG
Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Edited 5/25/2002 10:56:50 PM ET by Mike Smith
You're right about size, if I was looking for a trailer this size or bigger, I'd also be looking at 5th wheel rigs. A 21' combo will fit in the footprint of a 16' pintle trailer set-up, be a lot easy to tow, and a LOT easier to back up..
Phill Giles
The Unionville Woodwright
Unionville, Ontario
I thought about 5th wheel but don't like the idea of losing the space in the bed of my truck. Thanks for the idea though.
Thanks for the picture. I'm curious about the 3 ladder racks on top. Do you mean 3 racks along the length of the top, or 3 high. I assume the former. I will be looking at trailers tomorrow and assume they have a rack option. I figured on vanguard van-style components and mounting them to the trailer somehow if they don't have one.
Mike was right about the trailer thing about 6 mo. ago...try the archives. 8X16 is what we got...dbl doors and side entry/ wired for 220 with GFI's. Rear doors are a greatr place for hooks to store power cords. Put in HD 'Gorilla' shelves down each side to store tools and s#[email protected] Wheelbarrow is in there with own circuit. 150' of 8/4 cord to bring power to it. One 8' HO flouresent gives you a tan. 4 duplexes by the rear doors...the subs will fight over them. Don't forget to throw in coffee maker/bachelor fridge/micro in the front. Last one was Interstate. (Think yer payin for the name). Trying out the Pace this time. Pretty much built all the same as far a chassis..check the roof systems though. Ditch the paddle handle for the side door..Go with the bar n lock set up. Has paid for itself MANY times over. Good luck.
In my part of the country, if you leave a trailer on the jobsite overnight, you're asking to have it or the contents stolen. I'm a small framer, running a crew of 2-4, so I got a small trailer so I could pull it home every night. I have a 5x9 and I get all my tools packed in every night. I don't have a generator, but I have a chop saw and a table saw and an Emglo wheelbarrow compressor. I put a simple ladder rack on top so I can haul the extension ladders and 16 ft. plank necessary for siding. It works when I trim houses out, too, I just shuffle the framing tools to the garage and load the trim tools in the trailer. I sometimes wish it were a foot or two longer and a foot taller, but its paid for itself many times over. I put a Home Depot water hose reel on the back door and it reels up 350 ft. of air hose quick and easy. Just about the best 25.00 I ever spent! Good hunting!
Theft is not a problem in our part of the country but should always be a consideration in this world. I like the idea of a bigger trailer to not only have just about everything we need on site, but to also free up space in my garage and storage shed which seem to shrink in size every year. I too, am a small general contractor doing frame to finish with 2-4 guys. IThanks for the great idea on the hose reel.
I couldn't find a commercial trailer that fit my needs so I built my own. Its a 14' fifth wheel with a detachable hitch that makes it theft proof. The frame is 1 x 1 steel tubes with 3/8's ply and an aluminun skin. A door on one side of the trailer folds down to a table with the radial arm saw built in. I send a worker to the saw with a list and they can set up stop blocks for repeated acurate cuts. It takes about 30 seconds to fold down and set up. The rear door folds down to a ramp for easy access and removal of larger tools. A bench down ones side has built in bins built for individual tools and space to slide 6' and 8 step latters in from the back. The other side has more bins. On the upper deck I have bins for fasteners and things that aren't used daily. I have a 100 ' 6/3 cable to power it up that plugs into the 220 slot on the meter.It goes to a breaker panel that breaks it out to 110 and 220 circuits. While all the other subs are fighting the overloaded 20 amp gfi my crew stays busy.I also have a battery backup to run phone, alarm and lights. It seams to work well, if you can find the time to build it.
Rick
Im impressed. What about a pic?
Trying to find my way home .
Tim Mooney
Edited 5/26/2002 9:50:57 PM ET by Tim Mooney