I want to purchase a 16 foot job trailer to haul tools and supplies from jobsite to jobsite. A mobile workstation really, and I was hoping that some of the memebrs here would give me some tips about features for the trailer. I have a few questions:
I am 6’2″ and was wondering if the extrat height(6’6″) trailer is worth the money? I wanted to know what type of doors would be more beneficial, swinging or ramp? Is a generator space worth the money? should I get a ladder rack for the trailer or just use the one on my truck?
Any advice would appreciated. Thank you in advance for your suggestions and ideas. Also if wnyone has a trailer in good shape they want to sell let me know.
Replies
I notice this is your first post- do us a favor and fill in your profile so we know where you are, etc. There has been a ton of great information on trailers in the last few months- you can use the search feature at the bottom left of the page to look for them, or you can click on the Tools or General discussion headings to go through more discussions. You'll get some good responses here, too.
zak
I am on the east coast, but about to move to Minnesota, and so the trailer would first be a moving trailer, but would become a remodeling job/cargo trailer. I would like to build sapce for teh tools in the trailer, but I was considering getting an awning or tent that I could set up for a workspace outside the trailer. using saws, routers and drills inside the trailer, I would think, just leads to sawdust covered equipment and materials.
Perhaps since I am new I was not able to search properly on the site, but when I typed in a seach for trailers, it fed me a post that had nothing to do with cargo trailers, and I could not find a reference to a trailer in the thread.
>> using saws, routers and drills inside the trailer, I would think, just leads to sawdust covered equipment and materials.
two words = leaf blower. I clean mine out regularly with one. just open the doors and have at it. there have been a few times when I set up a heater and a compound miter inside the trailor to get out of the cold. sure it makes a mess but it is a snap to clean up
I have a 6'6 inside height trailor. I cannot stand up a 6'8" door unit but I can get one in at a slight angle. I'm also 6'2" and appreciate the extra headroom.
If your looking at 16 foot jobs consider an 18 footer. you can't get 16 foot lenths into a 16 foot trailor the long way, I think they measure 15'5" inside. for someone like me who hauls a lot of 16' trim the two extra feet make a world of difference. besides, the longer the tongue the easier it is to back up
Things are going to be a little chiller up north, eh. If you set up a trailer with heat and a good vacuum to attach a saw to, you'll be cozy and have some dust control. I've used my Fein vac indoors many times with great results. The better vacs have a switched receptacle that turns the vac on when you start the tool. Good luck, stay warm.
Matt, Go for the extra Height Its well worth it. I got the taller trailer for hauling scaffolding on occasion. I also got a security system. Mike
I don't know what it is but sometimes I get useless crap from the search function, then all of a sudden it's working ? I don't know what's up with it but try it at different times.
And from looking at some of the pictures it looks like I better get back to finishing the organization of my trailer. I guess that's why it's called organization.
"I was not able to search properly on the site, but when I typed in a seach for trailers, it fed me a post that had nothing to do with cargo trailers"
Search pops up an old irrelevant threat while it does the search. Ya gotta wait - sometimes quite a while - for something that will get a lot of hits like "trailers".
I am moving to Faribault.
I found a search function that had more options and that worked to find a long list of trailer discussions, which is what I was looking for when I posted this thread. Thakn you for all your help everyone.
the basic search works only if U wanna find out about copper supply lines ...
the advanced search at the top of the page works ok for other stuff.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
SMACKKKKK! Thanks I needed that.
Anyone have an opinion on good quality, well built trailers?
I have looked at the stuff at the big boxes and some of the Pace products, and the quality sure seems iffy. I am not a fan of such lightweight sheet metal on the roof held together with caulking, but maybe it's just me.
I don't want a work trailer, I just need to haul stuff or temporary "secure" storage. A "lightweight" (or, as light as possible) 5 x 10 single axle with a V nose and a ramp would be right for me.
Have you checked out Thule? They made their name in car racks but bought (I think) Cargo Pro & have revamped the product line. All aluminum construction, I've seen a few, they look slick.
Not sure if you can get "lightweight" without having "lightweight sheet metal on the roof" & lots of other places, too. Anyway, worth a look.
-Norm
I was surprised at the listed curb weight for "all aluminum" construction. About the same as the Pace trailers I looked at 1100# for a 6x10.
I would be surprised if the roof of the trailers I have looked at was much more than 30ga galvanized. Something a little more substantial like 24 or even 26ga wouldn't weigh much more.
U don't need smacked ...
the idiots in charge of the search button need smacked!
that "copper supply line" answer has only come up each and every time for around 2 or so years?
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
I've always thought an RV roll out type awning on the sidew ould be the trick set up on a job trailer... I'm also for the generator and the ladder rack on the trailer....
good luck lots of info from these guys who have done it
p
While I have not yet purchased a trailer yet, i've been in others. I'm 6'1" and the extra 6" height is worth more than the trailer itself, especially is you plan it to be a work station. The last one I was in did not have the extra height and I banged my head on the way in, what a treat!
You used the term "A mobile workstation really". If you ment that literally; ie you have tools setup to work inside the trailer, then you certainly want height.
But what kind of work that do you do?
We have a 20' trailer that we mostly use for tool storage and organization. It's still a "mobile workstation" even though we have to move the tools out of the trailer to work. We built cabs and shelves and keep everything locked down inside and alarmed(good to do if your carrying 20k worth of tools). It's fully wired and has a battery backup for the alarm. We just stubbed out a cord end from the panel in the trailer out the bottom and plug it in to the house we're working on. We also have a compressor bolted in and have a hose end sticking out like the cord end. It's not set up to use the tools inside, but we can carry anything and everything in that trailer and move it job to job. There's usually a yard or a driveway to work in, so it's not a big deal for us. It's also great advertising.
What kind of alarm system are you using? Lojac? motion? sound? vibration? cell phone alert?
I'm not exactly sure, but it does have a gps built in and calls the owners cell phone. It does not have motion or vib. because we park it on busy streets in quiet neighborhoods. not a good combo for an alarm going off all the time.
Yes you want height. H&H's are over 7 standard if you can get them where you are. Its doubtful that you'll get much work done in the trailer once its loaded up with all your stuff, but you will be a lot more productive on the job for having it around.
16 is a good size. Fits in a drive and all that. Ramp doors are extra but if you have anything heavy on wheels, I think they're the way to go. I wouldnt go back to regular doors for anything.
Ladders are awful hard to keep out of the way in a trailer. And outside on racks, they're just hard to get at. With a 16 ft trailer, you could easily spend 700 bucks just for the rack on it. Id say if you already have a truck rack, keep it. It'll be handy for everything else you use it for when the trailer isnt behind you. Just opinion.
The search function is your friend. Old threads have hit on size, handling, options, outfitting, weight distribution, pictures of peoples loadouts, etc. Lots of ideas there ready for the taking.
Oh and personal experience, be realistic about what you're going to put in it and what it weighs. You're going to have to get DOT tags and you dont want the overweight fines (and if they find one issue, they start looking for more). Too much weight on too small axles is going to affect the ride and potentially damage the trailer. Just something to tuck into the back of the brain bucket.
"Sometimes when I consider what tremendous consequences come from little things, I am tempted to think -- there are no little things" - Bruce Barton
Matt:
I've got a 7'x12' PACE with a ladder rack on top and barn style doors on the back. I love it! I have a bench down one side with a shelf under it and shelves and draweres down the other side. A stand-up 30 gallon compressor and a drill press up front. If you're over 6' tall, I'd go for the height, I'm only 5-9 and I regularly whack my head going in & out of the side door (especially when wearing a hat with a bill on it). I power mine with a cord stubbed out although I'll probably install some proper wiring and a panel in it before too long. I occasionally need a generator so I just made my shelves so that I could accomodate my 5500Watt portable when I needed it, the rest of the time I have a couple of milk crates there that I use to catch all of the miscellaneous "stuff" that seems to accumulate. I put a couple of hooks on the floor and strap the generator (or crates) down with a cargo strap so it doesn't move while I'm on the road. I hold all the shelf contents and drawers in place with bungee cords across the fronts. My chop-saw is held on the workbench with more bungee cords. My portable (Bosch) table saw and stand are secured (collapsed and on their sides) to the wall with some "E-track". If I need to roll something in or out the back or side, I have a couple of short ramps (7') with ends from Ramp Parts that I use, they live up on the racks with my ladders the rest of the time.
I bought mine in Florida (American Trailers) and used it to move the contents of my Mom's Condo after she passed away. I towed it back up to Mass full of furniture, behind my wifes Trooper, and it towed so well you could almost forget it was back there. All in all, it was probably some of the best money I've spent since I went out on my own!
BILL
I am only 5-8 but I still like having the extended height in the trailer-I would guess you definately would. My trailer has the swinging doors, but I do get tired of the big step in & out of the trailer all the time. I didn't get ladder racks for my trailer, seemed like it would be awkward getting them up & down, especially with the extended height. My ladders all fit easily inside the trailer (14'). If you do leave your trailer on a jobsite, you probably wouldn't want the ladders left on top unless they are locked anyway.
Whereabouts are you moving to in our great state?
Mike
hey matt...when you getting to Minnesota? Where abouts are you moving to? I'm just northwest of Minneapolis...
as for the height...do it. I've had 2 trailers...one a standard 6 and the other I opted for the extra 6". the difference wasn't much, but it was very noticeable for me.
I also added the ladder racks to the second one and really liked them. I carried at least 2 extention ladders and 2 planks on them at all times and it was easy enough to get them on and off.
as far as the generator/compressor bay, I'd also recomend that....that way those items are always there when you need them...of course that depends on what kinda work your going to be doing. I was framing out of my second one, so it was nice having them inside. anothe plus is in the winter, it warms up the adhesives and guns.
as far as the trailer shopping...have you tried ebay? I found a nice carhauler (flatbed) on there a year ago or so for a nice price.
good luck! and welcome to Minnesota!
knowledge without experience is just information.... Mark Twain
http://www.cobrajem.com
Edited 3/24/2006 10:49 pm by Charlie the Singing Carpenter
how about this one...should be big enough to set up shop...:)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1997-USED-49-FOOT-CAR-HAULER_W0QQitemZ4623934364QQcategoryZ80770QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
knowledge without experience is just information.... Mark Twain
http://www.cobrajem.com
Set-up shop, and have a kitchen cabinet display to boot. a little big for my needs
I bought a Hercules 7x16 a few months ago. It is big enough to hold 16' material and the 6'6" height is a must. We set it up with a 8' long work table down one side with storage below. Took some old cabinets off a job and stuck them in the head of the trailer for secure storage. Racks for hoses & cords in the head. Can stack plenty of material on the side that doen't have the table. We keep table saw and chop saw opposite of table to balance trailer. Two overhead shelves for screws, nails etc.