My new trailer has WHEELS!

[Hedgemaster]

Remember this? I'm keeping it, but it wasn't cutting it for some jobs, so I started looking for a trailer a few weeks ago, and now I'm the proud owner of a brand spankin' used 5'x8' utility trailer! It's a 2009 Carry-On brand mesh floor trailer. * 2000 lb. GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) * Main Frame 2" x 2" Angle * Wire Mesh Floor * Fully Lighted to D.O.T. Requirements * 1-7/8" Coupler with Safety Chains * 2000 lb. Cambered Axle * Removable Tongue * Wire Protected in Conduit * 4-Flat Electrical Plug * 9" Side Height The seller owned it for less than one year and no longer needed it after purchasing an enclosed trailer. It's a bit "ghetto" in it's current configuration, but I plan on doing some work to clean it up. The seller installed the sides and while it looks a bit crappy, they are rock-solid. The sides are a small bonus, as I planned on adding sides to whatever trailer I got anyway. They stand 25 1/4" high, which will work well for hauling loads of branches and such... Another small bonus was the 1 7/8" ball that the seller gave me. I had a 2" ball already mounted, and he even offered to use his tools to swap them out for me. It has surface rust, but that's what they make spray paint for. I know someone who may be able to shoot it with a paint gun too, so one way or another, it will look better than it does now. Inside... Tires are in good condition and it tows well... Anyway, I now have more options when it comes to the jobs I can bid, and I won't have to cram everything into the back of the truck. I saved about $240 over buying a brand new trailer, and as I've discovered, trailers hold their value fairly well, so when it comes time to upgrade to a larger trailer, I can probably get close to what I paid for it. I got a fair deal, and I'm happy with the purchase.

Attached Images

	104_5209.jpg (176.4 KB, 2 views)
	104_5733.jpg (248.7 KB, 1 views)
	104_5735.jpg (198.8 KB, 1 views)
	104_5738.jpg (107.2 KB, 0 views)
	104_5740.jpg (227.3 KB, 1 views)
	104_5745.jpg (191.9 KB, 0 views)
	104_5752.jpg (209.6 KB, 1 views)

[Steve]

Lawn care business tips

This is exciting! Your business is growing! What will you be doing to jazz it up a bit? Will you be putting any signs on it?

__________________
- Subscribe to my Lawn Care Marketing Blog Feed and get daily tips sent to you. Free!
Download your Free trial of Gopher Lawn Care Software.

[Hedgemaster]

Originally Posted by Steve

This is exciting! Your business is growing! What will you be doing to jazz it up a bit? Will you be putting any signs on it?

Yes, I suppose it is.

Haha I knew you'd ask that.
I'm not sure yet, as I'm still playing with some ideas. Ideally, I'd like to paint it bright green, but I don't think that's realistic considering the amount of touch up needed as it gets more surface rust, so at the moment, I'm thinking of keeping it black, but painting the side boards green - maybe hit the lower portion of the board that are visible (below the top rail/between the side framework) with black to keep it all black from the side rails down... not sure.

Signage is a definite "yes", but not yet.

[Steve]

Well I look forwards to seeing more pics.

[MountainViewGreenskeeper]

congrates on the new trailer and hope to see the finished product.

But I have a word of caution. I would be careful how much weight you put on the front of that trailer. Its only got that main bar coming out right? and from the picture it already looks like it bending just a tad. So I just wondering if you had noticed that at all... nothing to worry about just something to be mindful of.

[Steve]

When you have a trailer with a metal mesh floor like that, would laying a piece of plywood over it extend the life of the floor?

From what I have seen, those floors tend to droop and then break under the weight of mowers.

[Hedgemaster]

Originally Posted by Steve

When you have a trailer with a metal mesh floor like that, would laying a piece of plywood over it extend the life of the floor?

From what I have seen, those floors tend to droop and then break under the weight of mowers.

Yeah, that mesh is garbage (at least on this brand) - maybe a more expensive trailer would use a heavier gauge mesh?
I'm thinking of adding a floor, as it would also give me the ability to haul mulch if needed.

Currently, I only have two push mowers, so weight isn't a concern. Even the chipper/shredder isn't all that heavy, so even if I don't get a floor on it immediately, I shouldn't have to worry about it. When I bought this, I did so knowing it was a "starter trailer", and that I'd need something larger before too long, but bigger, and better just isn't in the budget at the moment.



MountainView,
I'll check out the tongue to see if it's actually bent, but I see what you mean in the photo. It's supposed to be removable, so I don't know if that can be replaced if needed. Although, considering the price of replacement parts for anything these days, a whole new trailer would probably make more sense.
As stated above, I won't have anything too heavy to tow around anyway.

[MountainViewGreenskeeper]

Originally Posted by Hedgemaster

Yeah, that mesh is garbage (at least on this brand) - maybe a more expensive trailer would use a heavier gauge mesh?
I'm thinking of adding a floor, as it would also give me the ability to haul mulch if needed.

Currently, I only have two push mowers, so weight isn't a concern. Even the chipper/shredder isn't all that heavy, so even if I don't get a floor on it immediately, I shouldn't have to worry about it. When I bought this, I did so knowing it was a "starter trailer", and that I'd need something larger before too long, but bigger, and better just isn't in the budget at the moment.



MountainView,
I'll check out the tongue to see if it's actually bent, but I see what you mean in the photo. It's supposed to be removable, so I don't know if that can be replaced if needed. Although, considering the price of replacement parts for anything these days, a whole new trailer would probably make more sense.
As stated above, I won't have anything too heavy to tow around anyway.

Yep just wasnt sure if you noticed. Didnt want you to lose us equipment. But we all got to start somewhere.

[Hedgemaster]

I took a closer look today and while the tongue itself is straight, the second strip of angle iron that it's welded to has a bend in it. It's bent down slightly in the center, so I'm guessing the previous owner overloaded it.

You can see it in this photo - up near the front...



For my purposes, it should still be fine.

I still think I need to get a ball mount with a lower drop though. I haven't taken it to a flat, paved spot to take any measurements, but it seems to sit too high in the front. (regardless of the bent frame)

[Hedgemaster]

I've been pondering ways to make this thing look better.



Initially, I thought that the plywood sides were painted, but there is actually black vinyl heat-wrapped/bonded to it. Some of it is peeling and there are spots that look like brown spray paint got on it... ugly.
I considered simply replacing the plywood, but today while cleaning the garage, I ran across an 8'x20" scrap of 3/8" plywood, and I thought, "Hmmm... what about COVERING the existing "black" wood?"

Like this...




I could simply screw it right onto the existing wood. I'd finish spray painting the frame (previous owner started, but never finished) and paint over the original plywood that is visible on the bottom, keeping everything below the top rail black.

The fresh plywood "skin" gives me some options:
(a) Leave it as is, but apply a waterproofing finish, that would give me a cleaner looking trailer without much effort. (or breaking the bank)

(b) Have a sign shop create a sign to cover the plywood, or at least attach to it.

(c) Add a 1"x6" board and have it engraved with my info using either light wood with dark lettering, or dark wood with perhaps gold lettering?

like this "sketch" (third photo)...








What do you think?

Am I crazy? Perhaps there's a better way? High sides a bad idea?