Landscape Trailers
Trailers are one of the most valuable tools available for transport! Contractors haul their equipment, and homeowners transport their recreational vehicles with them. However, not all trailers are suited for transporting landscape equipment! How do I choose a trailer size and style to transport my landscaping equipment? Here are some of our top tips for selecting a trailer.
How to Determine the Right Trailer Size?
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Before deciding on which trailer style to purchase, you will need to determine what size landscape trailer you need. Here are the steps to selecting your landscape trailer size.
Landscape Trailer Load Size
The weight of your load is the most significant factor that determines your landscape trailer size. Measure the size of the load you expect to carry and go a little bigger. Trailers usually serve more functions than initially intended! For basic requirements like hauling a lawnmower, a 5′ x 8′ utility trailer will be sufficient. You may need an 83” x 18′ or an 83”’ X 20′ trailer for larger equipment like skid loaders or tractors.
Landscape Trailer Towing vehicle
Your towing vehicle is another essential factor in your trailer purchase. While most vehicles can pull some type of trailer, not all can tow large trailers! You will need to calculate the weight of the trailer and the weight of the equipment you are hauling. That number must not exceed your vehicle’s rated towing capacity. Most vehicles have the towing capacity listed in the owner’s manual, driver-side door jamb, or their website.
Landscape Trailer Hitch system
It is pointless to have a 5,000 lb rated towing system if you have a ball mount of your truck that only supports 2,000 lb. You will need to upgrade your towing system if your landscape trailer and equipment exceed the hitch system towing capacity. Hitch systems are rated in 5 different classes. Not all hitch classes are available for each vehicle. See Below.
Class 1 Hitch
Receiver Size: 1-1/4″ x 1-1/4″ receiver tube
Weight Rating: Up to 2,000 lbs. gross landscape trailer weight
Vehicles: Passenger cars and SUVs
Class 2 Hitch
Receiver Size: 1-1/4″ x 1-1/4″ receiver tube
Weight Rating: Up to 3,500 lbs. gross landscape trailer weight
Vehicles: Full-size sedans, minivans, crossovers, small SUVs, and a few pickup trucks
Class 3 Hitch
Receiver Size: 2″ x 2″ receiver tube
Weight Rating: Up to 8,000 lbs. gross landscape trailer weight
Vehicles: Full-size trucks and SUVs
Class 4 Hitch
Receiver Size: 2″ x 2″ receiver tube
Weight Rating: Up to 10,000 lbs. gross landscape trailer weight
Vehicles: Full-size trucks and SUVs
Class 5 Hitch
There are two types of class 5 hitch systems.
Class 5 Extra Duty
Receiver Size: 2″ x 2″ receiver tube
Weight Rating: Up to 17,000 lbs. gross landscape trailer weight
Vehicles: Full-size trucks and SUVs
Class 5 Commercial Duty
Receiver Size: 2-1/2″ x 2-1/2” receiver tube
Weight Rating: Up to 20,000 lbs. gross landscape trailer weight
Vehicles: Dually and chassis cab trucks
Types of Landscape Trailers
Utility Trailer
The most common trailer on the market is the flatbed utility trailer. These trailers are the first choice we recommend when outfitting a landscaping crew or hauling ATVs. Utility trailers generally have side rails which makes securing the load even easier. There are many options available for customizing utility trailers for a landscaping crew. For example, Rack’Em makes racks for weed trimmers, blowers, and other landscaping supplies.
Enclosed trailer
Enclosed trailers are the best option if you want your landscaping equipment out of the weather. Also, racks and hooks are easily added to the interior of the trailer walls for easy tool storage. You can add shelves and brackets to hold your weed trimmers, blowers, sprayers, hand tools, and replacement parts. Suppose you do not have indoor storage for your equipment. A small enclosed trailer will give you weather protection to prolong the life of your equipment!
Dump Trailer
Hydraulic Dump trailers are excellent for moving skid loaders and mini excavators. It will be essential for hauling mulching, dirt, or grass clippings. If you plan on towing any mowers with the trailer, make sure the model you purchase has ramps, or you can buy separate trailer ramps.
Car Haulers
Car haulers can carry up to 5,000 lb worth of landscaping equipment. Choose from wooden decking switch to a diamond plate floor for maximum durability! Car haulers can get very heavy, so Lawrimore added brakes to both axles for extra braking protection. Choose from an 83″ X 18′ car hauler or an 83″ x 20′ car hauler with a dovetail.
Equipment Trailers
Need to transport heavy equipment but need a heavier trailer than a car hauler? Purchase a heavy equipment trailer! Lawrimore builds their equipment trailers with heavy-duty materials for long-lasting durability, typically in the 10,200 to 14,000 GVWR weight range! Lawrimore equipment trailers are 83″ wide, and you can choose from 18′, 20′, 22′, or 24′ lengths. These trailers feature 5′ fold-up ramps for easy loading and unloading of the equipment.
Tilt trailer
Tilt trailers are best for medium to heavy equipment with a low profile. Tilt trailers outfitted with hydraulic lifts make for easy loading and offloading. Most tilt trailers do not have side rails, making them great for loading and unloading landscaping materials from the side.
Deck Over Trailer
The platform on deck-over trailers sits above the wheels, so the deck is higher and broader than other trailer styles. Deck over trailers generally do not have side rails, so you can quickly load skids or other landscape materials from the side. Since the deck is wider than other trailers, the Deck Over Trailer will be an excellent option for bulky equipment. However, the ramps on deck overs are longer due to the height of the deck. You will need more space to load and unload than a similarly sized utility trailer.
Gooseneck Trailer
A gooseneck trailer has a long “neck” that reaches over your truck’s tailgate and slides onto a ball receiver mounted in the bed. Gooseneck trailers are generally used for very heavy loads like vehicles and multiple tractors. Also, they are more stable than bumper pull trailers. Gooseneck trailers are best used for large loads of heavy landscape materials, excavation equipment, or tractors. A gooseneck trailer is not practical as a daily landscape trailer transportation but is useful for large excavation equipment.
What Size Landscape Trailer do I Need?
Landscape Trailers for Mowers
We recommend purchasing a 7′ X16′ utility trailer for new landscapers. A 7′ X 16′ trailer will be large enough to fit two riding mowers, a walk-behind mower, weed trimmers, blowers, and a toolbox. Even if you only have one riding mower, a 7′ x 16′ trailer would be a good idea, especially if you plan to expand in the future.
City landscapers may want a smaller trailer. A 6′ X 10′ trailer would be a better option, but the size of your mowers will limit how much you can haul. Switching from a riding mower to a stand-on mower will take up less space and make city landscaping much easier.
Photo Credit: Canva
Landscape Trailers for Skid Loaders and Compact Excavators
The size you need will depend on the size and weight of your equipment. Trailer sizes for hauling skid steers and compact excavators are generally no bigger than 8″ x 18″. 12′ and 14′ long trailers are the most common sizes used to transport compact equipment.
Photo Credit: Canva
Landscape Trailers for Tractors and Larger Equipment
Gooseneck trailers are one of the safest options for hauling compact tractors and loaders. What size trailer you need will depend on the length of your equipment and any attachments that you will want to be transported. An 18′ or longer trailer would be ideal. A 16′ trailer would work for some smaller sub-compact tractor models, but we recommend purchasing a longer trailer.
Customizing Your Landscape Trailer
Four Winds Trailer sells Rack’Em trailer accessories. They offer a large assortment of tie-down accessories to make securing your equipment more accessible. You can add racks for your weed trimmers, blowers, shovels, brooms, and more to your trailer. Hot day? Add a water cooler rack for convenient hydration! For easy fuel transport, add a gas can rack. You can also purchase ladder racks, spray can racks, and hooks to store whatever you need inside enclosed trailers! If you still don’t have enough space, you can add a roof rack or sidewall ladder rack to your enclosed trailer. Transporting landscaping equipment has never been easier!
Where to Buy a Landscape Trailer in Kentucky
In Bowling Green, Kentucky, Four Winds Trailer is your go-to source for landscape trailers! Four Winds is an authorized Stealth, Lawrimore, and Anvil trailer dealer! Did you know that we offer seven different types of trailers? Check out our blog to see all the types of trailers we sell. Visit our inventory page to see what we have in stock! Do you need repair parts? Check out our parts page or submit a parts request form. If you have any questions, you can call us at 270-781-4612, submit a contact form, or visit our lot! Thanks for reading!