The Isuzu NPR ECO-MAX is a cab-forward, diesel-powered truck with an available payload of up to 6,667 pounds. The engine has a B10 durability rating of 310,000 miles. Outfitted with a stake body, it is priced at around $36,000.

Unless your landscape business just services customers within walking distance of your headquarters, as mine did when I was 14 years old, transporting equipment, materials and personnel to work sites requires vehicles.

Rugby's Landscape Uni-Body features 48-inch-tall stakeless sides with a centered horizontal formed rib. The front and sides are built with 14 gauge steel. The hoist has an operating pressure of 3,200 psi and can handle up to 16 tons.

Dumping beds can also be made from aluminum. This one from M.H. Eby has the option of fold-down side panels, drop-down or barn door style tailgates and a cab protector.

The rear of this dumping bed is a combination of a two 34-inch barndoor-style gates over a 14-inch drop-down tailgate.

When I was 18, the landscape company I worked for relied on a 30-year-old stake bed truck to do the job. It was functional: having enough room for two mowers, an edger, weed whacker, assorted hand tools and miscellaneous seasonal equipment; providing easy access to the equipment although unloading the heavier pieces was a two-man job since there was no ramp; and allowing three crew members to ride somewhat comfortably in its musty cab (but I was grateful on the days when it only had to hold the crew chief, nicknamed Cowboy, and myself).

I was also somewhat grateful on the days that the truck broke down, which it did on occasion, as I was getting paid to sit and wait for one of the owners to come and attempt to resuscitate the rickety ride. Of course, this put us behind schedule and to catch up we had to work double-time, without getting paid double-time, but sometimes if the repair took too long, we'd get to put off a scheduled maintenance job.

So the old Ford did not accommodate an efficient workflow and it certainly did not raise the company's status in the community but it did allow the family-owned business to exist. No doubt, an upgraded vehicle would have been a boon to them as it might be to your company. Whether in your near or distant plans, this article can help you decide what option is best for you.

Not only does this trailer have a bi-fold rear tailgate, it is equipped with a bi-fold side gate, which allows, among other things, equipment in front to be unloaded without having to unload the equipment in the back first. Without the side gate it is priced at around $2,500.

Dumping trailers such as this tandem axle unit with a 45 degree dump angle can be more cost effective than a truck with a dumping bed as they can be towed by the same vehicle that tows other types of trailers. This model is priced at around $4,000.

This tandem axle trailer is built specifically for landscape contractors by Big Tex Trailers. Its bed is 83 inches by 12 feet. The payload rating is 7,000 pounds. The ramp gate is gas spring-assisted and is reinforced with tubular steel. In front, on top is a lockable toolbox. Similar models are priced at around $4,200.

A hydraulic cylinder under this Aluma tilt-load trailer raises the bed for loading. As equipment is driven onto the bed, the weight of the equipment causes the bed to lower to a level position. The trailer also has gas shocks, which allow a slow descent, and a locking pin. Their tilt trailers start at around $1,500.

I remember that the company I worked for also had an old van, but the most popular choices for landscape pros are trailers or trucks with a box or a bed. And for comparison's sake, I don't mean a pickup (or an old stake bed) but one of the many truck beds designed with the industry in mind.

Trailers
Trailers tend to be more flexible because they are not married to a particular vehicle, which comes in handy when a vehicle breaks down or errands need to be run while still at a work site. And it is more cost-effective to have multiple trailers for different uses and one vehicle to haul them as opposed to multiple vehicles with beds for different uses. A good place to start when selecting a trailer is to decide on the required size, not just width and length but also height and payload capacity, based on the materials and equipment that you plan to haul.

There are single axle and tandem axle models, the latter capable of bigger payloads. The choice of materials typically comes down to the ruggedness of steel versus the lighter weight of aluminum, which leads to lower fuel consumption. Aluminum is also impervious to rust although it can corrode. Both metals come in different gauges, or thicknesses, and weights, measured in pounds per square foot. When comparing gauges, the larger the number, the thinner the metal.

Styles include flatbed or utility, with or without sides that can be solid, slatted or otherwise vented, and enclosed, which provides better protection for your equipment, as they are lockable, conceal the contents within and keep those contents out of the elements.

One of the key differences between trailers is found at the rear. Some have an open rear, others have a gate or door that can fold-down or swing-out, but most landscaping trailers tend to have a gate that is also a ramp, and these come in different configurations and different weight ratings.

Enclosed trailers and boxes, such as this one built by Super Lawn Trucks, provides protection for your equipment, conceals the contents within and keeps those contents out of the elements. As an added benefit, they give businesses an opportunity for high-profile advertising on their sides and rear. SLT custom trucks start around $40,000 and go up to around $90,000.

A curbside front door with a 54-inch-wide opening allows for easy access to most pallet sizes.

Enclosed boxes and trailers can come equipped with cabinets, bins, equipment racks, equipment holders and storage boxes.

Besides ramp-loading, some trailers are tilt-loaders, which can have gas cylinders to assist in the process. And there are hydraulic-lift dump trailers available. The deck of a trailer can be made of wood, as well as metal. Some trailers have their own brakes and springs.

Other features to consider are the type of jack - some swivel down, some wind down and some have wheels – and removable fenders, which might be needed to open and close the doors of equipment cabs.

Different options include toolboxes, which can be lockable, tool holders, spare tires and winches.

Truck Beds and Boxes
Transporting equipment and materials in a truck bed or box has its advantages. One is that a truck is more maneuverable than a trailer so it is easier to navigate in tight spots like crowded or narrow streets.

But, as mentioned at the beginning of the article, if the truck breaks down, your crew is stuck until it is repaired or all the equipment and materials are loaded into another hauler.

You can purchase new trucks with specialized beds or boxes or you can get them up-fitted to your current truck's chassis. We are focusing on the latter but if you are looking for the former, considerations for the truck include: gas or diesel, cab forward or conventional cab, standard-sized cab or extended cab.

As with trailers, key factors are the size and payload capacity. The materials and equipment that you will transport help determine the right solutions for your business. The different types include flatbeds, stake beds, dumping beds and enclosed boxes and are usually built from steel or aluminum, although decks and stake bed panels can be made from wood, which is deemed to be stronger than aluminum and more lightweight than steel; and enclosed boxes can be made from fiberglass, which is more resistant to corrosion and has better insulation properties than aluminum.

Tailgates come in a variety of styles including barn doors, drop-down, swing-out and gates. Some models have curbside doors for easy access to pallets.

Options include tarps, ladders, chipper covers and coal chutes for dumping beds.

So whether a trailer or a specialized bed or box, upgrading your mode of hauling can make your workflow more efficient, provide better protection to your equipment and the materials needed on any given job, and enhance your image as you drive around your town.