Enclosed utility trailers are a safe way to transport shovels, rakes and pruning shears, and often come equipped with cabinets, bins, equipment racks and storage boxes.

This Aluma 7712H tilt utility trailer comes with an LED light package, safety chains, aluminum fenders, as well as front and side retaining walls. The trailer bed size is 78 inches by 142 inches. Pricing starts at approximately $1,500.

Since the LC/DBM October issue focuses on equipment that landscapers use to perform their tasks on a day-to-day basis, we also decided to examine one of the main modes used to transport that equipment.

There are many different types of trailers, but the most common used by landscapers are dump and utility trailers. When it comes to landscape utility trailers there are enclosed, open and flatbed.

Choosing Your Trailer Type
Enclosed trailers are a safe way to transport shovels, rakes and pruning shears, and often come equipped with cabinets, bins, equipment racks and storage boxes. Their open space in the center can be used for mowers, leaf blowers and such. Although enclosed trailers tend to be heavier and less aerodynamic than an open landscape trailer, they do provide a lockable storage unit and protection from the outside elements.

Open landscape utility trailers are similar to flatbed trailers with the addition of back or side ramps. These trailers are often used by the landscaping industry because they are medium to heavy duty, cost efficient and verses an enclosed trailer they are less expensive to purchase.

Flatbed utility trailers have decks that sit low to the ground; they can haul heavy loads and are easier to handle on the road because of where the deck sits. Most flatbed utility trailers will have ramps on the sides or back for easier loading and unloading.

The Other Landscape Trailer
Dump trailers have the option of dumping from the end, bottom or side. To choose the best dump trailer it is important to know the weight of the material being hauled, as well as the site location and consistency of material. Dump trailers are often watertight.

End dumps typically have higher sides and carry more cubic yardage, however this does not mean they can carry more weight. Side dumps have better stability, stronger construction and often operate at a reduced cost because of liability issues. Bottom dump trailers generally haul loose materials, such as dirt or rock, and the product is unloaded from a gate at the bottom of the trailer. By unloading at the bottom of the trailer, the driver is able to spread the load out over a large area. The low dumping point also makes the trailer safe, and rarely tips over, which can be an issue with end dumps. Here are specifics to consider when shopping for trailers.

The interior height of this enclosed 7-foot tandem axle trailer, model #AE712TA by Aluma, is six feet tall. It has a 32-inch side door, a dome light with switch, LED lights, v-nose front, double wheel swivel tongue jack, plywood wall lining, and aluminum treadplate rockguard. The trailer bed size is 81.5 inches by 139 inches. The cost of this trailer is approximately $4,000.

The 35SV, a single axle open landscape utility trailer by Big Tex Trailers, has a lightweight expanded metal ramp and is enclosed with a 29-inch tall metal frame. A pine wood floor is secured with torx screws and there are four tie down loops inside the bed. This model starts at approximately $1,700.

Trailer 6310 by Aluma has a 12-inch solid side rack (sold separately) and comes with safety chains, an LED light package and aluminum wheels. The width of the trailer is seven feet and the length is 14 feet. The trailer bed size is 63 inches by 120 inches. Pricing begins at $2,300.

Axels
Whether you have chosen a flatbed, enclosed or open landscape trailer, the number of axels on it is an important factor. When making this decision you must consider how much weight your trailer will haul. A general rule of thumb states that anything over 3,000 pounds should be carried on a tandem axle trailer. Also, if you plan on hauling more than 3,000 pounds, trailer brakes need to be considered.

Brakes
Trailers come with and without brakes, however, they are recommended for dual axle trailers and may be required depending on where you live. As there are many types of trailers there are also several types of trailer braking systems. Types of braking systems include electric, hydraulic surge and surge.

Electric braking systems are the most common type of braking systems found on trailers. This type of braking system connects the brake system on the tow vehicle to the brake system on the trailer.

This is accomplished by installing a brake controller inside the tow vehicle. The controller senses the braking force of the tow vehicle and in turn activates the brakes on the trailer.

A hydraulic surge brake system consists of an actuating cylinder that is usually integrated with the trailer tongue assembly. As the tow vehicle applies its brakes, the "surge" of the trailer towards the decelerating tow vehicle compresses the surge actuator. As this cylinder is compressed, force is applied to the master cylinder and from there to the braking cylinders.

Model #5410, a utility trailer by Aluma, has a bi-fold rear tailgate, aluminum fenders and floor, LED lights and sells for approximately $1,700. The trailer bed size is 54 inches by 120 inches.

The 70LR is a tandem axle landscape trailer by Big Tex trailers. It comes with a 24-inch by 24-inch by 87-inch lockable landscape box, five tool holders and is equipped with LED lighting. The cost of this trailer is $4,200.

Dump trailers are used to haul dirt, gravel and other landscape materials. This 70SR model by Big Tex Trailers has a lockable pump and battery box mounted in front of the bed, J-hooks for tie downs, tarp brackets, and a single cylinder lift. The cost of this trailer is approximately $4,000.

Surge braking systems are more expensive and usually only needed if you'll be using several different tow vehicles that would each require a brake controller.

Electric brakes are usually preferred over surge brakes because their operation is independent from the tow vehicle. If for some reason the tow vehicle loses its brakes, there would not be enough deceleration surge to activate the surge brakes. However, with electric brakes, the driver could manually activate the brake controller thus allowing the trailer to slow.

In some states, any trailer with brakes is required to have a breakaway system. In the event that the trailer becomes disconnected from the tow vehicle, the trailer brakes would apply automatically to stop the run away trailer. Trailers equipped with electric brakes carry a separate battery to activate the breakaway system. Surge brakes use a cable that locks the breaks in a breakaway situation.

Tongue
The tongue length is a critical component for the stability of the trailer; generally the longer the tongue the easier it makes for towing. Shorter tongues require up to 15 percent of the trailer weight to be on the ball. Longer tongues only need around 10 percent. That means less weight on your vehicle and more on the trailer.

Load Capacity or GTW
When purchasing your trailer, special attention should be paid to the gross trailer weight, GTW, as this determines how much your trailer should haul. This number also includes the weight of your trailer.

It is also recommended that when you load your trailer, you do so from front to back, distributing the weight evenly from side to side. Also, for the stability of the trailer you should not load more than 50 percent of your weight at the front of the trailer.