trailer jack magazine issue 01

TRAILER JACK

Insider's Guide ToBuying EnclosedTrailers

Modifying your trailer to make the most useof space and stay organized.

A D V I C E - H O W T O S - F R E E B I E S I S S U E 1

Free comparisonof Every PickupSold in the U.S.

An inside look at how trailermanufacturers are cutting costs, whatthat means for consumers.

T R A I L E RH A C K S5

PLUS

www.frontiertrailersandsheds.comTRAILER JACK MAGAZINE | 2

Hi Trailer Jack,Have been looking at several used enclosed car haulers andam down to deciding between 2.

The first is a 2002 26' trailer

The second is a 1995 24' trailer

The Second is obviously 7 years older and is about $1,500more. However, I do have an open trailer from that brand andknow that the quality of these is top notch. Still, a 20 year oldtrailer of any make is still 20 years old. At what point havethese things reached end of life?

Thanks,Mike

Ask Trailer Jack

Launched in 2016, TrailerJack is a magazine writtenfor businesses, organizationsand people who use trailersfor both work purposes andrecreational uses.

It features a wide range ofmaterial from free resourcesto advice and how to's andbest of all, it's free andalways will be!

Be sure to check out theselection of durable trailersoffered by frontier trailersand sheds by visiting thewebsite below.

W H E N I S A U S E D T R A I L E R T O O O L D ?

4

6

6

Continue Reading on the Next Page >

Landscapingtrailers starting at

$60/Mo

Equipment trailersstarting at

$90/Mo

HUGE Blowout Sale!!!Everything must go! Great deals on the highest quality trailers in North Carolina. Financing andleasing available with NO CREDIT CHECK REQUIRED! Get your trailer before time runs out!

Call Today: 336-682-6580


Dear Mike,

First off, it’s almost always a good idea to opt for a newer trailer, even if you need tostretch your budget. This is especially true if you want the trailer to last you for many yearsto come.

With that said, if you’re set on one of these two trailers and won’t consider a new one, I’drecommend the second and here is why:

Buying a high end used trailer is like purchasing a used Lexus. As long as there is no ruston the frame, and the previous owner (or owners) didn’t abuse it, it’ll last you many yearswith only small maintenance and repairs needed.

Aluminum trailers are especially great for longevity due to the lack of rust, but it comes ata cost. It is crucial to the reliability and structural integrity of the trailer that the previousowner did not overload the trailer and there were no prior accidents. If either of those twohappened, you will want to pass on the trailer.

As for the trailers age, most people expect 15-20 years out of a trailer, but just likeanything in life if you take care of it, it’ll last decades. I’ve seen some steel trailers out onfarms that dated back to the 1950’s and were still being used daily.

The age of the trailer doesn’t matter nearly as much as how the prior owner or ownerscared for and maintained the trailer.

If you decide to go with the second trailer, I recommend doing the following:

Replace wheels and bearingsReplace wiring harnessReplace lights with LEDsReplace brake system

I’d also recommend reading last month’s Ask Trailer Jack as it goes over everything youneed to look for in a used trailer.

Ask Trailer Jack (cont.)W H E N I S A U S E D T R A I L E R T O O O L D ?

~Trailer Jack

7X14Enclosed trailers

$85/Mo

Frontier Trailers Come With Dexter

Axles Standard on All Models

Call Today: 336-682-6580

6X12Enclosed trailers

$59/Mo

TRAILER JACK MAGAZINE | 4

How toModify YourTrailerIf you're looking to get more out of yourtrailer these 5 trailer modifications willhelp organize and add storage withoutimpacting your trailer's usability.

H O W T O S


Trailer Hack No. 1: Tongue StorageAdding storage to your trailer's tongue is one of the simplest mods out there. There are amany ways to do this, but I'll cover one of the simplest ways. Install mesh, or a wire rack inbetween the trailer tongue's two beams. Don't just use a sheet of plywood or a solid sheetof aluminum because you want water to drain instead of pooling up in this area. Weldingthe mesh or rack in place is best and won't impact the structural integrity of the tongue.Then use a cargo net or bungie cords to secure items here. This is great for holding gascans, oil, a cooler with drinks, and more. If you want to store items here that you don'twant getting wet, use a plastic bin with a lid.

Trailer Hack No. 2: Add a BasketThis is one of the most difficult trailer modifications on this list. If you take the time tomake this modification to your landscaping trailer you'll find incredible use. It'll expandyour space while still allowing you to store your mower and other items beneath. Thisrequires you to weld the basket onto the front of the trailer. Make sure it's high enough tostore items underneath!

Trailer Hack No. 3: Side Mounted PVC TubePerfect for storing long items, you can add a long PVC tube to the side of your trailerusing J hooks and tie down rope. This makes use of the exterior sides of your trailer andwill add a great amount of utility. We recommend you paint the PVC black to keep yourtrailer looking clean and professional.

Trailer Hack No. 4: Vertical PVC TubingThis trailer modification is great for storing long tools like pole saws, rakes, shovels, etc.Similar to the side mounted pvc, you want to paint this PVC black to keep the trailerclassy. You can mount these on the inside or outside of the trailer, though werecommend mounting them outside so you don't lose storage space inside. Make sure todrill a hole in the bottom cap of the PVC to allow water to drain. Attach the tubes usingPVC electrical conduit straps and nuts

Trailer Hack No. 5: Dry storage for Small ItemsAnother hack that uses PVC (Paint it black!), this modification is perfect for keeping smallitems out of the rain. simply use a 6-inch PVC tube and two end caps and you're good togo! You can permanently attach these to the trailer using a method similar to hack no. 4or you can just store them in your basket or tongue storage!

How to Modify YourTrailer (cont.)

Most trailer manufacturers arecutting costs without telling themanufacturer. These trailermanufacturers aren't informingbuyers of the materials andconstruction methods used inenclosed trailers, and because ofthe way enclosed trailers are built,most buyers won't be able to tellthe difference.

With this insider's guide topurchasing enclosed trailers, youwill be able to tell the differencebetween a long lasting, highquality trailer and a cheap, poorlyconstructed trailer.

There are 3 steps to checking a trailer's build quality. Each step will revealcrucial information about the build quality of the trailer, exposing thetrailer's capabilities and longevity (or lack thereof).

Step 1: Frame Construction

One of the biggest determining factors of an enclosed cargo trailer'sstrength is its frame. If a trailer is built using an I-Beam, Z-Channel, C-Channel or Hat Post frame it will be prone to damage and failure. The bestframe to purchase is an all-tube frame.

Step 2: Skin Thickness

An enclosed trailer's exterior aluminum skin is another area trailermanufacturers often cut costs. Some trailers are built with an exterior skinas little as .16" thick. This skin is easily damaged and could even be brokeninto with as little as a pocket knife. Look for trailers with at-least .24"thickness.

Step 3: Cross Member and Stud Spacing

The last step is to check the cross member and stud distance. It's become avery popular move for trailer manufacturers to cut costs by spacing thestuds and cross members further apart at 24" intervals. this impacts thetrailers durability and load capacity, and if you want a quality trailer youshould be looking for spacing of 16".

Insider'sBuying GuideGUIDE TO BUYING ENCLOSED CARGO TRAILERS

A D V I C E

Choosing a pickup truck foruse in towing can be hard

and confusing, but thisdownloadable spreadsheet

lists all the things thatmatter and allows you tosort through all 19 trucks.

HTTP://GOO.GL/GBZTFR

PICKUP TRUCKCOMPARISON


Want More? Check it out at

www.frontiertrailersandsheds.com

trailer jack magazine issue 01

Documents