The Most Popular Types of Trailers on Commercial Truck Trader
Sometimes, you just don’t know what trailer you’re looking for until you see it. That’s why Commercial Truck Trader is sharing which trailers are most commonly bought and sold on our website, as well as information about each so you can figure out which one best suits your needs.
You may find that one heavy-duty trailer will do the trick, or you may need a variety of trailers depending on the job or cargo. Whatever the case, just keep in mind the gross towing weight limit capacity (fully loaded trailer) of the vehicle that will be pulling your trailer or trailers, and make sure you always use the right ball and hitch for each tow.
With that in mind, here are the most popular types of trailers on Commercial Truck Trader.
Shop for different types of trailers for sale designed for your truck on the nation’s leading marketplace.
Utility Trailers
A utility trailer is one with an open bed that is generally no larger than 1,500 pounds. Utility trailers are pretty versatile and can be used for hauling a variety of loads, from power equipment to furniture. One great benefit of a utility trailer is that the open bed also allows you to carry things like brush that doesn’t need to be contained within a set boundary, like with an enclosed trailer, for example.
On the other hand, most utility trailers are not protected from the elements, and you can’t lock items up inside, though you should secure items onto the trailer with either a cover or ratchet straps. For some items, you can also use a chain lock—like what you might have for your bicycle—to secure items to the trailer while you are away from it.
Dump Trailers
Dump trailers are another type of trailer that aren’t enclosed but have sidewalls and a rear gate for loading and hauling everything from power tools and work equipment to scrap, waste, and debris. They’re great if you’re going to use a trailer primarily for hauling and dumping debris, like taking loads of debris to the dump or hauling around sand, dirt, mulch, rocks, gravel, etc. to drop in specific places, such as delivery spots or construction sites.
Instead of manually shoveling or throwing in whatever material you’ll be hauling, then repeating the process in reverse when you get to your dump site, a dump trailer has a hydraulic lift to eject whatever is in the trailer with the push of a button, saving you time and muscle power.
Equipment Trailers and Flatbed Trailers
Equipment trailers are often referred to as flatbed trailers because they all serve similar functions. Primarily, they are used to haul heavy equipment, machinery, vehicles, and other similar items. They differ from utility trailers because they don’t often have sidewalls and they are specifically engineered to handle much heavier loads. They do usually come with a fold-down ramp that allows for the easy loading and unloading of equipment, and that ramp folds up to form a tailgate that locks into place during the transport process.
Cargo Trailers
Cargo trailers are fully enclosed, with swing-out doors on the back that can be closed and locked. Even if you’re not hauling equipment, a cargo trailer can be used like a temporary shed if you have tools or toys to lock away, which is a benefit even when the trailer isn’t hooked to your tow vehicle. Cargo trailers are also handy for job sites where you’ll be working out of sight of the trailer. You can lock it up while you’re away, then come back for whatever you want as the need arises. In addition, if you are hauling boxes for delivery at a variety of different addresses, you can grab the box you need, lock up the trailer, and make your delivery while the rest of the items are safeguarded.
Dry Van Trailers
Dry van trailers are much like cargo trailers but are usually much bigger in size. As an example, the trailer part of a tractor-trailer (semi) is a dry van trailer. Dry van trailers are fully enclosed to protect cargo from the elements, but they are not temperature-controlled like a refrigerator trailer. They are generally used for transporting palletized goods or boxed freight but can also be used for loose material when needed.
Types of Trailers
The bottom line is, there are generally two types of trailers that are either open (utility) or closed in (cargo). However, as you can see, each trailer type is specifically designed to help you do whatever task you have in mind and make the process easier.
Transport your material with these dump trucks for sale.
If you’re still not sure what you need yet, or we didn’t highlight the exact kind of trailer you want, take a look around on Commercial Truck Trader and scroll through the different types of trailers we have available. There are thousands of listings and dozens of different specialty trailers, so if you need it, we probably have it.
Barrett Baker
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