[synner]

A new skid steer means time for a new trailer. This time I'll take my time and do it right - tired of forgetting stuff when we get to site and don't feel like having to take multiple vehicles/trailers all the time.

Looking at getting a trailer like this:



and putting an enclosed section on the fixed front end like this:



Driver's side of the trailer will have under trailer sleeves installed to carry the SS forks with us. Not sure if I'll have room for the auger and bit, that might have to go in the bed of the truck.

The enclosed section will be set up with the generator, water pump, ext cords, tools, chains, fuel, grease, oil, slings, pylons, hand tools, etc..

What I hope to do is have the door on the enclosed section fold down as a HD ramp so that I can put tillers, tampers or even a Dingo/Boxer/mini skid in the front end should I wish.

Has anyone built anything like this heavy duty enough for a skid steer? Any suggestions or something I'm missing? I know I have to watch how much weight I put in the enclosed section to prevent overloading the tongue weight.

This is a great set up built locally but its geared more towards the maintenance crews looking to put clippings in the dump box.





TIA.

[Bill Schwab]

Before we go any farther with the ultimate trailer, I need to ask you what problems/ issues you want to solve by building it? The same approach Agla conveyed with choice of software in an old old post, applies to your equipment.

After you convey what your looking to do, then tell me what truck (and you don't need to tell me the brand) you intend to pull this trailer with. I need the GVW, and engine type.

At one point I thought of a one size for everything approach to a trailer. Then, after realizing by organization and planning, we could get away with many of the iotems I felt we needs on the trailer, which mean't less truck.

So, what exactly are you tryiny to accomplish by building this????

[synner]

The main issue I want to address is lost time. Kind of like the Super Lawn truck does for the mowing industry.

We do a lot of custom stone and woodwork, ponds and grading. What I want to build is a sturdy, well stocked mini garage to take to site and know that we can work all day. We're trying to get away from having the quik cuts in this truck, the generator in that truck, having to grab the pallet forks and strap them to the front of the trailer, etc...

We tow this with a Ram 2500 CTD or International 4700.

We tried to eliminate items from the trailer/truck tool boxes but they always seem to make their way back into the truck.

The reason for putting so much on board is so that either truck can hook up and go without worrying what tools are on board the actual truck. Sorry if the first post was vague.

[Bill Schwab]

Ok. Now we're getting somewhere. Forget using the Ram unless the trailer is empty. You will need a 20 ton trailer, which means tri axle, or dual wheels on two 12 ton axles. And don't use a 2 3/8" ball, use a pintle hook. You'll need that 4700 to pull with, especially if you use a side dumper all the awy up on the tongue. Ideally, if that dumper could be put on a rail system to center it after the equipment was removed, that's the way you want to go.

That's about all I can add at this time. Is there no way you can organize your days better, so you can load what you need for that given day? This trailer is going to cost you 8-10K to make, plus what your state charges to register, plus annual licensing, plus, plus plus....

[Hamons]

I have made a trailer similar to some of your criteria.

Trailer has 7,000 pound axles each with heavy duty ramp on back. I can easily carry a skidsteer in the back. Carry a dingo in the front part all the time.

Trailer is squirrley with too much weight in the back and not in the front. I have had 10 yards compost in the back -- too much -- but handles 6 yards easily.

Hope this helps. Here are soem pics

[Hamons]

pics not working -- try again in a sec

[Hamons]

heres a pic

[synner]

Jeff, sounds like what I'm trying to do. The link comes up as invalid for the pics.

Bill, sorry for the confusion. I don't want a side dump on the trailer, that's just one of the locally available units.

I'm looking more for a really good SS trailer with organized secure storage on the front. Basically a mini enclosed trailer where the red box is in the photo below.



Definitely going with the pintle hook on the new trailer. Keeps my buddies with "weekend pickups" from borrowing the trailer as well.

Thanks for all the info.

[synner]

Basically just like what Jeff has just with a tilt bed instead of a rear ramp and the enclosed area will be a little bit smaller. I think the fixed area on the front of the tilt deck trailer is appox 50" front to back.

[Paul]

I have never been a fan of a multiple use trailer. It seems as you grow your equipment gets bigger and you need to carry more attachments. So you end up with a trailer that can't handle everything safely. Buy a good trailer bigger than you think you need.

[Stuck in NH]

I'm gonna butt in here & then get right out, because I am not a landscaper, nor do i play one on TV.

No offense to Hamons or anyone else that has a trailer that works for them but...

I hate the front box, or maybe just the wasted space. I like the front box idea, but the tools are almost always not where you need them. Being the box is on the front of a 20 ft trailer, it isn't always practical to get the trailer where it needs to be.

That said, How about a couple of boxes? 2 boxes 4ft wide by maybe 6ft long. Hold them down with industry standard container locks.

Then you could have more than 2 boxes at the shop & load the ones you need today.

Also since you have a skidsteer with forks on site, you could move the boxes from the trailer to the backyard where you are working. If they are only 4ft deep, maybe you could get them to at least where the skidsteer would go.

Every trip to that box on the front of the trailer at the curb costs how much?

-Stuck

[Hamons]

more pics

[Hamons]

from the sky

[Matt Kulp]

Does the back of the box get beat up easy. Those boxes have very thin walls, I guess if you had movement on the trailer it would not cause to much damage.

[synner]

How about a couple of boxes? 2 boxes 4ft wide by maybe 6ft long. Hold them down with industry standard container locks.

Never thought of that. You could be on to something there. What do you mean by an industry standard container lock? The type of lock used to anchor shipping containers on train cars?