With a range of purposes under its belt an enclosed cargo trailer is the solution for many transportation services. These types of cargo carriers are available for personal use too as their versatility allows for better storage. This is because you don't need to tie down your cargo or cover it up to protect it from the elements. You also don't have to worry about someone stealing your precious items. There are locking mechanisms and thick walls that stand in the way of a mugger. Enclosed trailers can be transformed into a portable office. You can install racks benches and shelves in one and even have running electricity to it. While this all takes a lot of time and hard work finding the right type of closed box trailer doesn't have to be that way.
What to Consider
Axle
The set of wheels on the trailer are called the axles and there can be either single or tandem axles. The terrain, load weight and maneuverability will help you determine whether your new enclosed box trailer is going to have tandem or single axles. Usually single axle enclosed trailers have a GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight ) rating of around 1500 kg including the brakes.
This means all the items you put in the trailer together with the trailer shouldn't weigh more than 1500 kg. Tandem axles are able to carry twice as much as single axle trailers typically having a GVW rating of around 3100 kg. This usually means you can put about 2200 kg worth of cargo.
Body Build
What will determine the longevity of an enclosed box trailer is the quality of the body. The thicker the skin or walls of the trailer the more resistant to dents and the elements its going to be. This, of course, means a more durable body. The distance between the studs plays an important role too. The further they are apart the stronger the construction of the trailer. The more studs there are the stronger the sidewalls too.
Size
An obvious thing to look out for, the size of a closed box trailer will mainly depend on what you want to put in it. But since size affects weight, you need to consider the load carrying capacity of your hauler be it a pickup or a ute. Keep in mind the trailer's GVW too.
Thickness
As mentioned above the thickness of the outer skin matters when it comes to the strength and durability of the trailer's body. One thing to keep in mind is that usually trailers come with a 0.23 or 0.24 outer skin. A step up from standard trailers are those with 0.30 outer skin thickness and trailers with 0.50 thickness are the most premium.
V vs Flat Nose
While not much difference between the two one thing is for sure with a V-nose back. You will get better gas mileage and you'll be able to tow easier and better than with a flat-nose back.
Flat vs Rounded Roof
The roof of a closed trailer can be flat or rounded with the former cutting you back about 7 to 15 cm of headroom. Rounded roofs are great if you live in an area where there's a lot of rainfall or snow. One thing is mandatory when it comes to both roof types and that is maintenance. No matter what type of roof your closed box trailer has if you don't do some upkeep it won't last you long.
Ramp vs Barn Door
If you want to drive equipment in the trailer a ramp is better but if you want to save on space a barn door may be a better option. Why? Because a ramp door takes about180 cm more to open up than a barn door.
Screwless vs Screws
The one key difference between a screwless trailer and one with screws is going to be repairs. With a screwless trailer you get a more aesthetically appealing carrier and one that you can put decals on but they are not as easy to repair. Having screws on your closed trailer may not be ideal for customisation but it is a breeze when you need to fix something and a lot cheaper too. Another thing to keep in mind is that screwless trailers usually have a higher resale value.
Customization & Features
As mentioned above you can have your trailer wrapped or have some decals installed on it. Of course this is if you go with a screwless trailer. You can go even further with this with custom trailers too. There are enclosed trailers made specifically for a certain application such as a concession truck, hot or cold food service or a portable store.
A trailer can be customized to serve your specific needs with the help of features too. For example, if you regularly tow ATVs, vintage cars, mowers and such having tie down lock rings can help stabilize your load. If you're hauling perishable foods opting for air conditioning is a good idea and flush mounted siding windows are great if you're going to use it as a portable office.
