Trailer: Open or Closed

[grasshopper]

I saw Bobby's post on his trailer debate and wanted everyone else's opinion on the two types of trailers. I know they both have their list of advantages and disadvantages, so let's hear what everyone has to say.

IMO...the best setup would be a stakebody truck and an enclosed trailer. If you don't have a stakebody truck, then the open trailer would probably be a little better. I think the advertising is the best part about the enclosed trailer and the fact that it is basically a mobile garage.

[tasser]

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yes enclosed trailer are real nice for puting your companty name on to keeping all your stuff dry and secure i no you can carry alot more stuff in a enclosed but sometimes enclosed trailer are hard to manuver around in some tight drivways then there cost almost double
that why i pefer the open trailer i mounted me a 4ft by 24inch job boxes on the front of mine it keep everything dry that i put in it

[Maddog]

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For right now I perfer the open trailer. Like it was said earlier it is easier to manover in tight spaces due to the extra visability. Easier to load and unload if the sides are lower. More versitile when it comes to hauling trash etc.

Don't get me wrong it would be nice to have an enclosed trailer, but at this point in time for me an open trailer serves me better.

[wrich]

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I have3 a 18 foot enclosed and it is the best investment I ever made

1) No loading in the morning and evening saves 1 hr per day.

2) When raining nothing gets wet

3) Locks up in two minutes

4) I have onboard generator and compressor not flat tiers on anything

5) Lights inside at night

6) Can use for other things such as moving, storage etc.

7) Good place to put on rain gear when it strtes raining

8) Looks professional

9) Advetising

10) Nothing can blow out

[Scott]

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Gary I've run both and for where I'm at right now with my business the enclosed works just fine. It does have it drawbacks but so do open ones. It's a give an take.
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">It's just another upkeep item I don't want to deal with. Besides, you can place advertising on the open trailers - if you really think it helps in getting business - I doubt it. Oh sure, you'll look like a million bucks going down the road - but who is really going to care? More importantly who is REALLY going to call you because you have a "neat" trailer? No one I think. In fact, your fancy trailer might spell "E-X-P-E-N-S-I-V-E" to some potential customers who might not even call because of it?? I don't know.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
Upkeep? We all have upkeep on all of our equipment. Grease the bearings, wash it down, blow it clean, etc... And as far as the lettering, what problems would you have with it. The stuff I got on mine is the same quality they use for pinstriping. 10year warranty.
Does it help business? I'd have to say any investment you make that makes your company look better is wise. I used to drive down this block that had three other open trailer companies and myself. Now there is only one open trailer and myself. They got fired and I got hired. I did ask them why they switched over and noooo it wasn't fully because of my trailer but from soddy work from their previous lco's and the reason they did hire me was that my trailer stuck out from the rest of them that came down their street. It did exactly what I wanted it to do, advertise.
Also if my trailer gives the impression that I'm "E-X-P-E-N-S-I-V-E", well hey, it'll keep the riff raff out and to me it tells people that I care how I look and present myself. This might also give them the impression that I'll care for their property as I care for how I look.
I also do my fair share of new residential construction and I prefer using the enclosed trailer to protect my plants from wind burn and if I decide to go to lunch, I don't have to worry about leaving the trailer at the site full of safe and secured plants.
Now as you noticed I didn't say a thing about your equipment as a matter of fact I believe you have it very functional to suit your business needs, as do I.