Enclosed cargo trailers are specialty vehicles used to haul property from place to place. The type of cargo can be vastly different depending on your needs. The cargo can be simple crated items on pallets to exotic cars. Typically the cargo has one thing in common, that it needs to be protected from the weather and potentially damaging road debris such as rocks or parts that have fallen off other vehicles.
Enclosed Cargo Trailer Characteristics
The most important issue when designing enclosed trailers to be used for hauling cargo is to make sure you have enough space to haul your property. Consider the length, width and height of the cargo to be transported. Also consider the weight of the cargo. Different size axles can be included on the trailer that will support the total weight of the cargo. One more area for consideration is the tie down system. When designing an enclosed cargo trailer, e-track is generally a good option if you do not have a consistent placement of cargo. E-track delivers the flexibility to place a tie down every few inches. For durability a different type of flooring may be used to cover the wood that the cargo will be placed on and the ramp the cargo will be loaded on. Rubber coin flooring and aluminum tread plate provide extremely durable surfaces.
Enclosed Cargo Trailer Options
There are hundreds of options for that can be included on enclosed cargo trailers depending on the use. One popular option is 110 volt electrical systems. A 110 volt electrical system allows an enclosed cargo trailer to supply normal household alternating current which allows the user to power any electrical items such as tools, fans or lights. The 110v option is usually limited to 30 or 50 AMPs of current, but in some cases 100 AMP service is also installed. Popular options that require 110v systems include: air conditioners, air compressors, fluorescent lighting. With an invertor the 110v system can also charge 12v batteries. Such options will allow additional use for winches, tongue jacks and 12v dome lights.
Flooring is another option for these trailers that can make a big difference in the type of use an enclosed cargo trailer can have. The most basic type of flooring is plywood. This type of flooring generally does not add costs, but this flooring is generally the least durable. It will chip, and hold stains such as gasoline and oil. The next level of floor is the vinyl floor. This flooring is similar to household vinyl flooring that you may see in a kitchen. This floor will stop stains, but if the floor is hit with a sharp object or a heavy object it may tear and allow the plywood floor to be revealed thus allowing for the damage outlined above. Aluminum tread plate or ATP is a strong aluminum floor that will not generally rip or reveal the plywood floor. It is extremely durable and provides great value and generally will have a higher resale value. Rubber coin floor is a type of rubber floor. This floor offers better traction than an ATP floor. Carpeting is another popular option. In some cases the floor has multiple types of floor such as a vinyl floor with ATP runners that a car tire will travel on.
If you plan on using the trailer for cars, then there are several different options to consider. A winch allows easy loading of a car. Some people think they can drive a car into the trailer so the winch options is not added to the trailer. Consider a car that will not start, the best way to load that car would be with a winch. A winch requires a 12v battery to power it. A winch draws a high amount of current which generally cannot be provided by any other device than a deep cycle 12v marine/RV grade battery. In this consideration also make sure you are getting a 102″ wide trailer and not a 96″ or 8′ wide trailer. Most vehicles will not load well in a trailer without the wider option.
Consider how much weight will the cargo trailer be required to carry. Factor in the weight of the trailer and the trailer load to decide on an axle configuration. You can always put a smaller load in a trailer with a high axle rating, but overloading a trailer can cause tires to blow out and axles to bend which will require costly repairs. Axle sizes start at 3,500 pounds and go as high as 8,000 pounds. Axle configurations can have one, two or three axles. Axles may also have different tires that a rates based on the number of plys. An “A” rated tire has 2, a “B” is 4 and so on. Check the tire pressure frequently, this can be the difference between a good trip and a trip that has a tire change.