1. Does the thickness of the outer aluminum skin matter?
Most companies have entry-level trailers all the way up to premium trailers. The entry-level trailers are for every now and then users or the most cost-conscious customer. Our trailers are for the working customer who uses it regularly. 
Most entry-level trailers come with a .019 or .024 aluminum skin and screws on every upright. Our trailers come with .030 mostly screwless outer aluminum skin.
Does the outer skin color matter? Yes, darker color trailers tend to show more waves or heat warps than lighter colored trailers. On darker colored trailers, upgrading to the .040 or .050 aluminum skin makes it more durable and less likely to warp from temperature change.

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2. Plywood vs OSB or Particle Board Floors / Walls?
Plywood no doubt. I’ve looked at other trailer brands with OSB / particle board floors and each spot a screw went through chunks of it are gone underneath
(if it’s treated I would tend to think the water/ road grime could get into it through those missing chunks).  OSB floors don’t hold up under wet grass lawn mowers (they tend to get lawn mower ruts then eventually fall apart). Our trailers have 3/4" Plywood on the floor and 3/8" plywood on the walls.

 

3. How important are floor cross members close together for support?
The industry standard on cross members is 24” on center.  Our trailers’ cross members are 16” on center.  You may want to improve your support to 12” o.c. if you are transporting a zero-turn lawnmower or something of similar weight. Also, you may need to upgrade your floor to a double thickness or other heavier flooring.

 

4. Screws or Screwless?
Most trailers come with screws on every upright as mentioned above. Our mostly screwless looks more beautiful, is more flexable and is easier to wrap with graphics. For resale value, mostly screwless is the way to go. 
If you need a less expensive trailer, then go with screws on every upright, just keep in mind that they wear holes into the aluminum skin faster (then you get to use ugly washers and/or replace sheets of aluminum skin).

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5. Wedge Nose or slightly Rounded Nose?
There is not a considerable difference in fuel mileage between the two. Upgrading a slightly rounded nose to a True V-Nose will help with handling and has a little better fuel mileage savings.

 

6. Leaf Spring Axles or Torsion Axle?
   EZ Lube Leaf Spring Axle 
Pros: Less expensive, Rides smoother empty, Easier to repair or replace, Handles pastures or bumpy/rock roads better
Cons: Slightly higher deck height

   Torsion Axle
Pros: Slightly smoother fully loaded ride on pavement or smooth concrete, Independent wheel movement
Cons: More expensive, Lower deck height, Does not travel well on bumpy roads or across pastures.

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7. Radial or Bias-ply tires?
Bias ply tires are inferior to radial tires. All of our cargo trailers come with radial tires, which provide a better ride, durability, and longevity.

 

8. Standard Height, Lowered Height, or Extra Tall?
This decision is up to you. We recommend choosing the lowest height that suits your needs. The reason behind this is that you want to decrease wind drag. The ideal situation would be to match the trailer to the truck height.

 

9. Flat or Rounded Roof?
The flat roof has a little lower interior ceiling, and the round roof adds about 3" to 4" of headroom. The rounded roof is beneficial in the area that gets SNOW. Proper maintenance is always good for maintaining your trailer no matter the options.
Most trailers are equipped with a muti-piece galvanized seamed roof.  Our trailers all have a one piece aluminum roof (no seams to leak).

 

10. Ramp or Barn Doors?
These two options depend on your needs. If you need to dolly and/or drive equipment up into the trailer, then a ramp is definitely it.  If your just loading miscellaneous items and don’t need a ramp, then the barn doors are a way to save money.  Barn doors can also be beneficial if you are tight on space because it takes an extra six or more feet of room to open a ramp door.

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11. Do I need to upgrade my driver’s license?
In some states, you are required to upgrade your driver’s license if the total (truck & trailer) GVWR is greater than 26,000 pounds.

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12. Do I need to upgrade my vehicle registration?
Your vehicle could determine if you need to upgrade your registration. If you have a dually truck, it could limit the trailer you could pull due to GVWR. If you have a 3/4 ton, you could be rated to haul the same trailer without having to upgrade your registration. Check your local laws and check the surrounding states if you plan to drive across state lines. 

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13. Do I need expert help?
If you need help, you have three options.

   a. stop by our office 

   b. email us at jmsalestexas@gmail.com

   c. call us.

We would be happy to answer any questions you might have.