3 Trailer Components You Need To Understand
Posted on: 28 April 2022
Equipment trailers offer plenty of versatility for a variety of use cases. Whether you're using your trailer to haul commercial landscaping equipment, building supplies, or a personal watercraft for a day on the water, there are some features that you'll find on nearly any model. Understanding these features and the terminology behind them can help you make a more informed purchasing decision when you visit a dealer such as Dutchman Enterprises.
While there's more to know about equipment trailers than can fit in a single article, learning about these three critical components can help you get started researching your next trailer purchase.
1. Tongue
The tongue is the portion of the trailer that extends forward and connects with the towing vehicle's hitch. This seemingly simple component serves numerous functions, such as maintaining weight balance and assisting in steering and control. Numerous tongue designs exist, including straight tongues extending directly from the box and A-frame tongues that support and add stability to the box.
Tongue length also matters. Shorter tongues provide tight control but can be "twitchy" at high speeds. Longer tongues offer more clearance for the back of the towing vehicle and additional stability, but at the cost of extra weight and poorer following performance.
2. Decking
The decking sits on top of the trailer box and forms the bed. You'll want to choose decking appropriate for your use case and maintenance plans. Wood decking is generally cheaper, but you'll spend more time on upkeep and may need to replace or refurbish the lumber eventually. Steel and aluminum decks are pricier but require less upkeep and typically last longer.
It's also worth considering the style of the decking surface. If you're choosing a metal deck, diamond plates provide anti-skid traction, making it more challenging to slide objects across the surface. Metal decks may also become slippery if you frequently dirty or oily gear.
3. Axles
Axles are the shafts that attach that support your trailer's wheels and allow them to rotate. A single-axle trailer has two wheels, and a double-axle trailer has four wheels. Single axle trailers are lighter, easier to maintain, and easier to maneuver but typically come with lower maximum payloads. A double-axle trailer can allow you to carry more, but they're heavier and trickier to control.
You should choose a trailer that fits your most likely payload requirements. If you don't need a double-axle trailer's extra capacity, buying one may not be worth the added cost and trouble. On the other hand, saving money by purchasing a single-axle trailer won't help you over the long run if it doesn't provide the payload capacity you need.
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