Frequently Asked Questions
Mississippi, New Hampshire, and South Carolina specify no combined length maximum. Oregon tops out at 50 feet (60 feet with special permits), with Maryland at 55 and Michigan at 59.
Connecticut has a 48-foot maximum in some instances, but its general maximum is 60 feet, the same as Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. New Jersey's top number is 62 feet.
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia all limit maximum combined to 65 feet. Colorado, Nevada, and Oklahoma top out at 70 feet. Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Washington have a maximum combined length of 75 feet. Wyoming allows a top combined length of 85 feet, the greatest of any state.
Please describe a “dump trailer."
Dump trailers are found on farms, nurseries, construction sites, golf courses and in a variety of other places. Used for hauling equipment or storing construction debris for later disposal, dump trailers are multi-purpose units for commercial and residential use. Built from top-grade materials, heavy-duty hydraulic trailers are made using the latest construction techniques that eliminate bending and breakage in all stress areas. Dump trailers are much cheaper than dump trucks.
Please describe a “tow dolly."
A tow dolly is a two-wheel trailer attached to a motor home used to transport a car or other vehicle. By driving up the dolly ramps, two wheels of the towed vehicle rest on the dolly, while the other two wheels are on the ground. Almost any vehicle can be towed with an adjustable, secure tow dolly. Tow dolly models, along with many options and outfits available, are able to meet all towing needs.
Please describe a “deck-over trailer."
The deck-over trailer is a multi-purpose trailer with the deck positioned over the wheels instead of between them. This design offers 100% use of the bed for hauling tractors, equipment, etc. The deck is 34" off the ground allowing plenty of clearance when traveling over rough or uneven ground. A deck-over trailer is ideal for medium and/or heavy duty agricultural, industrial and landscaping use.
Please describe a “tilt-bed trailer."
A tilt-bed, or tilt-deck, trailer is a utility/equipment trailer with a hinged platform allowing for loading of equipment from the ground without requiring the use of ramps. Available in a wide range of sizes, tilt-bed trailers are available in one to 12-ton models with various bed widths and lengths. Some standard features of these trailers are rear impact guards, sealed wiring harness, oak decking, cross-bracing, and a 10 to 14 degree loading angle when tilted.
Please describe an “equipment trailer."
Equipment trailers are perfect for hauling small to medium-sized equipment on a construction site. There are a wide variety of options available including a gooseneck, side rails, spare tire mounts, and double-brake axles.
Please describe a “gooseneck trailer."
The gooseneck trailer may look like a goose, but has the pulling power of an ox. The highest quality gooseneck flat bed trailer offers the solution to hauling medium to large-size equipment. Standard features include a 10,000 pound drop-foot jack, stake pocket tie downs, safety chains, and pressure treated decking. Custom built flat bed utility trailers to fit all requirements can be designed.
What determines the size of hitch ball needed?
Most single-axle trailers are equipped with a standard 2" coupler. Usually tandem-axle trailers are equipped with a 2-5/16" coupler. A full selection of trailer balls, ball mounts and hitches for all needs are available.
What type of light hook up is required?
Trailers without brakes are equipped with a 4-way flat connector. Trailers with brakes have a 7-way RV-type light connector. Open trailers with brakes have a 6-way type connector.
What determines how much weight can be hauled?
All trailers have a quoted GVWR or gross vehicle weight rating. This weight, which includes the trailer weight, is the amount that can safely be loaded into a trailer. To calculate how much can be hauled, the weight of the trailer should be subtracted from the GVWR. A salesman can help you determine GVWR.
What determines how large a trailer is required?
This question should be posed to your salesperson who will help you determine how large a trailer is required based on your needs. There are many options available to equip a trailer with the appropriate equipment based on your requirements.
Are brakes required on a trailer?
Most tandem-axle trailers are equipped with electric brakes. Brakes are optional equipment on single-axle trailers. Based on the size of the tow vehicle and the weight of cargo, it may be decided that brakes would be a good option. Based on your load conditions, brakes provide greater stopping power.
Should a spare tire be purchased?
It is highly recommended that a spare tire be purchased. Spare tires, as well as spare tire carriers, are available. To allow for easy access, the spare tire carrier is attached to the front tongue. Spare tires are cheaper than a tow bill!
Does the length of the trailer include the tongue?
The tongue is never included in the length of a tag-along trailer. The neck of a gooseneck or fifth-wheel is included (which is almost always 8'). This does not include horse and/or livestock trailers. Be sure to ask specific questions regarding trailer length because sometimes lengths are exaggerated.
What type of pick-up truck should be used to pull a gooseneck trailer?
While depending on the size of the trailer, in general, short beds, short wheelbases, small engines, high gear ratios, soft suspensions and 4-wheel drive vehicles should be avoided. A 3/4-ton to 1-ton pick-up is preferred as long as the engine can handle the trailer size. A “dually” is required for trailers over 40'+ and for those with heavy tongue loads such as living quarters. A dually may not be suitable for some large, heavy living quarter units. Four-wheel drives frequently have clearance problems between the bed and the trailer neck and usually have less towing capacity. It is crucial to advise your salesperson if there is a sleeper, light bar, fuel tank, decorative bed-rails or any other obstruction behind the pick-up cab or bed. These items may have to be removed or the neck of the trailer may have to be built differently.
Describe the difference between torsion axles and spring axles.
Spring axles are mostly used on small utility trailers or cheaply built trailers of all kinds. Torsion axles are much preferred. Torsion axles ride smoother and have inherent shock absorption. Torsion axles have fewer moving parts so there are fewer maintenance problems.
Torsion axles are a simple steel shaft mounted in rubber inside a steel tube. A trailing “arm” is on each end of the axle and has a normal spindle to mount a hub. Torsion axles have become the predominately used axle on better trailers.
What are the Sales Department hours?
Office Hours
Monday thru Friday from 8:00-5:00
Saturday from 8:00-12:00