How to Choose the Right Landscape Trailer for Your Needs
When it comes to purchasing a landscape trailer, selecting the right type can make a significant difference in how efficiently and effectively you can complete your tasks. Whether you're a homeowner, a landscaping business owner, or a construction or hardscaping professional, understanding your needs and the features available in different trailers will help you make an informed decision. Here are the key factors to consider when choosing the right landscape trailer.
Landscaper or Utility Trailer – What it is and isn’t
Some people use the terms utility and landscaper interchangeably, though actually landscaper is a subtype of utility trailer. All landscapers are utilities but not all utilities are landscapers. Utility trailers are simply trailers used for hauling anything that won’t fit in your truck’s bed—vehicles, tools, materials, etc. Landscape trailers are utilities specialized for landscaping and hardscaping but they can be used for vehicles just the same—what they can be used for depends on the individual trailer’s features. Some places count enclosed trailers as a type of utility/landscape trailer—we have enclosed trailers as a separate category. Hauling something as large as a car would be for a car hauler trailer.
Carrying Capacity
Whether it be for home use, smaller landscaping or large commercial landscaping and hardscaping operations, the most important step is figuring out the carrying capacity you need.Plan ahead! What will you be carrying? Will you be moving mowers, ATVs, UTVs? Will you be carrying a mini excavator? You will need a carrying capacity that can support its weight. Add up the weight of everything you think you might haul all at once in your heaviest load, and that’s the maximum carrying capacity you might need. Trailers’ weight and price tag scale up with their carrying capacity, so be realistic about the weight you need to carry and use hard numbers.
Will you be carrying lots of loose materials—gravel, soil? You will want a landscape trailer with solid sides, or depending on the capacity/volume you need, you may want dump trailer instead.
There is also a general rule, don’t haul a load heavier than 80% of your towing capacity, for both your vehicle and trailer. This provides a good margin of error in case you miscalculate your trailer’s load. (Also, if the load bounces up and down or gets wet that can equal much greater force on the trailer, its axles, suspension and coupler/hitch). It also saves wear on the vehicle and trailer and prevents unsafe driving conditions that could cause rollover or other accidents.
Towing Vehicle
Next you need to make sure that the size of trailer is compatible with the vehicle you plan to haul it with.You’ll often see trailers listed by their GVWR. (Click here to learn more about GVWR and why it’s important.) GVWR is sum of a trailer’s carrying capacity and its curb weight. You need to find out if your vehicle can haul a trailer with that GVWR.
General guidelines for minimum towing ability—CONSULT YOUR VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS TO KNOW FOR SURE! (Your vehicle’s towing specs may be on the sticker on the driver’s door jamb. If you can’t find it there, check the manufacturer’s website.) This is a quick and dirty table of guidelines; your vehicle may be different.
| General Vehicle Type | Average Vehicle Towing Capacity* |
| Cars, minivans, crossovers | 0,000 to 5,000 lbs. |
| Light-duty commercial trucks (Class 1-3) | 0 to 14,000 lbs. |
| Medium-duty trucks (Class 4-6) | 14,000 to 19,500 lbs. |
| Heavy-Duty trucks, Class 7-8 Dual Axle and Chassis cab trucks | 19,500 lbs. and up |
*Remember these are general, rough estimates and you will need to consult your vehicle's specification from the manufacturer. For more about towing capacity, see here.
Trailer Hitch
You also need to make sure that your vehicle’s trailer hitch is the right size and type for that GVWR. If the class of hitch is too low for the GVWR of the trailer you’re considering, you may need to get a stronger hitch. If your vehicle doesn't have a hitch receiver yet you will need one installed. (We sell and install hitches and hitch receivers as well!)| Trailer Hitch Classes (Society of Automotive Engineers) | |
| Class 1 | up to 2,000 lbs. (light loads) |
| Class 2 | up to 3,500 lbs. (light loads) |
| Class 3 | up to 5,000 lbs. (larger loads) |
| Class 4 | up to 10,000 lbs. (larger loads) |
| Class 5 | up to 17,000 lbs. |
Remember your towing capacity is only as strong as the weakest component of the towing system. That could be the trailer hitch, the vehicle, the trailer or another component. You need to know the capacity of your vehicle, your hitch and your trailer, and they ALL need to be big enough for the load you plan to carry. Again, ideally the load will only be up to 80% capacity.
You will also need to be sure that your hitch is compatible with the type of coupler the trailer has. Most often for utilities and landscapers that's a ball mount (which we can provide).
Landscaper Rails, Sides and Subtypes
Generally, landscape trailers come with three types of rails: Angle Iron, tube and round. Angle Iron rails are the most economical but they are less sturdy. Tube or tube top construction features a square tube, more durable. Round rails are the most durable. If you'll frequently haul heavy vehicles we recommend getting sturdy rails.Solid sides are solid walls that material cannot pass through. If you plan on hauling lots of small materials with a landscaper you may want this, though a dump trailer might be better.
Ramp Type
Many utility trailers and landscapers feature a gate ramp, which folds down into a ramp. The benefit of this is twofold: it's economical and if something isn't secured on the trailer and starts rolling backward, the gate will stop it from falling out onto the road. You will want to make sure that the ramp has a capacity that can hold whatever you're driving onto it.Other utility and landscapers feature heavier ramps, sometimes called ladder ramps. In some cases, these fold up like gate ramps, in other cases they are removable, and can be stored on the sides of the trailer.
For any of these folding type ramps, a spring assist is a useful option that helps you to easily raise and lower the gate with less force.
For ATVs, SxS and UTVs you may want removable side ramps, which can be easier for loading and unloading the vehicles.
Deck Type
Most utility trailers and landscape trailers have wood decks so that vehicles have decent traction and low slippage. These are usually either pine or oak. Both are durable, with oak being more so. You will want the wood deck to come treated by the manufacturer to increase its lifespan--our trailers with wood decks are treated.Durability and Material
For less demanding work you can get away with aluminum trailers--comparatively lightweight but less durable. But for any level of professional use, we recommend steel construction for better durability and lifespan.A large percentage of professional users put their trailers to very hard use, and if the trailer is cheap, poorly constructed garbage (like from a national hardware chain whose initials are H. D.) they'll be needing a new trailer in 2-3 years. With proper maintenance and care, a quality trailer can last you 10-15 years.
Budget
As you'd expect, trailer size scales up along with carrying capacity, and so does price. But selecting a trailer is like doing any job--it's cheaper to do it carefully and get it right the first time than do it carelessly and have to do it all over again!Other concerns – Brakes, Hubs, Axles, Suspension
To many trailer users these are secondary concerns. For example, most landscape trailers will have spring suspension—torsion axles are less common and pricier. Buyers will often mostly look at the factors above in deciding a trailer, and the manufacturer will select the necessary suspension features for optimal function and safety.
Make no mistake, these features are important for trailer owners to understand for the purposes of operating and maintaining their asset. However, each of these categories is a very broad and complicated field. We recommend that trailer users spend some time learning about these features.
But keep in mind, a little knowledge can also be a dangerous thing. If you really want to get into these for your trailer purchase, you can call or text us at 440-232-4311 for advice. For now, here is a brief overview of each of these features to get you started.
Brakes
By Ohio law, any trailer with an empty weight of 2,000 lbs. or more must have brakes that can be operated from the driver, and should automatically engage if the trailer breaks away from the towing vehicle. All of our trailers over 2,000 lbs. comply with this law, having breakaway brake systems.If you purchase a trailer over 2,000 lbs., you will also need to install a brake controller in the towing vehicle. Brake controllers are electronic devices that send a brake signal and electricity from the battery back to the trailer’s brakes. They can connect to your vehicle’s brake pedal via a brake switch.
Under that 2,000 lb. threshold, brakes are optional. If you want or need to install the trailer braking system in your vehicle, we offer installation services, as well as supplying the brake controller, wiring and all other needed parts.
Axles
The most common type of axle for utility and landscapers is leaf spring axles, sometimes just called spring axles. They have a simple, durable design with metal leaf springs that provide suspension. Affordable, easy to maintain, capable of handling heavy loads.Torsion axles are less common for utilities/landscapers. Torsion axles use rubber cords inside the axle tube for suspension, offering a smoother and quieter ride. They offer a smoother ride than leaf spring axles, maintenance-free and independent on each wheel but more expensive than leaf spring axles. More common for smaller or higher-end trailers.
Drop axles are similar to leaf spring axles in function but provide better accessibility. They’re designed to lower the trailer's deck height for easier loading and unloading. Less comfortable ride, but higher ground clearance and cost-effective.
Straight axles are a basic design with no additional drop or suspension features, offering high ground clearance.
Rubber ride axles and air ride axles also exist but are uncommon for utility and landscape trailers.
Hubs
Standard hubs are the most basic type, designed to connect the wheel to the axle and provide smooth rotation with the help of bearings. These are straightforward, reliable, and cost-effective for general trailer use.EZ Lube hubs have a built-in grease fitting that allows easy lubrication of the bearings without needing to remove the hub. This design simplifies maintenance and extends bearing life.
Uncommon for landscapes and utilities, more common for larger trailers: Oil bath hubs use liquid oil instead of grease to lubricate the bearings, providing smoother operation and better cooling. They are ideal for heavy-duty or high-speed applications but require regular monitoring for leaks.
Idler hubs are basic hubs without brake components, designed for trailers that do not require braking systems. They are simple, lightweight, and inexpensive.
Brake hubs integrate brakingcomponents, such as drums or discs, to allow the trailer to stop using either electric or hydraulic brakes. These are essential for trailers carrying heavier loads.
Pre-greased hubs come with factory-installed bearings and grease, making them ready to install without additional preparation. They are convenient but often more expensive.
Suspension
Leaf spring suspension – integrated with leaf spring axles mentioned above. Leaf spring suspension uses stacked, curved metal springs to absorb shocks and support the trailer's load. It is durable, cost-effective, and performs well under heavy loads, making it a popular choice for most utility and landscape trailers.Torsion suspension uses rubber cords inside the axle tube to provide independent wheel movement and a smoother, quieter ride. It requires less maintenance than leaf springs but is typically more expensive.
Rubberized equalizer suspension uses a rubber equalizer to distribute weight between axles and absorb vibrations for smoother towing. It offers better ride quality than traditional leaf springs and is often used on tandem-axle trailers.
Slipper spring suspension is a variation of leaf spring suspension, where one end of the spring slides into a hanger while the other is bolted to the frame. It is robust and commonly used for heavier-duty utility and landscape trailers.