Are you keen to find out the answer to what is a box trailer? Many people have heard of them and how they’re great for transporting big, heavy goods, but don’t know exactly what they are. That’s why we’ll cover all you need to know about them in this article.
What Is A Box Trailer?
Box trailers transport items that are too big to fit into a car
Box trailers are square or rectangular trailers on wheels with short solid walls or tall mesh walls that create an open box-shaped cage. They can carry a wide variety of heavy and bulky items. All box trailers have a drop-down tailgate, or rear wall, for easy loading and unloading of cargo. Top-quality trailers use galvanised steel for strength and durability to survive harsh Australian conditions. Heavy-duty couplings attach to the back of cars.
Box trailers can be had with built-in ladder racks, toolboxes and slide-out ramps for extra versatility. Tie-down rails on the sides of the box trailers help with securing bulky, heavy cargo from sliding around and getting damaged. You can also choose from ones that have a single axle, or one set of wheels, and ones that have a dual axle, or two sets of wheels. Box trailers are best used for things that are too bulky or messy for a normal car or van.
What Are The Different Types of Box Trailers?
Let’s get into the different types of trailers available. It’s important to remember that depending on the design, you can opt for any of these types of box trailers with extras like a spare wheel, toolbox, slide-down ramps, and canvas covers.
Standard Box Trailer
Box trailers are versatile
The most common type of box trailers that you’ll find is the standard box trailers. These are general-purpose trailers fit for carrying a variety of things and are great for personal and business use.
These trailers make it easy to transport items that are tall, heavy, bulky in size or otherwise fragile. They come in different sizes and let you haul lots of items at the same time, without having to squash them together. Find ones with tall cages to secure tall items and stack cargo boxes.
You will find that most are galvanised box trailers, which means they have a protective zinc coating that prevents them from rusting and gives extra scratch resistance. This makes them last longer and allows your items to be transported in any weather condition. You can keep these stored anywhere you like, even outside with little maintenance.
The side tie-down rails let you secure your load payload properly and they can come with mesh cages or without them. Combining this with the enclosed design keeps your cargo safe and secure. That’s why these are a great investment for people or businesses that need to transport supplies or equipment with something that is low maintenance and durable.
Flat Top Trailer
The flat surface helps to carry bigger, heavier loads
Flat top trailers, also known as open trailers, tabletop trailers, and flatbed trailers, have a flat platform. These are different from box trailers because of their simplicity, being a flat platform on wheels. You can option these trailers to have removable side and rear gates to add versatility. This lets you load and unload items from any angle.
These trailers are able to transport heavier loads due to their flatter and wider surface being able to distribute weight better. Large cargo, such as containers, are also able to fit in these trailers with more ease. Goods get tied down onto mounts on the platform or with low mount tie-down rails, depending on the design. They’re great for transporting farm equipment like tractors or rideable lawn mowers, especially if you get them with ramps.
Hydraulic Tipper Box Trailers
Loose and non-fragile cargo are great for transport in tipper box trailers
Hydraulic tipper box trailers have a hydraulic pump that will raise and tip the trailer onto an angle on one side. These trailers make loading and unloading even easier, and make managing manual handling risks easier. Hydraulic tipper boxes are perfect for moving loose goods like dirt and gravel.
Axle Choices
Single Axle
One set of wheels come with single axle trailers
Single axle box trailers come with one set of wheels, one on either side of the trailer. These trailers come in a smaller size and are lighter than dual axle trailers.
The advantages that come with these trailers are that they are easier to maneuver in tight spaces, even compared to similar-sized dual axle trailers. With it being a smaller size, people who have limited space will also find them easier to store.
The reduced weight of having only one set of wheels and axles that they are connected to also means they are more economical, saving you fuel long term. In terms of cost, they are also cheaper to buy and also need less maintenance, with only one set of tyres, bearings and brakes that need maintenance and replacement.
The disadvantages of single axle trailers are that they can’t carry as heavy of a payload as similar sized dual axle trailers. Another disadvantage is that they will wear out their tyres faster, with more weight placed onto them.
In terms of safety, single axle trailers aren’t required to have brakes if their GTM (total weight of the trailer with a payload) is below 750kg. They will also be less stable to tow, especially if they don’t have suspension.
Dual/Tandem Axle
Tandem axle trailers are more stable thanks to an extra set of wheels
A dual axle trailer, also known as a tandem axle trailer, has two sets of wheels compared to just one. These have two sets of wheels positioned close to each other to share the weight of the trailer and payload better than one set. This means they have a higher towing capacity and can tow their payloads with better stability at higher speeds.
Dual axle box trailers also have better suspension, making them easier to tow at highway speeds over long distances. A final advantage of having the tandem axles is that they are required to have brakes if their GTM is over 750kg. Brakes on all axles are required if their GTM is over 2000kg.
Tandem axle box trailers have fewer disadvantages compared to single axle trailers. The first disadvantage is they are less nimble and harder to maneuver. The other disadvantages relate to costs. They are more expensive to buy and will use more fuel because of the added weight. The extra set of axles and wheels also means there is more to maintain and repair.
Get Your Box Trailer Now!
Box trailers are so helpful for so many different reasons. They are a great way to transport big, heavy items and will hold up for a long time, even after hard use. Contact King Kong Trailers today for additional information or pick one from our wide range of galvanised box trailers for sale! We use superior trailer manufacturing techniques to make our trailers tough and durable.