Need an Occasional Trailer? Here’s What to Look For

Many people don’t need to use trailers all the time.  While some use them for business every day, others will only use them for occasional residential jobs.  For example, you might need a trailer to help carry home heavy cargo or deliveries. You could even be doing a lot of garden work and need to take refuse away.

An occasional trailer is one which is good to have on standby.  Many people choose to rent, rather than buy trailers if they know they won’t need them a lot.  However, we feel that buying a trailer will give you that support on-demand. It’s a fantastic investment.

But how do you choose the best trailer for occasional use?  Let’s take a quick look.

Don’t Go for the Cheapest Options

An excellent point to make right away is that it’s tempting to go cheap.  This is especially the case if you’re going to only use a trailer occasionally.  Why should you pay a lot for a piece of equipment that you only use two or three times a year?

There’s a clear logic to this argument.  However, you need to be careful. Some firms offering ‘cheap’ trailers won’t just offer you great prices.  They’ll provide you with cheap manufacture.

You need to be sure that the bargain you’re getting isn’t a knock-off or poorly-made.  Is there a reason why a trailer is so cheap? Is a deal too good to be true? Keep your options open and try not to restrict choice to cost too much if you can help it.

Consider Your Use

Do you know what you’re going to need an occasional trailer for?  Will it help with similar types of cargo or varying loads?

Knowing this in advance will help you narrow down your options.  Think carefully about features such as tippers, raised sides and elevated platforms.  If you need a generic trailer, a flatbed trailer might be a good choice.

However, if the occasional work you do is going to need extra security and safeguarding, you may need a box or a cage.  Therefore, be careful not to go too broad. Specialise if you really need to.

Rent or Buy?

Crucially, while we think buying trailers beats out renting them, you’ve got to look at the overall cost.  If you’re only going to use a trailer once or twice in the next two to three years, you may wish to rent. You also need to consider if you’re going to change cars or jobs, in that time.

Buying a trailer is a great idea if your occasional jobs are going to pop up four to five times a year.  You need to balance out the cost. Is it going to cost you more, in the long run, to load up your car? Is buying a trailer more cost-effective than having to run smaller pick-ups and deliveries?

As honest traders in trailers of all sizes, we want to make sure you have the best advice when buying.  Take a look at our complete guide to buying trailers, and their types, to learn more.