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Jobsite trailer question

bcsmith | Posted in General Discussion on May 25, 2005 01:56am

Was driving down the interstate the other day and saw a bunch of those job site office type trailers for sale used, but in pretty good shape.  The 24 footers with an 8 foot office in the front and 16 feet of storage in the rear are going for $2,500.  So far so good..

Here’s what I’m wondering.

First, they seem to have about 1800 pounds additional capacity based on the tag,  but they also have a label that says “do not tow loaded”.  The guy says there’s no problem towing it if I stay under the extra 1800 pounds.  Anyone out there know if I can tow these things loaded up to say 1500 pounds, or is there something peculiar about this type of trailer that negates the axle rating?  The frame seems pretty robust, but I’m no engineer.  I’ll only be towing them a couple of times a year.

Second, I’d like to rig up some sensor lites on the top but I want them to stay powered if someone pulls the plug on the trailer.  Thought about using a couple of those portable battery powered converters, but I need a way for them to automatically switch over to the portables if the electricity goes off.  I realize a thief could shoot the lights out with a pellet gun or something, but I figure any bit of additional work for the creeps out there might make them go to the next one. 

Anyone else do anything for security that’s working?

Your advice is greatly appreciated.

Bill

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Replies

  1. brownbagg | May 25, 2005 03:12pm | #1

    around here, everybody using those conco shipping containers as office trailers. set flat on ground and need a cutting torch to get into.

  2. BobKovacs | May 25, 2005 03:23pm | #2

    I don't know about the load ratings, but I can tell you that they show up on our jobsites fully loaded quite regularly, and  they leave fully loaded as well.

    Bob

  3. User avater
    jonblakemore | May 25, 2005 05:39pm | #3

    What do you tow them with? Do they require a gooseneck or fifth wheel?

     

    Jon Blakemore

    1. bcsmith | May 26, 2005 03:46pm | #5

      It's a standard ball type hitch, but I don't know what size. 

      Bill 

  4. Piffin | May 26, 2005 07:29am | #4

    Trailer towing has a lot of variables but what could be iffy on this is that the load should be balanced. With most of the freight on the rear, any imbalance will be felt more, and make it harder to control the vehicle pulling it.
    A trailer that has more weight on one side than anyother is likely to start fishtailing as you go faster.

    So keeping the load balanced evenly side to side, and more on front than behind the axles will make a world of difference. But if you have a less than recommended load and it is unbalanced, and try driving 70MPH, you could kill yourself and others.

    overload it, but keep it balanced right and your speed down to 45MPH and you are fine.

    and don't forget these things can catch a lot of crosswind too.

     

     

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