Adding trailers to your rental yard can be a source of both profits and peace of mind, but how do you find the best trailer for rental fleets?
As drop deck trailer manufacturers in Marysville, WA, we would argue there are five primary factors rental companies need to consider when considering which trailer types, brands, and models might be right for their fleets.
These factors are:
- Is your trailer newbie friendly? While seasoned construction crews and contractors will make up the bulk of your customer base, there’s always that one guy who thinks he’s skilled enough to grade or dig up his own back yard.
- Is the trailer durable? You don’t want the trailer to become yet another source of repair bills. A good trailer for rental fleets will have the capability to shrug off some damage.
- Does it offer good tie down points? You don’t want to leave renters guessing. You want them to know exactly where to put the chains.
- Is it serviceable? Downtime costs money and you don’t want an overdesigned trailer that’s difficult to service. You need to know you can take it to a standard trailer dealership and get what you need.
- Is it the right size for the equipment you actually carry, or at least a portion of the equipment you actually carry? Light-to-medium machinery comes with different needs than heavy industrial-sized equipment. If you carry both, you might require both heavy duty trailer models and smaller, lighter, more nimble ones.
Of course, we’re going to tell you that drop decks are great for rental fleets. But we are prepared to prove our case. And if you’re thinking ehn, tilt decks are fine, we invite you to read the comparison, because for your purposes, they may not be.
Table of Contents
- #1) The Best Trailer for Rental Fleets is Newbie Friendly
- #2) The Best Trailer for Rental Fleets is Durable
- #3) Good Tie-Down Points
- #4) Solid Serviceability
- #5) Right Sized for Your Equipment
- FAQ
- Key Takeaways
- Load Low, Haul Good
#1) The Best Trailer for Rental Fleets is Newbie Friendly
You never know who is going to come pick up the equipment or the trailer.
- Is it Kurt, who has been in construction for 36 years and can drive a skid steer up steep, high angle ramps in his sleep?
- Is it Kurt’s new employee Joseph, who has been working construction for all of 3 days and was sent to go pick up the equipment because Kurt thought this was a low-skill task for him?
- Is it Bonnie, who has decided digging a swimming pool into her back yard is a good weekend DIY project?
You want a trailer that is going to load exactly the same way in all three hypotheticals. You do not need a trailer that only works well in the event that you’re dealing with an experienced operator.
Drop decks are a clear winner here. All three types of renters can lower the trailer all the way down to the ground, drive the equipment right onto the trailer, raise it up, put it on the truck, and go.
If you prefer to deliver your own equipment, drop decks still win, because they let you put your least experienced employee on the task of loading and delivering equipment without fear that he’ll tip your most expensive mini-excavator out onto the street, get himself trapped beneath it, and destroy both his body and your revenue.
And note: a tilt trailer, by its very nature, requires more skill than a drop deck does and does not remain easy in every single instance.
And sure. Usually the renter is responsible for major damage, but that piece of equipment is still out of commission while it’s getting repaired, which means you’re still losing money every time someone damages it.
#2) The Best Trailer for Rental Fleets is Durable
The best trailer for rental fleets is a trailer that can act as a real workhorse, who can withstand thousands of trips. You want something that’s not going to rust or rot out from under you.
Many trailers fit this bill, so we’ll simply note it as a factor you can check, and talk about why flatbed Good Trailers by GoodMFG® can check this box for you.
- Galvanized steel framing resists rust and is rugged enough to handle being hauled over dirt, gravel, or other rough roads.
- Tough, reliable aluminum alloy wheels provide the strength to handle any road surface, all while adding a sleek, professional look.
Our enclosed drop deck trailer models offer some additional durability features, but since most rental fleets will get more value out of our flatbeds, we won’t address those here.
#3) Good Tie-Down Points
The last thing you want is a customer winging it when it’s time to secure the trailer. You want to know it’s not just going to go flying down the highway.
A drop deck trailer is nice because it lets securement happen at ground level too. Ours come with integrated securement points that sit along the outside of the steel frame. However, the standard version essentially sets these as a series of brackets. Useful, but not dummy-proof.
If you really want dummy-proof, you’re going to want to get our D-ring Stake Pocket add-on, which you can get for less than $500 per trailer. The D-rings sit on either side of either load and give you, your crew, and clueless operators plenty of securement points that march across the entire length of the trailer on both sides. The operator finds those, they find the securement points on the gear, they use them: a no-brainer for everyone.
#4) Solid Serviceability
A trailer that sees constant use will need service eventually. You don’t want it to be difficult to find the technicians who can get your trailer up and running again.
Fortunately, you can take Good Trailers to any NATM-certified trailer dealer to service your Good Trailer. Our hydraulics systems are so modular that almost any hydraulics specialist can figure them out fast…if they fail at all, which we haven’t seen happen yet. They’re engineered to be simple.
#5) Right Sized for Your Equipment
If you’re hauling mostly light and medium machinery like mini-excavators and scissor lifts, then an 11,800 GVWR trailer or a lighter 7,000 GVWR trailer will often be a great choice. If you’re hauling 10,000-pound items routinely, you’re going to need a much more specialized series of rigs.
Of course, many equipment rental companies opt to put together a mixed trailer fleet because they’re working with a mix of equipment. The needs of every shop will be different.
FAQ
What’s the best way for a rental fleet to use a drop deck trailer?
Rental yards use drop deck trailers in three major ways:
1. In-house delivery. Delivering machinery to customer job sites using single-operator loading.
2. Bundled rentals. Rent the trailer alongside scissor lifts or mini excavators to increase ticket size and protect equipment during transit.
3. Dealership sales. Sell drop-deck trailers directly to contractors by becoming an authorized GoodMFG® dealer.
What’s the difference between a drop deck trailer and a tilt deck trailer for rental yards?
Drop deck trailers lower the entire deck flat to the ground, eliminating steep loading angles entirely. Tilt deck trailers pivot on an axle, creating an incline that can still pose tipping risks for low-ground-clearance machinery like scissor lifts, or inexperienced operators. For rental fleets, drop decks offer a much safer, lower-risk loading process.
Why are drop deck trailers safer for inexperienced or DIY renters?
Ground-level loading eliminates high-angle ramps, reducing the chance that machinery will tip over or bottom out during loading. This “foolproof” design protects both the equipment and the renter, making it much easier for non-expert drivers to safely transport gear.
Can low-ground-clearance equipment like scissor lifts fit on a drop deck trailer?
Yes. Drop deck trailers lower completely flat to the ground, allowing low ground clearance machinery such as scissor lifts, smooth drum rollers, and warehouse forklifts to drive straight on without high-centering or catching the undercarriage.
Key Takeaways
What makes a drop deck the best trailer for rental fleets?
- Lower skill barriers. Ground-level loading allows novice or DIY renters to load equipment safely without steep ramp anxiety.
- Eliminate breakover scraping. A 5.4”-deck height (when lowered) and 11° short folding ramp allow low-clearance scissor lifts and floor scrubbers to roll on without bottoming out.
- High fleet reliability. Hot-dip galvanized framing and NATM-certified serviceability maximize rental uptime and long-term resale value.
Load Low, Haul Good
Invest in drop deck trailers if you’re tired of sweating every time someone new walks into your shop!
And if you’d like to partner with us, reach out! We’re actively seeking partners in California, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, and Texas. . Contact our team to discuss partnership options today!
See also:
Equipment Rental Trailers: Boost Safety & ROI
The Ultimate Mini Excavator Trailer Guide
The Ultimate Guide to Skid Steer Trailers
This resource was compiled by the GoodMFG® Product Team, drawing on 75 years of combined experience in hydraulic systems, heavy-duty transport, trailers, and modular structures.
P.S. – We build trailers every day, but we don’t run your crews. If there’s a specific logistical headache or a “field reality” we’ve missed, we want to hear about it. Help us refine the equipment that makes your day easier! Email our Marketing Lead at devan-h @ goodrv.com and let us know what we should solve next.
