Behind the Build: What Makes a Durable Utility Trailer?

When looking at the different utility trailers across the market, it can be difficult to distinguish between the various options available and to ensure that what you’re purchasing is going to be reliable for every day use in tough environments and therefore be good value for money in terms of long-term durability.

In this blog, we’ll take you behind the scenes of our trailer manufacturing process and explore what makes a durable trailer design for a utility trailer.

Materials

The foundation of a trailer is its chassis and the materials used in the chassis. There are two different materials that are most common in utility trailers:

• At Towmate, we predominately use steel for our chassis because its strong structural integrity. This is hot dipped galvanised because of its exceptional corrosion resistance, long service life, self-healing protection, and low maintenance costs.
• Aluminium is also another material that we have used to construct our trailers, particularly when weight capacity is of extreme importance. This is because of its lightweight nature which allows for extra carrying weight on the trailer.

The Chassis & Axles

• The placement and use of cross members help to prevent flexing under the load and adds security and reinforcement to the chassis
• Options such as low bed height and ramps with a shallower angle, such as our double angle ramp or beavertail trailer offer safe and easy loading of machinery such as mini diggers and rollers
• Twin axle configurations offer the best stability and load distribution and also allow for independent axle systems such as our pivot axle system which further reduces wear and tear on wheels and tyres and helps with load security and safety
• Load distribution is also a key thing to think about in this instance as making sure that you correctly load and distribute your trailer will help with longevity, better ride and improve load security. Read our blog here to understand more about safe load distribution.

Design Features

A well-designed trailer doesn’t just refer to the chassis and strength, it also comes down to the added features that improve usability, safety and longevity:

1. Integrated tie-down points and anti-slip flooring for ease of loading and safety
2. LED lighting for ease of maintenance
3. Modular components and design that makes servicing and parts replacement easier and more efficient
4. Heavy duty running gear including auto-adjusting brakes and sealed-for-life (SFL) bearings help reduce maintenance and enhance safety

Customisation

It’s also important to make sure that the utility trailer that you select is going to work for your application. As part of our discovery process at Towmate Trailers, we ensure that we sit down with you and make sure that the trailer we provide you is exactly right for your requirements.

• Bespoke additions such as ramp options, winches, spare wheels, wheel chocks etc. are all useful additions that make your trailer loading experience quicker, easier and more efficient
• Customisation in terms of weight capacity, ramp length, floor material etc. are all extremely valuable options to have particularly in construction, landscaping and utilities where your trailer needs to be tailored to specific tasks. Learn more about what Towmate can do for you in terms of customisation here.

Conclusion: Towing With Confidence

A long-lasting utility trailer isn’t just built by ticking boxes. At Towmate, we strive to understand exactly what your requirements are and then manufacture our trailers and designs for your real-world scenarios.

At Towmate, our commitment to trailer manufacturing quality means every trailer is built to perform, built to last, and built for you.

Whether you’re hauling equipment, materials, or machinery, our trailers deliver the strength and reliability you need — every mile of the way.