Whether you run a marina, boatyard, or other kind of boat business, it’s important to move vessels around smoothly, quickly, and efficiently. When you shop for hydraulic yard trailers you have two basic options. You can choose self propelled or towable models. Here is a closer look at each option to help you make the best decision.
Towable Yard Trailers
A towable trailer must be moved with a mechanized device. You will need a towing vehicle to move the boat and trailer about.
Benefits of Towable Trailers
Price – many companies choose towable yard trailers because of cost. In fact, there is a substantial difference in cost because of all the extra parts needed for self propulsion. If your company is small or on a limited budget, you may have no choice but to go with a towable unit.
Simplicity – once you have a boat in place, you can unhook the tow vehicle and leave the boat on the trailer until you need the trailer again. The towing vehicle can be used for other purposes.
A towable boat trailer takes up less space than a self propelled unit. For small boatyards, this is something to consider.
Downside of Towable Yard Trailers
Time consuming – each time you use the trailer you have to hook and unhook your tow vehicle and this takes extra time.
Maneuvering – even though towable units are not hard to maneuver, it’s sometimes not easy to back up, due to the pivoting of the hitch.
Self Propelled Trailers
Self propelled models are “all in one” units. They have their own source of mobility. There is no need to use a tow vehicle
Benefits of Self Propelled Yard Trailers
Control – with a self propelled model, there is no pivoting from a trailer hitch. This prevents jack knifing, and backing up and moving forward is easy.
Large loads – some self propelled models can handle loads as heavy as 200,000 pounds. Standard towable trailers typically handle 40,000 pounds or less.
Four wheel drive – provides outstanding traction on all surfaces.
Increased capacity for storage
Lower labor costs
Downside of Self Propelled Trailers
Cost – you will pay more for one of these units.
Made for large scale operations – may not be feasible for some small companies.
The Importance of Quality
Whether you choose yard trailers for towing or self propelled models, make sure to go with quality. Choose a manufacturer that is trusted and a leader in the industry. This will ensure the best possible products along with top quality support and customer service.
