Buying a spool trailer is a necessary thing for people in a lot of industries. If you happen to be one of these people and you get to a point in your operation that you need to invest in one of these useful pieces of equipment to distribute line, wire, or rope, it is important to be an educated buyer. There are certain things you will need to know before you make an investment to ensure the trailer you get is going to serve you and your business well. Here is a look at some of the questions you should ask before buying your very first ESP spool trailer.
Does the trailer accommodate standard cable reels?
There are some spool trailers that are designed to hold specific spool reel sizes, nothing bigger and nothing smaller. If you are consistently using standard reels sizes, you are going to need a trailer that can accommodate those reel sizes without having to make any adjustments to the trailer once you own it. Even though these adjustments can be made, they can lower the value of the trailer if you do decide to sell it later on.
Does the reel have a hydraulic roller or a manual roller?
Rolling off cable may not seem like a big deal, but if you will be rolling out yard after yard on a continuous basis, a manual rolling of the spool can become tiring very quickly. Not only that, but manual rolling is also more time-consuming. Most business owners who rely on a spool trailer will prefer that it has an automatic hydraulic system to turn the spool. Since not all trailers are equipped with these, it is best to ask when you are shopping around for the right unit.
What is the weight capacity of the trailer?
Spooling trailers usually don't only get loaded down with a spool of cable or wire; they often carry other pieces of equipment as well depending on the job being tackled. Of course, overloading a trailer by underestimating its load capacity is dangerous and can land you with major fines from the Department of Transportation. Before you purchase a unit from a dealer, make sure you find out what the hauling capacity of the trailer actually is. By knowing this, you can subtract the weight of your spools and get a good idea of just how much else you can safely haul.