Buying a Flat Top Trailer in Adelaide? Common Mistakes That Cost You Money

A flat top trailer is an important investment

A flat top trailer is an important business investment, but we regularly have people come to our workshop in Pooraka who tell us that they've previously bought a flat top trailer without looking into it closely enough. Too often they discover that the trailer they spent a lot of money on can't handle the loads, isn't up to Australian standards, or isn't tough enough to do what they need it to do.

As we are experienced trailer manufacturers, not just resellers, we understand better than most what's required to build a flat top trailer that has durability, is able to carry vehicles and heavy equipment, and is suitable for towing on rural roads and challenging worksite locations.

In this guide, the Basic Trailers team shares our insights and experience to help you avoid making a costly mistake by buying a flat top trailer that doesn't deliver the performance you and your business need.

What is a Flat Top Trailer and what can it do?

A flat top trailer is designed with a completely flat deck, so loading and unloading is safe and straightforward from any angle with a forklift, crane or manually. Alternatively, flat top trailers can be fitted with hydraulic lifts or ramps for even greater ease of unloading, and are available in both tandem axle and tri-axle models depending on trailer dimensions and the towing capacity required.

This flexibility means a flat top trailer is perfect for use in a variety of heavy duty applications, such as carting agricultural feed and construction materials, carrying timber, as well as transporting machinery, vehicles and heavy equipment.

Eight common mistakes Adelaide flat top trailer buyers make

Mistake #1: Insufficient ATM for your needs

A common mistake buyers make is underestimating their load requirements. Insufficient ATM can mean you waste time and money by having to reduce load sizes or make multiple trips. It's important to have a realistic understanding of the size and type of loads you regularly carry, remembering to factor in the combined weight of machinery as well as tools and other materials.

If you are unsure about what ATM will best suit your needs, get in touch with the Basic Trailers sales team and we will be happy to help you analyse your typical load weight, potential future use, how often you tow and on what sort of surfaces, so you can find the perfect tandem axle or tri-axle flat top trailer for your needs.

Mistake #2: Not considering the towing capacity of your vehicle

One of the most important things to consider when buying a flat top trailer is the towing capacity of your vehicle. While the trailer's ATM is crucial, it is just as important to make sure your towing vehicle can safely handle the combined weight of the trailer when fully loaded.

If you do exceed the towing capacity of your car, ute, SUV or truck, it can lead to reduced braking efficiency and poor handling. It may also increase wear and tear and reduce the durability and effective operating life of your trailer, and potentially damage your vehicle. If you tow a trailer that exceeds your vehicle towing capacity can also void your insurance and be at risk of an offence if you have an accident.

Before putting in an order for a flat top trailer, make sure you have checked your towing capacity and whether your vehicle will be up to the job. Our helpful sales team will be happy to assist you both to ascertain your towing capacity, and to choose a flat top trailer that you can tow safely.

Mistake #3: Choosing the wrong suspension set up

Having the right suspension for your flat top trailer means that towing will be smoother and safer, and loads will be more secure and stable.

If the suspension is too soft, you might experience trailer sway, especially on rougher rural roads or when carrying heavy equipment. On the other hand, suspension that is too stiff will lead to a rough towing experience, which could damage the load. It can also mean excessive wear and tear on your trailer, reducing capacity and operating life.

When you're considering buying a flat top trailer, the team at Basic Trailers can advise you on the most appropriate suspension for your needs. Slipper spring suspension is usually suitable for lighter trailers (up to 1,990kg ATM), but if you use your trailer for heavy duty work, on rough worksites or rural roads, eye to eye suspension (also known as shackle suspension) or rocker roller suspension is likely to be the best option.

Mistake #4: Not dealing with the threat of rust

In any sort of work environment where your trailer is likely to be exposed to dust, moisture and salt, there is always a risk of rust developing. Rust can severely impact on the structural integrity and durability of your trailer, leading to additional overheads and reduced work capacity.

Trailers that are built with lower grade imported steel are particularly susceptible to rust, as are trailers that are not finished off with a high quality paint coat. It can especially affect welds and joints, as well as any exposed metal surfaces.

At Basic Trailers, we take the threat of rust seriously, which is why we only ever use high grade Australian steel in our trailers. Trailers are then finished with a self-etching primer prior to painting, which means the industrial dark grey enamel paint better adheres to the steel and provides more comprehensive rust protection.

Mistake #5: Braking systems that are not compliant

Any flat top trailer that you're considering needs to be fitted with a braking system that is appropriate for the size and capacity of the trailer, and is compliant with Australian Design Rules (ADR). Unsuitable or ineffective brakes are not only a danger to you and other road users, but if you're involved in an accident you risk voiding your insurance and facing legal charges.

If you're looking at a cheaper, imported trailer it's important to be aware that they may not provide sufficient stopping power, especially if you tow on uneven rural terrain, on hilly roads or on worksites. Having an inefficient braking system also means that you need a greater stopping distance, and are more at risk of trailer sway.

All of the flat top trailers we design and manufacture are compliant with ADR standards, and depending on size and capacity can be fitted with either mechanical disc brakes or electric brakes — we always recommended the latter for tandem axle and tri-axle flat top trailers. For trailers with an ATM in excess of 2,000kg, electric brakes with a breakaway system must be fitted.

Mistake #6: Thinking thin floors can get the job done

The floor of a tandem axle or tri axle flat top trailer is required to do a lot of heavy duty work, especially when it's regularly carrying machinery, vehicles or big loads. If the floor is too thin, or made from low quality steel, it is prone to warping, bending or, in the worse case scenario, cracking. This means expensive repairs, putting your trailer out of use and costing you money, or you may need to replace it all together.

The floor on Basic Trailers flat top trailers are constructed from 2.1 mm checkerplate manufactured from Australian steel, which provides both durability and a slip-resistant surface, enhancing user safety. In this way, we ensure that our trailer floors can handle the loading and unloading of heavy equipment and are resistant to the sort of damage inflicted on inferior floors, giving you greater durability, superior performance, and excellent value for money.

Mistake #7: Choosing a flat top trailer that's too big for your needs

While choosing a flat top trailer that has sufficient ATM is important, it's just as important not to invest in a trailer that's larger than you need. While it's understandable to want to have capacity for future growth, buying a larger trailer than is necessary means you will likely spend more than you need to, it will cost more to register, and there is probably going to be more wear and tear on your towing vehicle which could otherwise have been avoided. Large trailers can also be more difficult to manoeuvre and store.

Before buying a new flat top trailer, it makes sense to talk to an experienced manufacturer who can help you to assess your current and future towing needs, so that you can strike the right balance between value, towing capacity and practicality.

Mistake #8: Overlooking important design features

When your business is investing in a new tandem axle or tri-axle flat top trailer, it makes sense to ensure it's kitted out with all the design features you need from the outset. It's not ultimately cost-effective to buy a trailer only to realise it's missing features that are required for optimal performance, safety on the road, and operational longevity.

Whether it's tie-down points to secure loads properly, a hydraulic lift, a beavertail, headboard, an H-frame or ramps, realising too late that you need these additional features means that you have not spent as wisely as you might have.

When you order a trailer from Basic Trailers, our team will take you through the extensive range of add-on features we can fit so that your trailer is customised to make loading, unloading and towing as safe as possible, giving you maximum value for money from your investment.

The Basic Trailers advantage

Basic Trailers are experienced trailer builders rather than just resellers. Our unmatched technical knowledge and expertise means that you can be confident that every trailer we manufacture is compliant with Australian Design Rules and Australian Standards.

In our in-house workshop at Pooraka, we boast a team of highly qualified and experienced welders and fabricators, and our commitment to compliance means that every trailer that goes out through the door not only meets all regulatory requirements, but has been designed specifically with Australian worksites and road conditions in mind.

Our hundreds of positive customer reviews are testament to the quality of our workmanship, and the durability, reliability and value our trailers provide.

Visit our Pooraka trailer workshop

We do everything — design, manufacturing, sales and service — under the one roof, which is why our quality control and customer support is second to none.

You are welcome to inspect our current inventory for yourself at our Pooraka workshop, and our friendly and knowledgeable sales team will help you select a flat top trailer that meets your operational needs.