Equipment Trailer
An equipment trailer is a flat-deck towed trailer built to carry machines: skid steers, mini excavators, compact tractors, and attachments. Ramps or a dovetail allow equipment to drive or track aboard. The industry catalogs these trailers by GVWR in bands: up to 10,000 lb, 10,000–14,000 lb, 14,000–26,000 lb, and 26,000+ lb.
Cat classes
Pick a size class — capacity and reach differ across the range.
How it works
The steel frame carries a wood or steel deck over one or more braked axles, with fold-down, slide-in, or stand-up ramps at the rear. Machines load under their own power up the ramps, weight centered ahead of the axles to keep tongue load in the 10–15 percent range that tows stably. Four-point chain or strap securement to rated D-rings holds the machine; attachments are secured separately. Gross axle ratings, coupler class, and tire load range together define the trailer's real capacity.
Types & variants
- Bumper-pull equipment trailers
- The most common configuration for compact machines behind pickup trucks.
- Gooseneck deck-over trailers
- Bed-mounted coupling and full-width decks for larger machines.
- Dovetail and ramp-gate designs
- Lowered load angles for low-clearance and tracked equipment.
- Lowboy-style heavy haulers
- Heavy-haul decks in the 26,000+ lb band for large machine transport.
Key specifications
| Specification | Typical range | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| GVWR band (lb) | Up to 10,000 lb | 10,000–14,000 lb | 14,000–26,000 lb | 26,000+ lb | Matches trailer to machine-plus-attachment weight and tow vehicle capacity. |
| Load capacity | 680–60,328 kg across cataloged models | The machine weight the trailer legally carries after tare. |
| Trailer weight | 184–1,020 kg on cataloged models with published tare weights | Subtracts from GVWR to give true payload. |
| Trailer length | 142.4–4,593.8 in across cataloged models | Deck length must accommodate the machine's wheelbase and overhang. |
How the industry sizes it
Equipment trailers are sized from the machine outward: machine weight plus attachments plus tare must stay under GVWR with margin, and the tow vehicle must rate for the loaded total. The up-to-10,000 lb band suits a mini excavator or compact machine behind a 3/4-ton pickup. The 10,000–14,000 lb band is the deck-over standard for a full-size skid steer, 5-ton excavator, or scissor lift. The 14,000–26,000 lb band covers heavy tandem and tri-axle work up to the CDL threshold. The 26,000+ lb band includes lowboy and heavy-haul decks requiring a CDL and commercial tow vehicle. Deck length and ramp angle must also fit the machine's footprint and clearance.
Applications
- Hauling skid steers and compact track loaders
- Moving mini excavators between sites
- Transporting compact tractors with loaders
- Delivering attachments and small machines together
- General contractor equipment moves
Safety & operation
- Four-point securement with rated chains and binders on every machine move.
- Load for 10–15 percent tongue weight; tail-heavy trailers sway at speed.
- Verify electric brake function and breakaway battery before departure.
- Chock and lower attachments to the deck before strapping.
Standards & certifications
- FMCSA · 49 CFR 393.130
- Federal securement rules specific to heavy vehicles, equipment, and machinery on trailers.
- NHTSA · FMVSS 108
- Trailer lighting and conspicuity requirements.
- SAE · J684
- Coupler, hitch, and safety-chain performance standard for trailer connections.
Frequently asked
What band carries a typical skid steer?
How many tie-downs does a machine need?
Why does tare weight matter?
Compare popular models
Find by spec →Normalised to the same units. A dash means the figure was not published.
| Model | Load capacity | Engine power |
|---|---|---|
| Multiquip TRLR-70 | - | - |
| Multiquip TRLR-70US | - | - |
| Multiquip TRLR-75XF | - | - |
| Multiquip TRLR-75XF2 | - | - |
| Multiquip TRLR-85XF2 | - | - |
| Multiquip TRLR-125US | - | 166 hp |
Related equipment
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Sources
Every specification is verified against the manufacturer's published data, with the source linked for reference.
All models
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