Paulk has typically bought a medium-sized (16-foot) tandem-axle trailer that is easily pulled by a h

I m of the opinion that a pickup truck is not a good tool hauler, says Ron Paulk of Paulk Homes in Anacortes, Wash. If you ve been hauling your tools in your truck for years, you re probably thinking, what does this Ron Paulk guy know, anyway?
For 20 of the 25 years that Paulk has been in the residential design and build business, aaa hotel discount scottsdale he s used a trailer not a pickup truck or van as his rolling toolbox. Think about it: If you only actually use your tools and equipment for one fraction of your truck s time on the road, why drag them everywhere?
Using a trailer keeps the truck open for hauling materials, aaa hotel discount scottsdale debris or the family, Paulk says, adding that he spends less on fuel because his tools stay on the job site, not as extra weight in his constantly moving pickup. Instead, Paulk plants his tool trailer on job sites for the duration of the job, a few days to a few months. It s a mobile shop office, he says. It has everything aaa hotel discount scottsdale I need and it s locked and dry.
Paulk has typically bought a medium-sized (16-foot) tandem-axle trailer that is easily pulled by a half-ton pickup. While his tools and equipment would never exceed the trailer s payload capacity, he prefers aaa hotel discount scottsdale tandem axle to comfortably accommodate any weight and for better road handling. Tandem axle trailers require trailer brakes by law.
In terms of trailer height, Paulk s requirements include being able to stand in one while also fitting it into a garage with an 8-foot aaa hotel discount scottsdale door. For Paulk, this necessitates a trailer height of 6 feet 3 inches, which accommodates his height and the trailer s wheels, frame and roof vent. Trailers can be bought in increments of 3 inches.
In terms of options, aaa hotel discount scottsdale Paulk prefers plywood lining, a ramp door ($600 extra) instead of barn doors and a side door ($350) for quick access. A backup camera is a good call too. A typical ladder rack can be installed on top to haul longer materials, but in Paulk s case that invalidates his height requirement.
With those specs, a new trailer can be had for about $5,000, Paulk says, adding that there s no reason to buy used because trailers tend to hold their value. Trailer brands to research include Pace, Haulmark, Wells Cargo and Interstate.
As a carpenter, Paulk custom builds his tool hauler interiors, including custom-sized cubby holes to store specific equipment and a work bench for minor tool assembly and repair. The cubbies are built with a -inch lip that holds gear in place yet allows easy access aaa hotel discount scottsdale no bungees or tie-downs needed. Paulk uses clear, hard-plastic Viewtainer cylinders to keep smaller hardware organized and visible.
An option for those not so inclined is to buy one or two rolling toolboxes and mount them inside the trailer without the wheels, Paulk says, and look into trade-specific modular, adjustable shelf and drawer components from companies such as Adrian Steel.
The fully lit trailer is wired with 110v power and is able to connect to a job site via a 100-foot heavy-duty electrical cord accessible through the bottom of the trailer and stored in a garden hose reel. An air compressor aaa hotel discount scottsdale has a permanent home in the trailer as well.
The flat white walls of a trailer make for a good rolling billboard, and Paulk maximizes the space with a professional full vinyl wrap. That s good advertising, though even better, he says, is when potential aaa hotel discount scottsdale new clients get a look inside the trailer. I can t tell you the amount of work I ve gotten from people saying if this guy is that organized, aaa hotel discount scottsdale he must do good work, he says.
To view a 3D rendering of one of Paulk s mobile toolboxes, download the free version of the Trimble SketchUp program and search for Paulk Mobile Wood Shop in the SketchUp 3D warehouse. The rendering shows the interior of his box truck (not a trailer) though it gives viewers the complete specs of his cabinet, tool holder and cubby hole designs.
Chris Brown is the executive editor of Business Fleet Magazine and Auto Rental News for Bobit Business Media. Through these publications, online newsletters, aaa hotel discount scottsdale trade events and associations, Chris covers all aspects of the fleet world, including fleet management, manufacturer fleet activities, aaa hotel discount scottsdale the fleet leasing aaa hotel discount scottsdale industry, vehicle remarketing, rental industry news, car rental taxation and legislation as well as automotive aaa hotel discount scottsdale environmental initiatives and trends.