Need Help with Utility Trailer Decision

Need to get 10-12' utility trailer primarily to haul our SxS UTV; on occasion haul mower or small tractor for service.

Am I better off getting the deck made with 2x6 treated wood or with 1/4" steel diamond plate? And why?

Everything else is the same except for total weight and cost, and they're so close wood vs steel it's negligible and irrelevant.

I've had this one for almost 10 years. I use it for the golf cart, Gator, motorcycle, hauling rock, dirt and trash and for building supplies. It's been a great trailer with zero issues.

https://www.bigtextrailers.com/70tv-tandem-axle-vanguard

Unless you plan on submersing the trailer in saltwater, wood (in good shape) should be just fine for hauling around a mower/ small tractor/UTV. If you are storing the trailer outside, keep it covered so precipitation doesn't get on the wood. Steel diamond plate is obviously stronger and won't crack or warp.

I would seal the wood with a coat or two of Flood wood stain and then a coat of two part epoxy.
A quart of two part epoxy should be enough to seal the wood.

If you really wanted to, you could fiberglass coat the wood with fiberglass cloth and fiberglass resin/catalyst mix or two part epoxy.

All our trailers are wood floors, 2x8 treated, All the drop gates are expanded metal. with 1x3 steel supports every 12 inches. We tend to load some heavy items. Most are over 15 years old. Keep them clean and they will last forever,,

Get a tilt bed, you will not regret it.

Tilt beds are the snizzle.

When shopping for utility trailers also look to see if the top rail is angle or pipe. The ones built with a top pipe rail are usually stronger and better for hauling heavy UTV’s, especially on the smaller, single axle trailers. I have a 14’ pipe rail utility trailer with ramp that’s perfect for hauling a Ranger Crew but not much else.

Regarding length, make sure you consider everything you’d use it for. If you do any DIY projects or think you might build something one day, a 16’ model might be a better choice. If I had to buy it over again, I’d get at least a 16’ model and most likely I’d upgrade to a dump trailer. I end up using my buddies dump trailers way more than I use my 14’ buggy trailer.

Blue Moon

Get an extra two feet. To haul coolers ect.. to the lease

14' with expanded metal floor, this lets the mud n crud wash thru and can be cleaned a lot easier and you will get it muddy with a sxs or mower.

good mfr out here between me and paris, can buy direct from them and their prices have seemed pretty good.

Plenty of trailer places in Mt Pleasant. BigTex, Parker, Diamond C, Tiger. One of them will have what your looking for.

Also go powder coated not painted. We have a couple of performances by Parker trailers and they have been great.

Get a black one. Black paint always matches black paint. I have bought a lot of trailers from utility trailers to goosenecks and a trailer dealer told me this on my first one. I'm glad I listened to him. Try getting other colors to match when you get a scratch and want to try to match the paint in yellow or red.

Also a minimum length of 14 foot with 2 axles with a minimum of 1 axle with brakes. You can get home on three tires but not on one tire. LED lights and not bulbs..