Which trailer is the best roll-off trailer for me?

BENLEE is the leading manufacturer of roll-off trailers. Importantly though, we have a broad product line to meet the needs of many markets. The purpose of this blog is to give you some thoughts as to what is the best roll-off trailer for my our application. For the entire production line see: Roll-off trailers.

Starting out a new business for 20-40 yard boxes.

This is an easy answer. The Super Mini. We view the Super Mini as a roll-off truck replacement. Why? It handles the same 20, 30, and 40 yard boxes as  a truck. In fact, it can carry boxes up to 24′, while most 20, 30 and 40 yard boxes are 22′-23′ outside and about 22′ inside. The great thing is the people buy $300,000+ (with three rear axles) new roll-off trucks, or even $150,000 good used roll-off trucks, but a Super Mini with a tarp system and FET (12% Federal Tax) costs under $87,000.

You can pick up a good used day cab for about $40,000. Better yet, if you have an underutilized day cab, you can basically have another roll-off truck for under $87,000.

What is the best trailer for trash?

Again, the Super Mini is the way to go. It carries the standard 20/30/40 yard boxes and can legally picks up about 40,000 lbs. Moreover, it can even carry very short 10 yard boxes. The great thing is this short low priced trailer has almost all the exact components as our 8 axle 154,000 GVW Michigan trailers. It is powerful, short and a great value.

I need a new roll-off truck, but I can not afford $150,000-$300,000 truck.

Same answer. The Super Mini. Moreover, the great news is that many know us as a manufacturer of up to 8 axle trailers in Michigan that without over permitting are 154,000 GVW. The Super Mini has almost all the EXACT same major components as an 8 axle unit. This means the same axles, main control valve, rollers, cable, sheaves and more. It is a powerful short unit that when put behind a day cab is only about 12″ longer then a roll-off truck!

I am going to haul heavy and can over permit to 100,000 GVW+

Again an easy answer. The Conventional. This unit comes in multiple versions and can get it from 36′-44′ when it is 80,000 GVW to 100,000+ GVW with over permits. If you just want 80,000 GVW, but the ability just in case to be able to pick up 100,000 lbs. you can get this trailer in a 39′ tandem axle extendable tail, or a 44′ tandem axle fixed tail to get 80,000 GVW. Note, the standard heavy haul around the U.S. is the 40′ fixed tail tri axle. It is a great heavy haul 80,000 GVW (with the ability to overpermit). In New York for over permitting, you do need a steerable lift axle.

I want to carry a lot of weight on an 80,000 GVW trailer. Should I get a frameless unit?

No. The BENLEE BridgeMaster is the way to go. It is made of light high strength steel and actually weighs less than a frameless trailer. Therefore, it carries more. Also, the BridgeMaster has a longer bridge (distance from rear axle to king pin) so it has a better GVW with a standard day cab of about 200″. It y0u have a 240″ day cab the bridge is the same. Importantly though, by definition, the frameless is less stable. Some steel mills do not even let them on site.

I am going to carry extreme loads but need the shortest possible trailer.

The 29′ Conventional is the best of the best in short trailers. It comes in a tandem axle or tri-axle and in 29′ it has an extendable tail. It really can pick up over 100,000 lbs., which you should never do. Related, you can also get this in a fixed tail that is 34′ long. In a tandem axle it is 71,500 GVW and in a tri-axle it is 76,500 GVW!

I need a heavy-duty trailer that will carry up to 80+ yard boxes as well as 20, 30, 40 yard and I will stay legal at 80,000 GVW.

The BridgeMaster is the roll-off trailer for you. At only 16,900 lbs. and a very long bridge (rear axle to king pin). It even carries more weight legally then frameless trailers that have less of a bridge. To be clear, it will only pick up about 60,000 lbs. and not 100,000 lbs., but anything over about 45,000 lbs. is not legal unless you over permit.

I am in the scrap metal business and at times while not good to do, I accidentally have to pick up 70,000-80,000 lbs.

The Conventional is the unit for you. At up to 44′ long, it can carry up to 90+ yard boxes, as in 42′ long. Great for fluffy aluminum. Also, it is great for flexibility. It can carry 20, 30, 40, 60, 80+ cube boxes and can come up to 5 axles.

I run in Canada and need to have trailers that meet the SPIF and local providence laws.

Our most popular Canadian trailer is the 40′ Conventional. It comes in 60″ to 72″ axle spacing and all air ride. It is a great Canadian trailer. Of course, we make special 5 axle trailers with special spreads. The Canadian Super Mini at a short 29′ is also a great way to go!

I am hauling many boxes 100-300+ miles to a hazmat site.

Here at BENLEE we make what is now the best-selling two container trailer in the business. You can carry two boxes up to 24′ each, on this 48′ trailer. It is the safest, easiest to operate, the highest uptime with the lowest owning and operating cost unit in the business. It comes with all safety features as standard, like a hoist up alarm, driver assist main cable pull back and a front shuttle system that all but eliminates front cables from breaking.

Another option would be a pup trailer. We make them in a dead version (dry) that has no hydraulics, or a live version (wet), with complete hydraulics that can pick up a box.

I have a large pickup truck like a Ford 350, or a Sierra 2500. Can I use a BENLEE?

Sorry no. Our trailers are all for use with a “fifth wheel” that is typically a class 8 tractor, day cab. This means you need a truck like a Freightliner, Western, Mack or other. Our smallest unit is the Super Mini, but even that needs a fifth wheel. The Super Mini is a great roll-off truck replacement as written above.

What is the best unit for demolition?

That depends. If you are going to stay at 80,000 GVW, the BridgeMaster is the way to go. It can handle standard 20/30/40 yard boxes as well as 80 yard boxes. It is light, but robust so it can carry major weight of 20+ tons. If you are going to over permit to weights up to 102,000 GVW or more, the Conventional is for you. This trailer is capable of lifting over 100,000 lbs., which of course you should never do, unless it is some type of major permit or off-road. New York is one of the major over permit states, and they love the Conventional.

What trailer is the safest for me to use?

That is simple. All of them. Every trailer we build has the same safety devices. This means all have hoist up alarms. These are critical in that sadly there are many cases of drivers hitting bridges, power lines and more. All roll-off trucks come with hoist up alarms that sadly drivers short out or disable due to they do not like the noise. Our units come with a strobe that flashes in the driver’s rear view mirror, BUT only if the hoist is up. Also, as for more features, we now standardize on 102″ vs. 96″ wide axles for added stability. We even have 48,000 lb. straps vs 20.000 lb. for longer life and for those heavy loads.

Do you rent BENLEE roll-off trailers?

No, but Premier Truck Sales and Rental does. They rent the Super Mini and the Conventional. You can call them at 1-800-825-1255. They even do rent to own, or leases by the week, month or year.

Where can I get parts for my trailer?

The fastest and easiest way is to either call us at 734-722-8100 or you can go to our Online parts store and buy parts 24/7. This includes all the tarps systems and tarp system parts from Roll-Rite, Pioneer, Donovan, Aero and more. Also, the great news is we use parts from companies like Parker, Meritor, Hyco, Custom, Roll-Rite and more. This means you can buy them locally at a truck or trailer supply company.

Greg Brown

734-722-8100

greg.brown@benlee.com