Power Sprayer Trailers for Pest & Weed Control

Spray Trailers for Pest & Weed Control – What are the Advantages?

Advantages of putting your pest control or weed control sprayer on a  spray trailer (rather than in a truck)

• Flexibility. When your sprayer is in a truck, you have no flexibility. If the truck needs service or is in an accident, the sprayer is unavailable. If the sprayer is in a trailer, it can be used by multiple vehicles or multiple technicians.

• Personal Vehicle. For pest control owner/operators, this is important. It took you months to get reservations at the best restaurant in town. You put on your best duds and go pick up your date, the prettiest girl in town. Do you want to arrive in a truck hauling a stinky pest control spray rig? If the sprayer is on a  pest control spray trailer, you can leave it at home so you can close the deal! Apologies to my lone female reader.

• Space. You can usually get a larger tank on a trailer than you can in a compact or full size pickup. This enables you to perform more or larger jobs. The trailer dramatically increases the size and volume of equipment you can carry with you on your route.

• Backup. A landscape, pest or  termite spray trailer makes a great backup in case another sprayer is down.

• Equipment Location – There is usually more flexibility in equipment location in a trailer as compared to a pickup truck. In a pickup truck, there are numerous constraints: gas tank, wheel wells, structural members under the bed etc., sometimes make it a challenge to place equipment exactly where you want it.

• Depreciation. Putting a power sprayer in a truck is going to impact the resale value of the truck. I don't care how careful you are and how clean you keep the truck.  Drilling holes in the bed, carrying hundreds of pounds of equipment & water, putting other stuff in and out of the truck bed, is all going to damage the truck and reduce its resale value.

Spray Trailers for Pest & Weed Control – What are the Disadvantages?

What are the disadvantages of putting your pest control or weed control sprayer on a spray trailer rather than in a truck?

• Safety. Hauling a 3000 pound (or more) landscape or  weed control spray trailer behind you in traffic is less safe than not hauling a trailer. Stopping distances increase because of the additional weight. Your ability to maneuver to avoid a situation in front of you is reduced. I am less concerned about safety when the company owner is driving. I am more concerned when a 21 year old technician is driving while texting his girlfriend.
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  Important - We recommend that spray equipment be installed on the trailer so that the trailer is slightly tongue heavy. This usually means placing the water tank over, then slightly forward, of the axle

Important – Be sure to contact your insurance agent BEFORE buying a trailer to ensure you don’t have any insurance related issues or surprises.   

• Maneuverability.  It is harder to maneuver a vehicle with a weed spray trailer behind it. Parking, backing up, turning around in a tight space are all more difficult.

• Cost. The trailer is an additional cost that you would not have if you put the sprayer in your truck.

• Storage. Finding additional space to store the trailer can sometimes be an issue.

• Theft.  Trailers seem to be targets for thieves. We have had plenty of clients have their trailers stolen, even when chained to a lamppost. 

• Equipment damage.  Trailers bounce around a lot more than trucks.  Equipment can become damaged or bounce off the trailer if not careful.

Pest Control Spray Trailers can be great tools for your pest control business.

Here are some design considerations when planning your pest control sprayer trailer.

1. Tank should be positioned over the axle, then moved slightly forward. You want the trailer to be tongue heavy, not ass-heavy (like this author). This improves the safety and control of the pest control trailer while driving.

2. Raise the pest control hose reel up on a hose reel lift so you are not bending over so much to rewind your hose. Your back will appreciate it.

3. Do not get a gate on the trailer. It just adds cost and weight and gets in the way. If your trailer has a gate, consider removing it.

4. Position the gas engine (we only use Honda engines) so that when you pull the cord to start the engine, you are not banging your hand on the pest spray trailer side rail. It will hurt after a while.

5. Position components so that maintenance is easy. Don't cram things in so tightly that you have to remove one component to service another. Do not drill into any structural cross members below the bed. If necessary, shift a component a bit so you do not have to penetrate any structural members other than the trailer bed.

6. When installing your pest control toolbox, be sure to leave clearance for the lid to open fully. We usually install the toolbox so the lid opens facing the rear of the trailer, i.e., the lid hinge is facing forward. If you ever forget to fully close the toolbox, the wind won't break the lid off if facing this direction.

7. Single axle trailers are pretty easy for 1 person to manually move with a trailer dolly. Dual axle trailers usually have to be moved with a vehicle. Think about this when planning your pest control trailer storage location.

8. Secure your trailer at night. They are popular targets with thieves. Finding your trailer missing in the morning will ruin your day.

9. Buy a sturdy trailer with a substantial floor. The trailers sold at the big box home stores usually are not heavy duty enough to hold a water tank without significant additional reinforcement added.

Hope this helps. We get lots of requests from out of state clients for pest control spray trailers. Unfortunately trailers are very expensive to ship. What works well is for the client to purchase a trailer locally, then we build and ship a trailer to the client. All that is required is to bolt down the components and connect a couple of hose. Request a sprayer quote.