Purchasing your first trailer can be a fun experience. However, it can also get confusing if you don’t know the lingo that goes along with trailer ownership. By getting to know some of the acronyms and lingo used by your local trailer dealer, it can be a bit less stressful. 

Whether you are looking at purchasing an aluminum flat deck, landscaping utility, or dump trailer, it is important to know the lingo. Below are some of the most used terms when it comes to trailers. 

Learn the Trailer Lingo

Curbside: The passenger side of the trailer. 

Dove Tail: The slight incline located at the back of some utility and equipment trailers.

Dump Trailer: A type of trailer with a hydraulic dump system typically used to haul debris, dirt, and other materials. This type of trailer is a surprisingly versatile piece of equipment. It can be used for various applications, including hauling landscaping or construction materials, moving furniture or other bulky items, taking garbage or scrap metal to a junkyard, or even transporting equipment from one job site to the next. 

Flatdeck Trailer: Just as its name suggests, this trailer has one large flat area able to carry many different types of loads. It generally has a lower ground clearance which makes it easy to load and unload equipment or vehicles. It is the most popular trailer and has the simplest structure of all the Millroad designs. 

GAWR: This stands for Gross Axle Weight Rating. This is the maximum weight that can be loaded on any of the trailer axels.

Gooseneck: The name “gooseneck” can refer to the trailer, hitch, or both! Both the trailer and hitch got their name from the arching neck of the trailer tongue, shaped like a goose’s neck. The unique hitch connects to a frame in the truck bed. In terms of durability and safety, the gooseneck trailer can’t be beat. 

GVWR: An acronym for Gross Axle Weight Rating. This is how much weight a vehicle and trailer can haul. This weight includes the trailer.

Landscape Trailer: Similar to a flatdeck trailer, this type of trailer has a flat deck, but this one is geared towards helping with landscaping duties. Landscape trailers sit low to the ground, so they are easier to load and unload. They weigh surprisingly little and can easily navigate into backyards or hard-to-reach places where a vehicle cannot go. 

Rock Guard: Tread plating located on the front of an enclosed trailer. This guard can help to protect the exterior of the trailer from dirt, rocks, and debris. 

Street Side: The driver’s side of the trailer. 

Tongue Weight: This is the downward force the trailer’s tongue puts on the hitch of the tow vehicle. For conventional trailers with ball-mounted hitches, the proper tongue weight is roughly 10 to 15 percent of the total loaded trailer weight.

Our Trailer Options

By getting familiar with trailer lingo, you can feel more informed when visiting your local trailer dealer. At Millroad Manufacturing, we take the guesswork out of buying a trailer. Whether you are a first-time buyer or have purchased a few trailers before, we take the time to thoroughly explain all of our trailer options. We build aluminum flat deck, landscape, utility, dump, and even custom trailers. Reach out to one of our dealers today for more information on our extensive selection.