Used Trailmobile Open Top Trailers For Sale

Used Trailmobile open top trailers fill a niche between a dry van and a dump-style trailer. They are built for freight that needs top loading by crane, grapple, or conveyor but still benefits from enclosed sidewalls and rear-door access. Common applications include scrap, recyclables, paper trim, agricultural products, light bulk materials, and other loads that are awkward to load through standard swing doors alone. A roll tarp system is one of the key components on this trailer class, so tarp condition, bow hardware, and rail operation deserve close inspection on any used unit.

Most Trailmobile open top trailers in the market are 48-foot or 53-foot trailers with a 102-inch width and tandem axle configuration. Buyers will often see aluminum, stainless, or mixed-material side construction, with interior heights around 99 to 103 inches to the top rail. Post spacing, side lining, and interior logistics matter because these trailers can serve more than one job. Tight post centers, plywood lining, nose lining, and full-length E-track can make a trailer more adaptable for palletized or irregular freight, while reinforced rear frames and threshold areas help with repeated loading cycles. Rear swing doors remain important if the trailer will also unload at docks or transfer stations.

Under the trailer, the usual buying decisions look familiar to any van trailer shopper, but they matter more when the body may see abrasive material or shifting loads. Air ride suspension, often paired with a 49-inch sliding tandem, helps protect the trailer and cargo while giving flexibility for bridge laws and axle scaling. Kingpin setting, crossmember spacing, landing gear condition, wheel type, brake life, and remaining tire percentage all affect operating cost after purchase. Wood flooring is common in older used units, so check for soft spots, threshold wear, and damage near the rear door opening. If the trailer has seen scrap or dense bulk service, inspect sidewalls, posts, roof rail structure, and door frame alignment for twists or impact damage.

Trailmobile has long been a recognizable name in van and specialty trailer construction, and that matters in the used market where parts familiarity and repairability count. The best used open top trailer is usually the one that matches your loading method first, then your freight density, then your route requirements. A lighter aluminum-sided trailer may suit higher-cube freight, while stainless or reinforced construction can make sense for harsher applications. For many buyers, the real value is operational flexibility: top load when needed, tarp the cargo quickly, and still retain the enclosed trailer profile and rear access of a van-style body.