My name is Ari and I am going to turn sixteen next year and therefore will be getting my liscence not too long afterward. I am planning to start a "real" lawncare service. Right now I hold 7 lawns but want to go after more like 30 or 40 to put my self through college. I have been looking around at trailers but Im not sure what size or brand to buy. I also have been looking for trucks. I would like to know if I should buy a used or new pickup or used or new dump truck. I have become quite knowledgable on commercial mowers or at least for my age. Right now i have an echo straight shaft trimmer an a toro super recycler. I am looking to buy a commercial ztr or a commercial hydro walkbehind. So Im looking for all the advice i can get. Thanks

Hi Ari, I'm Nick in Kentucky...I just bought myself a larger trailer (6.5x16) for only $995 from ebay. It is absolutely great, and was well worth it. I would recomend buying a trailer off of there to get the cheapest price. About a truck, I have no idea as my grandparents are giving me one for my lawn care business for my 16th birthday. About mowers...I'm in the process of purchasing another one myself...so whatever you find out in here, will be great for me too! Good luck!
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Nick Herweck
Five Guys and a Lawnmower

As far as college, good for you. I hope it's turf management you're majoring in . As far as a tariler, since it's only you but you may want to take on another individual some day, you may want to get a single axle 12' x 6'6" trailer. The 12' is perfect for two mowers, a walk behind blower, and all sorts of space to mount stuff on the sides. The 6'6" part is crucial. Get a 12' x 6' and you'll see what I mean and be selling it quick. Echos are great to start and end with. They are light, powerful, and pretty resillient to rough handling. The Toro is a good choice, but get a bagger. If you're using a trim mower, it'll look cleaner if you bag and don't leave mulch everywhere. Also, mulching with a single bladed mower leaves thatch that can choke out roots and prevent water, sunlight, and nutrients from reaching the roots. even a side-discharge 22" push is better. As far as a first walk behind, a 48" belt will be fine. You won't want to mow in the rain yet, and don't really have to. A belt will be lighter, easier for you to work on and maneuver, cheaper, and you won't be ripping up divots left and right with the meaty hydro tires. Bobcat and Scag are great for beginners because of their simple construction, ample number of service dealers, and their structural integrity that will last way beyond your first hydro. Get a backpack instead of a handheld too. A redmax EB431 or Echo PB-4600/46HT will be fine. You won't make too big a mess, and will be able to control it w/o blowing mulch and grass everywhere. For a truck, used is fine, but stick to Ford or Chevy. Dodge tends to need a new transmission around 150k or so, so stay away from ones w/o a rebuilt one. If they can show you a receipt that is within the warranty, buy it, if not, talk them down. No matter what someone tells you, friend or someone off the street, business is business. Get it in writing. Ford will give you a hernia from it's suspension harshness, it burns oil, and has a crappy front suspension setup as well. You'll have to constantly fix things with it. I say a 2500 or 3500 Chevy longbed will do the trick. There are may out there, so don't settle. If it's not what you want, or atleast dirt cheap, leave it for the next guy. I hope this all helped, email me at salvagedrover@wmconnect.com if you have any other questions. Good luck and I hope college is all it's cracked up to be for you.

My $0.02

I'm just ckecing in on the truck side of things. BUY A GMC OR CHEVY! (2500 or 3500 long bed...do not get a dually) There are GREAT deals on gm trucks out there and they run forever! I just bought, this last week, a 1992 chevy 3500 with a 454 it also came with a blizzard plow (the one with the wings that extend out) and i only paid $4700. From my experience just make sure it drives well and shifts smoothly. If you go on to too many miles check on your water pump before it breaks like mine did on the way home. Parts are easy to find and relatively inexpensive. Keep looking for a truck cause there are many good deals out there and you don't wanna get taken. Make sure you know exactly what you are buying and do some research... my buddy has had an 89 3500 with a 454 since it was new and has never had any problems with it (he uses it to plow a car dealership and has a boss vplow on it)

thank you for the help but i would like to know preferences on enclosed or open trailers. thanks again ari

I've always liked open trailers more as you will not get hit with a large scent of gas from the inside of the enclosed. If you get an enclosed, make sure you get the vents or ceiling vent/light! With open, you can also take up more jobs such as landscaping, so you can put larger trees in the trailer, junk removal, etc. I really do recomend the open trailers.

Enclosed trailers are like rolling Billboards! Plaster your name # on the side and just wait for calls. Also, if you have a high theft rate or don't carry theft insurance or anything like that ON your equipment, and don't want it stolen, enclosed sure is attractive. Other than the whole fumes inside, you can build shelves inside and run rails to secure equipment inside. I'll get some pictures of my dad's trailer. I unfortunately only have a small open trailer as i run a small business and not large by any means. But if i were to expand, i'd pursue an enclosed trailer. You won't have to secure gas cans nearly as much because there isn't wind in an enclosed trailer.

Unfortunately, once you see the prices, that will probably determine your choice right then because they are expensive. If possible, get one with a front access door. Enclosed trailers weigh more, so make sure you can tow it comfortably without wearing out your vehicle or else that will cost you thousands later. Good luck

Hey Ari, my name is Randy and I have had my lawn service for 4 years now starting from a push mower and rider from craftsman. I am now 16 yrs old and have my license. I have worked up from a push craftsman to a 50 inch commercial gravely. Right now I have one echo trimmer bought at home depot and a 50" ztr from gravely, a 61" bob cat ransomes hydro and a echo backpack blower. I have recently bought my own trailer it is a tilt bed trailer big enought for either a walk behind or a the rider but not both. I would highly recoment an enclosed trailer from the homedepot they are very hight quality, but if you want one that lasts their is a place named wells cargo not fargo that makes grat trailer. I have 19 accounts currently and 3 commercial accounts (parks and stores) that is enough for me right now. but I am also saven up like you are .I wish you the best of luck with your business and if you have any more questions do not esitate to ask because you are going though everything I had to go through and Im 16 so feel free to ask anything. Good luck and keep those blades sharp.

In my opinion you guys are all on the right track. As far as a trailer, I'd have to say both. That is unless you have a garage or a barn or HUGE shed. An open trailer is the best thing to have, especially at 16, which amazingly most of you seem to be. You all should really think about wether or not you want the responsibility of operating a trailer and all that it entails. It's not easy. You need to be able to compensate for it's size, obstruction, remember it's there and things may be under the wheels to run over that you won't feel, many things to thing about. You also need to get it registered and with that, will need to explain what you need a trailer for without a liscensed business, which at 16 I'm sure none of you have and if you do I hope you live with mom and dad.
So, with all of that said, what I think the best thing to start out with is a rack body dump with a winch for broken mowers. Plenty of space for everything; with plywood sides, hard to steal what you can't see; a tarp is all that's needed against the elements; you can do cleanups with ease; you can now do mulch 20x easier; You can mount trimmer and blower racks on the inside or outside for conveniance. A Duallie is the best thing to have with a 454 or Turbo Diesel. I'd really be against a 454 over a 350. A 350 is plenty of power. If a 4.3 2wd V6 will pull a single axle 12' trailer with three 52" hydros, (one a big honkin monster Gravely, ) two packs, a 125lb spreader, four trimmers, a Fradan 11hp blower, an aerator and dethatcher, a pole pruner, gas, line spools, a case of two stroke, and three hedge trimmers, a 350 will be more than fine. Also, a 454 uses twice as much gas and only puts out a 1/4 more power. "Don't use 7 words when 4 will do" - Brad Pitt. I think that the right tool for the job is always apropriate and more isn't always better, sometimes it's just more. You kids do what you want, but I'm 24 and was 9 years old when I used my first 48" belt drive, and have worked for a half dozen companies, plus a 900 unit condo village, and did the grounds maint. for a very large Water Company maintaining it's Pump and Lift stations and water towers as well as it's Reservoirs. I have come a long way and have learned a lot. Above all else, good luck.

-my 0.02

I kinda sliced up your post sorry, here's my question. What do you mean by "rack body dump"??? What brands and got pictures to give me an idea? I've yet to figure what i'm going to do come fall with all the leaves, and i want to figure it out before fall comes.
About trailers, I started this year at age 17 and got insurance and small tilt trailer for 1 ztr rider and 2 small push mowers. When i was just loading push mowers in the back of my truck, i could fly around the roads. But trailers slow you down- suck more gas- and are a pain parking and maneuvering around small city congested and busy streets. So remember visibility and think about the consequences and responsibility of a trailer while you look at getting one.