<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META content="text/html; charset=us-ascii" http-equiv=Content-Type> <META name=GENERATOR content="MSHTML 9.00.8112.16446"> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=479514717-01072012><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>I think my trailer is 6x10. I can just fit a 9 ft piano inside, but rarely have ocassion to transport that size. My trailer has a ramp door and a 6 foot high opening, double E-track down both sides. I've also installed a dozen or more surface mount D rings from Harbor Freight. These are incredibly handy for all sorts of other stuff you'll be using the trailer for besides moving pianos. </FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=479514717-01072012><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=479514717-01072012><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>Mine is a single axle. If you are custom ordering, you might consider making it a dual axle. The single axle makes for a much rougher ride for the cargo. </FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=479514717-01072012><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=479514717-01072012><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>When you get your trailer, take it to someone who knows something about welding steel structure. Most trailers are woefully under engineered, and adding a little steel here and there will hugely improve its load carrying ability. Pay attention to axle mounts. Also, go ahead and weld additional plates on the top and bottom of the tongue rails. The bottom of the ramp frame is another place I've reinforced. It had one steel square tube across the bottom, then vertical steel tubes butt welded to it, with very poor welds (in fact, check all the welds you can find). I added little triangular gussetts to overlap the joints, making it much stronger.<BR><BR>After 20 years and thousands of moves, mine is falling apart but we keep welding it back together. It is used to move households, motorcycles, vending machines, lawn mowers, and sometimes pianos. I've often thought about getting a bigger one, but the small size is real convenient for backing over the lawns to the front porches. </FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV align=left> <DIV> <P class=MsoAutoSig align=left><B><FONT size=5><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Lucida Calligraphy'; COLOR: navy; FONT-SIZE: 20pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Dean</SPAN></FONT></B></P> <P class=MsoAutoSig><FONT color=navy size=2 face=AGaramond><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: AGaramond; COLOR: navy; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Dean W May                (812) 235-5272 voice and text</SPAN></FONT><FONT color=navy><SPAN style="COLOR: navy"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoAutoSig><FONT color=navy size=2 face=AGaramond><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: AGaramond; COLOR: navy; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">PianoRebuilders.com    (888) DEAN-MAY</SPAN></FONT><FONT color=navy><SPAN style="COLOR: navy"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoAutoSig><ST1:PLACE u1:st="on"><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><FONT color=navy size=2 face=AGaramond><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: AGaramond; COLOR: navy; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = U2 /><U2:CITY u1:st="on">Terre Haute</SPAN></FONT></st1:City><FONT color=navy size=2 face=AGaramond><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: AGaramond; COLOR: navy; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"></U2:CITY> <U2:STATE u1:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">IN</U2:STATE></st1:State> <U2:POSTALCODE u1:st="on"><st1:PostalCode w:st="on">47802</U2:POSTALCODE></st1:PostalCode></SPAN></FONT></st1:place><o:p></o:p></P></DIV></DIV></ST1:PLACE> <DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV><FONT color=#000080 size=2></FONT><BR> <DIV dir=ltr lang=en-us class=OutlookMessageHeader align=left> <HR tabIndex=-1> <FONT size=2 face=Tahoma><B>From:</B> pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Richard W. Bushey<BR><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, June 30, 2012 8:24 PM<BR><B>To:</B> pianotech@ptg.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> [pianotech] Cargo trailers<BR></FONT><BR></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>I am looking to purchase a cargo trailer to move pianos (likely one at a time) to/from customer's home and shop mostly, and was curious what those here on the pianotech list would suggest.  I would install e-trak for sure.  I've been looking at either 5x8, or 6x10 cargo trailers.  If I went with the smaller, I'd have to go another route when moving a 9' grand, but I'm thinking those times would be few and far between, however, I'd rather be prepared. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>One of my main concerns is that most of the cargo trailers I've seen have short doors, (about 4.5 - 5.5 feet) which isn't a problem as much with a spinet or console strapped to a piano dolly, but clearance becomes a real issue when moving tall uprights on a dolly or a grand, which would be on a grand skid on a dolly.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Any suggestions as to what to purchase, work arounds that you all have found to work with the shorter standard doors, etc.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Thanks!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Richard W. Bushey<BR>Richard's Piano Service<BR><A href="http://www.RichardsPianoService.com">www.RichardsPianoService.com</A><BR><A href="mailto:Rbushey@RichardsPianoService.com">Rbushey@RichardsPianoService.com</A><BR>573-765-9903</FONT></DIV><BR> <HR> I am using the Free version of <A href="http://www.spamfighter.com/len">SPAMfighter</A>.<BR>SPAMfighter has removed 847 of my spam emails to date.<BR><BR>Do you have a <A href="http://www.spamfighter.com/SLOW-PCfighter?cid=sigen">slow PC?</A> Try free scan! </BODY></HTML>