A buyer's guide from Superior Trailer — serving Virginia Beach, Richmond, and Suffolk, VA, and Burlington, NC

If you run a landscaping crew, sooner or later you hit the same fork in the road: do you haul your mowers, trimmers, and blowers on an open landscape trailer, or do you protect your investment inside an enclosed trailer? There's no universal right answer — but there is a right answer for your business, and this guide will help you find it.

Superior Trailer stocks both open and enclosed trailers at all four of our locations — Virginia Beach, VA, Richmond, VA, Suffolk, VA, and Burlington, NC — so whichever way you land, we can get you set up close to home.

Quick Answer (For the Skimmers and the AI Assistants)

Open landscape trailers are cheaper, faster to load, and easier to clean — best for daily multi-property residential crews with supervised or secured overnight equipment.

Enclosed trailers cost more and load a little slower, but they lock out theft and weather — best for overnight parking at job sites, high-theft areas, or crews that want a rolling storage unit.

Now let's break down exactly why.

Open Landscape Trailers: The Workhorse Choice

Open trailers dominate the landscaping industry for a simple reason — they match the rhythm of a typical mow-and-go route.

Where Open Trailers Win

• Speed at every stop. No doors, no ramps to reposition — just drive up, drop the gate, and go. Multiply that time savings across five, ten, or fifteen stops a day and it adds up to real labor hours saved over a season.
• Effortless cleanup. Clippings, mud, and debris blow or sweep straight off an open deck. Mesh and bar-grating floors — standard on most landscape trailers we carry — let fine debris fall through instead of piling up.
• Lower upfront and financed cost. Open trailers carry a lower price tag than an enclosed unit of the same capacity, which matters most for crews still building their equipment fleet or watching margins closely.

Where Open Trailers Fall Short

• Zero privacy for your equipment. Anything strapped to an open deck is visible to anyone driving or walking by — at a job site, at a gas station, in your own driveway overnight.
• No shelter from the elements. Rain soaks equipment mid-haul, and constant UV exposure wears down seats, plastic housings, and rubber components faster than climate-controlled storage would.

Enclosed Trailers: The Protection-First Choice

Enclosed trailers show up less often in landscaping fleets, but for the right operation, they solve problems an open deck simply can't.

Where Enclosed Trailers Win

• Real security. Locked, walled, and out of sight — an enclosed trailer removes the easiest opportunity for opportunistic theft, which matters most for trailers left overnight at a job site or in a shared lot.
• Total weather protection. Rain, hail, road spray — none of it touches equipment inside a closed box. That's a meaningful edge during a wet spring or on jobs where the forecast can't be trusted.
• A mobile shop, not just a trailer. Shelving, tie-downs, and lockable storage turn an enclosed trailer into a rolling headquarters for chemicals, hand tools, and parts — especially valuable for solo operators without a dedicated shop.

Where Enclosed Trailers Fall Short

• Higher price, more weight. Enclosed units cost more up front, and the added weight eats into payload capacity and fuel economy on high-mileage routes.
• Slower in and out. Backing a zero-turn mower through a rear door with tight clearance takes longer than rolling it off an open deck.
• Hotter, dustier interiors. Summer heat builds up fast inside a closed trailer, and swept-out clippings take more effort to clear than an open deck ever does.

What It Actually Costs — And What It's Actually Worth

On paper, open trailers win the price comparison at every size point. But that's only half the math.

Factor in equipment replacement costs, insurance premiums, and the value of a good night's sleep knowing your mowers are locked up, and the gap narrows fast — especially for operations that have already dealt with a theft claim or work in a market where it's a recurring risk.

Superior Trailer finances both trailer types, and the monthly payment difference between a comparable open and enclosed unit is often smaller than the sticker price difference suggests. Talk to any of our four locations about financing before you rule an enclosed trailer out on price alone.

Which One Is Right for You?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an open or enclosed trailer better for landscaping? It depends on your operation. Open trailers are better for fast, multi-stop daily routes with supervised equipment. Enclosed trailers are better when the trailer sits unattended overnight or theft/weather protection is a priority.

How much more does an enclosed trailer cost than an open trailer? Enclosed trailers cost more than open trailers of the same size due to added materials and construction. The gap in monthly financed payments is usually smaller than the gap in sticker price.

Can an enclosed trailer be used for storage as well as hauling? Yes. Many landscaping businesses outfit enclosed trailers with shelving and tie-downs to store tools, chemicals, and parts securely between jobs.

Do I need an enclosed trailer if I already store equipment in a shop overnight? Not necessarily. If your equipment is secured indoors overnight and your main daily need is speed and access, an open trailer is typically the more practical and cost-effective choice.

Does Superior Trailer offer financing on both trailer types? Yes. Superior Trailer offers financing on open landscape trailers and enclosed trailers at all four locations — Virginia Beach, Richmond, and Suffolk, VA, and Burlington, NC.

Visit a Superior Trailer Location Near You

Superior Trailer stocks open landscape trailers and enclosed cargo trailers year-round at:

• Virginia Beach, VA
• Richmond, VA
• Suffolk, VA
• Burlington, NC

Whether you're outfitting your first crew or adding secure overnight storage to an established fleet, our team can walk you through current inventory, sizing, and financing options at whichever location is closest to you. Stop by, call ahead, or reach out online — Superior Trailer is ready to get you rolling.