Key Tips for Choosing the Right Trailer for Your Harvest Season
As the grain and fertiliser season begins, the pressure is on to ensure your fleet is ready to perform at harvest. Whether you're a first-time buyer or a long-time operator looking to upgrade, choosing the right trailer can make all the difference to your productivity, payload capacity, and bottom line.
At Sloanebuilt, we’ve worked closely with agriculture operators for over 38 years to deliver purpose-built trailers for grain, fertiliser, and seasonal bulk haulage. Here’s what to consider before you hit the paddocks this harvest.
1. Prioritise Payload Efficiency
When it comes to harvesting, every tonne counts. Look for trailers designed to maximise your payload while remaining compliant with mass and PBS (Performance-Based Standards). A higher payload capacity means fewer trips, reduced fuel costs, and more efficient operations during peak season.
The Sloanebuilt Advantage:
Our PBS-approved trailer configurations are optimised to carry more while maintaining balance, safety, and legal compliance, helping you boost productivity without compromise.
2. Choose a Trailer Built for Agriculture Conditions
Grain and fertiliser work isn’t gentle on equipment. You need a trailer that can handle dust, moisture, rough roads, and heavy use throughout the season. When looking for a trailer partner it is best to look for those that use high-quality paint and rust protection (like PPG finishes), have a robust chassis and tipping mechanisms and durable suspension systems for rough terrain.
The Sloanebuilt Advantage:
Our trailers are made from locally sourced, high-strength materials, built and painted 100% in-house for long-term protection against harsh Australian conditions.
3. Custom Configuration is Key
No two operations are the same, so your trailer should reflect your business needs. Whether you require different axle groups, specific tipping styles, or tarp systems, customisation ensures better workflow, easier loading and unloading, and maximum route compatibility.
The Sloanebuilt Advantage:
Every Sloanebuilt trailer is customised to suit your grain or fertiliser application, including axle spacing, body size, hydraulic setups, and other specifications. If you need it, we’ll build it.
4. Plan for After-Sales Support
Trailer reliability doesn’t stop at delivery; it depends on the ongoing servicing and parts access, and support. Avoid downtime during peak season by choosing a manufacturer who offers strong after-sales support and spare part availability.
The Sloanebuilt Advantage:
At Sloanebuilt, we provide comprehensive after-sales support with our dedicated in-house repair and servicing bays, a fully stocked spare parts store, and an expert, knowledgeable team. All to ensure minimal downtime and maximum uptime when every load matters.
5. Think Long-Term Value
It might be tempting to choose a cheaper, off-the-shelf option, but in the long run, poor-quality trailers lead to more repairs, safety risks, and limited lifespan. Invest in a trailer that’s designed to grow with your business season after season.
The Sloanebuilt Advantage:
With over 38 years of experience, we’ve built trailers that are still on the road decades later. Our precision engineering and Australian-made builds are designed for durability, efficiency, and long-term return on investment.
Whether It’s Your First Build or Your Fifth—We’re Here to Help
If you’re preparing for the upcoming harvest, now is the time to speak to a trailer expert. Whether you're a first-time buyer or adding to an existing fleet, Sloanebuilt helps you get the most out of every load.
📞 Call us today on (02) 4647 4800 to talk trailer builds.
🛒 Need parts? Visit shop.sloanebuilt.com.au
🔧 Book repairs or pre-season servicing at our Smeaton Grange workshop.
