Which Trailer to Rent Before and After a Palm Beach County Hurricane
Peak hurricane season in Palm Beach County runs through late summer and fall, and every storm that gets close creates the same three hauling problems. First you move things out of the yard before the wind arrives. Then you move a pile of limbs, fence panels and soaked debris out of the yard after. Somewhere in the middle the power goes out and the work has to keep going after dark.
Those are three different jobs, and they do not take the same trailer. A single truckload of patio furniture is not the same job as a crew making six debris runs a day, and neither one is the job of getting a skid steer onto a lot with a tree across the driveway.
Here is how to match the equipment to the job, what each unit costs, and what to check on your truck before you hook up. Everything below books online from our yard in Loxahatchee, and renters tow from across Palm Beach County, including West Palm Beach, Royal Palm Beach, Wellington, Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter and Jupiter Farms.
Before the storm: one trip, one trailer
Most pre-storm hauling is a single load. Patio furniture going into a garage. A generator and fuel cans headed to a family member's house. Plywood coming home from the lumber yard. You are making one or two trips, not hauling all day.
The 14' x 6' Utility Trailer is built for exactly that. It runs $60 for a full day or $40 for a half day before sales tax, carries a 5,500 lb payload on a 7,000 lb GVWR, and comes with four 15-foot straps, aluminum ramps, reverse lights and a spare tire and tire kit. It uses a 2 inch ball, so check what is on your truck before you drive over.
If the load needs to stay dry, the 5x8 Enclosed Trailer is the other option at $60 a day or $40 for a half day. It carries a 2,200 lb payload on a 3,500 lb GVWR, has a rear swing door, six tie down straps and interior LED lighting, and also runs on a 2 inch ball.
Booking online takes under two minutes and you can do it any hour of the day or night, so there is no reason to wait for phone hours to lock in a date.
After the storm: repeat debris runs
Cleanup hauling is heavier and wetter than people expect. Waterlogged limbs, saturated sod, broken fence panels and roof debris add up fast, and you are almost never done in one load. This is the job that punishes an undersized trailer.
The 16x7 Utility Trailer Heavy Duty is the right tool for a week of debris runs. It is $80 a day or $350 for the week, carries an 8,000 lb payload on a 10,200 lb GVWR, and runs four wheel electric brakes with 12 ply tires. That braking matters more than the payload number when you are loaded with wet debris and stopping on wet pavement.
It also has a heavy duty tailgate with lift assist, which is the difference between a manageable day and a miserable one when you are unloading the same trailer five or six times. The weekly rate is worth the math: more than four days of hauling and the week beats stacking day rates.
When a machine has to come in
Some cleanup is beyond a chainsaw and a wheelbarrow. If a tree is on a structure or a crew needs a skid steer or compact tractor moved between properties, you need a deck rated for the machine and the chains to tie it down properly.
The 24' x 8' Equipment Trailer is $150 a day or $625 for the week. It carries a 10,000 lb payload on a 14,000 lb GVWR and comes with six 25-foot straps, four 20-foot Grade 70 chains, four chain binders, drive over low profile fenders and four wheel electric brakes. It also uses a 2-5/16 inch ball.
Working after the power goes out
Grid power can stay down for days after a storm, and that is the part most people do not plan for. Tree crews want to keep cutting past sunset. Property managers want a lit staging area for debris. Neighbors want to see what they are stepping on while they clear a road.
The High Output LED Light Tower rents for $125 a day. It carries four 300W high output LED lights on a 28-foot fully adjustable mast, runs 70+ hours on one tank of diesel, and has a 120V outlet for extra power. It is quiet and fuel efficient, has out-riggers for stability, and uses a 2-5/16 inch ball. Fuel is not included and is billed after the rental, and fuel delivery is available.
Matching the job to the unit
| Storm job | Unit | Day rate | Payload |
|---|---|---|---|
| One pre-storm load of furniture, fuel or plywood | 14' x 6' Utility Trailer | $60 ($40 half day) | 5,500 lbs |
| A smaller load that has to stay dry | 5x8 Enclosed Trailer | $60 ($40 half day) | 2,200 lbs |
| Repeat debris runs all week | 16x7 Utility Trailer Heavy Duty | $80 ($350/week) | 8,000 lbs |
| Skid steer, tractor or heavy machine | 24' x 8' Equipment Trailer | $150 ($625/week) | 10,000 lbs |
| Night work with no grid power | High Output LED Light Tower | $125 | Not a hauling unit |
The logistics people actually worry about in a storm week
Forecasts change. Here is how the rental side works so you can plan around it.
- Book online 24/7, in under two minutes. You do not have to reach anyone by phone to reserve a unit. Phone hours are 7AM to 9PM if you would rather talk it through.
- Contactless pickup runs 6AM to 10PM, seven days a week. The yard is open every day of the week, weekends included.
- No security deposit. You pay in full when you book.
- Rates in this post are before sales tax. Sales tax is added to the rental, so your total will be higher than the day rate on its own.
- Cancel 48 or more hours before pickup for a full refund. Cancellations inside 48 hours are subject to a 25% fee, and there are no refunds on early returns.
- A valid driver's license and proof of insurance are required to rent. Have both handy so nothing slows the booking down.
Late returns are subject to a late fee, so if the job may run long, book the extra day up front rather than planning to stretch the return.
Book your storm dates online
The 48 hour cancellation window is the reason to put dates on the calendar early instead of waiting for the forecast to settle. Reserve the days you think you will need, and if the storm turns and you cancel more than 48 hours before pickup, you get the full amount back.
You can see real-time availability and book online any hour of the day, or call 786-387-6733 during phone hours from 7AM to 9PM and we will help you pick the right unit for the job.