Bill's 6'x12' E-Tracked, Sheetmetal-Shop, HVAC Install Trailer

E-track Foundations

Many tool trailers use shelves, but Bill went a different route. His trailer has E-Track, crates, and 2x4 construction for organizing his tools and inventory.

If you don't know, E-Track is a cargo control system that you'd see in a tractor trailer or moving truck. It looks a bit like a train track, and you can attach accessories to it with special brackets or use it to tie off equipment. You can install any length you want, and even run it the full length of your trailer.

Bill uses lengths of E-Track and special E-Track brackets both to create a pipe rack and to hold his Pittsburgh machine in place. Other brackets create tie-off points for securing his hand truck and HVAC equipment.

Recently, Bill has started using Milwaukee Packouts. He's mounted some Packout brackets on the wall and uses Packout crates to haul some of his inventory.

Hauling Equipment

If Bill needs to haul a furnace, AC system, or other large setup, he has plenty of room. Much of the rear of the trailer is open and can haul whatever needs to be installed that day, up to two complete systems.

To get HVAC equipment in and out of the trailer, he has a ramp door. Ramp doors have two problem areas if you need to move large items in and out frequently: the gap where the ramp meets the ground and the gap where the ramp meets the trailer.

To make this easier, he put in a gap filler at the top and plywood ramp toe at the bottom. Now equipment moves easily in and out of the trailer.

What About Barn Doors?

Some HVAC installers like to use barn doors on their tool trailer, primarily because this can save you a bit of time at your supplier.

If your supplier has a forklift, they can fork in your units. However, you still need to figure out a way to get them off your trailer once you're at the job site, either with a DIY ramp or gentle lowering with a hand truck.

He Can Empty the Trailer

Bill probably doesn't need to completely empty his trailer very often, as it can haul two complete AC or heat setups. But his modular build makes it so that he can empty it if he wants.

Most tool trailers have shelves and drawers built in. This means that the hauling ability is limited to the size of the unused cargo area.

In this trailer, equipment and inventory can be detached from the E-track, crates can be carried out, and some items are on rollers to make removal easier.

On Board Electricity

Bill wired the trailer for electricity so that he can run interior lights, charge batteries, and run his Pittsburgh machine. The trailer can plug into the grid with an extension cord.

If he can't plug in, he also packs a 2000 watt Honda generator that has emough capacity for the Pittsburgh machine.

Doing Sheetmetal

Bill has a sheetmetal shop set up in his trailer!

Bill's Morlin 2400 Pittsburgh machine is mounted to the E-track near the rear of the trailer. He designed its mount so that it can stay on the trailer while being used, with clearance on both the infeed on the outfeed for his workpiece.

A Tennsmith cornice brake is mounted at the front of the trailer. On this particular brake, he appreciates the trough at the ends of the leaf that leaves space for the hem edge when he's bending up a piece of duct - his previous brake did not have this.

His previous brake also had fingers that would sometimes fall during transport, but this straight cornice-style brake eliminates that problem and the need to reset the fingers on a job.

The final part of the sheetmetal setup is his folding table. This sets up in the equipment hauling space and gives him a spot to layout, adjust, and assemble his parts. Since the folding table is set up across from the Pittsburgh machine, he made sure the bed of the Pittsburgh machine would be higher than the folding table. This means he can leave the folding table up while creating a hem. Little details like this are time savers!

Watch how Bill makes a plenum in his mobile sheetmetal shop.

Cord Management

Bill uses a Quick Winder bucket for his extension cord. This product contains your long extension cord in a bucket and can quickly wind a cord.

Most tool trailer hose and cord reels stand off a mounting surface, suspended in the air. Since the Quick Winder is just a bucket, it can be brought on the job site. It has a built in mounting plate to stabilize it and allow you to mount it to any flat surface it required.

Great Local Business Commercial Example

Many businesses use generic music and and stock photos, perhaps with a picture of their vehicles to advertise themselves. Bill's got a better approach.

Prospective customers get to know Bill by seeing and hearing him, rather than a faceless voice that may or may not be the business owner.

He sets positive expectations by showing an organized van and trailer. He reassures customers that they'll have the inventory on hand to make repairs, either in a vehicle or in the shop.

For a great example of a local business commercial, be sure to watch Bill's video.