> Anyway, can anyone offer any other points in favor of a trailer, vs. a > pickup or other bed-truck? Besides the slight complications in driving, > I wonder if anyone has found this to be a better arrangement, at least on > a sideliner-scale. We use both flat beds and trailers. The trucks have a 16 foot by 8 foot deck and the trailers have about the same deck area as the trucks. The trailers have a greater capacity as far as weight is concerned, and tag along as extra capacity when we need it. With a trailer, we can double our payload, even considering that the truck itself has to carry fewer boxes becauseof the hitch weight. The rest of the time the trucks suffice. We have also cut the standard boxes off normal 3/4 and 1/2 tons and made simple decks to put on. I said it before -- and I'll say it again: If I had to keep bees out of only a standard pickup box rather than a flat deck, I'd quit. Period. In that regard, a small trailer for your truck offers promise, 'cause you can keep the standard truck box -- after all it is handy for carrying loose junk, and have a nice little flat bed trailer with hooks and ropes -- the best of both worlds! (Exclamation mark thanks to DE -- since he hasn't been around lately to use the entire available supply all up in just one post<G>) I've also seen decks put on top of the box, sticking out a foot or so on each side. Altho' such decks are high, I think they are still better than reaching over the side of a typical box. And if your tailgate works, you have a huge cave to store your odds and ends. > My pickup has a permanently frozen tailgate, so I have fun lifting the > supers over the sides. Gee. I'd fix that first. See your local auto wrecker -- preferably a rural one. Tip: Be prepared to wait around and be good humoured. Admire all the junk convincingly. Eventually they'll decide they like you and take pity and fix it for next to nothing -- especially if you are not too fussy about the colour. While you are there, talk about trailers and decks. Allen If you do get a trailer, be sure to read my post about the dangers carefully. That and a lot of discussion about trucks and trailers can be found in the logs. --- Newsflash! Visit http://www.beekeeping.co.nz/beel.htm to search BEE-L archives the easy, easy way or to update or change your subscription options. ---