An enclosed drop deck trailer is an enclosed cargo trailer whose whole floor lowers to the ground for loading, then lifts back to travel height. Instead of pushing a heavy load up a ramp door, you roll it straight in at ground level. Air-Tow builds its enclosed line this way, and we carry Air-Tow at both of our lots. For a closer look, see our post on Air-Tow single-axle trailers. Here is how the design works, what the models hold, and who gets the most out of one.
The short version: an enclosed drop deck takes the ramp out of loading, which matters most to anyone loading carts, pallets, or wheeled equipment by themselves. Air-Tow's enclosed models are rated to carry 10,000 lb, and the E-16 XL is the longest of them. Read the certification label on the exact trailer for its weight ratings before you buy.
What Is an Enclosed Drop Deck Trailer?
It combines two designs: the walls, roof, and locking door of an enclosed cargo trailer, and a floor that comes down flat to the ground. You get a trailer that protects cargo like any enclosed unit but loads like a loading dock at street level. If ramp doors are the part of your day you dread, that changes how the trailer gets used.
How Air-Tow Lowers the Deck
Air-Tow uses swing arm axles to change the deck height. The axles let the whole deck come down to the ground, you roll or drive the load on, and the deck lifts back to travel height. Because the floor stays level the whole way down, cargo does not tip or slide the way it can on a tilting deck.
How It Differs From a Ramp Door
A standard enclosed trailer loads through a rear ramp door, so every load climbs an incline. Heavy carts, pallet jacks, and low-clearance equipment can struggle with that angle or need a second person to guide them. An enclosed drop deck removes the incline. The tradeoff is a more complex trailer that costs more than a basic enclosed cargo unit, so it makes the most sense when ramp loading is a daily problem.
Air-Tow Enclosed Drop Deck Models
Air-Tow lists four enclosed models on its own site: the E-12, E-14, E-16, and E-16 XL. Every one has a 75 inch deck width and a 10,000 lb capacity, and all of them come standard with a roll-up rear door. The numbers below are Air-Tow's published deck lengths. You can see the models we carry on our Air-Tow enclosed drop deck trailers page.
| Model | Deck Length | Deck Width | Capacity | Rear Door |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-12 | 10 ft 3 in | 75 in | 10,000 lb | Roll-up standard, swinging doors optional |
| E-14 | 12.3 ft | 75 in | 10,000 lb | Roll-up standard, swinging doors optional |
| E-16 | 14.3 ft | 75 in | 10,000 lb | Roll-up standard, swinging doors optional |
| E-16 XL | 15.9 ft | 75 in | 10,000 lb | Roll-up only |
Capacity Is Not GVWR
Capacity is what you can load. GVWR is the trailer plus the load, and on these models it runs well past the 10,000 lb capacity. That is a lot of weight behind a truck, so match the GVWR on the trailer's certification label to your tow vehicle's rating and hitch, not a number you found online. Specs can change between model years and option packages, and the label on the unit is the one that counts.
Who Should Buy an Enclosed Drop Deck Trailer?
Buyers who load heavy or wheeled cargo often and need it locked up once it is inside. If you load once a month, a standard enclosed trailer with a ramp door will likely do the job for less money. If you load several times a day, the time and strain you save add up fast.
Common Uses
The best match is equipment that rolls but does not climb well: floor scrubbers, carts, pallet loads, generators on wheels, and small machines with low ground clearance. Mobile service businesses use the enclosure to keep tools and equipment locked up between jobs. Air-Tow offers E-track and X-track as options, which makes tying cargo down easier once the deck is back at travel height.
Loading Alone
This is where the drop deck earns its price. A solo operator does not need a helper to spot a load up an incline or to wrestle a heavy ramp door. If you run a route by yourself, that is a big deal. For a look at the open Air-Tow models, read our Air-Tow drop deck trailers overview.
Financing and Rent-to-Own for Air-Tow Trailers
We offer traditional financing on Air-Tow trailers, and drop deck trailers are also eligible for rent-to-own through Hometowne Capital. Rent-to-own takes no credit check to start, and if your plans change you can return the trailer to end the agreement. A team member will go over the current term with you.
Getting Started
The rent-to-own page for drop deck trailers lists what to bring. You need to be 21 or older with a valid driver's license, current proof of insurance on the tow vehicle, and proof of residency in your name dated within 30 days. Your first payment, made at the dealership, covers the first month's rent and a deposit.
See an Air-Tow Enclosed Drop Deck at NC Trailers
An enclosed drop deck takes the ramp out of loading and keeps your cargo locked and dry once it is inside. Browse drop deck trailers in stock, then come by Thomasville or Winston-Salem to watch the deck come down in person and talk through financing or rent-to-own.
Want to watch an Air-Tow deck come down?
Call us, stop by either lot, or fill out the financing request just below and we will get right back to you.
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