Arrow Board & Message Board Trailers for Road Crews
Portable arrow boards and changeable message boards are heavy, top-loaded equipment — most units weigh several hundred to over a thousand pounds on their own trailer-mounted base, and they get towed to and staged at work zones constantly, often on rough shoulder terrain and in every kind of weather. Star Manufacturing builds heavy-duty trailers sized and rated for hauling this kind of traffic control equipment, using the same 5/16" seam-welded frame and full hot dip galvanized finish as our cattle and utility trailer lines, built in Wharton, TX.
This is a natural companion to our traffic control equipment trailers page, which covers general signage, cone, drum, and barricade hauling. Arrow boards and message boards are the heavier, bulkier end of that same traffic control equipment category — tall, top-heavy units that need a stable, well-rated trailer platform rather than a light-duty utility trailer.
Why Galvanized Matters for Roadside Equipment
- Constant roadside exposure: Arrow board and message board trailers sit parked on shoulders and medians for days or weeks at a stretch, exposed to road spray, de-icing salt in winter climates, and direct weather — exactly the corrosion conditions hot dip galvanizing is built for.
- Frequent loading/unloading cycles: These units get towed out and staged repeatedly across a work zone rotation. A 5/16" seam-welded frame holds up to that cycle far longer than lighter-gauge trailers.
- Long service life reduces fleet costs: DOT contractors and municipal road departments running multiple boards across a fleet save real money over years of service when the trailers underneath don't rust out first.
Build Specs
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Frame | 5/16" thick, 3x5 heavy angle iron, seam welded |
| Finish | Full hot dip galvanized |
| Construction | Laser cut components, tabbed and slotted for precision fit |
| Typical Use | DOT contractors, municipal road departments, striping and work-zone crews |
| Pricing | Call for price — configuration varies by equipment weight and mount |
Who Orders These
Same buyer profile as our DOT highway maintenance and county road/precinct maintenance customers — road crews and contractors who need equipment on-site reliably, in all weather, without downtime from a trailer that's failed underneath the load. If your crew already runs our traffic control or utility construction trailers, an arrow board/message board unit fits the same fleet standard.
Fleet Standardization Across Equipment Types
Many contractors running arrow boards and message boards also operate a mix of other equipment on the same job sites — pole trailers, material trailers, and general tool and equipment trailers. Standardizing on the same frame and finish across your whole trailer fleet simplifies maintenance planning and gives every unit the same corrosion resistance, regardless of what it's hauling. It also means your crews know what to expect from every trailer in the yard — same tie-down points, same deck height conventions where practical, same build quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can trailers be built to fit a specific arrow board or message board model?
Yes — mount points and deck layout are configured to your specific equipment. Contact our team with your unit's dimensions and weight to get a build spec.
Are these trailers rated for the weight of a full message board unit?
Yes, we build to the load rating your equipment requires. Message boards in particular can be top-heavy — tell us the make/model and mounted weight so we size the frame and axle correctly.
Is pricing available online?
Utility and traffic control equipment trailers are call-for-price due to the range of equipment and mount configurations. Contact us at (979) 532-1486 for a quote.
Do these come galvanized as standard?
Yes — full hot dip galvanizing is our standard finish across the utility and construction trailer line, which matters most for equipment that sits parked roadside for extended periods.
See related pages on traffic control equipment trailers and DOT highway maintenance trailers, browse utility trailers, or contact us at (979) 532-1486.