Equipment That Can Take the Heat — Literally
Prescribed burn contractors and wildfire mitigation crews across Texas and the Gulf South run some of the toughest field equipment in agriculture: slip-on pump units, UTVs, drip torches, fire flaps, hose reels, and portable water tanks that all have to move from the shop to the burn unit and back, often over rough pasture roads and through smoke and ash. The trailer hauling that gear takes abuse that would wear out a lightweight consumer trailer inside a season or two.
Star Manufacturing builds utility trailers in Wharton, TX around a 5/16" thick, 3×5 heavy angle frame that's seam welded for strength, then fully hot dip galvanized — the entire trailer submerged in molten zinc rather than painted — so the ash, moisture, and rough terrain that come with prescribed fire work don't shorten the trailer's life.
What Burn Crews Need From a Trailer
- Load capacity for pump units and water tanks — slip-on units with 100-300 gallon tanks add up fast
- Ramp or drive-on access for loading UTVs and ATVs used to run firelines
- Corrosion resistance — ash, smoke residue, and firefighting foam chemicals are hard on painted finishes
- Durability over rough terrain — burn units are rarely accessed by paved road
- Enough deck length to organize equipment — torches, flaps, hand tools, and radios all need dedicated space
Why Hot Dip Galvanizing Matters for Fire Crews
Prescribed burn work exposes equipment to heat, ash, smoke residue, and often firefighting foam or retardant chemicals — all of which are hard on a painted finish. Star Manufacturing's full hot dip galvanizing process coats every inch of the trailer, inside seams included, in a zinc layer that resists corrosion even where paint would chip and expose bare steel. For crews running burns dozens of times a season across Texas, Oklahoma, and the Gulf Coast, that finish is the difference between a trailer that lasts five years and one that lasts fifteen.
Recommended Sizing for Burn Crew Equipment
| Crew Size | Recommended Length | Typical Load |
|---|---|---|
| Small landowner/rancher crew | 14'-16' | 1 slip-on pump unit, hand tools, drip torches |
| Contract burn crew | 20'-24' | Pump unit + UTV, hose reels, fire flaps |
| Multi-unit wildfire mitigation outfit | 28'-32' | Multiple pump units, ATV/UTV, water tanks, crew gear |
Built for the Field, Priced Online
Star Manufacturing's online quote builder gives prescribed burn contractors instant pricing on trailers from 14' to 40', painted or galvanized, configured to match the pump units, UTVs, and equipment your crew runs. Every trailer is manufactured in Wharton, TX with laser cut, tabbed-and-slotted steel components for precision fit and long-term structural integrity.
Explore our full utility trailer lineup or contact us at (979) 532-1486 to discuss a build tailored to your prescribed fire program — whether that's a single-unit rancher operation or a multi-crew contract outfit working burns across several counties.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size trailer do prescribed burn contractors typically need?
Most single-crew operations running one slip-on pump unit and hand tools do well with a 16'-20' utility trailer. Larger contract crews hauling multiple pump units and UTVs typically need 24'-32'.
Does galvanizing really hold up better against ash and smoke residue?
Yes. Ash and firefighting chemicals accelerate rust on painted steel once the paint chips. A full hot dip galvanized finish protects the base metal at a molecular level across the entire trailer, including seams and edges that paint often misses.
Can I configure ramp access for loading a UTV?
Yes, ramp and drive-on configurations are available. Use the online quote builder or call (979) 532-1486 to discuss the right deck and ramp setup for your equipment.