Watching your business grow can be gratifying, but it can also be a little on the frightening side. Most companies require ongoing capital expenditures as they expand, but timing these investments is often challenging. Smart business owners know they need to balance the growing requirements of their business with the risks of investing in unnecessary and expensive equipment.

For contractors, equipment investments typically come with another added cost: transportation needs. If you're buying new heavy equipment, you'll need a way to get it to your job site.Equipment trailers are a cost-effective transportation method, but when should you upgrade or buy a new trailer? These three indications might be telling you it's time to make this essential investment.

1. Your New Equipment Doesn't Fit

While many equipment trailers are versatile, individual trailers often work better when used for their intended applications. Manufacturers produce trailers intended to haul everything from large construction vehicles to small skid steers to residential lawnmowers. These trailers have varying deck sizes, weight capacities, and ramp layouts.

Modifying an existing trailer to fit a vehicle that doesn't fit can often be a hassle, and it may even be dangerous. Instead, it's usually a better idea to invest in a larger trailer that's better suited for your existing equipment. Purchasing a new trailer also means that you can continue to use your current fleet for hauling smaller equipment.

2. Your Ramps Aren't Appropriate

Equipment trailers come with a wide range of ramps and dovetail extensions. These parts are more than just luxuries or checkboxes on a features list, however. Ramp type can significantly influence the ease of loading and unloading equipment. Likewise, an appropriately angled dovetail can help reduce the risk of damaging vehicles as they transition from the ramp to the trailer.

Difficulty loading equipment is more than just a minor nuisance. Your crews will need to load and unload their equipment at each job site, potentially multiple times per day. Each instance represents the potential for damaging the trailer or gear, so it's crucial to select a trailer that makes it as easy to perform this task as possible.

3. You're Making Multiple Trips

If you have enough hauling vehicles for all of your heavy equipment but you still need to make multiple trips to a job site, it's probably time to expand your trailer fleet. Traveling back and forth between your lot and job site wastes gas and time that your crews can better spend working on projects. Expanding your trailer fleet is a small investment that can significantly streamline your existing operations.