There are major differences between an Electric Driven and Engine Driven Roll Off Trailer. When deciding on a trailer, it’s important to think about the trailer’s function. Electric driven are less expensive than their Engine driven counterpart. However, Engine driven units are more powerful than Electric driven.
The electric roll off trailer uses a 12v volt hydraulic pump and drum winch system. These trailers have a 12 volt mobile charging system connected to the tow vehicle. Electric trailers are typically used for medium to light duty applications. An electric trailer has a drum winch which has a cable wrap around a drum. Typically these winches have a lower load rating.
Engine driven trailers have an engine-driven hydraulic and winch system. These trailers are set up to run without added power from your tow vehicle. Make sure the engine runs occasionally for 15 minutes or longer to fully charge the battery. Running the trailer for 5 minutes or less may cause the battery not get fully charged. Typically the engine driven trailers are used for medium to heavier duty applications. However, each trailer has its limits and users need to follow the max load rating for each trailer. Engine driven pulley (reeving) system uses a series of pulleys to gain a mechanical advantage and typically provides a higher load rating.