Cable Reel Trailers Vs. Reel Stand Turntables: Which Do You Need?

For years, electricians and electrical wholesalers have depended on cable reel trailers from Solus Group for safe, efficient jobsite payout. Parallel Reel Payout Trailers (PRP-TRL) feature 14-foot, 22-foot, or 24-foot decks loaded with two or three turntable mounts (depending on the model).

Each of these steel turntables supports its own Parallel Reel Payout (PRP) — an A-frame reel stand that carries up to 5,000 pounds of cable. Rotating PRP bases allow electricians to pull cable in any direction from the centralized trailer location. In short, a Parallel Reel Payout Trailer is a turnkey solution for cable payout in high-volume installations, from utility work to greenfield construction. 

But sometimes, Solus Group customers don’t need the full PRP-TRL assemblage. They’re looking for a cable payout system with 360-degree access, but they already have a trailer. Maybe they even want to install a rotating reel payout in a truck bed or shop floor. 

If that scenario sounds familiar, choose the Reel Stand Turntable from Solus Group. This is the same reel stand turret mount that’s built into our full cable reel trailers, ready for installation wherever you need a versatile payout system.

Cable Reel Trailers Versus Reel Stand Turntables

So which solution is right for your operation, the Parallel Reel Payout Trailer or a Reel Stand Turntable? 

Choose Parallel Reel Payout Trailers if:

• You need a highly mobile, full-service payout system for construction or utility installation.
• You don’t have a trailer or truck bed available to convert into a payout vehicle.
• You plan to transport your payout trailer within an enclosed tractor (14-foot or 22-foot trailers are sized to fit inside dry vans for long haul transport).

Choose Reel Stand Turntables if: 

• You’re converting an existing truck or trailer into a dynamic, 360-degree payout system.
• You want a permanent rotating payout system built into your shop or warehouse floor.
• You use multiple types of reel stands, and want a turntable positioner that works with all of them (this base supports most standard industrial jack stands).

A fully constructed cable reel trailer like the PRP-TRL offers immediate service, right off the truck. It’s a true turnkey solution: Just load your cable reels and get to work. 

Reel Stand Turntables take a bit more setup, in exchange for more freedom to construct your own bespoke solution. If you already have a trailer set aside for payout, Reel Stand Turntables are a more cost-friendly option than the PRP-TRL, too.

Benefits of Reel Stand Turntables for Cable Reel Trailers

Whether you buy a ready-to-go payout trailer or install turntable mounts on an existing deck, these dynamic positioning solutions provide a common set of advantages.

• Smooth rotation comes from stabilizing bearings around the entire perimeter of the turntable plate. This design maintains even load bearing across the turntable, which leads to easy positioning across the entire 360-degree range.
• Simple directional locking ensures the turntable stays still when it’s time to start pulling cable. These models feature user-friendly pin-and-lever locks you can engage (or disengage) in an instant, by hand.
• High load capacities of up to 7,500 pounds mean you can carry whole jobs worth of cable and wire, and pay everything out from a single location. 

At Solus Group, we also offer the Parallel Reel Payouts that fit perfectly into cable reel trailers and turntables. These payout solutions offer your choice of fixed or free-spinning reels, in any configuration of compartments, so you can easily organize installation of many conductors in a single load. 

Still not sure which payout solution is best for you? Contact us at (314) 696-0200 to find the perfect cable reel trailers and turntables for any use case.