If you run a lawn crew or tow a mower trailer, you have probably asked something like this at some point: How do I rig out my trailer without spending a pile of money on racks? Commercial trimmer racks work well, but they are not cheap, and outfitting a whole trailer adds up fast.

In this guide, you will see how to build a simple, strong DIY trimmer rack using webbing, screws, and a few carabiners. It costs under $25 to set up the trailer and roughly $6 to $7 per trimmer rack. It is light, quiet, gentle on your tools, and easy to adjust so it fits your trailer perfectly.

The question that kicked this off sounded like this:

“Chip, how do I rig out my trailer best? What rack should I buy? They are all so expensive.”

If you have priced name-brand racks, you know the problem. Metal racks are nice, but buying several of them can cost as much as a small mower. Many new lawn care businesses, and even seasoned crews, do not want to drop that much cash when there might be a simpler answer.

That is where this sling rack idea comes in.

Instead of metal tubes or heavy brackets, the rack uses doubled-up webbing straps mounted to the trailer wall. The engine of the trimmer rests in a sling at the front, and a carabiner at the back clips into the trimmer’s existing strap bracket to keep it locked in place.

Here is what you get from this setup:

• Super cheap, around $6 to $7 per rack
• Total material cost under $25 to $30 for a small trailer
• Custom fit for your trailer layout and your tools
• Secure hold that will not let trimmers bounce out
• Soft support that will not chew up trimmer shafts and tubes

You are not giving up much either. A metal rack is still a little faster to load, but this webbing rack is easy to use and much kinder to your gear.

You do not need fancy hardware for this project. Most of it is common webbing and hardware that you can grab online or at a local store.

1. Stitched webbing or strapping

   • About 1‑inch wide, strong, and flexible
   • Doubled over to make slings and loops
   • Very cheap on Amazon

2. Self-tapping screws with large washers

   • Self-tappers so you can go straight into the trailer frame
   • Washers spread the load across the strap so it will not rip

3. Carabiners

   • An inexpensive pack of 8 for about $8 on Amazon
   • Simple, easy-open style is best, not the fancy three-step versions

4. Basic tools

   • Drill and drill bits
   • Optional lighter to melt and seal the strap ends so they do not fray

5. Your trimmer’s factory strap bracket

   • Most trimmers already have a strap bracket for a shoulder harness
   • This becomes the attachment point for the carabiner at the back

Here is a rough cost breakdown for setting up a small trailer:

If you do not want to use webbing, Chip points out that rope, paracord, or simple tie-down straps from a place like Ace Hardware would also work. Old climbing rope or paracord is strong enough to hold trimmers, ladders, or rakes if you tie good loops.

You can also pick up tools and supplies for trailer setup from the team at Main Street Mower’s online store.

Before you start cutting straps, you need to know where to mount them.

The strongest points are the metal frame rails that sit behind your trailer’s plywood walls. You can usually find the frame by looking for the bolt heads that hold the plywood on. Follow those bolts, and you will get a good idea of where the frame runs vertically and horizontally.

Chip uses self-tapping screws for a quicker install:

• He drives self-tapping screws straight through the plywood into the steel frame.
• A large washer under each screw head spreads the pressure across more of the strap, which reduces the risk of tearing.
• Because the rack is so light, he notes that you could screw straight into plywood with regular wood or drywall screws and still be fine.

Drilling into the frame is a little overkill for such a light rack, but it is easy and gives you peace of mind.

For strap length and spacing, he uses a simple trick. Once the first sling is cut to the right size for one trimmer, he uses that strap as a template so every other strap matches. That helps keep all the trimmers level and lined up.

A few simple layout tips:

• Keep all the slings at the same height so your trimmers look neat.
• Try to line up the screws with trailer beams when you can.
• Plan for two tiers rather than three unless you measure very carefully. Chip ended up with two tiers because his spacing was not quite right for three.

The goal is a layout where you can walk in, grab any trimmer without fighting it, and still have room for other tools.

Once you know where to mount the straps, the actual build is quick. The system has two main parts: the front sling that cradles the engine and the rear clip that locks the trimmer to the wall.

Now it is time to mount the front slings that actually hold the weight of the trimmer.

1. Hold the doubled strap loop against the wall where you want the engine to hang.
2. Drill a pilot hole through the strap and plywood into the frame (if you are using self-tappers, you may be able to skip pre-drilling, depending on your screws and drill).
3. Run a self-tapping screw with a big washer through the strap and into the wall.
4. Repeat with a second screw for that sling.

Chip notes that a few of his screws ended up only in plywood, not the steel frame, and it still felt solid. Since trimmers are not very heavy and the straps spread the weight out, plywood alone can work, but hitting frame where you can is ideal.

To load a trimmer into the front slings, you:

• Walk into the trailer with the trimmer in hand.
• Pull the strap back slightly.
• Tuck the trimmer’s engine into that sling.

That sling carries most of the weight and keeps the engine from moving around.

The back of the trimmer needs something to keep it from bouncing off the wall. Instead of a metal tube or clamp, this setup uses the trimmer’s original strap bracket and a carabiner.

Most trimmers include a strap bracket for a shoulder harness. Many people never use it, but it is a strong, built-in mounting point that you are already carrying around.

Here is how Chip uses it:

1. He clips a carabiner to the trimmer’s strap bracket.
2. On the trailer wall, he mounts a short strap loop or “hook strap” at about the same height as the bracket.
3. When he walks into the trailer, he rests the engine in the front sling, then clips the carabiner to that short wall strap at the back.

Loading is simple:

1. Walk in with the trimmer.
2. Drop the engine into the front sling.
3. Reach back and hook the carabiner to the rear strap.
4. To unload, unhook the carabiner and lift the trimmer out.

As Chip puts it, it is basically, “Walk in, slap it in, hook, done.”

This rear clip does not add extra weight to the trimmer. You are just using hardware that is already on it.

If the trimmer head or shaft rubs the trailer wall, you can:

• Stick a piece of foam where it contacts the wall.
• Add an extra strip of plywood behind that area.
• Go heavy-duty and cover that section with diamond plate.

The key is that the trimmer is locked in place but still easy to grab.

A rack is only good if it holds up when the trailer starts bouncing.

During use, the sling rack keeps the trimmers tight and secure. The engine rests in the front loop, and the rear carabiner keeps the unit from jumping out of place.

Chip is confident enough to say, “You could hit as many bumps as you want. It’s never going to fall out.”

Some performance notes from the build:

• The example trailer used a two-tier rack layout. A third tier was possible, but the spacing was off, which shows how important planning your heights can be.
• The soft straps mean there is no metal-on-metal contact with the trimmer tubes, unlike many steel racks. Over time, that can reduce wear and paint damage.
• The straps are quiet while you drive. You do not get rattling like you do with loose metal holders.
• Each rack costs about $6 to $7 in material, including a share of the webbing, washers, and carabiner.

If you ever feel like the strap area on the trailer wall is wearing out, you can back it up with more plywood, foam, or metal. The rack itself is very light, so most of the stress goes into the screws and wood, not the frame.

One of the best parts about this idea is how flexible it is. You are not locked into only holding string trimmers.

With the same approach, you can:

• Run a pole saw or long hedge trimmer across the top tier.
• Hang rakes and shovels in vertical loops.
• Strap ladders along the wall using wider loops and larger carabiners.

Chip talks about getting creative with webbing, rope, tie-downs, and even paracord. In his words, you can “get out there and MacGyver something like this for very little cost,” and it might end up better for your setup than a pre-packaged rack.

Some quick ideas:

• Use big loops for bulky handles or ladder rails.
• Use small loops and a carabiner for things that need to be clipped tight.
• Reuse old climbing rope or paracord if you already have it in the shop.

He is clear that there is still a place for metal racks. They are faster to use in some cases and very polished. But if you are trying to save money or want a softer mount that will not chew up your tools, this strap system is hard to beat.

This project comes from the crew at Main Street Mower, a mower shop based in Central Florida. They also run their online store, where you can order equipment and parts from almost anywhere in the United States. They ship nationwide, with the exception of Hawaii.

If you are a landscaper or homeowner, their site has a full spread of gear, from saws and trimmers to accessories. Anything you buy there helps support more how-to content like this.

Those videos pair well with a trailer setup project since they help you pick the tools that will actually ride on your new racks.

A clean trailer setup does not have to cost a fortune. With some stitched webbing, a handful of screws, and a few carabiners, you can build a custom sling rack system that holds your trimmers tight, protects them from damage, and fits your trailer like it was built for it.

Start small with one or two slings, then add more tiers and tool spots as you go. In a single afternoon, you can turn a messy trailer into organized storage that makes every job faster and less frustrating.

If you try this setup, think about what else in your trailer could hang on a loop or hook. That is where this idea really shines.

Links to Main Street Mower

• Shop online: Main Street Mower
• YouTube: Main Street Mower on YouTube
• Facebook: Main Street Mower on Facebook
• Instagram: Main Street Mower on Instagram
• TikTok: Main Street Mower on TikTok