RAMPANT TRAILERS LLC

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Rampant Trailers was founded in March of 1985 by Bill Thornton. Assets consisted of a down payment on a new ½ ton pickup, $500 in the bank, and an office in the bedroom of the family home, a singlewide trailer on a rented lot in a mobile home park. After a year the ½ ton was already tired of hauling stacks of trailers all over the country and a dually was purchased with a diesel engine. The back window was removed & a coffin box sleeper installed on top of the bed. The business expanded and trailers were being delivered as far away as Montreal Canada. The little sleeper had no heat and -20 winters in Canada were hard on the driver so the next year a new one ton truck was ordered. When the truck arrived the frame was stretched and a 60” walk-in sleeper was installed. This was high living! A 48’ aluminum step deck trailer hooked to the little Ford would carry a lot of trailers. Problem was, it was still a one ton truck and the Adirondack Mountains were formidable adversaries. Business kept growing and in 1990 the first road tractor was purchased, a 4 year old Ford with 350,000 miles on it. By this time the mobile home had been moved to a 2 acre homestead and an old forklift with no brakes bought to load trailers. A big step but necessary since the local tractor dealer was tired of having his yard space & forklift tied up. In November of 1991 a brand new Peterbilt 379 joined the fleet. On its maiden voyage the weather in Canada was so cold the fuel froze in the tanks! The truck had to be pulled inside a heated building and sit overnight before it would crank. In 1995 Rampant Trailers moved to our present location, an 8 acre lot just outside the little village of Wendell. A 7,000 square foot steel building was built for offices and the parts department. Another Peterbilt joined the fleet along with a driver and now 2 loads could be delivered at the same time. In 1997 another 7,000 square foot building was erected and Rampant Trailers began being manufactured on site. In 2000 Bill’s brother Dwight joined the company as parts and service manager. In 2008 Bill’s daughter Jessi graduated from college and became our office manager. She did not require training as she had already worked with us for 13 years! We told you this little story not to bore you but so you know our humble beginnings. We still operate the same way we did 31 years ago. Every customer and sale is appreciated. Our word is our bond. When we look you in the eye and shake your hand, or take your order over the phone, you can rest assured we’ll do what we say. Your business is always appreciated and never taken for granted. Let us know if we can help you in any way. Bill Thornton