NATDA Magazine Mar/Apr 2020 NM_March2020_Final022720 | Page 24

Doin’ it rite for over 30 years 6 While Wilson runs Bye Rite Trailer and Fabrication’s dealership side of the business differently than Mr. Hepler, Wilson held on to some of the original owner’s practices – including customization. “I do a lot of custom trailers.  I get people all the time that have had our trailers for over twenty years and want another just like it,” Wilson says. In addition to Mr. Hepler’s original ideas, Wilson has found success through new ideas of his design. His sole goal is to make his trailers as convenient for their users as possible. “I’ve modified gate hinges, making them easier to take on and off, made steps on the fenders, set the jacks back so the tailgate doesn’t bend on your truck,” Wilson explained.  “It’s simple things that make the trailers user-friendly and more functional.” Wilson’s extensive understanding of what type of customization is best for specific jobs has led him to work alongside local governments. Bye Rite Trailer and Fabrication provided trailers to many cities on the Gulf Coast, who needed a way to move almost 400 barricades specifically for Mardi Gras parades and associated community events. Though the customization has been standard practice, it’s his top sellers that Wilson will bring to the 2020 NATDA Trailer Show. A single-axle square tube top rail utility, a 6’6”x16’ utility tandem-axle, a car hauler and an equipment trailer seem more than enough to spark the interest of dealers in the Southeast. Whether acting as a dealer or a manufacturer, the common thread that runs through both sides of Wilson’s business is pride. “We have a simple adage,” Wilson shared. “You’ve got to do it right, or just don’t do it.” 24 NATDA Magazine www.natda.org