Are you in the marketplace looking for a new car trailer? Perhaps you need one to transport your prized vintage or sports car, or you need it for business purposes.
While shopping for a car trailer, the process might seem confusing, especially if you’re green in the field. You want one that not only fits your budget, but also serves your needs. That’s why we’ve come up with a guide to make sure you have a seamless selection process.
Types Of Car Trailers
There’s a wide range of car trailer types you can choose from. Here are the three common types available:
- Open Car Trailers
As the name suggests, open car trailers have no sidewalls of any kind. They can accommodate one or several cars. Most open car trailers are usually 18-20 feet long and are made of wood or aluminum. An open car trailer can be of help when you want to transport your car for whatever reason without having to spend a lot of money since they are the simplest, most uncomplicated, and economical car trailers available in the market.
- Enclosed Car Trailers
Enclosed car trailers are more expensive compared to open car trailers because the former consist of walls and roofing, protecting the car from any external harm. Typically, enclosed car trailers are about 20-feet long and are suitable mostly for expensive, luxurious, rare cars, or even renovated vintage cars. Most enclosed car trailers also come with other amenities, such as air conditioners, insulated walls, and overhead cabinets.
- Tilt Car Trailers
Tilt car trailers have bed tilts with low angles. This allows for the straightforward and easy loading and hauling of cars with low ground clearance, like sports cars, which can be a challenge since not all ramps can accommodate this process.
Finding The Right Car Trailer
Deciding the best type of car trailer for your needs can be confusing. However, the following questions will help you narrow down your search:
- What will you use the car trailer for?
Answering this question will help you set realistic options. You don’t want to end up with a trailer that’s too large or too small for your needs. Of course, you’ll also want one that’s within your operating budget.
For example, if you’ve recently restored a vintage car and want to transport it to an auction, you might want to consider an enclosed car trailer. If you’ll be transporting sports cars, a tilt car trailer is the best option. You can contact a car-towing trailer company to get the appropriate trailer for your vehicle.
- How many cars will you be hauling?
This also largely influences the type of car trailer you’ll need. If you need a trailer that carries several vehicles, you could consider a stacker trailer. Stacker trailers allow you to haul several cars without you having to worry about the trailer length. This could be to your advantage if you own a car dealership or manage a racing team.
- What’s the weight class?
Weight is also a crucial factor to consider. Car trailers have different weight classes that are appropriate only for some vehicles but not others.
Keep in mind that the weight class includes the weight of the trailer. This means that to get the weight class, you’ll add the weight of the car being hauled to the trailer’s weight.
The two most popular car trailer sizes are 8.5 by 20 and 8.5 by 24 feet, which are suitable for hauling one vehicle with extra room or space. And to help you determine your car’s exact towing capacity, you can check the Vehicle Identification Number Plate or VIN Plate stamp on a door pillar or under the bonnet. The VIN is also found in the car owner’s handbook.
- How far will you be hauling?
Another factor for consideration is the distance being traveled. If you’re hauling within shorter distances, maybe around town for your business, a standard enclosed car trailer will do the job.
However, if you’re hauling for longer distances and over a longer period of time, say three months, you might want to consider a trailer with upgrades that assure you of your cars’ protection. For example, some upgrades may include LED taillights and spare tires.
- Do you want your trailer to serve other purposes?
In some cases, you might decide to use your trailer for other purposes. For example, many businesses also use their trailers as a means to market their brand by donning it with their business logo, website, and brand colors. For instance, you may customize an enclosed car trailer in order to get a moving marketing tool.
Moreover, some startup entrepreneurs utilize enclosed car trailers as pop-up or mobile stores. Examples include grill mobile food stalls and mobile restaurants. On the other hand, some people also use enclosed trailers as mobile clinics or temporary shelters during calamities.
- Is a car trailer the same as a utility trailer?
Many people tend to be confused about the differences between a car hauler and a utility trailer. To start, a car trailer doesn’t have rails because it’s primarily used to transport cars. Moreover, the railings could cause inconvenience when loading and unloading vehicles from a car hauler.
On the other hand, a utility trailer is an unpowered vehicle towed by a car or truck. It’s usually used to load large items, such as landscape materials and equipment. Also, you can load furniture and sacks of rice, and other products in a utility trailer. But a utility trailer can also load light vehicles, such as motorcycles and small all-terrain vehicles (ATVs).
Bottom Line
There are different types of car trailers, including open, enclosed, and tilt car trailers, to name a few. To select the right car trailer, you need to factor in several considerations. These include your needs, the weight class of the trailer, and the number of cars being hauled. If you’re running a business, you can also customize your car trailer with your brand’s logo and colors for marketing purposes.
