Tips for buying a Trailer

Given the amount of trailer manufacturers and different types of trailers available in the market, choosing a trailer now-a-days can be quite baffling. First of all be clear about your requirements. There are many factors which should be considered while purchasing a trailer. One of the first considerations is to buy an established brand from a well-known dealer. As is true for everything, you usually get what you paid for, so try to choose the best trailer that you can afford.

Type of Trailer

Deciding on what type of trailer you need for your application will help in narrowing down the manufacturers. There are trailers for almost every conceivable type of cargo, from motorcycles to horses to concessions. Depending on your hauling need, we would have at least one that can easily be converted to do the job.

After choosing a manufacturer, figure out what size trailer you'll need. Trailers come in several different widths and lengths.
The next step in choosing a trailer is figuring out whether you will need an open or an enclosed trailer. An open trailer is one which exposes the cargo to the outside elements. If your cargo is something which is not affected by the weather, then an open trailer may be the most economical choice.

Open Utility Trailers

Open utility trailers are well suited for many applications including small landscaping businesses that are just starting out and need a way to haul their landscape equipment. As your business grows and you decide to move up to an enclosed trailer, the open utility trailer will still be incredibly useful to you for hauling all sorts of material such as mulch, rock and plants.

Another plus for open trailers is their weight. Open utility trailers tend to be lighter and provide less aerodynamic drag than enclosed trailers.

Enclosed Trailer

While open trailers are economical and very useful, they do not provide the protection from the outside environment that an enclosed trailer will. Enclosed cargo trailers also offer an added measure of security because the trailer functions as a portable, lockable storage building.

If it is an enclosed trailer that you decide to buy, you'll also need to consider the height of the interior. If your trailer towing needs require that you spend very much time inside the trailer, choose one with enough interior height to keep you from bending your neck or back when standing.

Single or Tandem Axle

Once you've decided on either an open utility trailer or an enclosed cargo trailer, you'll need to decide whether the trailer should have a single axle, dual axle or possibly even three to four axles.

Single axle trailers have just one load bearing axle. Trailers with single axles come with and without brakes, but as a general rule of thumb, most single axle open and enclosed trailers come without brakes. If you plan on hauling more than 3000 lbs, trailer brakes need to be considered. In fact, it's a legal requirement in most states.

Anything heavier than 3000 lbs should be hauled on a dual axle trailer, be it an open or enclosed trailer. Dual axle trailers use two load bearing axles and usually feature either leaf springs or independent torsion bar suspensions. Brakes are recommended for dual axle trailers and again may be required depending upon where you live. Also, dual axle trailers tend to track more accurately than single axle trailers over varying road surfaces.

Rear Ramp Door

If you decide on an enclosed trailer, next you have to decide on either a ramp rear door, double rear doors or one single barn-type door. Choosing the type of rear access will greatly depend on the cargo you intend to haul. A ramp rear door will provide the easiest loading and unloading method for your motorcycle trailer or a race car trailer or any other type vehicle. Be sure though when purchasing a trailer with a ramp door that the ramp is spring assisted as some of the ramp doors can be very heavy. Ramps are also nice for hauling furniture or other heavy items where you'll be using a dolly to load and unload them.

Informed buying

The most important aspect of buying a trailer is to be an informed buyer. Ask lots of questions. Any reputable dealer will be glad to answer your questions and in fact, should ask you a lot of questions regarding your intended cargo load. Ask about the warranty. Does the manufacturer stand behind its work? Most established manufacturers offer a very good warranty program and will go out of their way to satisfy a customer.

Familiarize yourself with variety of trailers and the options and take your time to take an informed decision.

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