Selecting a Trailer
Buying a good utility trailer is generally a great investment for any homeowner or businessman. The challenge is selecting the correct trailer for your specific needs.
Most standard utility trailers will range in size from 4 feet by 6 feet right up to trailers measuring 8 feet by 20 feet and more. Obviously there are many things to consider when shopping for your trailer.
The first type of utility trailer would be unique to the heavy equipment hauler. These large, heavy duty trailers are specially constructed to haul extremely heavy loads. The equipment hauler will match his trailer to his equipment size and weight.
But most trailer buyers are home owners or small businessmen. It makes good sense to purchase a trailer that will fill your specific needs without buying something too large. Obviously the larger the trailer, the more expensive it will be to purchase and the to haul behind your truck or car. Considering the cost of fuel today, this is a serious decision if you will be using your trailer on a regular basis.
The first thing to consider is what will your normal cargo consist of? If you will be hauling things that are normally exposed to the weather such as gardening equipment or simply using a trailer to carry junk to the dump, you can easily get away with an open flat landscaping style trailer. These trailers are usually among the least expensive. But from my experience, many buyers of this type of trailer are unhappy when they want to carry anything they want protected from the elements and from theft. Many a landscaper has lost expensive equipment due to not watching where they park for lunch.
If you will be hauling small tools or machines or helping friends and family to move their possessions, then you should really consider the cargo type trailers. Generally these are a bit more expensive then the open landscaping trailers but offer many benefits. Not only will they protect your cargo from the elements but also will secure it from the possibility of theft. These trailers are available in all sorts of sizes and quality. I would suggest looking for a solid steel frame trailer with aluminum body. These hold up very well even after years of regular use. Another side benefit of this type of cargo trailer is that it can serve as a utility shed on your property when not in use.
The cargo trailers also offer different door configurations. There are double 'barn' door styles, single doors and also ramp style doors. Again you have to consider what your normal use will be. If using for a small business which regularly uses heavy machines such as floor refinishing or carpet cleaning, I'd recommend the ramp style door. These are also very handy if you will be carrying small utility vehicles or motorcycles.
While you may find some small open landscaping style trailers can be pulled with a class 1 or class 2 hitch, most trailers will require you to have a class 3 hitch on your car or truck. The class of the hitch refers to the weight capacity of your specific vehicle. Today it seems that most pickup trucks come standard with a class 3 receiver style hitch. But of course this is something you should consider very carefully. You'll find complete vehicle specifics in your vehicle's operator manual. Don't overload your vehicle's capability because it is simply dangerous to do so and can damage your car or truck.
As with most things, selecting the correct trailer for your needs just takes some good common sense. Consider your towing vehicle's capability, your cargo or use and your budget.