Everything You Need to Know About Enclosed Trailers
It’s time to invest in a new trailer for your business or personal use. If you’re spending quite a bit of cash on a trailer, you expect it to last through years of hard work. The money you put into a new trailer can make the purchase taxing, particularly when you buy an enclosed trailer, which are often pricier than traditional open utility trailers. That’s why we’re covering everything about enclosed trailers – so you show up ready to make an informed purchase.
Here at Kate’s Trailer Sales, we want to make sure you leave with the perfect trailer. We’ll help you buy an enclosed trailer you can depend on by giving a few helpful hints in this buying guide. From build quality to color schemes and branding, we’re going over all of the most important things to consider about enclosed trailers.
The Basics of Enclosed Cargo Trailers
Enclosed trailers, also known as cargo trailers, are exactly what they sound like. They’re fully covered trailers with four walls built to be towed behind your vehicle. Enclosed trailers are often made of aluminum, steel or galvanized steel.
They’re very versatile, with many potential uses. They can be used to haul large items, like ATVs, or small items, like landscaping equipment. Enclosed trailers can be modified on the inside to fit your needs. They sometimes come with options like interior/exterior lighting, windows, side doors and more.
What to Consider When You Buy an Enclosed Trailer
Trailer Size
The first thing to think about when buying an enclosed trailer is size. They can be anywhere from eight to 32 feet long, with many options in between. You’ll need to think about everything you plan to tow or store in your trailer. This includes the height of those items; some trailers have a peaked roof or uneven ceiling height. Additionally, you have to think about the weight your truck can handle and whether you’d need a specialized license to drive an extra heavy trailer.
Axle Number and Type
Your next question is about axles – one or two? To consider this, you need to think about how much you want to spend, how heavy the items you plan to tow are, and what kind of roads you’ll drive on. On one hand, tandem axle trailers, or trailers with two axles, have a higher price tag than single axle trailers. On the other hand, tandem axle trailers are more stable on rough roads and are able to handle more weight than single axle trailers.
Aside from the number of axles, you’ll need to think about axle type. The two most popular axle designs are leaf spring and torsion axles. Leaf spring axles use metal springs and are heavier, whereas torsion axles use rubber springs and take up less space. If you’re planning to tow lighter loads, consider a torsion axle over a leaf spring axle. In talking about enclosed trailers, our sales team can help you choose.
Check the Details
There are quite a few small things that might warrant your attention when thinking about enclosed trailers. We’ll cover some of the most important in this section. The first detail to look at is the exterior build. Choose .030” or thicker aluminum panels to ensure your trailer will hold up through years of heavy-duty use.
Next, take a look at the flooring. Less expensive trailers might come with a plywood floor, which will work for a while. But we recommend trailers with a more durable floor, likely to last longer. This would be flooring by brands like DryMax or AdvanTech, which will hold up much longer when faced with water, dirt, scratches and more.
The last miscellaneous detail we’ll go over is the exterior panel fasteners. Screwless panels might look cleaner and make sticking on decals much easier, but they come with risks. Screwless panels on an economy trailer have been known to come completely off. If you want a screwless exterior, make sure you’re investing in a high-quality trailer.
Trailer Design
Enclosed trailers often come in black, gray, or white, but other colors are available from most manufacturers. Additionally, if you plan to use your trailer for business purposes, consider getting a custom design. Talk to your Kate’s Trailer Sales salesperson about how to get your business colors, name, logo and phone number on the side of your new enclosed trailer.
Now that you know what to look for and what to avoid, you’re ready to buy an enclosed trailer. Our sales team at Kate’s Trailer Sales can take it from here. We’ll help you identify the perfect trailer for your business or home and walk you through the entire buying process. We even offer financing options to help you afford your trailer.
Once you have your new trailer, we offer upgrades and installations. If you’ve got an older trailer in need of repairs, we can help with that too! From simple fixes to full re-paneling, our service team can execute it.
Need a New Trailer?
Get started by browsing our full inventory online! You can filter by everything from trailer type to manufacturer to price. When you’re ready to purchase a new trailer, stop by our dealership in Arthur, Illinois, give us a call, or contact us online! We’re ready to help you get hitched to the trailer of your dreams.
