You’re getting ready to move to another state, or might be a whole different country. Problem is you aren’t driving, you are flying, with means you’ll be leaving your vehicle behind. This may be problematic if you don’t have the funds to purchase a whole new car for yourself once you get to your new destination.
The Solution? Have your vehicle transported via land through an auto transport company. These companies will transport your vehicle for a fee and offer many different options on the types of trailers that can pull your vehicle so you can find which one is the best for you.
In this article, six different kinds of trailers will be covered: Flatbed Trailer, Gooseneck Trailer, Drop Deck Trailer, Wedge Trailer, Enclosed Car Trailer, and Open Car Trailer. Each will have pros and cons listed, to help you decide which will be the best kind of trailer to suit your needs.
Flatbed Trailer
Flatbed trailers are the simple, most commonly seen trailers that have no protective cage or outside protection for the load it is carrying. It is simply a flatbed that is hauled by a truck and carries its load on the back of the bed. These are ideal for transporting one to four different vehicles, was also being the most common trailer, meaning they are easy to find and very cost-effective.
Pros
Flatbed trailers are the most common trailer to be seen pretty much anywhere where there is trucking going on. This is because they are easy to load, effective at getting the job done, and often do not cost too much to purchase, rent, or order as a service.
- One of the most common trailers to be used in transportation
- Very cost-effective and affordable to the common person
- Easy to load a few vehicles onto it
Cons
While they are the most common, flatbed trailers still offer some cons along with all their bonuses. For one, they are limited on size, and if you were needed a larger vehicle hauled they may have to get clearance for an ‘Oversized Load’. Lastly, they aren’t encased by any protective measures, so your vehicle could get damaged on the road.
While it can transport more than one vehicle, it has a limited size
If the vehicle is too large, requires clearance for an oversized load
Load is not protected from external damage
Gooseneck Trailer, a Secure Auto Transport Trailor Option
Gooseneck trailers are similar to their flatbed trailer brothers, as they have a large open bed in the back, but are fixed on a rear axle that allows them an easier and more stable transition. As any normal open bed, they are loaded from the rear, often through the use of a ramp. This gooseneck trailer is often preferred for your larger loads that may be the kinds of work trucks, commercial vehicles, and much more that would prove too large for a common flatbed, but too small for the deserving ‘Oversized Load’.
Pros
Gooseneck trailers tend to be a lot more secure, and able to haul much more than normal trailers thanks to the venter of weight being put on the rear axle than on the bumper of a vehicle. This allows truckers to haul more vehicles more easily, more securely, and provide a safer journey and trip.
- Safer for long distances
- Able to haul more than one vehicle easily
- Less risk and more stable
- Great for hauling larger vehicles
Cons
Gooseneck trailers are often a lot larger and wider than normal trailers, meaning that the cost of the trip will increase due to the tools needed and that the trip may have to go through certain roads to get to its destination. They must also be towed via a truck that requires special equipment that isn’t standard to most common trucks, meaning that the proper usage is required to gain more stability. They are also still an open bed trailer, meaning that damage could occur from outside sources.
- Costly to use the service
- A lot larger than a normal flatbed truck
- Requires a truck and special equipment
- Open bed increases the possibility of damage
Drop Deck Trailer
More often used for larger vehicles, or for large mechanical equipment to be transported from place to place, a drop deck Trailer is another great way to transport your vehicles to your new destination depending on the type of equipment you want to be moved. The floor of the bed will drop down once you clear the bed, making it easily accessible for loading and unloading.
Pros
Depending on the type or make of the trailer, some will have the end part where you load and unload be able to lock upwards, guarding the vehicle from the rear, and it is often lifted in the front where it’s attached to the truck meaning it is also guarded in the front. This adds extra protection, and when you need to unload it you can drop the back allowing you to easily bring down the vehicle. It is also great for moving big, bulky, and mechanical or industrial vehicles.
- Added protection for your car from the rear and front sides
- Allows you to easily load and unload vehicles with its built-in locking ramp
- Great for larger and more industrial/mechanical vehicles
Cons
While this is a great idea and trailer for transporting more industrial or larger vehicles, and it does give you extra protection unlike normal trailers that don’t have a rearguard, these beds don’t offer protection from the sides and can be more expensive than your common flatbed trailer.
- Increase in cost due to the size and make of the trailer
- Does not offer a full 360 degree of protection for the vehicle on the bed
Wedge Trailer
Wedge trailers are a style of trailer that can hold one to four different vehicles on them. Also, depending on the make or style of the trailer, the wedge can be pulled via the truck. It can also be a part of the actual vehicle. This trailer is an ideal cheap way to transport more than one vehicle at a given time. However, it may not be the best in terms of safety. This is because it only takes one mistake for the top vehicle to start to descend into the ones behind.
Pros
This type of trailer is great if you are looking to haul more than one vehicle at a given time, and it doesn’t seem to prove too costly for you, however, it may be a little more difficult to find this style of transport for your cars.
- Great if you’re looking to haul more than one vehicle to a new destination
- Can be quite affordable to the common person due to no need for extra tools
Cons
However, with every plus there will most likely be a downfall. For this, the risk of damage may seem a bit more than others, as your vehicles will be secured properly. They also only require one mess up and then the rest will come tumbling down. Also, this kind of trailer is a little more difficult to find than the more common gooseneck and flatbed trailers.
- Possible damage is still a consideration
- Finding a wedge trailer may prove difficult
- Not meant for larger vehicles
Enclosed Car Trailer, The Most Protective Type of Auto Transport Trailers
Enclosed car trailers are one of the best kinds of trailers if you are looking for your vehicle to be fully protected from the elements of the outside world while being transported. Ideally, this is for moving your more sport or luxury vehicles that cost a fortune and would be nearly impossible to fix or repair if something happened to them. These trailers are often used to haul an individual car or two, but the trailers can become large enough where they can haul a total of eight vehicles at once.
Pros
The best part about this trailer is that it offers full 360-degree protection for your vehicle, meaning that your car will be protected for all sides, and no matter what weather may come it will never see rain, hail, dust, or anything that can cause damage or put grime on your car.
- Fully enclosed giving it a full range of protection from the outside world
Cons
The negatives about this kind of trailer would be that it can be very steep and expensive in its pricing, especially if you are trying to transport more than one vehicle at once. While they make multiple different trailers of different sizes, which allows you to get a service to move more than one at a time with this kind of trailer, most trailers are meant to carry only one vehicle at a time.
- Often limited to transporting a single vehicle but can transport more
- As transporting more cars, the trailer gets larger, and cost increases
Open Car Trailer
Open car trailers are the workhorses of the residential and commercial industry, as you can see them being used by the common person on the road when they are hauling tools, equipment, or furniture behind their truck. However, in the transportation of cars, they can be used quite effectively providing an efficient means of hauling multiple cars at once while also reducing the cost for their service. These kinds of trailers are ideal for hauling vehicles from a dealership or manufacturer to another location or even moving your own personal car to your new home at an affordable price.
Pros
These kinds of trailers are similar to the enclosed car trailer in a lot of ways. Correspondingly, they aren’t enclosed leaving your vehicle open to the elements that may face it. Regardless, this is a more affordable means of transportation. Therefore, you can easily haul multiple cars at once rather than limiting yourself to a single or couple of vehicles.
- Cheaper than enclosed car trailer
- Can haul many cars at once
- Very effective and efficient
Cons
Again, very similar to an enclosed, except it lacks the protection for the outside elements. This means your vehicle may experience rain, hail, snow, dust, and much more that could cause potential damage. If you are fine with that, it seems to be a decent choice. It may be harder to get this one as a hauling service for residential moving. This is because it is ideal for dealerships and manufacturers mainly. Howeverthat doesn’t mean you can’t order this service.
- Similar to closed transport, except lacks full protection from outside sources
- Ideal for dealerships or manufacturers
Picking The Best Kind of Auto Transport Trailor For You
There are different kinds of trailers that can be used to transport your vehicles when you are changing locations. Each one has its own benefits and negatives respectively. It depends on what you want and how many vehicles you would like to move at one time. There’s also the consideration of what your price range is for moving your cars to your new home.
If you have an only car that’s luxury and expensive, then an enclosed car trailer is more ideal for you. Especially if you want to move a single car and you don’t want anything happening to your vehicle. Also, this is applicable if you’re moving a tractor to your new rural homestead, hence you need a larger trailer. This would result in getting a gooseneck trailer or drop deck trailer. Thus, you can easily move this larger industrial and mechanical equipment to your new home without worry or fuss. Moreover, if you don’t mind how it gets there, the basic flatbed trailer is never a bad option!
Whatever you need moving, there is a proper trailer to get the job done. You just need to know what you need to be moved, where to, the price you are willing to pay, and what the best trailer would be for your transportation needs.
