Buying an Enclosed Trailer | A Complete Trailer Buying Guide for You

An enclosed trailer can be the perfect tool for people and businesses across several industries. Versatile, durable, and safe, they are good for transporting virtually any kind of cargo from Point A to Point B. Buying an enclosed trailer can be one of the best decisions you can make, especially if you need to transport goods frequently. Whether for personal or business use, these versatile workhorses are perfect for various applications.

Since they come in all shapes and sizes and have a high price, finding the right trailer is essential to getting the best value for money. If you don’t know where to begin your journey of buying an enclosed trailer, we’ve created this guide to help. This trailer buying guide will discuss the most important factors regarding investing in trailers, from understanding what they are to their advantages, what to look for, and how you can even use one to make money. https://www.acuteposting.com/

Understanding Enclosed Trailers

Also called cargo trailers and enclosed cargo trailers, defining these trailers is quite simple. They are fully enclosed trailers that are designed to be towed behind vehicles. Often made with wood, aluminum, steel, or galvanized steel, these are versatile workhorses designed to carry cargo. You can use one to haul anything from one place to another. As long as it fits within the trailer and its weight ratings, you can use this trailer for virtually any hauling application. With endless customization possibilities, you can use it however you like, from transporting goods to extra storage space.

The Advantages of Buying an Enclosed Trailer

Buying an enclosed trailer is not a small deal. Depending on the make and model you purchase, you can spend a significant amount to purchase a high-quality enclosed trailer. For some, the price tag of a good enclosed trailer might keep them on the fence about buying it. If you can afford to buy one but are not sure, we will share a few benefits of buying an enclosed trailer you should remember.

They Are Versatile

We have mentioned this before and can never discuss it enough, but enclosed trailers are incredibly versatile. You can use one for various applications across different industries. The possibilities are endless, from transporting equipment for construction and landscaping businesses to using it for storage.

Depending on its size, you can even use an enclosed trailer to transport vehicles. Many people even customize their enclosed trailers to turn them into mobile businesses, add shelves to create more storage for tools, and we have even seen an enclosed rental trailer that is a full-fledged mobile car wash. When we say that the possibilities are endless, the only real limit to how you can use these trailers is your imagination.

Additional Storage Space

Since these trailers are covered on all sides, they’re perfect for use as additional storage space. When you don’t need to transport goods, you can use your enclosed trailer to store things you might not have space for inside your house. Keeping your belongings in the garage or shed might make those spaces cluttered. If your enclosed trailer is lying around empty, you can simply use it as a makeshift store room.

Protection From the Elements for Your Cargo

Being covered from all sides, enclosed trailers are the perfect way to transport cargo from the elements. Depending on how long you have to travel, you will likely face rain and snow. By hauling your cargo in an enclosed trailer, you can ensure that no inclement weather can harm your precious cargo. Come rain or shine, you can rest assured that your cargo will get where it needs to go safe and sound.

Better Security for Your Cargo In Transit

When transporting goods from Point A to Point B over a long distance, the weather is not your only concern. Depending on wherever you stop en route to your destination, there is also the risk of cargo theft. With cover from all sides, an enclosed trailer can help you protect your cargo from thieves. Most high-quality enclosed trailers have rugged construction. You can even secure the doors using top-notch padlocks for added security. Buying an enclosed trailer means you can transport expensive goods without worrying about them being stolen.

You Can Use it to Make Money

Perhaps one of the biggest advantages of owning an enclosed trailer is that it is a valuable asset. Considering the high price tag for the best models, not everybody can afford to buy an enclosed trailer. However, many people and businesses spend money on enclosed trailer rentals when they need one. An advantage of buying an enclosed trailer, if you can afford it, is its commercial potential. By listing it as an enclosed trailer for rent, you can earn a lot of money by renting it out to people and businesses. We will discuss more of how you can do this later in this trailer buying guide.

Considerations to Make When Buying an Enclosed Trailer

Available in different shapes, construction materials, and sizes, you can explore plenty of options when buying an enclosed trailer. Here are a few of the factors to consider when shopping for enclosed trailers to make the best decision.

The Enclosed Trailer’s Size

When it comes to buying an enclosed trailer, size matters more than anything. When you buy open-design trailers, you have the advantage of hauling oddly-shaped cargo as long as it is not too heavy. With enclosed cargo trailers, you also have a size limit to deal with. Buying an enclosed trailer that is too small for your intended cargo is a waste of money. You should consider your hauling needs to determine how long and wide an ideal trailer might be for you.

Buying a large trailer might make sense if you have a lot of money to spare. However, getting something too large will only be heavy on your pockets. Granted, having something bigger than you need might be a good idea, but you should never go overboard with the size. Pick something slightly larger than you expect to need. This way, you can have more space if you need to transport a larger volume of goods in the future.

Its Compatibility With the Towing Vehicle

Buying an enclosed trailer large enough for your haul is essential, but it must also be compatible with your towing vehicle. You do not want to spend a ton of money on a new trailer only to find that you cannot connect it to your truck’s hitch. Before you start browsing options, check the hitch type your truck has. It will help you narrow down your options.

Beyond being able to connect to your truck, you need to ensure your truck has enough pulling power to tow it. Your vehicle’s Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) tells you how much total weight it can handle comfortably. You need to consider the weight of your vehicle, trailer, and cargo you intend to haul. The total weight of all three should fall within your truck’s GVWR. If you don’t know your truck’s GVWR, check out its owner’s manual to find out.

How Many Axles the Enclosed Trailer has

When buying an enclosed trailer, you also need to consider the number of wheels it has. Since the weight of the cargo rests on a trailer’s wheels, the number of wheels makes a world of difference in what you should buy. Enclosed cargo trailers designed for smaller loads typically feature a single axle and two wheels.

If you plan on transporting goods weighing less than 3,000 lbs, a single-axle enclosed trailer might be a good fit. When it comes to heavier cargo, it might be better to consider buying an enclosed trailer with a tandem-axle configuration. Tandem-axle trailers have two sets of wheels, with the second being just behind the first one. The greater number of wheels gives it more stability and distributes the weight across four tires instead of two.

An additional axle with two wheels means a higher price tag. However, it is better suited for hauling heavier cargo safely compared to single-axle trailers.

The Construction of the Enclosed Trailer

The construction quality of an enclosed trailer is an essential consideration. You should spare no effort to fully understand the size and weight of your intended cargo before looking for enclosed trailers. The trailer must have a frame strong enough to support your cargo’s weight. Enclosed trailers come in aluminum, steel, or galvanized steel frames. Each construction material has its advantages.

Aluminum is a lightweight and durable metal. It is becoming increasingly popular in modern enclosed trailers because it reduces the total weight towing vehicles need to haul. With a trailer made using aluminum, you can carry heavier loads compared to similarly-sized trailers made of steel. While it weighs less than steel, aluminum is more expensive. Expect the price tag to be higher when buying an enclosed trailer with an aluminum frame.

Steel and galvanized steel frames offer a highly durable option that fetches a more attractive price. They are more durable than aluminum but weigh much more. Steel is also more prone to developing rust. If you don’t take care of its maintenance, the frame in an enclosed trailer can begin rusting and create problems for you in the future. Galvanized steel frames cost more but offer better long-term protection from rust.

Using an Enclosed Trailer to Earn Money

Understanding the size, vehicle compatibility, axle configuration, and construction can help you make a better choice when buying an enclosed trailer.

Now that you have the complete guide, we are confident you can make a well-informed decision when buying an enclosed trailer. Once you buy, you can go about using it to haul whatever cargo you need to transport. Now, we mentioned that you could use your enclosed trailer to earn money earlier in this guide. After buying an enclosed trailer, you should know that the initial purchase price was not the only cost that comes with it. As with any other item with moving parts, these trailers wear down over time. To keep yours in great working condition, you will need to spend money on its maintenance and repairs.

Over its lifetime, an enclosed trailer can cost a substantial amount of money. Fortunately, these trailers are valuable assets that you can use to generate a rental income. Due to their price tag, many people and businesses who need them are limited to searching for enclosed trailer rentals. Plenty of people need such trailers for various hauling applications, and you can take advantage of the demand by giving them your enclosed trailer for rent.

Depending on how you go about it, you can rent your enclosed trailer to earn anywhere between $100 and $150 per day!

Listing it as an enclosed trailer for rent is the best way to get some returns on your investment. If you can find enough renters for your trailer, you can easily earn back all the money you invest in its maintenance and repairs. Eventually, you can get back the money you spent on buying an enclosed trailer in the first place and start turning a profit. How you go about doing this is essential to how quickly and how much you can earn from your trailer.

How to Make Money Using an Enclosed Cargo Trailer

The most obvious option might be to find a good trailer rental business and strike a deal with them. You can list your enclosed trailer for rent with their business. If they are a popular business, you can count on them to find all the renters you need for your trailer. Of course, working with rental businesses can come with a drawback: High commissions.

Running a rental business is not easy. Between setting up the infrastructure and marketing, trailer rental businesses have the right to charge a good amount in commissions for their services. You can still earn money through them. Due to the commissions, however, your profit margin will be smaller. Depending on how much they charge, it can take you a long time to turn a profit on your investment.

Directly renting it out to people eliminates the commissions. However, setting up a rental business can be a big hassle. It might also be difficult to find enough renters, let alone good ones. Then, there’s the third option: A peer-to-peer trailer rental marketplace.

Neighbors Trailer is America’s first P2P trailer rental marketplace that lets trailer owners like yourself list underutilized trailers for free. The platform has a growing community of trailer owners and renters who need them. Neighbors Trailer simply acts as a middleman, connecting you with potential renters. The best part about it all? They don’t charge commissions. The platform earns through booking fees from renters, who don’t have to worry about hidden costs and have to pay only daily rates. With hundreds of people and businesses in the growing community, we’re sure you won’t have a problem finding enough renters for your enclosed trailer rental.