6x12 Cargo Trailer Rental for Bigger Loads

When your load is too big for a 5x8 but you still want to tow instead of driving a truck. The 6x12 has much more floor and height than the smaller trailers, which opens it up to real furniture.

It is often the right choice for:

• A full one-bedroom or small two-bedroom move
• A pickup owner who wants to haul the household and keep the truck
• A long move where you want your own vehicle at the destination
• Business inventory, event gear or a contractor's tools

If your vehicle cannot tow this size, a 15-foot truck carries a similar load without towing.

Both typically carry about a one to two-bedroom load. The right pick depends on your vehicle and how you want the move to feel. We confirm current specs for either when you call.

If your pickup is already set up for towing, the trailer keeps the move in a vehicle you know. If not, the truck is simpler.

A loaded 6x12 is heavy, so the tow vehicle matters more here than with any smaller cargo trailer. It typically needs a pickup or a larger SUV with a proper receiver hitch and trailer wiring. U-Haul sets the exact requirements, and we check your vehicle against them when you call.

Plan on:

• A receiver hitch rated for the loaded trailer
• The correct ball size and a solid ball mount
• Working trailer lights
• Tires with good tread and the right load capacity
• Brakes in good condition

A small SUV or sedan is typically not a match for this trailer. We will tell you plainly on the phone if your vehicle is not a fit, and suggest a different option.

A heavy trailer puts every part of the hitch to work. Go over this list before pickup day, then let us check it with the trailer connected.

• Receiver class rated for the loaded trailer, not just the empty one.
• Ball mount drop or rise that keeps the trailer close to level.
• Ball size that matches the coupler, with the nut tight.
• Pin and clip present and fully seated.
• Chain loops solid, with no cracks.
• Wiring plug clean and fully working.
• Rear tires set to the loaded pressure on the door placard.

The hitch and tow package page explains receiver classes, and our hitch and tow package inspection service covers wiring repairs when a plug fails.

A long trailer gives you more room to get the balance wrong. Aim for slightly more weight in front of the axle, and keep it even across the width.

1. Hitch the trailer first and set your parking brake.
2. Heaviest furniture and appliances go forward of the axle, low.
3. Mattresses and long pieces along the side walls.
4. Boxes fill the middle, heavy on bottom, light on top.
5. Nothing heavy at the very back of the trailer.
6. Strap each section to the tie-downs.

Some 6x12 cargo trailers typically have a ramp-style rear door. Confirm the setup for your trailer when you call.

Trailer sway is a side-to-side motion that can build at speed. With a large trailer, prevention is everything. Most sway comes from too little tongue weight, too much speed, or strong crosswinds.

• Load right: enough weight ahead of the axle.
• Keep speed moderate: slower speeds give the trailer less energy to swing.
• Watch the wind: slow down on open stretches and when passed by big rigs.
• Keep tires right: proper pressure on both your vehicle and the trailer.

If sway starts, ease off the gas gradually and hold the wheel steady. Do not slam the brakes or jerk the steering. Once it settles, pull over safely and check the load.

Grades are where a heavy trailer tests the tow vehicle. Heading north on the I-15 through the Cajon Pass, or east on the I-10, give the engine room on the climb and control your speed on the way down.

• Climb in the right lane at a steady speed and watch the temperature gauge.
• Before the descent, slow down and shift to a lower gear.
• Brake in firm, short applications instead of riding the pedal.
• If you smell hot brakes, pull over somewhere safe and let them cool.

Pads that were thin before the trip wear quickly under a trailer. The brake service page covers what we check.

Your total length grows a lot. Right turns need a wide swing, lane changes need more space, and parking lots need planning. Towing mirror extensions are often needed to see past a trailer this wide.

• Pick fuel stations with pull-through lanes.
• Park at the edge of lots where you can drive out forward.
• Back up slowly with a spotter and small steering corrections.
• Give yourself much more distance to stop.

Take a practice loop around a quiet area before hitting the freeway.

With a heavy trailer, yes. A loaded 6x12 puts real demands on your rear tires, suspension and brakes, especially on long grades. Since we are a tire and repair shop, we can check your vehicle in the same visit as the trailer pickup.

We check tires for tread, age, pressure and load rating, and look at brake pads and suspension. You get a written estimate split into need and want. See our free towing inspection and suspension service pages for more detail.