Open Utility Trailer or Enclosed Trailer: How to Choose

Ask three questions about your load. The answers usually point to one trailer type.

If your answers are mixed, think about what would be worst to damage. Furniture should almost always be enclosed. See weather-protected cargo trailers for that side of the decision.

An open trailer wins on anything messy or awkward. There is no box to dirty, no roof limiting height, and you can reach the load from any side.

• Yard work: branches, stumps and bags of clippings.
• Construction: lumber, pipe and demolition debris.
• Tall items: a play structure, a tall cabinet in dry weather, shelving.
• Equipment: mowers, carts and machines on ramp models.
• Junk removal: old appliances and broken furniture headed for disposal.

Open trailers are also easier to clean. A sweep and a rinse and the deck is ready to return.

An open trailer is the wrong choice when the load needs protection. Tarps help, but they are not a roof, and they often loosen at freeway speed.

Avoid open trailers for:

• Upholstered furniture and mattresses
• Electronics and appliances you want to keep clean
• Paper, books and cardboard boxes
• Valuables or anything that tempts theft at a rest stop
• Long highway trips with a load that can shift or blow

For these, pick a cargo trailer instead.

Treat every open load as if the wind will test it, because it will. A simple pre-drive routine keeps your load on the trailer and off the road.

1. Load heavy items low and slightly ahead of the axle.
2. Strap each item or bundle to the tie-down points.
3. Cover loose debris with a tarp or cargo net.
4. Tie the tarp at every corner and along the sides.
5. Walk around the trailer and pull on each strap.
6. Drive a short distance, stop and check again.

California requires loads to be secured so nothing spills or blows off. The goal is simple: nothing leaves the trailer until you unload it.

Open utility trailers typically range from the small 4x7 to the large 6x12, and some sizes have ramps. The utility trailers page compares them side by side.

Quick picks:

• Light errands: 4x7
• Yard cleanups: 5x8
• Mowers: 5x9 with ramp
• Long materials: 6x12
• Heavier equipment: 6x12 with ramp

We confirm current dimensions, capacity and tow requirements when you call.

The same things we check on every trailer: receiver, pin and clip, ball size, coupler latch, safety chains and lights. Open trailers are often towed by work trucks and older SUVs, so we also offer a look at tires and brakes in the same visit.

If we find a problem, you get a written estimate split into need and want. Nothing is done without your approval. See the free towing inspection page.

Most open trailer problems come from a handful of habits, and each has an easy fix. Knowing them ahead of time saves a lost load or a damaged trailer.

None of these take long to fix at the curb. They take much longer to fix on the shoulder.

The Inland Empire is dry most of the year, which is part of why open trailers are popular here. But the weather still decides some loads.

• Rain days: drywall, cardboard and untreated wood soak up water. If rain is possible, move those in an enclosed trailer or wait.
• Santa Ana wind days: strong, gusty wind makes tall or light loads risky on an open deck. Keep loads low or reschedule.
• Summer heat: sun can fade and warp some items, and hot straps are hard to handle. Load in the morning.
• Dust: a long drive on an open deck coats everything. That is fine for lumber, not for a dresser.

When the forecast is uncertain and the load matters, the enclosed cargo trailer is the safer bet.

An open trailer shows everything on it to anyone walking by. Tools, equipment and new materials are easy to grab, and a parked trailer with a load is a target.

• Unload the same day when you can.
• Park where you can see the trailer, not on a dark street.
• Keep valuable items in your vehicle or garage overnight.
• Cover the load so it is less obvious.
• Do not leave the trailer where it blocks a sidewalk or driveway.

If the load must sit overnight and it is worth protecting, an enclosed trailer with a lock is the better plan.