When your car is something special, you do everything you can to take care of it. Whether that’s expert-only maintenance or how you transport it when you aren’t driving it, you do your research and spare no expense. The best car trailer is an important part of caring for your unique ride — check out our expert car trailer buying guide.

Whether you show at events, race on the track, or just have something truly special, your car trailer is an important investment. At PRIMO Trailers, we’ve paired hundreds of car enthusiasts with the best car trailers for them. Here’s what you need to look for when buying a car hauler trailer.

Choosing the right trailer comes down to size, price, and ease of use. For example, an open car hauler is an affordable option. An enclosed hauler offers more protection but could be too large or bulky when traveling. Below, we cover a few of the things you need to know when shopping for a car hauler trailer, and how to choose the best one to fit your needs.

Here at PRIMO Trailer, we know how important it is for our customers to receive the best customer service, products, price, and access to knowledgeable staff. At any given moment, we have trailers for our customers to choose. It’s critical to know what to look for when shopping for the right trailer for you, and looking for a car hauler is no different. We know your car is special to you, and you want to do everything in your power to care for it. Finding the right trailer to haul your car is part of taking care of your vehicle.

One of the major factors to consider when buying any trailer, you should start deciding between an open and an enclosed trailer right away. Enclosed car trailers can seem like the best option as they offer full-coverage from the elements and can be used for the permanent storage of the car. In addition, enclosed trailers also prevent any risk of damage to your car exterior from stones and other road debris. Generally, if people plan to travel across several states, they often prefer the enclosed option.

However, open car trailers are significantly less expensive, costing at least half of a quality enclosed trailer. The distance you plan to haul your car on the open road can help you make this decision.

First, decide if you want an open or closed trailer. Open trailers allow for more maneuverability because they weigh less. They are great options for those who don’t want a special vehicle just to tow it and want better gas mileage. They come in a variety of sizes and shapes from flatbeds to slide in ramps to make loading and unloading easier. When checking for quality, try to find one with a bed made of treated lumber, aluminum, or steel plate.

Aside from affordability and ease of use, open trailers have many more features! If you’re just starting a business or only traveling a short distance to a car show, an open trailer is a great starting for you. But, this doesn’t mean an open trailer isn’t a wonderful option for advanced haulers. If you’re traveling longer distances, these offer better gas mileage because they’re less bulky than heavyweight enclosed trailers, and they’re more aerodynamic.

And don’t think an open hauler only carries vehicles! Multi-tasking is something they excel at. These haulers can carry ATVs, golf carts, landscaping equipment, or even help a friend move. The possibilities are really quite endless with an open hauler.

The best car trailer size depends on your budget, how many cars you need to haul at once, and the size of your car or cars. The smallest enclosed trailer you’ll find measures 8’ X 16’ — yet it is still more than large enough to haul a single vehicle with ease. The two most popular trailer sizes we sell are 8.5’ X 20’ and 8.5’ X 24’, both of which are ideal for hauling a single vehicle with room to spare.

The weight of your trailer determines the size of the tow vehicle needed — as well as the extent of the payload it can carry. Older, classic cars are almost always heavier than a light, track-ready racecar. Knowing how much your car or cars weigh is crucial when looking for the best car hauler trailer. In addition, knowing your truck’s towing capacity is important when deciding on the trailer weight you want.

The two main trailer weight classes we sell are 7,000 # GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) and 9,900 GVWR. A 7,000 # GVWR trailer allows for a payload of approximately 3,500 # while a 9,900 GVWR and GVWR trailer can have a payload of more than 6,000 #.

Primarily a financial decision, choosing between a steel or aluminum car trailer sets your price point and factors into the equipment lifespan. While aluminum trailers are more expensive, they reward that extra investment by being immune to rust and lasting longer. Just because you choose steel, however, doesn’t mean you can’t have a quality trailer. Steel trailers can be extremely durable, you just may need to touch up damage to keep it from rusting.

In addition to setting the price, steel and aluminum also play a factor in trailer weight. Since aluminum is significantly lighter than steel, it can be the smart choice when you need to transport a several-thousand-pound car and you desire to use a 7 thousand GVWR trailer.