Choosing the right enclosed car trailer

Length, how long does yours need to be?

Measure your vehicle and add at least 24 inches to the deck length for tie-down clearance. A typical sedan or sports car (e.g., Mustang, Camaro, Corvette) fits a 20-ft enclosed comfortably. A pickup truck, full-size SUV, or longer collector car needs 24 ft. Multi-car loads or stacked toy haulers go to 28 ft and beyond. Don't undersize, cramming a vehicle in tight makes loading slower and harder, and limits future flexibility.

Steel-frame vs all-aluminum construction

Steel-frame enclosed trailers (Covered Wagon, BWise) cost less upfront, weigh more, and last well with proper maintenance and rust prevention. All-aluminum trailers (Formula, Car Mate) cost more, weigh 800-1,500 lbs less per equivalent length (better fuel economy, more cargo capacity within tow rating), and don't rust. For high-mileage daily haulers, aluminum's weight savings often justify the price premium within a few years of fuel cost differences.

Ramp door, beavertail, or side door

Standard rear ramp door is the most flexible, lower angle, full-width opening, doubles as a loading deck. Beavertail (deck slopes down to the rear) reduces ramp angle further for low-clearance vehicles. Side door (32-36 in standard) lets you walk around the loaded vehicle without re-opening the rear ramp, essential for race-team setups and detail shops.

Interior height clearance

Standard interior height is 6'6" (78 in). Tall vehicles, lifted trucks, classic cars on jack stands, vehicles with roof boxes or racks, need 7'0" (84 in) interior. Some high-clearance models go to 7'6" or higher. Confirm interior height matches your vehicle plus any planned hardware before ordering.

Tandem vs triple axle

Tandem axle (two axles, four tires) handles most enclosed loads up to 9,990 lbs GVWR, single-vehicle hauls and most race-team configurations. Triple axle (three axles, six tires) raises GVWR to 14,000-16,000 lbs, distributes weight better for heavy or stacked loads, and tows more stably at sustained highway speeds. If you haul a single car, tandem is plenty. If you stack toys or tow a heavy collector vehicle plus equipment, step up to triple.