A Guide to Buying a Trailer: Everything You Need to Know

Buying a trailer can be a great way to travel with family or friends and enjoy the outdoors. Whether for a family holiday or bucket list dreams, trailering allows you to explore and experience amazing American landscapes with a life on the road on your terms.

However, with so many options on the market, finding the right trailer can be a little nerve-racking, especially if you are a first-time buyer. Besides length and berth, there is much more to consider when choosing a trailer. Here's everything you need to know about buying a trailer to help you navigate your first purchase and pick the ideal trailer for your needs.

Types of trailers

Before you begin comparing models, you need to understand what type of trailer best suits your needs. There are three major types of trailers available. These include:

Static trailers

A static trailer is kept in a park or on a property and is not towable, hence the name. It's shipped there and left to be for living in for a long time.

Since they are stationary, static trailers are often larger than mobile models. They have more space to accommodate fully equipped kitchens and bathrooms, double-glazed windows, and even central heating, making for a comfortable holiday experience. There are also fewer or no fuel costs since you won't be towing a heavy trailer around the country with your vehicle.

However, more room means a higher price tag. Static trailers are usually more expensive than their mobile counterparts. They also accumulate year-round parking and maintenance costs, which may be hard to justify if you only holiday once or twice a year.

Touring trailers

Touring trailers are smaller and nimbler than their counterparts, static trailers. They usually weigh less than other trailers and are ideal for long road trips or taking off for the weekend, provided you are driving on tarmac roads. Their compact size also means the initial price for a touring trailer is surprisingly affordable.

The only thing that undoes a touring trailer's appeal is its portability. You will need a vehicle to handle the job before you can use a touring trailer, which can be a huge expense added to the purchase price if you don't already own a car.

Motorhomes

Typically, a motorhome is what you get after putting a vehicle and a touring trailer together. These trailers are the top holiday convenience, and you just need to hop in the driver's seat and drive wherever you want.

However, motorhomes are quite more expensive than static and touring trailers. Furthermore, since motorhomes are categorized as vehicles, you are legally required to insure them like a car or a trailer. Motorhomes also consume fuel far more quickly than most common vehicles.

Something as mobile as a vehicle will generally have some space shortages. However, if the freedom to move freely is what you value, you really can't do better than a motorhome.

Things to consider when buying a trailer

Understanding your needs is essential when buying a trailer. Every person and situation differs, from budget to individual taste, traveling companions, and reasons for travel. Here are the top things to consider when choosing the most appropriate trailer to suit your needs.

Size

Size is an essential factor to consider as it determines how many people a trailer can accommodate, how comfortable it is to live in and tow, and where you can park it. According to local law, a new trailer should measure no more than 2.55 meters wide and 7 meters long for a truck weighing up to 3,500kg.

You will need a larger trailer if you plan on traveling with a family. However, you can get away with a smaller model if you only plan to travel with one or two people.

Layout

Picking the right floor plan for your trailer is crucial for practical and comfortable living. Nowadays, trailer layouts are more diverse, providing plenty of choices. Choosing the most appropriate trailer layout depends on personal taste, how you will use the trailer, and the vehicle's size.

Small pop-top trailers, where the roof typically winds up, are the most popular entry-level options but hardly have toilets and showers. Large trailers, on the other hand, provide more layout choices, including a bigger kitchen, bathrooms, and more storage.

Setting the beds across the width of the trailer can save space, but it requires one person to climb over the other to get into and out of bed. Beds running length-wise provide better access but can soak up valuable space.

Weight and payload

One of the most fundamental but confusing things trailerners face when buying a trailer is knowing the weights specified by the manufacturer. Understanding your trailer's weight and how it relates to the tow vehicle is extremely important.

The trailer weight is measured to determine load capacity and what type of car can tow it. The measurements are:

• Gross car mass
• Vehicle tare weight
• Trailer tare weight
• Tow ball weight
• Aggregate trailer mass
• Payload

In order to be safe and legal, your trailer's total weight should be within your vehicle's towbar rating. Check your car owner's manual or chassis plate for your vehicle's gross combination weight.

You also need to arrange your trailer correctly. Store heavy items on the trailer's floor near the wheels and medium-weighted luggage further away. Your lightest items can be stored on the shelves at higher levels.

Features and extras

Another essential thing to consider when purchasing a trailer is the type of features and extras available. Most modern trailers come with a host of features and add-ons to make your trip more comfortable and enjoyable.

Some trailers have features such as solar panels and batteries, Wi-Fi routers, double glazing, and even underfloor heating. Try to strike a balance between the must-haves and wants since optional add-ons can increase the final cost of your trailer.

Security and insurance

Insuring your trailer can give you peace of mind, knowing that your new purchase is covered against theft and car accidents. Your auto insurance will also cover any third-party damage during towing.

However, your insurance policy terms and conditions might impose minimum security requirements. Your trailer's door locks should deter potential thieves from getting into your trailer.

In addition, a hitch lock can help prevent the handle of your hitch from being raised to break the connection with the other vehicle. Another best way to stop someone from taking away your prized trailer is by adding wheel clamps.

Price

Purchasing a brand-new trailer is a substantial investment that often requires saving a large sum of money. A basic entry-level trailer costs around $50,000, while a deluxe model fitted with all the comforts of a home can cost up to $120,000. The price tag typically increases with the size of the trailer, its berth, and its amenities.

Buying a used trailer can be significantly cheaper and can save you money down the line. However, always be sure to compare the prices, as a brand-new trailer may sometimes cost less than a second-hand trailer, depending on demand and supply, condition, and lead time.

Consider buying from a licensed dealer over a private seller, even when purchasing a used trailer. Licensed dealerships usually conduct a safety check on used trailers, fix most issues, and guarantee a clear vehicle title. Unless you know what to check for, purchasing a used trailer from a private seller could mean inheriting a trailer with problems, and it's rarely possible to take it back.

In addition to the purchase price of a new trailer, you need to consider the running costs, too. These include regular maintenance and repair costs, fuel costs, insurance and registration fees, and other expenses. If you don't have enough cash to cover the total sticker price and unforeseen expenses, consider financing your trailer.

Storage

You also need to consider where to store your trailer when it is not in use. If you are storing your trailer at home, ensure there is enough space in a carport, garage, shed, or outside on the property or driveway.

A private and secure garage can help keep your trailer out of site and minimize catching the attention of potential thieves. Don't forget to consider the size of your garage or carport when buying a trailer.

Can your car tow a trailer?

While your trailer should weigh not more than 85% of your car's curb weight, is your vehicle powerful enough to safely tow your new trailer? Here's how to determine how much weight your vehicle can safely tow.

1. Figure out your vehicle's curb weight: Open your vehicle handbook and look for a symbol written as 'curb weight', sometimes 'kerb weight.' This is typically how much your vehicle weighs with a full fuel tank and without any load.
2. Get the 85% figure: Multiply the curb or kerb weight by 0.85 to get the 85% figure. This is what you will use in the next step.
3. Compare the figure with your trailer's MTPLM: Every trailer has an MTPLM (Maximum Technically Permissible Laden Mass) figure, which you should get along with your quote. If your trailer's MTPLM is less or equal to the 85% figure you got based on your vehicle's curb weight, it should be safe to tow.

While you can legally tow up to 100% of your vehicle's curb weight, it's highly discouraged, especially for novice drivers.

Summing it up

Choosing the right trailer can be overwhelming, even for seasoned drivers. Therefore, take your time to find the appropriate combination of features that suit your needs, and then visit your local dealer to check them out and create a shortlist. Consider the above-stated things, and you will be on your way to finding an ideal trailer for you and your family.