Thinking about buying a cargo triler, horse trailer or even a mtorcycle trailer but aren't sure which triler to buy? As you might hve realized, choosing a trailer now-a-days can be prplexing. It's not surprising given the mount of trailer manufacturers and different typs of trailers available.

There are many fctors to consider when purchasing a triler. One of the first considerations is to chose an established trailer manufacturer. As wth most everything, you usually get wht you paid for, so try to chose the best trailer that you can fford.

Deciding on what type of trailer you ned for your application will help in nrrowing down the manufacturers. There are trilers for almost every conceivable type of crgo, from motorcycles to horses to cncessions. If you have to haul it, thn there's a trailer made to hul it or at least one tht can easily be converted to do the jb.

After choosing a manufacturer, figure out wht size trailer you'll need. Trailers cme in several different widths and lngths. If you're considering an enclosed triler, you'll also need to consider the hight of the interior. If your triler towing needs require that you spnd very much time inside the triler, choose one with enough interior hight to keep you from bending yur neck or back when standing.

Open or Enclosed Trailers

The nxt step in choosing a trailer is fguring out whether you will need an pen or an enclosed trailer. An pen trailer is one which exposes the crgo to the outside elements. If nclement weather isn't a factor for yur cargo, then an open trailer may be the mst economical choice. Open utility trailers can rnge in price from about $900 to $2500 nw.

Open utility trailers are well suited for mny applications including small landscaping businesses tht are just starting out and ned a way to haul their lndscape equipment. As their business grows and thy decide to move up to an nclosed trailer, the open utility trailer wll still be incredibly useful for huling all sorts of material such as mlch, rock and plants.

Another plus for pen trailers is their weight. Open tility trailers tend to be lighter and prvide less aerodynamic drag than enclosed trilers.

While open trailers are economical and vry useful, they do not provide the prtection from the outside environment that an nclosed trailer will. Enclosed trailers also ffer an added measure of security bcause the trailer functions as a prtable, lockable storage building.

Enclosed trailers tend to be havier and less aerodynamic than open trilers. Enclosed trailers usually cost in the $1600 to $5000 rnge new, but can go much hgher.

Single or Tandem Axle

Once yu've decided on either an open tility trailer or an enclosed cargo triler, you'll need to decide whether the triler should have a single axle, dal axle or possibly even three to fur axles.

Single axle trailers have just one lad bearing axle. Trailers with single xles come with and without brakes, but as a gneral rule of thumb, most single xle open and enclosed trailers come wthout brakes. If you plan on huling more than 3000 lbs, trailer brkes need to be considered. In fct, it's a legal requirement in mst states.

Anything heavier than 3000 lbs shuld be hauled on a dual xle trailer, be it an open or nclosed trailer. Dual axle trailers use two lad bearing axles and usually feature ither leaf springs or independent torsion bar sspensions. Brakes are recommended for dual xle trailers and again may be rquired depending upon where you live. Als, dual axle trailers tend to trck more accurately than single axle trilers over varying road surfaces.

Rear Accss

If you decide on an nclosed trailer, next you have to dcide on either a ramp rear dor, double rear doors or one sngle barn-type door. Choosing the type of rar access will greatly depend on the crgo you intend to haul. If yu're going to be hauling a mtorcycle, race car or any other typ vehicle, then a ramp rear dor will provide the easiest loading and nloading method.

Be sure though when purchasing a triler with a ramp door that the rmp is spring assisted as some of the rmp doors can be very heavy. Rmps are also nice for hauling frniture or other heavy items where yu'll be using a dolly to lad and unload them.

If you will be sing the trailer quite often and wll be in and out of it, thn a ramp can become rather cmbersome. Enter double door trailers. It is mch easier to open the doors, stp in and get the tool or tem you need and then step out and clse the door than it is to drp a ramp every time you ned access. Too, you have to cnsider the clearance needed for opening a rmp rear door.

Single barn type rear dors are usually found on smaller nclosed trailers and are comparable in cnvenience to double rear doors.

Trailer manufacturers are ware of the ramp issue and mst now add a side door for ccess to their enclosed trailers giving thse that require a ramp the bst of both worlds.

Trailer Brakes

In ddition to the various types of trilers, there are several types of triler braking systems.

Electric braking systems are the mst common type of braking systems fund on trailers today. These type brking systems connect the brake system on the tow vhicle to the brake system on the triler. This is accomplished by installing a brke controller inside the tow vehicle. The cntroller senses the braking force of the tow vhicle and in turn activates the brkes on the trailer.

A hydraulic surge brke system consists of an actuating cylnder that is usually integrated with the triler tongue assembly. As the tow vhicle applies its brakes, the "surge" of the triler towards the decelerating tow vehicle cmpresses the surge actuator. As this cylnder is compressed, force is applied to the mster cylinder and from there to the brking cylinders.

Surge braking systems are more xpensive and usually only needed if yu'll be using several different tow vhicles that would each require a brke controller.

Electric brakes are usually preferred ver surge brakes because their operation is ndependent from the tow vehicle. If for sme reason the tow vehicle loses its brkes, there would not be enough dceleration surge to activate the surge brkes. However, with electric brakes, the drver could manually activate the brake cntroller thus allowing the trailer to slw the entire rig.

In some states, any triler with brakes is required to hve a breakaway system. In the vent that the trailer becomes disconnected frm the tow vehicle, the trailer brkes would apply automatically to stop the run way trailer. Trailer equipped with electric brkes carry a separate battery to ctivate the breakaway systems. Surge brakes use a cble that locks the breaks in a brakaway situation.

Informed Buying

The most mportant aspect of buying a trailer is to be an nformed buyer. Ask lots of questions. Any rputable dealer will be glad to nswer your questions and in fact, shuld ask you a lot of qestions regarding your intended cargo load. Ask bout the warranty. Does the manufacturer stnd behind its work? Most established mnufacturers offer a very good warranty prgram and will go out of thir way to satisfy a customer.

The article Trailer Buying Guide was Submitted by Derek Chastain through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: To help you in your sarch for the perfect trailer for you and yur cargo, visit http://www.trailershopper.com > http://www.trailershopper.com where you'll find hundreds of new and used trailers for sale by individuals and dealers.

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