Utility trailers are no longer considered exclusively functional for commercial purposes. As more and more people are diversifying their hobbies and taking up new outdoor leisure activities, car trailers have become a must-have for many motorists! Perhaps you routinely pick up landscaping supplies to enhance the appeal of your garden. Alternately, you may have taken up quad biking and need to transport this vehicle to different tracks. 

Whatever the case, you need to ensure that you are investing in the right car trailer. Failure to do so not only translates into premature damage to the trailer itself but also damage to your car as well. Here are a couple of principal questions that you should ask yourself when in the market for a car trailer.

What will be the principal use of the car trailer?

Car trailers are highly versatile since they can be used to transport a multitude of items. Nonetheless, even when you plan to utilise the trailer for other items, such as luggage if you plan to travel long distances with your quad bike, it is still critical to keep your initial purpose of the trailer in mind. Establishing your primary needs will go a long way in helping you determine the right size of the trailer.

Furthermore, knowing your initial usage of the trailer will also help in making decisions such as choosing an open vs. closed trailer, if it should be ventilated, if it should have ramps and more. You should also consult with your mechanic, as they will have vast knowledge about trailers and will help you choose one dependent on your usage needs.

What capacity can your car tow?

The second critical question you need to ask yourself is what towing capacity does your vehicle have? You may have your eyes set on a specific trailer, but if your car is not strong enough to handle its weight coupled with the weight of the cargo you will be transporting, the trailer will be useless to you. The first thing that you should check is your vehicle's manual, as this will stipulate the towing capacity of your car. If you do not have the manual, then your mechanic will have to establish this towing capacity for you.

You should note that if your car is incapable of towing the trailer plus the cargo in it, you stand the chance of damaging its axles. Moreover, you pose a threat to the other road users since you will be unable to control your vehicle when it is under excessive strain.