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Open vs. Enclosed Transport Trailers – Which Do You Need?

Transporters use a variety of equipment to haul loads down the highway. While the condition of the motor under the hood and the machinery used to load a heavy item is important, the trailer or van used to transport goods is also critical. Depending on what you are going to ship, you will need either an enclosed van or an open trailer. In order to determine what you need for a particular load, you must ask yourself a series of questions:

  • Is this item sensitive to rain, snow, heavy winds, or other elements of the weather?
  • Does this item need to be kept clean during transport, or can it be washed off when it reaches its destination?
  • Are you concerned with rocks or other debris hitting the item as it is being transported?
  • Is minimal protection from tarps enough to protect the exterior surface of this item, or does it need to be completely removed from the weather and debris?
  • Is your item small enough that it can reasonably fit inside an enclosed trailer or van, or is it awkward and oversized?
  • How heavy is your item? Is there a reasonable way that it could be picked up and loaded into an enclosed space, or will it require more creative thinking with a flatbed truck and machinery to lift?
  • Do you mind your item being shipped along with other loads from other customers of your carrier? Or do you want it to travel by itself without being removed from the trailer at any point?
All of these factors will help you determine whether you need to hire a transporter with an enclosed trailer or van, or if you can get by with an open trailer. The most common type of open trailer is a flatbed trailer. A flatbed can be used for some vehicles, or there are special carriers to load more vehicles on separate platforms. An enclosed area could be a trailer of any length and variety, or for smaller items it could simply be a truck bed with a roof or a van.

If your item is extremely valuable and should not be exposed to the weather or any potential danger for surface damage, then you should always go with an enclosed trailer. As long as it can somehow be lifted into the trailer and is of reasonable size to fit into a trailer, this is the best way to ensure your item is protected until it reaches its destination. Some vehicles may need to be enclosed if they are rare, extremely valuable, or simply the love of your life.

Valuable items can go on an open trailer, but make sure there is not a huge risk for surface damage. You can protect the load with tarps to offer some protection from the weather, but this is not the same level of protection that comes from placing the item in an enclosed space that is completely sealed off from the weather. Many cars are safe to be shipped on a car trailer with other cars or forklift vehicles.

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