ENCLOSED TRAILER SIZE GUIDE
When it comes to finding the best enclosed trailer, size really does matter. But sizing up your choices can be a bit difficult if you are not sure where to start. Here, we’ll cover each tier of available trailers based on width—6’ wide enclosed trailers, 7’ wide enclosed trailers, and 8.5’ wide trailers. With so many trailers to choose from, Renown has one of the best selections to match perfectly with your needs.
6’ Wide Enclosed Cargo Trailers
6’ wide enclosed cargo trailers are the smallest size of enclosed trailers that we carry here at Renown; however, you shouldn’t let their small size fool you. These trailers can still haul thousands of pounds of cargo with ease, wherever it needs to go. We’ll cover your options within the 6’ wide category below.
6x12 Single Axle Enclosed Trailer
The 6x12 single axle enclosed trailer is easily one of the most popular trailers of all time. That’s because this little trailer comes in at a very affordable price point yet still packs a great punch when it comes to payload capacity. The 6x12 is also incredibly versatile, being able to be utilized for many different applications. Smaller landscape crews with perhaps a single 36” walk behind mower and a small complement of edgers, weedwackers, and blowers can find this size trailer to be more than adequate to meet their needs.
Contractors and handymen love the ease of getting all their tools right to the jobsite and then easily carting everything home again at the end of the day. The 6x12 single axle has an empty weight of 1,200 pounds and a payload capacity of 2,300 pounds, which is still plenty large enough for hauling a lot of everyday gear.
6x12 Tandem Axle Enclosed Trailer
Kicking things up a notch from the 6x12 single axle is to go with a tandem. The 6x12 tandem axle has a payload capacity of 5,200 pounds with two 3500-pound axles that each have their own braking system for maximum control. You can also choose to upgrade your axle to a 5,200 or even 7,000 pound rated axle with options for drop leaf spring axles, as well as torsion axles. To learn more about all your trailer axle options, check out our handy axle e-guide.
7’ Wide Enclosed Trailer Options
Our 7’ wide enclosed trailers offer two different sizes that each are a step up from the 6x12’s. You will find a 7x14 or 7x16 enclosed trailer as a great middle-of-the-road option. Not too big, not too small, these trailers can carry a hefty payload easily while still retaining a great degree of maneuverability due to their size. If you run a busy towing operation in a crowded urban environment, the 7’ wide enclosed trailer is definitely an option worth considering.
7x14 Enclosed Trailer
The smaller of the 7’ wide enclosed options, the 7x14 tandem axle has a whopping 4,880 pound payload capacity with the twin 3500-pound rated drop leaf spring axles. As with all of our trailers, the options absolutely abound with just about every inch. You can upgrade the axles, wheels, walls, ceiling, add electrical, beef up the ramp door, add ladder racks, in addition to a plethora of other popular options. The 7x14 gives you a great size trailer for a small to medium landscape trailer, concession trailer, mobile pet grooming trailer, and really just about anything else you can imagine.
7x16 Enclosed Trailer
With an extra two feet of length, the 7x16 enclosed trailer provides extra cargo room for larger/bulkier loads. If you’ve got a large Honda Rancher 4x4 ATV, a whole bunch of gear and spare parts, and everything else to load up for a weekend of fun, the 7x16 can make for an excellent toy hauler. The 7x16 enclosed trailer comes with a base payload capacity of 4,740 pounds making it more than suitable for a wide variety of tools and heavy equipment.
7x16 Blackout Special Enclosed Trailer
If aesthetics are a driving factor in your trailer purchasing decision, we invite you to check out one of sleekest models in the 7x16 blackout special. You get alloy avalanche wheels, ATP fenders, all black trim, a black stone guard, black diamond plate stepwells on car hauler models, black bar lock on the ram door, and upgraded blacked out aluminum side wall vents. All of this comes together to create a sleek, aggressive look that is absolutely perfect for showing up in style on the jobsite, to the trade show, or just around town advertising your business.
8.5’ Wide Enclosed Cargo Trailers
8.5’ wide trailer options come in the largest variety because these are some of the most sought-after sizes on the market today. From 8.5x14’s all the way to our 32 footers, 8.5’ wide enclosed trailers provide the largest dimensions for loading and unloading.
8.5x14 Enclosed Trailer
The 8.5x14 is just like the 7’ version, you just have a full foot and a half of extra width. This really comes in handy when you get big items on and off the trailer, making it an ideal size for a landscape company with a zero turn mower and a full gear load out. The options to outfit this trailer lets you organize and allocate space within so you may be able to get by with a slightly smaller size over the larger 8.5’ wide trailers out there. The smaller size is definitely a plus when it comes to backing up, storing, and maneuvering around town.
8.5x16 Enclosed Trailer
Adding an extra two feet of length, the 8.5x16 tandem axle is an excellent choice as a toy hauler, construction trailer, or anyone else needing a full 4,200 pounds of payload capacity. The 8.5x16 is a great mid-size within this larger category because you’ll have plenty of space for gear while still retaining a lot of the maneuverability the shorter length provides.
8.5x18 Enclosed Trailer
Getting up to 18 feet, the 8.5x18 tandem axle can haul 4,000 pounds of cargo with ease. The 8.5x18 has been used quite successfully as a motorcycle trailer or car hauler to get your prized ride to and from competitions. You can add custom cabinets, extra lights, electrical, and more to make the perfect race car trailer or add ladder racks and extra e-tracks for the perfect mobile construction trailer. At a lower price point than the “big boys”, the 8.5x18 is an incredibly versatile mid-sized trailer.
8.5x20 Enclosed Trailer
With the 8.5x20, we’re starting to get into the larger size categories but you still retain a very maneuverable trailer. With 3,800 pounds of payload capacity, you still have a high threshold for weight, while having ample room for whatever cargo you need.
8.5x22 Enclosed Trailer
The 8.5x22 tandem axle gives you all the way up to 3,600 pounds of payload capacity with the standard twin 3500-pound drop leaf spring axles. 8.5x22’s are great for any kind of car hauler, mobile food trailer, landscape operation, or just about anything else you have in mind.
8.5x24 Enclosed Trailer
8.5x24 tandem axles can still haul 3,400 pounds of payload throughout their extra-large interiors, making them a great choice for a wide variety of applications. Calling all the options included with this trailer “stock” doesn’t do it justice. You get LED lights, radial tires, Thermacool roof liners, D-rings, electric brakes, and so much more all with a base model.
8.5x26 Enclosed Trailer
The 8.5x26 tandem axles come standard with twin 5,000 pound rated axles so the payload capacity gets boosted to a whopping 6,400 pounds! These large trailers are excellent for hauling your prized race car to and from the track with plenty of room for storage and space to move throughout the trailer.
8.5x28 Enclosed Trailer & 8.5x32 Enclosed Trailer
The largest of the 8.5’ wide trailers Renown carries, the 8.5x32 provides up to 6,000 pounds of payload for massive loads. Outfit these behemoths with all the customizations your heart desires to build out the perfect hauler for your operations.
Come See Us in Beautiful Douglas, GA or Order Online
From nimble 6x12’s through our beastly 8.5x32s, Renown has the perfect-sized trailer to meet all your cargo-hauling needs. We’d love to meet with you onsite at our dealership in beautiful Douglas, GA but can also meet all of your needs completely online. Browse our selection, choose the options you want, get financed—even have your new trailer delivered, all from the comfort of home.
We proudly stand behind every enclosed trailer we sell and take pride in superior service before, during, and especially after you purchase your new trailer. Contact our team to get started today.
Request a Quote
Narrowing It Down: How to Size an Enclosed Trailer for Your Load
The sections above walk through every size we carry. This part helps you figure out which one fits your cargo, your tow vehicle, and the way you work. A few minutes with a tape measure and your owner's manual can save you from buying too small, too heavy, or more than your truck can handle.
Measure Your Cargo the Right Way
- List what you haul in a normal week, then add your biggest load of the year. Size for the big load.
- Measure the length, width, and height of your largest item, with mower decks, mirrors, racks, and roll cages in place.
- Check the width between the wheel wells, not just wall to wall. Wheel wells sit inside the box and take up floor space at the axles.
- Leave a couple of extra feet of length for the ramp approach, tie downs, and walking around the load.
- Measure against the door opening, which is usually a little lower and narrower than the inside of the box.
- On a V-nose trailer, remember the nose tapers, so it is best for small items and storage rather than long cargo.
How Much Headroom Do You Need?
Interior height is the measurement people forget, and it cannot be changed after the build.
- Standard height: fine for boxes, hand tools, and low equipment you load from the doors.
- 6'6" interior: most people can walk upright, with room for wall shelving and e-track.
- 7' interior and taller: a smart pick for mobile workshops, concession builds, tall mowers, and lifted off road machines.
Extra height adds a bit of weight and wind resistance, so factor it into your payload and towing plans.
Axles, Weight Ratings, and Payload in Plain English
Single Axle or Tandem Axle?
A single axle trailer is lighter, costs less, is easier to move by hand, and has fewer tires to maintain. It suits lighter loads and local trips. Our 6x12 single axle carries about 2,300 pounds of payload.
A tandem axle trailer carries more, tracks more steadily at highway speed, and handles a flat tire with more control. Most of our 7' and 8.5' wide trailers are tandem axle. Deciding on a 6x12? Our 6x12 enclosed trailer weight and towing guide (https://renowncargotrailers.com/6x12-enclosed-trailer-weight-towing-guide/) compares both versions.
What GVWR and Payload Mean
GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) is the most the trailer is rated to weigh, trailer and cargo combined. Payload is GVWR minus the empty weight. A 6x12 single axle weighing around 1,200 pounds empty with a 3,500 pound GVWR leaves about 2,300 pounds for cargo.
A longer trailer does not automatically carry more. With the same axles, a bigger box weighs more empty, so payload goes down. That is why a 7x14 shows more payload than an 8.5x24 in the sizes above, while the 8.5x26 with 5,000 pound axles carries much more. Shelving, cabinets, generators, and A/C units count against payload too. See our GVWR and payload capacity guide (https://renowncargotrailers.com/gvwr-enclosed-trailer-weight-and-payload-capacity-guide/) for numbers by size.
Will Your Truck or SUV Handle It?
- Tow rating: find it in your owner's manual or on the driver's door sticker. Compare it to the loaded trailer weight (empty weight plus cargo), and leave some cushion below the maximum.
- Hitch: your receiver, ball mount, and ball size must match the coupler and be rated for the loaded weight. Tongue weight usually runs around 10 to 15 percent of the loaded trailer weight.
- Brakes: trailers with electric brakes need a brake controller in the tow vehicle and wiring that matches the trailer plug.
- Truck payload: tongue weight, passengers, and bed cargo all count against your truck's own payload rating.
Our 7x16 enclosed trailer weight and towing guide (https://renowncargotrailers.com/7x16-enclosed-trailer-weight-towing-guide/) walks through pairing a popular size with a tow vehicle.
Which Size Fits Your Job?
Use this as a starting point. Your own measurements and weights have the final say.
Use | Sizes to Start With | Why
Landscaping, small crew | 6x12 single or tandem axle | Fits a walk behind mower plus trimmers and blowers
Landscaping, zero turn and full crew | 7x14, 8.5x14, 8.5x16 | Extra width for wide decks and a full gear load out
Moving | 6x12 for a dorm or studio, 7x14 or 7x16 for an apartment, 8.5' wide for larger homes | Furniture is bulky, so floor space and height matter most
Motorcycles | 6x12 for one or two bikes, 7x16 for more, 8.5x18 for a show or race setup | Room for chocks, tie downs, and spare parts
ATVs | 7x14 or 7x16 | One or two machines plus weekend gear
UTVs and side by sides | 8.5x16 to 8.5x20 | Most need the extra width; check it against the space between wheel wells
Cars and race cars | 8.5x18 to 8.5x26 | Longer sizes leave room for cabinets, tires, and tools
Contractors and handymen | 6x12 for tools, 7x14 or 7x16 with shelving and ladder racks, 8.5x18 and up for a mobile shop | Organized storage that goes to every jobsite
Vending and mobile business | 7x14 to 8.5x22 | Size around your equipment and workflow, and consider a 7' interior
Torn between two popular sizes? Read 7x14 vs 7x16 enclosed trailer (https://renowncargotrailers.com/7x14-vs-7x16-enclosed-trailer-which-size-should-you-buy/) or 8.5x20 vs 8.5x24 cargo trailer (https://renowncargotrailers.com/8-5x20-vs-8-5x24-cargo-trailer-which-size-should-you-buy/).
Sizing Mistakes We See Most Often
- Buying for this year only. If your crew, inventory, or toy collection is growing, the next size up usually costs less than trading in later.
- Ignoring weight. A load can fit inside and still be over the trailer's payload.
- Forgetting wheel wells and door openings. Wide and tall items are often limited by these, not the walls or ceiling.
- Skipping extra height, then wanting cabinets or standing room later.
- Not planning for parking. Measure your driveway, gate, or storage spot, and check any HOA rules.
- Outsizing the tow vehicle. A trailer your truck cannot safely pull loaded is just an expensive storage shed.
For more, see 10 common trailer buying mistakes and how to avoid them (https://renowncargotrailers.com/10-common-trailer-buying-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them/).
Check Your State's Trailer Requirements
Trailer rules are set by each state and can change, so check with your state DMV (or whichever agency handles vehicle registration where you live) before you tow, and check any states you will travel through. Ask about:
- Registration, title, and plate requirements for your trailer's weight rating
- The weight at which trailer brakes or a breakaway system are required
- Safety chains, lighting, and reflectors
- Width and length limits, and permits for oversized loads
- Driver's license requirements for heavier combinations
- Any inspection requirements
If we deliver out of state, ask us which paperwork comes with your trailer so you are ready to register it at home.
Trailer Size Questions We Hear a Lot
What size enclosed trailer do most people buy?
The 7' wide sizes, like the 7x14 and 7x16, are a popular middle of the road choice. They carry a solid payload while staying easy to tow, back up, and park.
Will a zero turn mower fit in a 6x12?
It depends on your deck width compared to the space between the wheel wells and the door opening. Many crews running zero turns step up to an 8.5x14 or 8.5x16.
Does a longer trailer always carry more weight?
No. With the same axles, a longer trailer weighs more empty and leaves less payload. Axle upgrades are what raise capacity.
Can my half ton truck or SUV tow a tandem axle trailer?
Often, but it depends on your vehicle's tow rating, hitch rating, and payload. Add the trailer's empty weight to your cargo weight and compare that to your vehicle's numbers. You will also need a brake controller if the trailer has electric brakes.
Can I customize height, axles, and doors?
Yes. You can add interior height, upgrade axles, change doors, and add electrical, cabinets, ladder racks, and more.
Ready to Pick Your Size?
Tell us what you haul and what you tow with, and our team will point you to the right trailer, with no pressure. Financing is available, rent to own is available on qualifying trailers, and we deliver nationwide.
- Call: 888-287-3954 (tel:+18882873954)
- Text: 912-325-3578 (sms:+19123253578)
- Email: quotes@renowncargotrailers.com (mailto:quotes@renowncargotrailers.com)
- Messenger: Chat with us on Facebook Messenger (https://m.me/1536682019781890