Should You Buy a Cargo Trailer in the Winter?

November 19, 2019 by

People buy trailers for hundreds of different reasons and there is no right or wrong time to start looking for new or used trailers for sale. Many landscapers and roofing companies buy trailers in the spring because that is when their work starts picking up again, but there is no reason that you can’t buy a cargo trailer in the winter. Winter is a great time for outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy the snow and a cargo trailer is ideal for transporting snow blowers, snow removal equipment, snowmobiles and the rest of your gear.

SHOULD YOU BUY A CARGO TRAILER IN THE WINTER?

There are many numbers of reasons why you might need a cargo trailer in the winter. Just because the weather is bad, doesn’t mean that landscapers stop working. Landscaping businesses often turn to snow clearing during the cold months when there is no garden work. A cargo trailer is perfect for hauling all the equipment needed to clear sidewalks and parking lots.

The main use for cargo trailers in the winter, however, is transporting snowmobiles. If you are a weekend warrior a trailer is the best way to get your snowmobile to the best trails, and owning an enclosed trailer also means that you have a safe, secure place to store your snowmobiles in the summer.

HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT CARGO TRAILER IN THE WINTER

There are several things that you need to consider when choosing a cargo trailer that is mostly going to be used in the winter. One of the biggest decisions that you will have to make is what type of material best suits your needs. A steel trailer may be cheaper, but an aluminum trailer will last longer, pull easier and not suffer as much in the harsh winter weather. If you have the budget, go with aluminum.

Another big decision is the size of the trailer and that depends on its function. If you are buying a trailer for transporting your snowmobiles, the size will be determined by the number of sleds you own. A cargo trailer can have space for two, three or four snowmobiles and trailers generally come in three heights; a lowboy with a deck that is as low to the ground as possible, a mid-deck that is raised for some ground clearance and a highboy where the deck is above the wheels.

POPULAR TRAILERS FOR TRANSPORTING SNOWMOBILES

If you are looking for a great entry-level trailer, you won’t go wrong with a two-place, 8’6” wide highboy made of aluminum. This trailer has a single axle and no brakes and is probably the most economical trailer to pull. The disadvantage is that it doesn’t have a drive-off front ramp but with most snowmobiles having a reverse option, a front drive-off ramp is not essential.

A good option if you want more space is a three-place 7-feet-wide lowboy with a steel frame. This trailer is low to the ground and the tandem axles give it a smoother ride than a single axle trailer. The trailer also has a front ramp, making it easy to drive your snowmobiles in and out, but only being 7 feet wide means that there isn’t much room for storage cabinets or racks.

If you are a serious snowmobiler and want loads of space, then a three or four place 8 feet wide trailer is ideal. This option can be a lowboy, mid-deck or highboy. The disadvantage of a lowboy is that you have to maneuver your snowmobiles around the full-size fender boxes when loading the trailer and it does not have the best ground clearance for rugged terrain. The mid-deck gives you more ground clearance and the fender boxes are low enough to drive over. The highboy, however, is the most popular option for an enclosed cargo trailer of this size; it is easy to load, has good ground clearance and plenty of room for storage cabinets and racks.

Contact McFarlane’s if you are looking for new or used trailers for sale this winter.