Whether you are bringing home a project car, hauling a side-by-side to the deer camp or moving vehicles for work, the car hauler you buy has to match the vehicles you put on it. Too short and the load hangs off the back. Too narrow and the tires ride on the fenders. Too light a rating and you are overloaded before you leave the driveway.
Here is how to work out what size car hauler you need, using the sizes we keep on our Jonesboro lot.
Start With Three Measurements
Before you shop, measure the widest and longest vehicle you plan to haul, and look up its curb weight:
- Width: measured tire to tire on the outside, not mirror to mirror. This decides whether the vehicle fits between the fenders or needs a drive-over fender design.
- Length: bumper to bumper. Leave room at the front and back for straps and for moving the vehicle forward to set tongue weight.
- Weight: the vehicle's curb weight, plus anything you carry with it. Compare that to the trailer's payload, not just its GVWR.
The 7x20 Car Hauler: The Everyday Size
A 7x20 car hauler is the size most buyers end up with. Recent 7x20 units on our lot have had about a 7-foot-wide deck and a 20-foot length, which fits most cars, small trucks and SUVs. Features we have seen on these units include a removable driver-side fender, which makes it easier to open the door and climb out after you load, plus a winch plate, a spare tire mount and 5-foot slide-in ramps.
Good fits for a 7x20 include:
- Sedans, coupes and most sports cars
- Compact and midsize SUVs
- Small and midsize pickups
- Side-by-sides, golf carts and small tractors
See current units on our 7x20 car hauler trailers page.
The 8.5x24 Car Hauler: More Width and Length
An 8.5x24 car hauler adds width and four more feet of deck. Units we have carried in this size use drive-over fenders, so the full deck width is usable and a wide vehicle can sit with its tires over the fender line. That makes the 8.5x24 a fit for wider vehicles such as full-size trucks and larger SUVs, and the extra length gives you more room to position the load.
The trade-off is size. A 24-foot trailer is longer to back into a driveway and to park at home, and it weighs more empty.
Can One Trailer Haul Two Cars?
People searching for a "2 car hauler" usually mean a much longer trailer, often a gooseneck, built to carry two vehicles end to end. A 20 or 24-foot bumper-pull car hauler is built for one vehicle. Before you try to fit two small vehicles on one, add up both curb weights and compare them to the trailer's payload, and make sure each one can be strapped down properly. In most cases, two cars means a different class of trailer and a heavier tow vehicle.
Weight Ratings: 7,000 vs 10,400 lb
Recent 7x20 car haulers on our lot have come with two axle packages:
- Two 3,500 lb axles: 7,000 lb GVWR. Suits most cars and light SUVs.
- Two 5,200 lb axles: 10,400 lb GVWR. Gives you more room for heavier trucks, SUVs and work vehicles.
Remember that GVWR includes the trailer itself. Subtract the trailer's empty weight to find what you can actually load. If you haul a half-ton pickup today and might haul something heavier next year, the higher rating is worth a look.
Car haulers in these ratings typically ride on brakes (check the listing for the unit you are looking at), and Georgia law requires brakes on all wheels once a trailer and its load weigh 3,000 lb or more. The Georgia Department of Public Safety FAQ covers the brake requirements in more detail. You will also want a brake controller in your truck.
Wood Deck or Steel Floor?
Both are common on car haulers, and both work. The choice comes down to how you use the trailer:
- Wood deck: lighter, which leaves a little more payload, and easy to repair by replacing a board.
- Steel floor: holds up to heavy use and gives you a solid surface to weld or bolt tie-down points to.
Open or Enclosed?
An open car hauler is lighter, simpler and easier to load. If you haul a show car, a race car or anything you want out of the weather and locked up, look at an enclosed car hauler instead. We cover those on our enclosed car hauler trailers page.
Match It to Your Tow Vehicle
A loaded car hauler is a heavy combination. Add the trailer's empty weight to your heaviest vehicle and compare the total to your tow vehicle's towing capacity and hitch rating. Many buyers pull a 7x20 with a half-ton or three-quarter-ton pickup, depending on the load. Bring your truck's numbers and we will help you check the match.
Paying for a Car Hauler
Paying over time? We offer traditional trailer financing, no credit check rent to own on new standard trailers with 15% down for Georgia buyers (and buyers in 20 other states), and lease-to-own options through ClickLease, which starts with a soft credit pull and is available in all 50 states. Call or text us and we will walk you through each one.
See Car Haulers in Jonesboro
The quickest way to choose is to stand next to the trailer with your measurements in hand. Browse our car hauler trailers for sale to see current units, prices and ratings, then come compare them on the lot. A&A Center Trailers has been selling trailers south of Atlanta since 1973.
Come see us at 8834 Tara Blvd, Jonesboro, GA 30236, just south of Atlanta. We are open Monday to Friday 9 AM to 5 PM and Saturday 9 AM to 4 PM. Call (770) 603-8511 or text (404) 383-8194 and tell us what you need to haul.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size car hauler do I need for a full-size truck?
Measure the truck's width tire to tire and its curb weight. Wider vehicles like full-size trucks often fit better on an 8.5x24 car hauler with drive-over fenders, and you will want a GVWR that leaves enough payload after subtracting the trailer's empty weight.
Will a 7x20 car hauler fit most cars?
Yes. A 7x20 car hauler fits most cars, small trucks and SUVs. Check your vehicle's width and length against the deck before you buy.
What is the difference between a 7,000 and 10,400 GVWR car hauler?
The 7,000 lb units we have carried ride on two 3,500 lb axles, and the 10,400 lb units ride on two 5,200 lb axles. The higher rating lets you haul heavier vehicles, as long as your tow vehicle is rated for the load.
Is a wood or steel floor better on a car hauler?
Neither is better for everyone. A wood deck is lighter and easy to repair. A steel floor holds up to heavy use. Choose based on how often and what you haul.
Can a 20 foot car hauler carry two cars?
Usually not. A 20-foot bumper-pull car hauler is built for one vehicle. Hauling two cars generally calls for a much longer trailer and a heavier tow vehicle.