Everything you need to know before you buy a trailer.
Plain answers to the questions that actually decide which trailer you need: capacity, towing, brakes, titling and sizing. Written by people who sell these, not by a content agency.
The short version
If you only have two minutes, start here.
The maximum total weight of the trailer plus its load. Subtract the empty weight to get your usable payload. Full guide.
It depends on your state and the trailer's weight. New units ship with a Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin, which is what your state converts into a title. Full guide.
Above a state threshold, commonly 1,500 to 3,000 lb, yes. Electric brakes also need a controller in the tow vehicle. Full guide.
Under roughly 14,000 lb GVWR, bumper pull is simpler and cheaper. Above it, a gooseneck is far more stable. Full guide.
Loading rear-heavy. Put about 60 percent of the load ahead of the axle. Full guide.
Read in full
How to Tow a Trailer Safely: A Beginner's Guide
Towing a trailer safely comes down to four numbers and one habit. The numbers are your vehicle's tow rating, the trailer's GVWR, the tongue weight, and…
GVWRWhat GVWR Means on a Trailer
GVWR stands for Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. On a trailer it is the maximum the trailer is allowed to weigh in total: the empty trailer plus…
TitlingDoes a Trailer Need a Title?
It depends on your state and on the trailer's weight. Some states title every trailer regardless of size. Some title only above a weight threshold, commonly…
BrakesTrailer Brakes Explained
Trailer brakes are required above a weight threshold in almost every state, and the threshold is lower than most buyers expect, commonly between 1,500 and 3,000…
ChoosingBumper Pull vs Gooseneck: Which Do You Need?
A bumper pull couples to a ball on a receiver hitch at the rear of the vehicle. A gooseneck couples to a ball mounted in the…
ChoosingHow to Measure a Trailer Axle
You measure a trailer axle in two places: hub face to hub face, and spring center to spring center. Hub face to hub face is the…
LegalWhat Equipment Is Legally Required on a Trailer
Every trailer on a public road needs working tail lights, brake lights, turn signals, side marker lights and reflectors, a properly rated coupler and hitch, safety…
GVWRHow Much Does a Dump Trailer Weigh?
A dump trailer typically weighs between 2,000 and 5,500 pounds empty, depending on size and construction. A 6x10 single-axle unit sits around 2,000 to 2,600 lb.…
Still not sure which trailer fits?
Tell us what you are hauling and what you are towing with, and we will answer plainly.
