Enclosed Trailer or Car Hauler? How to Pick the Right Rental in St. Charles County
We rent two trailers, and on paper they overlap. Both have a 12,000 lb winch. Both take a 2-5/16" ball and a round 7-pin plug. Both will carry a car. So which one should you book?
It usually comes down to five questions. Answer them honestly and the right trailer is obvious, and you skip a wasted trip or an expensive surprise.
Question 1: Is it a vehicle, or is it everything else?
If the job is moving one car or truck from point A to point B, start with the 22' MAXX-D car hauler. It is built for exactly that. The deck tilts to the ground, you drive or winch the car up, and the deck settles back level once the weight is past the pivot. There are no loose ramps to set, and there is nothing to lift.
If the load is anything else, like furniture, boxes, motorcycles, a UTV, tools, or a mix, you want the 20' Spartan enclosed trailer. It has E-track on the walls and floor for tying things down, a ramp door for rolling things in, and moving dollies and blankets included.
Question 2: Does it need to stay covered?
An open car hauler is fine for a daily driver on a dry day. Pick the enclosed trailer when:
- It is a classic, a show car, or fresh paint. Road grime, rock chips, and a surprise Missouri downpour are all avoidable.
- The car has no glass, no top, or an open interior. A project car with missing windows should not ride open at 60 mph.
- You are stopping overnight. A trailer you can close and lock in a hotel parking lot is worth a lot of peace of mind.
- There are loose parts. Boxes of parts, a spare engine, or tools ride much better behind a door.
Question 3: How wide and how low is it?
The enclosed trailer measures about 83 inches between the fenders inside. That clears most cars and SUVs, but very wide trucks and some dually or lifted builds can get tight. Measure your vehicle's width at the tires and mirrors and compare before you book.
If your car sits very low or has a front splitter, text us its ground clearance before you book. We will tell you which trailer loads it cleaner. That two-minute conversation beats a scraped bumper.
Question 4: What are you towing with?
An enclosed trailer weighs more empty than an open car hauler of similar length, and its tall flat sides catch a lot of wind. You feel that crossing the Missouri River on the Blanchette Bridge or the Page Avenue Bridge on a gusty day. It is also about 95 inches wide overall, which is wider than most pickups, so towing mirrors help a lot.
The open car hauler is lower and lets the wind through. If your truck is near the limit of what it can safely pull, the car hauler is the more forgiving choice for a vehicle-only job. Our tow vehicle checklist walks through ratings, ball size, and brake controllers.
Question 5: What is the budget?
The car hauler is currently $130 a day and the enclosed trailer is $160 a day. If you only need to move a running car on a clear day, the car hauler does the job for less. If you need cover, security, or the moving gear, the extra $30 is cheap insurance.
Real jobs, and which trailer we would send
| The job | Our pick |
|---|---|
| Bringing home a used car you bought in Columbia or Kansas City | Car hauler |
| A project car that will not start, sitting in a Cottleville garage | Car hauler (tilt deck plus winch) |
| A classic going to a car show with rain in the forecast | Enclosed |
| Moving from an apartment in St. Charles to a house in Wentzville | Enclosed (dollies and blankets included) |
| Two or three dirt bikes and gear for a weekend at St. Joe State Park | Enclosed |
| A UTV out to family land in Lincoln or Warren County | Either; enclosed if it stays overnight somewhere public |
| A contractor moving tools and materials between job sites | Enclosed (locks, E-track) |
Still on the fence? Call or text 314-866-0009 with what you are hauling and what you are pulling with. Joshua has spent 35 years around trailers and will give you a straight recommendation, even if it is the cheaper trailer.