How to Choose the Right Size U-Haul Trailer Rental

U-Haul trailers are some of the most versatile and affordable rental equipment you can find. With a wide range of trailers including open utility trailers, enclosed cargo trailers, and vehicle towing equipment, you’ll find a trailer for any job you need to get done. But with all these options, you might be wondering what size trailer do I need, especially at the start of your search. To ease the decision making process, we’ve come up with some general guidelines to help you to choose the U-Haul trailer size that’s right for your usage.

U-Haul Trailer Sizes and Types

The first thing you’ll need to figure out is what type of trailer you’ll need for the items you’re moving. Here’s a breakdown of the different types of trailers and what you can expect to be able to load in each trailer based on how U-Haul customers typically use them.

Cargo Trailer Sizes

Utility Trailer Sizes

Vehicle Towing Equipment

Cargo Trailer Sizes

Whether you’re moving locally, in-town, or making a cross country move, towing a cargo trailer is one of the most affordable ways to move household goods like furniture, boxes, and other valuables. Enclosed trailer rentals offer protection from weather and damage on the road and come with lockable doors to ensure your belongings are safely protected.

Utility Trailer Sizes

Utility trailers offer more hauling flexibility due to their open design that is perfect for large, bulky, and odd-shaped items. Popular for hauling materials for DIY projects and home renovations, landscaping and gardening equipment, and anything else that just might not fit in a moving truck or enclosed trailer due to its size.

Vehicle Towing Equipment

With multiple towing devices to choose from, we have the perfect size trailer for towing disabled vehicles, show cars, golf carts, and even motorcycles. You can use U-Haul towing equipment for everything from hauling recreational vehicles on a day trip to towing your primary vehicle across the country to save on mileage.

How Much Weight Can A Trailer Hold?

Now that you know what type of trailer suits your load, you’ll need to determine how much weight the trailer can hold using your vehicle’s towing capabilities. This will help narrow down which trailer sizes you can pull and how much you can load onto the trailer itself.

To figure out how much your vehicle can tow you’ll need to find two numbers:

• Your hitch system rating.
• Your vehicle's maximum towing capacity.

Your hitch system rating is determined by the weight rating of your hitch, hitch ball, and ball mount. The lowest rating from those parts is your hitch system rating. Your vehicle’s maximum towing capacity should be listed in the vehicle’s owner’s manual. Once you know how much your vehicle can tow, we subtract the empty weight of the trailer to determine how much weight the trailer can hold safely.

(NOTE: this can be different from the trailer’s maximum load depending on your vehicle’s towing capacity and hitch system rating).

What Size U-Haul Trailer Do I Need?

Once you’ve narrowed down which type of trailer will work best for your move and determined your vehicle’s towing capabilities, you should have a good idea of what size trailer you need to rent. Depending on the move you are making, there are a few more things you’ll want to consider before deciding on what size trailer to choose.

Bigger Isn't Always Better

If you're transporting heavy items, renting a larger trailer might seem like a good idea. However, the weight of your cargo can significantly limit how much you can actually load. For instance, if you're moving something like tiles for a home renovation, the individual weight of each tile can quickly add up. To avoid overloading the trailer, it's better to take multiple lighter trips rather than trying to move everything at once with the trailer fully loaded.

When Size Matters More than Weight

On the other hand, if you're transporting a lightweight object like a paper mâché statue, its low weight might make you think a smaller trailer is sufficient. However, the size of the statue could require a larger or open trailer to safely fit its full dimensions. Remember to consider both weight and dimensions when making your decision.

In Conclusion

Remember, when choosing the size of your trailer, you should always think in terms of the cargo you are carrying. Consider the size and shape of the objects you are loading onto the trailer, as they can affect what trailer size and type will best suit your move. Finally, always pay attention to weight of your load. Don’t rely solely on eye-balling how full the trailer appears or if you can squeeze a few more boxes onto it.

Trailering Tips

• Always load your trailer with 60% of the weight in the front half of the trailer closest to your car.
• Don’t forget to secure your load to the trailer with tie-downs. This will prevent the load from shifting in transit.
• Prepare for your towing equipment rental by learning how to load an Auto Transport, Tow Dolly, or Motorcycle Trailer.
• While you can always use your own vehicle to tow a U-Haul trailer, consider adding your trailer onto a moving truck rental for larger moves.