Box Trailer: Evaluate your options

Your priority at this point in your evaluation is to find the available box trailers in the market that best meet your needs. You can save a lot of time during this activity by quickly eliminating any box trailers that are unsuitable because they don't meet your key requirements. For example, if you have a limited budget for this purchase then you can ignore any box trailers that clearly exceed your price limit.

When you know what you will be using your trailer for, you can choose a trailer of appropriate strength. The most important factor when looking at the strength of your box trailer is its weight capacity. Weight capacities can range from 1000 pounds up to 6000 pounds. Trailers are frequently overloaded and loaded unevenly. The stronger your trailer is, the safer it will be.

Tip: Consider how your box trailer is constructed. Trailers that are bolted together rather than welded can decrease the overall strength of your trailer. When possible, look for a trailer which is welded.

The safety and stability of your trailer should be a priority. Components that contribute to this are wheel and axle alignment, axle placement, and brakes calibration. Most importantly is load distribution and securing your load. Make sure your box trailer has the appropriate number of tie points in the appropriate places for what you plan on carrying.

Tip: If you are not experienced in towing a box trailer, look for a longer drawbar, also called a tongue. The longer your drawbar, the easier it is to manoeuvre, particularly in reverse.

In order to meet regulations and for your own safety and the safety of those around you, it is important to consider lighting options on your trailer. The number of pin plugs determines your number of lighting options. Options can range from simple brake and turn lights, to reverse lights, fog lights and side lights as well.

Tip: Don't forget to practice your reversing techniques. Driving a vehicle with a trailer in reverse can be trickly. It is more intuitive to stay facing forward, using your side-mirrors and keeping your steering hand at the bottom of the steering wheel, rather than the top.

There are dozens of optional accessories for your box trailer. From cooler storage to ramping options, additional accessories can make using your box trailer more convenient and enjoyable.

If you're handy with tools, consider building your own box trailer. There are many resources available to help you with supply lists and construction. Building your own box trailer can ensure that you end up with a product that meets your requirements regarding safety, size and aesthetics.

Tip: For increased box trailer stability, 10-15% of the trailer weight should rest on the hitch.

The tires and springs of the box trailer absorb most of the shock from driving. Consider higher quality springs and tires when purchasing or building your box trailer. For box trailers with one axle, purchase one pair of quality springs. If your box trailer has two axles, purchase two pairs. Depending on the trailer, the tires can be absorbing more shock than the springs, so make sure your tires, including the spare are always in good condition.

When you were considering your requirements in a box trailer it's likely that you singled out certain factors such as trailer size, carrying capacity, suspension type and cost as being of major significance. As with so many other products, the more features offered, the higher the price. Buyz123 has created a checklist containing examples of major features; you can work from this checklist when evaluating how well various box trailers meet your personal needs:

Features Checklist

Towing Purposes

Car
Truck
Motorcycle
ATV
Tradesman - supplies
General household use - rubbish removal, moving home, etc

Size

5 x 4 ft.
6 x 4 ft.
7 x 4 ft.
7 x 5 ft.
8 x 5 ft.
10 x 6 ft.

Trailer Weight Capacity

770 pounds (350 kg) to 6600 pounds (3000 kg)

Material

ABS high-impact steel
Fibreglass
Wood
Aluminium

Tires

12 to16 inch
Wheel bearings
Spare tire
Spare tire mounting - underside of trailer, front of trailer

Drawbar (Tongue)

1.3 to 1.5 meters
quick-release hitch
the longer the drawbar or tongue, the easier to manoeuvre in reverse
safety chain

Pin Plug - lighting features

5 pin to12 pin
Trailer light options - stop, tail, left hand turn, right hand turn, brakes, earth, clearance, reverse, side markers, auxiliaries, rear fog lamp, battery supply indicators
Trailer light quality - waterproof, vibration proof, shockproof, rustproof, light output, power consumption, stainless steel nuts and bolts

Types of Springs

leaf slipper springs
double eye springs
open eye slipper springs
hook end slipper springs
flat end slipper springs
rubber torsion suspensions
coil spring
latitude leaf spring

Axle

square vs. round
39 to 65 round
40 to 50 square
load-distributing hitches

Additional Features

Cooler storage in front of or on the side of box trailer
Dual-end opening
Racks
Drop-down tailgate
Interior shelving and storage systems
Safety chain
Off-road capabilities
Mesh cage
Exterior toolbox
Enclosures - solid enclosures or see-through enclosure, like mesh
Shock absorbers
Tie-points
Ramps

Customer Care

Assembly manuals, user manuals, online .pdf files

Accessories

trailer lock, spare tire, tire-changing and tire-maintenance tools and supplies
Convert your box trailer - into a bike trailer with bike tracks, into a camper with a camper top.

There are a lot of features listed here, and some of them may not be relevant to your particular requirements. So, work your way through the list and assess how each of these features impact on your box trailer needs. You can then create a personalized checklist of the features you really require in a box trailer.

Once you have finished evaluating the box trailers available for sale in the light of your personal needs and arrived at a short-list of 'possibles' you are ready to progress to the next stage. This involves comparing the box trailers one-on-one in order to find those that really stand out.

Evaluate how well a Box Trailer compares with competing Box Trailers

Comparing the items on your interim short-list, one to another, is an important part of the purchasing process - we all want to buy the best product we possibly can. So once you have established a short-list of box trailers that meet your needs it is time to evaluate how well they compare in fine detail. This way you can assemble a select list of box trailers that stand out from the crowd.

Questions to ask yourself:

Which box trailer on my short-list is the best value for money?
Which of these box trailers has everything I need?
Which of my short-listed box trailers has the best warranty?
Which box trailer is the easiest to tow?
Which of the box trailers seems of the highest quality?
Which box trailer do I like best?

By answering these simple questions, you are actually eliminating box trailers that aren't absolutely right for you. This is an excellent time - if you haven't done so already - to evaluate how well your short-listed products measure up in the following areas: Physical Quality, Warranty Conditions and Accessories & Extras.

Physical Quality

Regardless of the method you use when purchasing the box trailer, you need to find an opportunity to examine the product to evaluate how well it is made, and to check that it is truly suitable for you and your purpose. This is the time to examine the quality of the materials, and how well the box trailer is put together. Check the assembly - is the box trailer solidly constructed? It's also important to examine the box trailer from the perspective of ease of use. How easily is the box trailer prepared for cleaning and maintenance? Are the controls easy to use? Make sure the box trailer fits easily to your vehicle and that it is user-friendly - some box trailers look great at the sale yard, but unexpected problems will show up when you finally get your hands on them.

Physical Inspection Checklist:

Materials - quality, appearance
Assembly - all parts held together securely, good quality fittings
Solidly constructed - stable, no loose components
Proper fit of removable parts - easy to remove and replace, fit snugly
Controls - visible, easy to use, accessible, clearly labelled
Size - appropriate for surroundings and purpose - fits user correctly
Appearance - well finished, appropriate color, neat fittings etc
Easy and comfortable to use

Warranty Conditions

Similar products may be available with significantly different terms and conditions, and you want to get the best deal you can. Parts and labor are often covered under separate warranties, for different time periods; sometimes there can be a significant difference in the warranty offered with one model compared to that offered with the next model up. It is particularly important to investigate any conditions that might void a warranty, such as if you use your trailer to carry articles over weights above those recommended.

Warranty Checklist:

Duration - check the specifics
Parts, Labour, Mechanical, Electrical
Exactly what is covered
Exactly what is excluded
Conditions or actions that may void the warranty

Accessories, Extras and Consumables

When evaluating similar products, it is a good idea to include accessories in your assessment. You need to be clear about exactly what accessories are necessary to run the product to its full capacity, and whether these are included with the purchase. What other extras are required - do you need a mesh cage to keep items secure in the trailer, for instance? What about a service plan? It's also important to consider consumables, such as tires - some products have higher associated costs than others.

Accessories Checklist:

Accessories - included or extra cost?
Compatibility issues - will it work with your existing products?
Registration - what are the time frames and costs?
Consumables - how often and how much?
Contracts or Service Plans - conditions, penalties, costs
What else will you need to fully utilize this product?

Once you've worked through the Evaluation step you will have a final short-list of box trailers that meet your needs and stand out from competing products on the market. It's time then to move on to the third and final step: Purchase.

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