What’s good everybody!
Just last month I had to move my zero turn mower to my other property and had no clue what I was doing. So I figured I’d drop some knowledge for anybody out there who might be in the same boat.
Now look, I ain’t no expert or nothing, but I done made all the mistakes so you don’t have to. So let’s get into it!
Types of Trailers Available for Rent
Alright so check it. There’s all kinds of trailers you can rent depending on what you tryna move. Let me break it down for you.
Utility trailers
These right here are your basic workhorses. Come in different sizes like 5×8, 5×10, 6×12. I used a 5×8 from Home Depot when I was moving my zero turn. Cost me about $35 for four hours which ain’t bad if you ask me.
Most places got an open bed with rails option or just flat open bed. Perfect for moving lawn equipment, furniture, or whatever you need to haul that’s not too heavy.
Enclosed cargo trailers
Now if you got stuff that you don’t want getting wet or dirty, these enclosed joints are what you need. They keep everything protected from rain and road dust. Little more expensive though, running like $55-80 per day depending on the size.
Good for moving electronics, household stuff, or anything that needs to stay clean.
Flatbed trailers
These big boys are for heavy loads. Ain’t got no sides so you can load stuff from any angle. Pretty much what construction crews use for moving equipment. They usually start at about 16 feet long and can handle up to 10,000 pounds of weight.
Rental places charge around $65-100 per day for these.
Car haulers
Like the name says, these are made specifically for moving vehicles. They got built-in ramps and tie-down spots to keep your ride secure. And they usually have brakes too since they carrying so much weight.
Expect to pay about $90-120 per day for one of these. Man, I wish I knew about these when I was trying to get my project car home last year!
Specialty trailers
These are your odd ones for specific jobs. Like dump trailers that can tilt to unload gravel or dirt. Or motorcycle trailers that are smaller and designed just for bikes. Prices all over the place depending on what you need.
Travel trailers
Now this ain’t exactly what most folks think about when they talk about renting a trailer, but you can rent these too! From little teardrop campers to full-on RVs. Prices start at like $80 a day for small ones and go up to $250+ for the fancy ones.
My cousin rented one for a weekend trip last summer, said it was worth every penny.
Factors to Consider Before Renting a Trailer
Listen up, this part is mad important. You can’t just grab any trailer and hit the road. It’s seriously important to read if you’re want to really hire Renting the right type of trailer. There’s stuff you gotta know first.
Assess Your Vehicle’s Towing Capacity
Real talk, this is where a lot of people mess up. Every vehicle has a limit to how much it can pull. You can find it in your car manual or on a sticker inside the driver door. My F-150 can handle about 7,500 pounds, but my wife’s SUV only does like 3,500.
A guy at the rental place told me they had someone try to tow a full-size camper with a Honda Civic once. Didn’t end well. According to AAA, about 1 in 7 accidents on highways involve improper towing. Don’t be that statistic!
Purpose and weight of the load
You gotta think about what you moving and how heavy it is. My zero turn weighs about 800 pounds, plus I brought my push mower too which is another 100 or so.
Here’s a quick breakdown of what different stuff weighs:
- Average couch: 150-350 pounds
- Queen mattress: 120-160 pounds
- Refrigerator: 250-400 pounds
- Riding lawn mower: 500-900 pounds
- Small car: 2,500-3,500 pounds
Add it all up before you pick your trailer size.
Ensure Proper Equipment and Connections
Yo this was my biggest learning curve. I had no idea I needed to buy a hitch with a 2-inch ball for the trailer I was renting. Lucky they had them for sale right there at Home Depot.
You need to make sure you got:
- Right size hitch and ball (usually 1 7/8″, 2″, or 2 5/16″)
- Proper wiring connection for brake lights and turn signals
- Safety chains
- Maybe trailer brakes depending on the weight
Most trailers use a standard 4-pin or 7-pin connector for the lights. If your vehicle don’t have the right connection, you might need an adapter. They sell those at auto parts stores for like $15-30.
Conduct Pre-Trip Inspections
Always check everything before you leave the rental spot. I learned this when I got halfway home and realized one of the trailer lights wasn’t working right.
Make sure you check:
- Tire pressure on all trailer tires
- All lights work (brake, turn, running)
- Safety chains connected properly
- Hitch locked in place
- Load secured with straps or rope
Take pictures of any damage you see before you leave too. That way they can’t say you did it when you bring it back.
Communicate with the Rental Provider
Ask questions! Don’t be like me trying to figure everything out on the fly. The people working at these places know their stuff and can help you pick the right trailer.
Some good questions to ask:
- Do I need any extra equipment?
- How much does this trailer weigh empty?
- What’s the maximum load it can carry?
- Any tips for loading and unloading?
Check Local and state towing laws
Did you know different states got different rules for towing? Some require safety chains, some need special mirrors, and some got speed limits just for vehicles pulling trailers.
In California, you can’t go over 55 mph when towing. In Texas, you need a special license if your trailer weighs over 10,000 pounds. Google your state’s rules before you head out.
Duration and distance of your trip
Think about how far you going and how long you need the trailer. Most places rent by the hour, day, or week. If you only need it for a few hours like I did, the hourly rate might be best. But if you need it for a whole weekend, daily might be cheaper.
Also gas mileage goes way down when you towing. My truck usually gets about 18 mpg, but pulling that trailer it dropped to like 12. That adds up on a long trip!
Where to Rent a Trailer
You got options when it comes to finding a trailer to rent.
U-Haul is probably the biggest name. They got locations everywhere and decent prices. Their 5×8 utility trailer runs about $30-40 per day plus mileage in most places.
Home Depot and Lowes both rent trailers too. That’s where I got mine from. Prices pretty similar to U-Haul but sometimes they do flat rates with no mileage charges.
Then you got local rental yards. These can be hit or miss on price, but sometimes they got better equipment or more options. Worth checking out.
Penske and Budget mostly do moving trucks but some locations have trailers too.
And now there’s apps like Turo but for trailers. I forget what they called but you can rent from regular people in your area. Sometimes cheaper but you dealing with individuals not companies.
When You Returning the Trailer
Bringing that thing back right is just as important as picking it up right.
Clean it up before you return it. They gonna charge you if you leave it dirty. I had to sweep out all the grass clippings from my trailer before I took it back.
Fill up the gas tank if that was part of the deal. Same as with rental cars.
Do another walk around and take pictures of the condition when you drop it off. Just to be safe.
Make sure you return it on time. Most places charge a whole extra day if you even 30 minutes late. I almost got caught with this but managed to get there with 10 minutes to spare.
Get a receipt showing you returned it and that there was no damage. Keep that for at least a month in case any issues come up.
Safety Tips Before You Tow
Safety first, always! Towing ain’t like regular driving.
Take wide turns. That trailer needs more room than your vehicle does. I almost clipped a mailbox my first time out because I turned too tight.
Drive slower than normal. Most experts say stay 5-10 mph under the speed limit when towing.
Leave extra stopping distance. It takes longer to stop with all that extra weight behind you. Like way longer than you think.
Check your mirrors often. Gotta keep an eye on that trailer, make sure it’s tracking right.
Practice backing up in an empty parking lot before you hit the road. Backing up with a trailer is backwards from what your brain expects. Turn the wheel right, trailer goes left. Take some getting used to.
Watch the weather forecast. Towing in high winds or heavy rain is no joke. About 14% of trailer accidents happen during bad weather according to some insurance report I read.
Conclusion
So there you have it! Everything I wish somebody told me before I rented my first trailer. Would’ve saved me a lot of headaches and confusion for sure.
Main things to remember:
- Make sure your vehicle can handle the weight
- Get the right equipment before you leave
- Double check all connections
- Drive careful, it ain’t the same as regular driving
- Return it clean and on time
Hope this helps somebody out there! Drop a comment if you got any questions or if I missed anything important. I’ll try to help based on what I learned through my own mistakes.
