Best Snowmobile Trailer Buying Guide

Having a reliable trailer for your snowmobile significantly enhances your winter outdoor experience. It ensures easy transportation of your snowmobile, providing peace of mind during your travels and more time to enjoy your trip. If you’re an avid snowmobiler, the right trailer can make or break your experience. Whether you're hauling to the Upper Peninsula, heading west for fresh powder, or just getting to your favorite trails nearby, having a reliable snowmobile trailer is essential.

Understanding how to pick the right snowmobile trailer for your needs involves more than just finding something that looks nice and fits your budget; it requires a comprehensive review of your needs, careful consideration of various features, and knowledge of different types of snowmobile hauling solutions. Here's a guide to choosing the best snowmobile trailer for you.

You might be tempted to just throw your snowmobile into a truck bed and go, but you’re going to risk damage to your snow toy. A good quality trailer can get your snowmobile from home to slope in safety, giving you the peace of mind you need. You have the option of renting a trailer, but if you’re a frequent snowmobiler, you can save money in the long run by buying a snowmobile trailer. Snowmobile trailers are the best option, especially if your snow options are far from home.

Snowmobiles are large, expensive machines that require special handling. Not all trailers are built the same. At USA Trailer Sales, we carry one of the largest selections of snowmobile trailers. If you’re searching for the best snowmobile trailers, want to know what to look for before buying, or just need expert advice, USA Trailer Sales is your go-to resource.

Before you pack up your sled and hit the road this winter, take some time to compare your options for the best trailer. An independent insurance agent can also help you get set up with all the snowmobile insurance you need. If you already have snowmobile coverage, they can help you review your policy to ensure there aren't any gaps.

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Determining Your Needs

You must first identify your specific trailer needs before deciding which snowmobile hauler to purchase. Before you start looking for the right trailer for your snowmobile, you'll want to determine your needs for it, including how often you'll need to tow your sled and the approximate distance you'll be traveling. Also, be certain of how many snowmobiles you need to tow at once so you can determine whether you'll need a trailer that has a capacity for more than one sled. Trailers that can fit up to four snowmobiles at once are available.

Start by considering your snowmobile’s size and weight. Its dimensions will directly influence the size of the trailer you will need. Next, reflect on your travel frequency and the usual distance you cover. You may want to invest in a high-quality, durable trailer designed to withstand regular use and varied road conditions if you frequently embark on long-distance journeys with your snowmobile. Lately it seems the search the best places to go snowmobiling has altered travel patterns for snowmobilers who won’t hesitate to spend hours on the road to satisfy their quest for unparalleled snowmobile adventures, rather than just hitting the snowmobile trails in the backyard.

You may have other storage requirements in addition to accommodating your snowmobile. Perhaps you have gear and camping equipment that you would like to store in the trailer. Look for a trailer with ample storage space or compartments for these items. You might want to explore larger trailers with lodging capabilities if you are considering multi-day trips. These types of trailers offer the convenience of accommodation, allowing you to stay close to your snowmobile and gear.

You want to get your snowmobile out onto some sweet powder and take the power up to eleven. But first, you have to get it there and get it there safely. That’s where a good quality snowmobile trailer comes in. We’ve put together this quick guide to help you understand your options to find the best trailer for your snowmobile, so read on to learn more.

Selecting the best snowmobile trailer can be nearly as big a challenge as choosing the best snowmobile since there are tons of options out there. A Triton snowmobile trailer, a Snow Pro snowmobile trailer, an Aluma snowmobile trailer or a Blizzard snowmobile trailer are all popular brand options, but before making your choice, you’ll want to determine the answers to a few questions.

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• How much do you want to spend on a snowmobile trailer?
• What’s your best guess as to how often you’ll be using it, and how far might you be traveling…twice a year to the dealer for maintenance and storage or on trips to the best snowmobile trails in the nation?
• How many sleds will you be carrying, or will a single snowmobile trailer suffice?
• How big a snowmobile trailer do you need in terms of length, width and maximum carry weight capacity to carry your snowmobile(s) safely?

You can ensure you select a snowmobile trailer that will serve you well for years to come by taking the time to understand your needs fully.

Types of Snowmobile Trailers

Two primary categories exist when it comes to snowmobile trailer types: open and enclosed. On a very basic level, the two types of trailers for snowmobiles are enclosed or open models. One of the biggest decisions is whether to go with an open snowmobile trailer or an enclosed snowmobile trailer.

Open Trailers

If you’re looking for a cost-effective option that is easier to tow, consider an open trailer. While often more affordable, open trailers expose your snowmobile to weather elements and road debris, which could potentially cause damage. They also limit the storage capabilities of the trailer. A flatbed trailer can be easy to load, unload, and tow. However, they don't offer protection for your snowmobile against the elements or theft. They can have a tilt design, which allows you to drive your sled on and pull it off, a tilt with ramp off, which allows you to drive on then drive off the front by repositioning the common ramp, or a drive on/drive off design which allows you to drive on and off using ramps on both ends. Since they don’t have walls or a roof, with an open trailer, you’ll likely want to protect your sleds with covers to keep out snow, rain and dirt.

Enclosed Trailers

On the other hand, enclosed trailers offer superior protection from the weather and road debris. Enclosed snowmobile trailers can be had in a range of sizes, depending on how many snowmobiles you need to haul. You can also find a variety of deck heights and widths, allowing you to find just the right fit for your machine. These models also have the benefit of providing secure storage for all your other snow gear that you’ll need on the mountain, including skis, snow boots, coolers, equipment, and whatever else you need to take with you.

Enclosed snowmobile trailers come in various types and lengths, depending on your needs. With an enclosed trailer, which obviously supplies more complete protection, the doors on both ends form the ramps. An enclosed trailer provides you with space for cargo, and also offers you a way to store your vehicle when it’s not in use. Enclosed trailers are heavier and tend to be more expensive. A V-nose design is generally more aerodynamic in use than a flat front design, typically offers more room and can make loading and unloading easier.

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Note that in some areas of the country, an enclosed trailer is required for transporting snowmobiles. Enclosed trailers also offer extra storage space for fuel, oil, and accessories. One drawback to enclosed trailers is that they can be more difficult to see in your vehicle's mirrors unless you've added special trailer mirrors.

Similar to inline snowmobile trailers, wideboy trailers have a V-nose and a deck that spans the full width of the axle. Wideboy V-nose trailers can be the most difficult to tow, so only experienced snowmobile towers should consider this option. These trailers are the heaviest option by far. Widebody V-nose trailers can be used to haul snowmobiles, ATVs, and UTVs. Their width allows riders to load more than one snowmobile in the trailer side by side and still have room leftover to store accessories, fuel, oil, etc. You can often find widebody V-nose trailers that come with built-in cabinets for additional storage. Even better, some trailers can come with heaters, so you can comfortably hang out inside them.

Be aware that widebody V-nose trailers may be the most prone to swaying in windy conditions while towing your snowmobile. These trailers are also the most prone to rolling in an accident and are the heaviest option, requiring at least a 3/4-ton vehicle to tow them.

Custom Trailers

Custom snowmobile trailers present an excellent option if you have specific needs or preferences. With a custom trailer, you can dictate the design and features according to your requirements. Or you can add an after-market enclosure to nearly any open trailer to turn your open snowmobile trailer into an enclosed trailer.

Materials: Steel vs. Aluminum

The two most used materials in the construction of snowmobile trailers are steel and aluminum. When shopping for your snowmobile trailer, there are a couple of key aspects to consider, including the materials the trailer is made of and the style of the trailer. Depending on your unique sled and your personal needs, one type of trailer might work better for you than another.

Steel Trailers

Steel trailers are often less expensive than aluminum; however, they also have numerous drawbacks. Steel, being heavier than aluminum, can increase fuel consumption and put additional strain on the towing vehicle. Moreover, steel is prone to rust and corrosion, especially when exposed to harsh winter conditions. In general, steel trailers are considered more durable and versatile especially if you intend to use your trailer to haul something other than your snowmobiles. They also tend to be a bit cheaper, but they’re heavier, which can decrease your fuel efficiency, and they will require more maintenance, since they have a tendency to rust.

Aluminum Trailers

On the other hand, aluminum trailers boast several benefits that often make them the preferred choice over steel. Despite being lighter in weight than steel, aluminum does not compromise on strength and durability. This lower weight makes aluminum trailers easier to tow and less demanding on your vehicle’s fuel economy. Furthermore, aluminum is resistant to rust and corrosion, making it a highly suitable choice for snowmobile trailers frequently exposed to snowy and icy conditions. Aluminum trailers generally look more polished and aesthetically pleasing than their steel counterparts. In recent years, aluminum construction has gained in popularity. Aluminum costs more than steel, but the lighter weight means you’ll get better gas mileage and be able to haul a greater amount of weight before reaching the maximum for your car or truck. An aluminum snowmobile trailer is lighter and easier to pull, plus aluminum won’t rust and is less vulnerable to weathering and mechanical road chip damage…but it tends to be less durable.

Features and Accessories

Aside from different trailer types and materials, it’s important to find a hauling solution with additional features and accessories when picking the right snowmobile trailer for your needs. Most snowmobile trailers can be fitted with accessories to make your life easier. You can purchase ramps to help you load your machine, or you can buy a tilt trailer that angles downward. You can also buy shelves, cabinets, and other storage to help you organize your gear and make it easier to find.

These standard or add-on attributes not only contribute to the user’s convenience but also ensure the safety and security of the snowmobile during transportation. A solid suspension system and durable aluminum construction form the backbone of a high-quality snowmobile trailer. The suspension system absorbs shock and vibration during transit, ensuring a smoother ride and minimizing the risk of damage to the snowmobile. On the other hand, durable aluminum construction offers the trailer strength and longevity. Aluminum, resistant to rust and corrosion, stands up to harsh weather conditions and requires less maintenance, making it an ideal material for snowmobile trailers.

Several features deserve special mention due to their contribution to the usability and functionality of snowmobile trailers. Multiple spring-assisted ramp doors, for instance, facilitate easy loading and unloading of the snowmobile from different angles. Tie-down chains provide added security by keeping the snowmobile securely in place during transit. Grab handles offer additional safety and convenience during the loading and unloading process.

Essential Features to Look For

• Front and rear ramp doors (commonly known as a drive-on/drive-off setup) make loading and unloading simple.
• Look for trailers with integrated tie-down bars or D-rings. These secure the skis and tracks, preventing movement during travel.
• Make sure the trailer offers enough clearance for taller sleds, especially if you’re buying an enclosed model.
• Some enclosed snowmobile trailers come with roof vents or side vents to prevent condensation and allow airflow.

Snowmobile Trailer Capacity

Each trailer has been constructed to haul a specified number of snowmobiles. Some are suitable for a single snowmobile, and others are designed to carry up to four. For most average riders, a snowmobile trailer that can handle one or two is sufficient, while snowmobile racers may want a larger capacity. Single-sled trailers are typically around 10-12 feet, while 2-place trailers run 12-14 feet. This consideration includes not only sufficient length and width to accommodate your snowmobiles, but also weight. Figuring 600 lbs. per snowmobile should be sufficient to cover not only the sled itself, but also fuel and accessories.

Along with the maximum trailer capacity weight, you’ll want to consider such things as tongue weight (the weight your trailer is exerting on your hitch - your hitch will have a maximum tongue weight), axle rating (the largest influencer on the total load carrying capability of your trailer because regardless of your trailer’s weight rating, you don’t want to exceed the axle weighting rate), and hauling capacity related to your vehicle as determined by the Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR - the maximum weight of the tow vehicle and trailer combination), and the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR - the maximum weight of the tow vehicle and trailer combination, including the weight of the driver, passengers, fuel, and cargo in the tow vehicle).

Snowmobile Trailer Tires

Your snowmobile trailer will likely come with snowmobile trailer tires. But, in the event you buy a used trailer with older tires, or you decide you want to upgrade either with a larger size, a different tread design or radial tires instead of bias ply, or when you just need to get new tires, here are a few things for you to consider.

You may want to install larger tires on your snowmobile trailer, especially if you’ll be traveling longer distances because generally, larger tires have a larger weight rating and provide a smoother ride, plus they dissipate heat better at highway speeds, and are therefore less likely to degrade and blow. You can add larger tires, and larger wheels, as long as you have enough room, from the top of the tire to the fender and from the inside wall of the tire to the trailer wall/frame, to accommodate the larger size.

Bias ply tires can carry more weight for longer periods of time, but they tend to give in to more irregular wear. Radial tires provide a smoother ride and are better suited for highway driving.

In any event, you don’t want to head out on any trip with tires that are worn, or carrying a load that is higher than the carrying capacity of your tires. If you do, you put yourself at risk.

Trailer Insurance

If you have snowmobile coverage and are involved in a collision, damage to the snowmobile will be covered, but damage to the trailer may not be. Trailer insurance can also cover theft, fire, and property damage resulting from severe weather, such as hail, wind, or lightning.

Snowmobile trailers can be expensive to buy, repair, and replace. Common reasons to file a claim using trailer insurance include theft or accidents. Equipment failure, like a defective hitch, broken tow bar, or axle, may also result in an insurance claim.

When it's time to purchase protection for the investment you've made in a snowmobile and trailer, no one's better equipped to help than a local independent insurance agent. They'll make sure you get matched to the ideal amount of snowmobile insurance and trailer insurance.

Safety Tips

• Check weight ratings.
• Distribute weight evenly.
• Use quality tie-downs.
• Watch for icing.
• Maintain your trailer.

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