Buying your first trailer can be confusing, but if you understand some of the acronyms and lingo used by your local trailer dealer, it can be a bit less stressful. In this post, we are going to go over a few terms you might hear and what they mean.
Trailer Types
Enclosed Trailer - Any trailer with an enclosed roof and sides, often with a rear ramp door or 2 rear barn doors and typically one small side exit door.
Open Trailer - Any trailer without supporting structures, walls, roof, etc.
Dump Trailer - A trailer with a hydraulic dump system. Typically meant to haul dirt, debris, and various other materials.
Flat Bed / Deckover Trailer - A trailer that's surface extends over/above the wheelbase. This allows it to use maximum available width allowed on the road.
Car Hauler - A trailer that hauls other vehicles. Can be enclosed or open.
Landscape Trailer - A trailer for hauling landscape equipment, typically similar to an open utility trailer.
Hitch Types
Bumper Pull - Trailer that connects to a ball hitch that's attached to the tow vehicle's frame or bumper. Also called "tag along".
Tag along - Trailer that connects to a ball hitch that is attached to the tow vehicle's frame or bumper. Also called "bumper pull".
Gooseneck - Trailer with hitch that attaches to a ball in bed of a pickup or semi-truck.
Pintle Hitch - A pintle hitch is a type of tow hitch that uses a ring-to-hook or ball configuration for a more secure mount that's ideal for rougher terrain.
Axles
Single Axle - Only one axle/set of wheels.
Tandem Axle - Two axles with a single set of wheels (2 wheels total per axle), which increases hauling capacity and stability.
Dual Tandem Axle - Two axles with two sets of wheels (4 wheels total per axle), which greatly increases hauling capacity and stability. Often found on higher GVWR trailers (22K+) and/or Gooseneck trailers.
Weight Ratings
GVWR - Abbreviation for Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, this is the maximum loaded weight of your trailer or vehicle, including its own weight. GVWR includes the weight of your trailer, so a 10K GVWR trailer that weighs 3K has a payload of 7K.
GAWR - Abbreviation for Gross Axle Weight Rating, this is maximum weight that can be loaded on any of your trailer axles.
Tongue Weight - The downforce/weight from the tongue of the trailer to the hitch of your towing vehicle.
Parts and Features
Rock Guard - Metal/aluminum tread plating on the front of most of our enclosed trailers. This protects the exterior of your trailer from rocks, dirt, and debris.
ATP - Aluminum Tread Plating
STP - Steel Tread Plating
V-Nose - A common description for the front end of an enclosed trailer. Unlike traditional flat front trailers, the v-nose is as the name implies, it comes to "V" at the front of the trailer for aerodynamic purposes to better "cut" through the air as it is towed down the road. An additional benefit is a fact that you get a couple of extra square feet of space inside the nose of the trailer.
Side Rails - Typically seen on open utility trailers to contain cargo.
Dove Tail - Slight incline at rear of some utility and equipment trailers
Curb Side - The passenger side of your trailer in the US.
Street Side - The driver's side of your trailer in the US.
Any of these come up while you are shopping, just ask. You can see all of these types side by side in our trailer inventory.
Still not sure what the terms mean when you are standing on the lot?
Call us, stop by either lot, or fill out the financing request just below and we will get right back to you.
About the Author
