Comprehensive Guide to Car Trailers and Connections
Transporting vehicles requires specialized equipment tailored to different needs. From hauling classic cars to managing heavy-duty fleets, understanding the types of car trailers and their connections is crucial. This guide explores the most common car trailer types, their uses, and the power units that pull them, along with the specific types of hitch connections used.
1. Stinger Car Haulers
Description: Stinger car haulers feature a low-mounted fifth-wheel hitch located behind the rear axle of the power unit, allowing for greater maneuverability.
Capacity: Designed for high-volume transport, typically carrying up to 10 vehicles.
Best For: Commercial transport companies handling long-distance, multi-car deliveries.
Advantages:
High efficiency for large-scale operations.
Optimized for highway stability and tight turns.
Power Unit Required: Heavy-duty trucks equipped with stinger hitches.
2. High Mount Car Haulers
Description: These haulers have a fifth-wheel hitch mounted above the rear axle of the truck, providing a higher attachment point compared to stinger haulers.
Capacity: Carries 7-8 vehicles, depending on the configuration.
Best For: Standard vehicle transport for shorter or medium-range routes.
Advantages:
Easier to operate compared to stinger configurations.
Commonly used for regional transport.
Power Unit Required: Conventional trucks with high-mounted fifth wheels.
3. Double-Decker Enclosed Trailers
Description: Fully enclosed trailers with two levels for vehicle storage.
Capacity: Typically carries up to 6 vehicles, depending on size and configuration.
Best For: Luxury, exotic, or classic cars requiring full protection.
Advantages:
Shields vehicles from weather, debris, and theft.
Ideal for high-value vehicles.
Power Unit Required: Heavy-duty trucks with gooseneck or fifth-wheel connections.
4. Single-Deck Enclosed Trailers
Description: Smaller enclosed trailers designed to transport 1-3 cars at a time.
Capacity: One to three cars.
Best For: Classic car collectors and individuals with high-value cars needing expedited transport.
Advantages:
Personal transport: You can book an entire trailer with your own vehicles to ensure they go by themselves and not with other customer’s cars.
Power Unit Required: Pickup trucks with gooseneck or hitch connections.
5. Step Deck Trailers
Description: A flatbed trailer with a lower deck to accommodate taller vehicles or equipment while maintaining clearance under bridges.
Capacity: Varies based on trailer size and load type.
Best For: Oversized vehicles, construction equipment, or tall cars exceeding height restrictions.
Advantages:
Allows for the transport of extra tall loads.
Versatile for non-standard cargo.
Power Unit Required: Heavy-duty trucks with fifth-wheel connections.
6. Lowboy Trailers
Description: Ultra-low flatbed trailers designed to carry heavy or oversized vehicles and machinery.
Capacity: Handles extreme weights, including heavy-duty trucks and equipment.
Best For: Tall and heavy construction vehicle transport.
Advantages:
Extremely stable for heavy loads.
Can accommodate the heaviest vehicles and equipment.
Lowboy trailers are engineered with a unique feature: their decks disconnect near the fifth wheel, allowing for near ground-level loading. This design is crucial for transporting heavy machinery, as the immense weight of these loads would render traditional ramps ineffective. By eliminating the need for elevated ramps, lowboy trailers provide a stable and safe solution for handling oversized and exceptionally heavy equipment.
Power Unit Required: Class-8 trucks
7. Wedge Trailers
Description: Open car trailers with a wedge-shaped design, simplifying vehicle loading and unloading.
Capacity: 2-4 vehicles.
Best For: Small-scale commercial transport or local vehicle shipping.
Advantages:
Lightweight and fuel-efficient.
Affordable and easy to maneuver.
- May not require a CDL depending on the exact weight and length, check your GCWR. (Shipping interstate requires a CDL)
Power Unit Required: Pickup trucks with gooseneck connections.
8. Flatbed Car Haulers
Description: Open flat platforms with wooden or metal decks, used for versatile transport needs, including inoperable or oversized vehicles.
Capacity: Varies based on trailer size.
Best For: Specialty vehicles, farm equipment, or heavy cargo.
Advantages:
Easy loading for non-standard vehicles.
Flexible for various transport scenarios.
Power Unit Required: Pickup trucks or Semis with gooseneck or fifth-wheel connections.
Types of Hitch Connections
1. Gooseneck Hitch
Description: A hitch ball mounted in the bed of a pickup truck, offering greater stability and weight distribution than a pull behind hitch.
Best For: Interchangeable with a fifth wheel but typically used with lighter loads.
Common Trailers: Gooseneck, lowboy, and wedge trailers.
2. Fifth-Wheel Hitch
Description: A plate-style hitch located above or behind the rear axle, commonly used for commercial trailers.
Best For: Every Semi truck uses this system. High-mount and stinger car haulers have different versions but are the same in principle.
Advantages: Superior maneuverability and stability.
3. Hitch Pull-Behind
Description: A standard ball hitch mounted at the rear of a vehicle, suitable for lighter loads.
Best For: Utility trailers and local car transport.
Power Units: Matching Trailers to Vehicles
Heavy-Duty Trucks
Required for stinger, high-mount, and lowboy trailers.
Equipped with advanced hitch systems for heavy loads.
Pickup Trucks
Commonly used for gooseneck, wedge, and 1-3 car enclosed trailers.
Ideal for smaller-scale operations and personal use.
Why Choose Auto Transport Professionals?
At ATP, we specialize in connecting the right equipment and expertise to your vehicle transport needs:
Comprehensive Network: From enclosed trailers to step decks, we have the right trailer for any job.
Expert Drivers: Certified professionals ensure your vehicle is handled with care.
Nationwide Service: Car transport across 48 states.
Honest Car Shipping Quotes: All of our quotes come with a price lock guarantee.
Get Started Today
Whether you need a simple transport solution or specialized equipment, Auto Transport Professionals has you covered. Call us at (888) 222-2065 or use our online car shipping cost tool to find the perfect transport setup for your needs.
