Car Carrier Trailers For Sale in Canada

About Car Carrier Semitrailers

Car carrier semitrailers are a common sight on roads all across North America. They are capable of transporting as many as 12 cars at a time, but most commercial vehicle transporters limit their loads to nine or fewer vehicles in order to stay within legal weight limits.

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Cottrell CX-5308LS Highmount Nextgen Car Hauler

Most car carrier semitrailers use a standard fifth-wheel hitch, although you will occasionally find one with a gooseneck hitch. Either way, these trailers are often equipped with one or more hydraulic ramps to load vehicles onto the trailer and to move them to the upper deck. Some trailers’ individual loading positions can be tilted and lifted independently for easier loading and unloading, and in some cases a car carrier is equipped with winches for loading inoperable vehicles.

Open vs. Enclosed Car Haulers

As a general rule, car carrier semitrailers fall into one of two subtypes: open (aka “frame body”) and enclosed. Each has pros and cons.

The majority of car haulers on the road today are open car carriers because they cost less and can often transport more vehicles due to design flexibility and a lower overall weight. Most frame body car carriers have a double-decker arrangement and adjustable loading positions that allow them to carry a variety of vehicle types. Cottrell’s EZ-5307, for example, comes with aluminum decking, loading skids, ladders, and more for a lower overall weight.

Because they are not enclosed, however, open car carriers leave their cargo exposed to the elements during transportation, which may be less than ideal when hauling rare and very expensive vehicles.

Enclosed car carrier semitrailers come with standard rigid sides or curtain sides, and typically hold fewer vehicles than their frame body counterparts, although there are two-level models like Cottrell’s C-9ENC that can hold as many as nine vehicles, depending on size and weight. These trailers provide a greater degree of protection from the elements and road debris than an open trailer can, helping to ensure that their precious cargo remains clean and undamaged during transportation.

Choose The Right Car Hauler Semitrailer

Once you’ve established how many vehicles you’ll need to haul per trip on average and what level of protection they will require, browse the for-sale listings on MarketBook.ca to review what top manufacturers such as Cottrell, Kaufman Trailers, Kentucky Trailer, Sun Country, Wally-Mo, and others have to offer.