What can you put in a utility trailer?

A utility trailer is a versatile and useful tool for hauling a variety of items. With an open bed design, utility trailers allow you to easily load and transport larger items that may not fit in the back of a truck or van. But what exactly can you legally and safely put in a utility trailer? Here is an overview of the common items that utility trailers are designed to haul.

Lawn and Garden Supplies

One of the most popular uses for a utility trailer is transporting lawn and garden supplies. Items like:

• Mulch, soil, gravel, and compost
• Plants, trees, and shrubs
• Mowers, tillers, and other landscaping equipment
• Fertilizers, pesticides, and gardening tools

Utility trailers provide an easy way to get bulk quantities of soil, mulch, gravel, and other landscaping materials from the store to your property. They are also handy for hauling yard waste like branches, leaves, and grass clippings to the dump or compost pile. Just be sure not to overload the trailer with extremely heavy materials like dirt, rock, or sod.

Construction and Home Improvement Supplies

In addition to lawn and garden supplies, utility trailers work great for DIY and construction materials such as:

• Lumber, plywood, drywall, and paneling
• Windows, doors, and roofing materials
• Concrete, bricks, and masonry products
• Plumbing supplies and PVC piping
• Electrical and lighting fixtures
• Paint, stains, caulking, insulation, and other finishing materials
• Power tools like saws, drills, sanders, and compressors

For big home renovation projects, a utility trailer may be the only way to get large, heavy materials to your house. Just distribute the weight evenly and tie down the load securely.

Furniture and Appliances

Large furniture items and major appliances won’t fit in most vehicles, so a utility trailer is ideal for transporting:

• Couches, beds, dressers, tables, and other furniture
• Refrigerators, dishwashers, washers, dryers, and stoves
• Entertainment centers, cabinets, shelves, and hutches
• Mattresses and box springs

This allows you to bring home large purchases from the furniture or appliance store. A utility trailer also comes in handy when moving furniture and bulky items to a new home.

Outdoor Recreational Gear

For hunting, camping, fishing, boating, and other outdoor hobbies, a utility trailer provides a way to transport:

• ATVs, motorcycles, and snowmobiles
• Canoes, kayaks, jon boats, and other small watercraft
• Bicycles and electric bikes
• Tents, campers, travel trailers, and mobile homes
• Coolers, grills, and cooking equipment

You can even use a utility trailer to haul firewood, hunting stands, and other gear to your campsite or cabin in the woods. Just be sure to properly secure top-heavy loads.

Yard Debris and Waste

For cleaning up your property, utility trailers allow you to remove and dispose of:

• Fallen tree branches and storm debris
• Old furniture, mattresses, and other bulky garbage
• Appliances, hot water heaters, and scrap metal
• Yard waste like leaves, grass, brush, and tree trimmings

Regular pickup trucks often don’t have enough cargo space for huge amounts of waste and debris. So a utility trailer provides inexpensive extra hauling capacity.

Vehicles and Machinery

With the right trailer and towing setup, you can transport smaller vehicles and machinery like:

• Riding lawn mowers, tractors, and golf carts
• Jet skis, snowmobiles, quad bikes, and other recreational vehicles
• Motorcycles and light construction equipment

This allows you to move them between storage, work sites, racetracks, boat launches, and other locations. Professional auto hauling trailers are best for towing cars and trucks over long distances.

Business and Commercial Goods

For entrepreneurs and small business owners, utility trailers are useful for transporting:

• Inventory, merchandise, and products
• Display booths, signage, and marketing materials
• Office furniture and equipment
• Tools, machinery, and work vehicles

They provide an affordable way for mobile vendors, contractors, caterers, artists, and other businesses to haul equipment and supplies to events, work sites, and shows.

Animals and Livestock

For farmers, ranches, stables, and animal owners, utility trailers allow you to move:

• Horses, cattle, pigs, sheep, and other livestock
• Chicken coops and small animal cages
• Hay, feed, fencing, and other farm supplies
• Horse tack, grooming equipment, and saddles

Trailers designed specifically for hauling livestock often have built-in compartments and tie downs for transporting large animals safely and securely.

Common Utility Trailer Capacities and Dimensions

Utility trailers come in a range of sizes, capacities, and configurations to handle different types of loads. Here are some of the most common utility trailer capacities:

Utility Trailer Size	Bed Length	Inside Width	Inside Height	Maximum Capacity
4 x 8	8 feet	4 feet	2-3 feet	Up to 3,000 lbs
5 x 8	8 feet	5 feet	2-3 feet	Up to 4,000 lbs
5 x 10	10 feet	5 feet	2-3 feet	Up to 5,000 lbs
6 x 10	10 feet	6 feet	2-3 feet	Up to 6,000 lbs
6 x 12	12 feet	6 feet	2-3 feet	Up to 7,000 lbs
7 x 14	14 feet	7 feet	3-4 feet	Up to 10,000 lbs

Small 4×8 and 5×8 trailers are best for light loads like lawn supplies, household goods, and small furniture. Larger 5×10, 6×10, and 6×12 trailers allow you to haul bulkier items like construction materials, appliances, and outdoor gear. For especially heavy loads, oversized 7×14 utility trailers provide extra capacity.

Utility Trailer Weight Distribution

When loading a utility trailer, it’s important to distribute the weight evenly for safe hauling. Follow these guidelines:

• Center heavy items over the trailer axles, not at the front or rear.
• Secure the load so it does not shift during transport.
• Make sure the trailer tongue/hitch carries 10-15% of total weight.
• Balance the load side-to-side to prevent fishtailing.
• Do not exceed the trailer or hitch gross weight ratings.

You should also factor in the tongue weight, which is the downward pressure exerted on the hitch. Too much tongue weight can compromise steering and handling. Use a tongue jack to adjust weight distribution as needed.

Driving Safely with a Loaded Utility Trailer

Towing a loaded utility trailer requires extra care and preparation:

• Inspect lights, tires, hitch, chains, ramps, and brakes.
• Check side and rear view mirrors to ensure good visibility.
• Allow extra distance for stopping with added weight.
• Go slow on turns and watch for trailer sway.
• Use lower gears for climbing hills.
• Check tie-downs regularly during transport.
• Make wide turns to avoid jackknifing.

You should also check the trailer and vehicle owner’s manuals for maximum towing capacity, hitch load limits, suggested speed, and other guidelines.

Conclusion

Utility trailers allow you to haul a wide variety of items, from lawn equipment to furniture, construction materials to recreational gear. When loading a trailer, be sure to distribute weight evenly and tie loads down securely. Follow safe driving practices like allowing extra stopping distance. Within weight and dimension limits, utility trailers provide an extremely useful and affordable way to transport larger cargos.