Best Trailer for Hauling ATVs and UTVs
Whether you run one four-wheeler or a pair of side-by-sides, the right enclosed trailer keeps your machines safe, dry, and locked up. Here is how to spec it.
April 16, 2026 · 7 min read
Hauling your ATV or UTV in an open trailer works until the first rainstorm, the first rock chip, or the first time somebody helps themselves to your machine in a hotel parking lot. An enclosed cargo trailer solves all of that. It keeps the mud and weather off, locks your gear out of sight, and doubles as a dry place to wrench when you are off the grid. At Outlaw Supercenter in Douglas, Georgia, we set up riders and hunters with the right rig every week. Here is how to get it right.
Width matters more than length
The single most important number for hauling a side-by-side is width. A lot of full-size UTVs measure 62 to 65 inches wide, and once you add mirrors and account for tie-down room, a 7-wide trailer gets tight fast. For most side-by-sides, go 8.5-wide. That extra room means you can walk around the machine, open the doors, and strap it down without skinning your knuckles.
For a single ATV or a couple of four-wheelers, a 7-wide will usually do the job just fine. But if there is any chance you will haul a side-by-side down the road, spend the money on the 8.5-wide now and never think about it again.
How much length do you need?
- One ATV or one short side-by-side: 8.5-wide by 12 or 14-foot
- One full-size UTV with gear and coolers: 8.5-wide by 16-foot
- Two side-by-sides nose to tail: 8.5-wide by 20 or 24-foot
- A UTV plus a workbench and tool storage: 8.5-wide by 18-foot
Always leave a few extra feet beyond the machine itself. You need room for a spare, a cooler, fuel cans, and the tie-down angle. A trailer packed wall to wall is a trailer you hate loading.
Go tandem axle, every time
A loaded UTV is heavy, and two of them plus gear is a lot of weight. A tandem axle trailer carries that load safely, tows steady at highway speed, and gives you a spare axle of braking. It also holds the road better if you blow a tire. For anything hauling powersports, single axle is the wrong call. Spec the tandem.
The ramp door is not optional
You are driving machines in and out, so you need a rear ramp door, not barn doors. Ask for a heavy-duty ramp with a spring assist so it is not a wrestling match every time. A few upgrades make loading way easier and safer:
- 1A reinforced ramp door rated for the weight of your machines
- 2A beavertail or extended ramp angle so low side-by-sides do not scrape
- 3Ramp flap or transition plate to smooth the load edge
- 4A side man-door so you can get in and out without dropping the ramp every time
That side door is one of the most requested options for a reason. When your UTV is strapped down filling the whole floor, the man-door is the only way in and out.
Tie it down right
Loose machines destroy trailers and get people hurt. The best system is E-track or L-track running down the floor and up the walls so you can anchor at the natural strap points on your ATV or UTV. E-track lets you move your anchor points to fit any machine, which beats fixed D-rings that never land where you need them.
A side-by-side that shifts six inches on the highway can crack a wall or snap a strap. Anchor to E-track at four points and it will not move an inch.
Upgrades worth the money
Once you have the size, axle, ramp, and tie-downs handled, a few extras turn a hauler into a base camp:
- Interior LED lights so you can load and wrench after dark
- Roof vents to pull heat and fumes out when machines are warm
- An upgraded floor that shrugs off mud and dropped tools
- Extra ground clearance or a spare tire mount for backroad trips
- A Poly-Cor color and finish that matches your truck and rides clean
Lock it up and roll
The whole point of going enclosed is security and weather protection. Add a good hitch lock and door locks, and your machines are out of sight and hard to touch. Nobody window-shops a locked box the way they eyeball an open trailer at a rest stop.
We stock over 200 trailers and finance all credit types, so we can put you in the right ATV or UTV hauler no matter what you ride. Stop by our Douglas, GA lot or call (800) 281-5084 and we will measure your machines and spec a trailer that loads easy and hauls safe.
Frequently Asked
What width trailer do I need for a side-by-side?+
Most full-size UTVs run 62 to 65 inches wide, so go with an 8.5-wide trailer. It gives you room to walk around the machine and strap it down. A 7-wide only makes sense for a single ATV or narrow four-wheeler.
Do I need a ramp door or barn doors for an ATV trailer?+
You need a rear ramp door since you are driving the machines in and out. Add a spring-assist ramp and a side man-door so you can get in and out when the machine fills the floor.
Single or tandem axle for hauling UTVs?+
Always tandem axle. A loaded UTV, or two of them plus gear, is heavy. A tandem tows steadier, brakes better, and is far safer if you lose a tire on the highway.
What is the best way to tie down an ATV or UTV inside a trailer?+
Use E-track or L-track along the floor and walls so you can anchor at your machine's natural strap points. It beats fixed D-rings because you can move the anchors to fit any ATV or UTV.
What size trailer holds two side-by-sides?+
An 8.5-wide by 20 or 24-foot tandem axle will hold two side-by-sides nose to tail with room for gear. Come by Outlaw Supercenter and we will match the length to your machines.
Ready to roll?
200+ trailers in stock in Douglas, GA. Financing for all credit types.
