Box trailers for cars: how to choose and buy well
A box trailer where the load must stay dry
You need a box trailer when your load fears rain, dust or prying eyes: food, tools, goods for a market stall, household items when moving, equipment. Compared with an open trailer with a cover, it locks more securely and protects better.
If you carry food, look for an insulated or refrigerated box. For dry loads an ordinary one is enough. For tools, inside fixings and shelves are useful.
What to put in your request
- For which car — make and permitted towing weight.
- Box size — length, width, height, for example 3×1.5×1.5 m.
- Condition — new or used.
- Type of box — ordinary, insulated, with a cooling unit.
- Load capacity — for example up to 1 tonne.
- Number of axles — one or two.
- Doors and fittings — rear door, side door, ramp, lighting, tie-downs.
- Papers — registration certificate.
- City and budget, if you want to state it.
Example: “I need a new two-axle box trailer for a car, insulated, 3×1.5×1.5 m, load capacity up to 1 tonne. With papers for registration. Cape Town, budget up to R 40,000.”
How much your car can tow
First open your car's papers and check the permitted trailer weight with and without brakes. The total weight of the trailer with its load must stay within it. A two-axle box needs a stronger car, and overrun brakes on a trailer may be required depending on its gross weight.
Also check the height and width: the box must not block your view in the rear mirrors.
How to compare offers
- Compare the same internal sizes, not the external ones.
- Walls and floor: what they are insulated with, and whether the floor is moisture-resistant.
- Doors, locks, seals, lighting.
- Papers: the registration papers, and who handles the registration.
For a used box, look especially for roof leaks and the state of the floor. These are the two most common problems.
People often buy a box without checking its size against what they need to carry: a pallet, a bicycle or a tool chest. They also forget ventilation, especially for food. Another mistake is not counting the weight of the box itself: the useful load shrinks quickly if the body is heavy. Do not save on locks and seals, since the safety of your load depends on them. If the box is for food, ask a specialist what rules apply to carrying food, and ask the seller what the inside walls are finished with. For daily work it helps when the box has inside lighting and convenient tie-down points.
How searching works on BlaBlaPrice
Create one request, and makers and sellers answer on their own with price, sizes, timing and photos. The request is checked before it is shown, and you get hints on what to add. The best-fitting offer is shown first, and sellers have reviews next to them. Sellers see their place and can improve their terms. Contacts are opened only to the one you choose. Details are on the “How it works” page.
Other options are car trailers and vending trailers.
