Choosing the Best Snowmobile Trailer

For those who travel with their snowmobiles, a quality trailer is essential for protection and ease of transport. Wintertime transport of snowmobiles can mean extreme driving conditions and plenty of road salt. Before you pack up your sled and hit the road this winter, take some time to compare your options for the best trailer.

An independent insurance agent can also help you get set up with all the snowmobile insurance you need. If you already have snowmobile coverage, they can help you review your policy to ensure there aren't any gaps. But first, here's a guide to choosing the best snowmobile trailer for you.

What to Know When Choosing a Snowmobile Trailer

Before you start looking for the right trailer for your snowmobile, you'll want to determine your needs for it, including how often you'll need to tow your sled and the approximate distance you'll be traveling. Your budget should be determined before you start comparing models and styles. 

Also, be certain of how many snowmobiles you need to tow at once so you can determine whether you'll need a trailer that has a capacity for more than one sled. Trailers that can fit up to four snowmobiles at once are available. You should also be aware of your snowmobile's dimensions, including its length, width, height, and weight. 

Weight capacity is a critical feature to take into account when selecting the right snowmobile trailer. You'll want to consider not only the weight of your sled but also anything you might load into the trailer with it, including snowmobile accessories, tools, equipment, oil, gear, and extra fuel. 

When calculating the weight of your trailer with the snowmobile inside, also consider your existing vehicle and trailer hitch. Trailer hitches are often labeled as Class 1 through 5, depending on the amount of weight that can be hauled. A conservative and safe estimate is that your snowmobile and its accessories will weigh about 600 lbs when the sled is topped off with fuel. 

Types of Snowmobile Trailers 

When shopping for your snowmobile trailer, there are a couple of key aspects to consider, including the materials the trailer is made of and the style of the trailer. Depending on your unique sled and your personal needs, one type of trailer might work better for you than another. Here's how to choose. 

Aluminum vs. Steel Trailers

In recent years, aluminum construction has gained in popularity. Aluminum trailers are generally rust-free and lighter-weight than steel models. 

Steel is stronger and heavier, so a steel trailer may handle rough, cold-weather driving conditions better. Aluminum costs more than steel, but the lighter weight means you’ll get better gas mileage and be able to haul a greater amount of weight before reaching the maximum for your car or truck.

Flatbed vs. Enclosed Trailer

Some trailer models are specifically designed for snowmobiles, while others are utility trailers that can serve more than one function. Open flatbed trailers constructed of aluminum or steel with a plywood base offer a basic way to transport snowmobiles. Tilt trailers allow you to drive the snowmobile up onto the trailer, but take some practice to load. 

Note that in some areas of the country, an enclosed trailer is required for transporting snowmobiles. Although an enclosed trailer is the most expensive option, it provides the best protection for your sled and accessories against the elements, theft, and possible collisions. 

Enclosed trailers also offer extra storage space for fuel, oil, and accessories. One drawback to enclosed trailers is that they can be more difficult to see in your vehicle's mirrors unless you've added special trailer mirrors.

A flatbed trailer can be easy to load, unload, and tow. These trailers are also easiest to see in your vehicle's mirrors and offer better gas mileage when towing your sled. 

However, they don't offer protection for your snowmobile against the elements or theft. If you choose a flatbed trailer, a snowmobile cover is a necessity to protect your sled from road salt and wind damage. Flatbed trailers also don't provide any storage space for accessories, additional fuel, or oil. 

Widebody V-Nose Trailers

Similar to inline snowmobile trailers, wideboy trailers have a V-nose and a deck that spans the full width of the axle. Wideboy V-nose trailers can be the most difficult to tow, so only experienced snowmobile towers should consider this option. These trailers are the heaviest option by far.

Widebody V-nose trailers can be used to haul snowmobiles, ATVs, and UTVs. Their width allows riders to load more than one snowmobile in the trailer side by side and still have room leftover to store accessories, fuel, oil, etc. You can often find widebody V-nose trailers that come with built-in cabinets for additional storage. Even better, some trailers can come with heaters, so you can comfortably hang out inside them.

Be aware that widebody V-nose trailers may be the most prone to swaying in windy conditions while towing your snowmobile. These trailers are also the most prone to rolling in an accident and are the heaviest option, requiring at least a 3/4-ton vehicle to tow them. Widebody V-nose trailers can also be the most expensive snowmobile trailers, so be sure to factor in your budget when shopping. 

Be Prepared for Accidents During Transport

If you have snowmobile coverage and are involved in a collision, damage to the snowmobile will be covered, but damage to the trailer may not be. A car insurance policy will cover liability for the accident, but you’ll need specific coverage for the replacement cost of your trailer. 

Trailer insurance can also cover theft, fire, and property damage resulting from severe weather, such as hail, wind, or lightning. Should an accident occur, make sure to take photos of all vehicles involved and contact your independent insurance agent as soon as possible.

Snowmobile trailers can be expensive to buy, repair, and replace. Often, trailer insurance can be added to your personal auto policy, or a separate policy can be issued. A small amount of coverage for your snowmobile trailer may already be provided by your homeowners insurance or renters insurance, so be sure to review your existing policies. 

Common reasons to file a claim using trailer insurance include theft or accidents. Equipment failure, like a defective hitch, broken tow bar, or axle, may also result in an insurance claim.

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An Independent Insurance Agent Can Help You Cover Your Snowmobile and Trailer

When it's time to purchase protection for the investment you've made in a snowmobile and trailer, no one's better equipped to help than a local independent insurance agent. These agents have access to multiple insurance companies, so they're free to shop and compare quotes and policy options for you to find the best blend of coverage and cost. 

They'll make sure you get matched to the ideal amount of snowmobile insurance and trailer insurance. And down the road, your agent can help you file snowmobile insurance claims and update your coverage as necessary.