Enclosed vs Utility Trailer

[Boarmaster]

Years ago a buddy and I had an enclosed trailer we used to store our three Atvs. We left it at our hunting lease about 1.5 hrs from home during season. We used it for traveling hunts. It was really too big to be handy. We would have been better off with each of us having our own smaller enclosed trailer. That was my only beef with the enclosed trailer. It was nice to have the storage for gear and a dry place to pull the atvs in. I pretty much have one place
I hunt now and I have a warehouse in the town where the lease is where I keep my atvs and a small cabin on the lease I keep cooking and sleeping gear in. So these days
I only need an open utility trailer to haul my SxS to the cabin from the warehouse in town. If
I started traveling more for hunting I wouldn't hesitate to buy another enclosed trailer. Additionally I would have a place to park the enclosed trailer inside if at all possible.

 

[Regulatorug]

I pulled an open single axle and as much as I could stuff into a sxs to Wyoming last year with my diesel mpg wasn’t great not bad tho this year pulled the same sxs and a little more gear in a tandem enclosed trailer to Arizona… I’m glad we split the fuel bill 3 ways


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Having same debate. Helpful.

 

[112Savage]

I have a 14” enclosed single axle flat front trailer. It doesn’t seem to matter how much weight is in it, I get about 16-17mpg towing it with my 2022 ram ecodiesel. Normally I get 25-30MPG with no trailer. With a utility trailer I get 17-19mpg depending on weight and air resistance of whatever is loaded onto the trailer. I’ve pulled a 27’ travel trailer through West Virginia and got 11mpg. That travel trailer weighs about 7500# and is about as much as I want behind that truck in the mountains.
To the OP’s question most trailers and especially my enclosed trailer is too low to the ground to get much “off road” towing without bottoming out. Also a travel trailer big enough for a RZR and an ATV is going the be a lot behind a 1500 size truck.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

What's the length?

It is a 20' Pace snowmobile trailer. I like the snowmobile version because it sits higher and has more ground clearance than a regular utility model. I take it off road a lot, just go slow and pay attention for rocks & holes.

 

[Blockcaver]

When I ordered my CargoMate 6'x12' enclosed trailer in 2014 one of many options I chose was a higher ground clearance for the Dexter single axle and 15" rims (vs 14"). Under axle clearance doesn't increase much, but the trailer frame sits 4" or 5" higher than standard. CargoMate achieves that using much taller spring shackles. The trailer has about the same clearance as the stock F350 and a tad more than the F150....enough for any logging roads I ever want to pull it on, not dragging on water bars or dips, etc.

However, when the logging road gets rough that is what the RZR was for the past 11 years...or new Honda Pioneer SxS now and Yamaha Grizzly ATV.

 

[Marshfly]

For those of you worried about ground clearance, axle flips are real cheap and easy to do.


All that said, I'm glad I went the long range fat tire E-bike route instead of the ATV or SXS route after reading this whole thing. I can throw that under my topper or an a hitch rack with zero mileage or maneuverability change and I can get anywhere you can with an ATV or SXS and quieter.

 

[PFERN]

It is a 20' Pace snowmobile trailer. I like the snowmobile version because it sits higher and has more ground clearance than a regular utility model. I take it off road a lot, just go slow and pay attention for rocks & holes.

Nice I was leaning towards a 14' as my ideal one to setup and build out for my needs. Thanks for the reply

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Nice I was leaning towards a 14' as my ideal one to setup and build out for my needs. Thanks for the reply

It's really great for me and 1 or 2 of my hunting pards. I keep all my camping gear in it, so not a lot to get ready for a trip. Plenty of room for my sxs, ice chests, water jugs and food storage boxes. I used to put 3 4 wheelers in it before I got the sxs. Still room for a 4wheeler too if I need it.

 

[markhugus]

enclosed

 

[scottbot]

Enclosed is the way to go. We hunted last fall and pulled down a fifth wheel and enclosed trailer. Being able to store stuff out of the snow and keep it dry in the enclosed trailer was so nice.

 

[jeg11010]

I have an open 5x10 that I use for hauling my ATV, dirt bikes, construction materials and other things. Sometimes I wish I went enclosed to keep things secure and protected from the elements but I just couldn't justify the additional cost. I once rented an enclosed uhaul trailer and it felt like I was pulling a wind sail and my fuel economy was terrible. Looking back at it though, I should have gotten the 6x12 or even 7x14 as I'd like to get a SxS some day.