Enclosed Trailer Buying Guide 2026: Pick the Right Size, Budget and Features

Enclosed trailers are highly versatile, and provide protection to goods and items being carried in all types of weather and road conditions. They are ideal for anyone who regularly uses and transports valuable equipment, either for work or recreation, and they prevent loads being shed while on the road or stock and gear being stolen when on site.

The interior of a fully enclosed trailer can also be customised to better suit your equipment needs, and they are easy to load, making them the ideal trailer for transporting furniture, machinery and vehicles so they arrive in good condition. An enclosed trailer can also act as a mobile billboard for your business when you add your logo and contact details to the sides and tailgate.

There are a wide variety of enclosed trailers on the market today, so this guide has been designed to help you choose the size and style of trailer that will best meet your transport needs. It will also help you to ensure that any enclosed trailer you're considering is right for your towing vehicle, the different sizes of trailers available, and the features you can expect to find.

Trailer Buyer’s Checklist: What to check before you buy

The road, climate and towing conditions in Australia mean that enclosed trailers need to be durable, well constructed, provide long operating life and deliver value for money. Following are some of the key trailer features you need to check out before you buy.

ATM and towing capacity

It's important to understand the weight and towing capacity of any enclosed trailer you're considering. Make sure you understand the trailer's ATM (Aggregate Trailer Mass), GTM (Gross Trailer Mass) and the size and weight of load you can actually load and tow. These are important to know for both safety and legal reasons, as is ensuring that the trailer ATM is within your vehicle's towing capacity.

Axles, suspension and brakes

As enclosed trailers are often used for transporting substantial loads, it's essential that axles can both bear the weight of the goods on board and provide stability on the road. Likewise, the suspension needs to be suitable for the variety of road and worksite conditions encountered in Australia, with slipper springs or eye-to-eye suspension providing the best option (specialist off-road eye-to-eye suspension is available if you regularly tow on rough terrain).

Mechanical disc brakes and calipers are generally suitable for lighter enclosed trailers, but with larger, heavier models it's important to have the right braking capacity. Upgrades to front axle electric brakes, hydraulic brakes and Bluetooth Elecbrake units with remote control are available on trailers with 2,000+ kg ATM.

Trailer build quality

When you're considering the build quality of an enclosed trailer, there are a number of things to look out for before you buy. It's important that the chassis is constructed from strong, durable steel (ideally Australian made), there is sufficient cross-bracing to be able to handle heavier loads, and that the thickness of the floor and body panels are going to be sufficiently durable for your needs. Look at the weld quality too, keeping an eye out for any gaps, undercuts or weld spatter.

To ensure the trailer is able to withstand Australian road and weather conditions, the way the chassis, frame and body have been finished off matters. It should be fully etched primed before painting to ensure that the paint layer is able to adhere to steel and provide the long-lasting protection against the elements you require.

Doors and ramps

You should also check out how the rear door ramp has been constructed. Look at how easy it is to open and close and how many hinges there are, as this improves the stability when loading and unloading. It's also important to see whether the rear door ramp can be safely opened and closed by one person — a helper spring is a useful addition in this regard.

Make sure you look at the latches as well, and how much security they will provide when you're on the road. It also pays to see whether there is a top lip where the ramp meets the body, in order to prevent water getting in.

Choosing the right size of fully enclosed trailer

When looking at fully enclosed trailers, choosing the right size of trailer that best suits your needs means you'll be able to carry goods safely time after time. Choosing the right size of trailer is also important for being able to park and store your trailer securely.

Below is a guide to the most common enclosed trailer stock on the market today.

6x4, 7x4 and 7x5 enclosed trailers

This size of enclosed trailer is ideal for transporting items like furniture and household gear, as well as small vehicles, plant and ATVs. As this size of trailer is relatively compact, it's the best solution if you need to park your trailer in your home driveway, and can be easily towed by most SUVs.

These trailers will generally be 5-feet high; if more height is required, have a look at the larger sizes on offer.

8x5 and 8x6 enclosed trailers

This size of fully enclosed trailer is a popular selection with tradies and anyone who regularly uses bulky equipment as part of the job, and also need to load and unload gear single-handed. There's more room inside but this size of trailer remains manoeuvrable both on the road and when parking up.

The large trailers are generally 7-feet high, giving you more scope for transporting larger equipment and furniture.

10x5, 10x6, 12x5 and 12x6 enclosed trailers

These are the largest fully enclosed trailers on the market, and are the best solution for tradies and building contractors, event organisers, mobile workshops, furniture movers, and regularly transporting vehicles like motorbikes and go-carts. They are 7-feet high and the larger capacity means you have significant flexibility as to how items are organised and secured, and there is plenty of space for the customisation of shelves, rope rails, tie-down points and more.

Talk to Basic Trailers when you're buying a fully enclosed trailer

At Basic Trailers, we specialise in designing and manufacturing fully enclosed trailers in a range of sizes that are made to handle even the most extreme Australian weather and road conditions.

All of our trailers are built in our Adelaide workshop using Australian steel, and we stock a range of trailer sizes to suit all towing and transport needs. Trailers can be upgraded to a higher ATM if required, and we offer a huge variety of add-ons and upgrade features that enable you to customise your enclosed trailer to specific needs.

Visit the Basic Trailers enclosed trailer range to see our current models and specs, or if you need some advice on the right size of trailer to protect and transport your goods safely, call our friendly team on 1300 770 770 or email sales@basictrailers.com.au and we'll be happy to help you choose the trailer that's right for you.