Car Hauler Trailer Rental Guide: Open vs. Enclosed, Single vs. Double Deck

Renting a car hauler trailer involves four configuration decisions before evaluating specific listings: open or enclosed, single or double deck, bumper pull or gooseneck and tilt deck or drive-up ramps. Most renters only need to think through two or three of these — the vehicle type and use case resolve the rest quickly. This post covers each decision in order so the right configuration is clear before the first listing is opened. A brief section at the end covers deck length and GVWR as the size variables to confirm before booking.

Open vs. Enclosed: The First Decision

Open car hauler — the right choice for most vehicle moves

An open car hauler is an exposed flatbed deck — no walls, no roof — with drive-on ramps or a tilt deck at the rear. It's the most widely available configuration in the rental market and the right booking for most everyday vehicle moves: purchasing a car from a private seller, relocating a daily driver, moving a truck or SUV that won't start. The vehicle is exposed to weather and road spray during transport, which is a non-issue for most moves and matters significantly for a few specific situations.

Loading is straightforward — drive or winch the vehicle on, position it correctly and tie it down. Open car haulers are available in a wider range of sizes and are generally less expensive to rent than enclosed configurations.

• Best for: everyday vehicle moves, daily drivers, trucks and SUVs, short-distance transport
• Loading: drive-on or winch-on — same process as enclosed
• Limitation: vehicle exposed to weather and road debris during transport
• Availability: wider selection and lower rental cost than enclosed configurations

Enclosed car hauler — when weather protection and security matter

An enclosed car hauler puts the vehicle inside a fully enclosed box — protected from weather, road debris and visibility during transport. The premium over an open trailer is meaningful and worth it in specific situations: transporting a classic, collector or show car where paint and finish protection justifies the cost; long-distance moves where the vehicle will be exposed to highway conditions for hours; and any haul where the loaded trailer will be left unattended overnight. For a daily driver moving 30 miles in clear weather, the enclosed premium adds cost without adding meaningful benefit.

• Best for: classic and collector cars, long-distance transport, overnight security, high-value vehicles
• Full enclosure: paint and finish protected from weather and road debris during transit
• Security: lockable — vehicle not visible when trailer is unattended
• Premium justified when: vehicle value, transport distance or overnight storage make protection worth the cost

Single Deck vs. Double Deck: How Many Vehicles?

Single deck — one vehicle, straightforward loading

A single-deck car hauler carries one vehicle on a flat loading surface. It's the most common configuration in the rental market and the right booking when moving one vehicle. The loading process is simple: drive or winch the vehicle onto the deck, position it correctly for tongue weight balance and tie it down. No loading sequence decisions, no upper-deck clearance concerns. Single-deck trailers are available in bumper-pull and gooseneck configurations across a range of deck lengths.

• Carries: one vehicle
• Loading: drive-on or winch-on — no sequence decisions required
• Right for: any single-vehicle move regardless of vehicle type or size
• Available in: bumper-pull and gooseneck configurations

Double deck — two vehicles, specific loading requirements

A double-deck car hauler carries two vehicles stacked on upper and lower decks — the configuration used by dealerships and auction transport companies moving multiple units. For a private renter, this configuration makes sense when moving two vehicles simultaneously and the cost of one double-deck rental is lower than two separate single-deck rentals.

The loading sequence matters: the lower-deck vehicle loads first and its roof height determines the clearance available for the upper deck. Not all vehicles fit on all double-deck trailers — confirm clearance heights for both vehicles against the specific trailer's deck spacing before booking. Double-deck trailers are heavier and require a more capable tow vehicle than single-deck configurations of comparable deck length.

• Carries: two vehicles on upper and lower decks
• Loading sequence: lower deck first — roof height determines upper deck clearance
• Confirm: clearance height for both vehicles against the trailer's deck spacing
• Tow vehicle: heavier combined load requires higher towing capacity than single deck
• Right for: moving two vehicles simultaneously when cost justifies the configuration

Bumper Pull vs. Gooseneck: Hitch Configuration

Bumper pull — the standard configuration for most rental scenarios

A bumper-pull car hauler connects to a standard receiver hitch ball on the back of the tow vehicle — the same hitch setup used for utility trailers, enclosed trailers and most rental trailers. It's the most common car hauler configuration in the rental market and covers the large majority of single-vehicle moves. Standard bumper-pull car haulers handle vehicles up to approximately 10,000 lbs on trailers with gross vehicle weight ratings (GVWR) up to 14,000 lbs. A full-size pickup, SUV or heavy-duty crossover with a Class III or Class IV hitch handles most bumper-pull car hauler configurations.

• Hitch: standard receiver hitch — 2-inch or 2-5/16-inch ball
• Capacity: handles most single-vehicle moves up to approximately 10,000 lbs vehicle weight
• Tow vehicle: full-size pickup or SUV with Class III or IV hitch covers most configurations
• Right for: the large majority of single-vehicle rental scenarios

Gooseneck — for heavier vehicles and longer trailers

A gooseneck car hauler uses a coupler that connects to a specialized ball mounted in the bed of a pickup truck — the same configuration used for heavy equipment transport and large livestock trailers. Gooseneck trailers handle heavier vehicles and longer deck lengths than bumper-pull configurations and distribute tongue weight more efficiently across the tow vehicle.

The critical pre-booking check: the tow vehicle needs a gooseneck ball installed in the truck bed. This is not standard equipment on most pickup trucks and requires an aftermarket installation. A truck with the towing capacity for a gooseneck load but no gooseneck ball installed can't use the configuration — confirm this before booking, not at pickup.

• Hitch: gooseneck ball in pickup truck bed — not standard on most trucks
• Capacity: handles heavier vehicles and longer trailers than bumper-pull
• Pre-booking check: confirm the tow vehicle has a gooseneck ball installed before booking
• Right for: heavy vehicles (lifted trucks, large SUVs, commercial vehicles) and double-deck configurations

Tilt Deck vs. Drive-Up Ramps: Loading Configuration

Tilt deck — the easier load for low-clearance vehicles

A tilt-deck car hauler tilts the entire deck to a shallow approach angle — typically 5–8 degrees — creating a smooth drive-on surface without a ramp-to-deck transition lip. For low-slung vehicles — sports cars, lowered cars, vehicles with front air dams or chin spoilers — the tilt deck's shallow angle eliminates the approach clearance problem that a steeper fold-down ramp creates. If the vehicle has any ground clearance concern at normal ramp angles, search specifically for a tilt-deck listing rather than assuming a standard ramp trailer will work.

• Approach angle: 5–8 degrees — no transition lip between ramp and deck
• Best for: sports cars, lowered vehicles, cars with front air dams or chin spoilers
• Loading: drive-on under vehicle power (preferred) or winch-on
• Clearance advantage: eliminates the ramp-to-deck transition contact point entirely

Drive-up ramps — the standard configuration

Most rental car haulers use fold-down drive-up ramps at the rear. The ramp folds down from the deck, the vehicle drives up and onto the trailer deck and the ramp folds back up for transport. Ramp approach angles vary by trailer — steeper ramps (15–18 degrees) are harder on low-clearance vehicles; shallower ramps (10–12 degrees) are more forgiving. For a vehicle with standard ground clearance — most sedans, SUVs and trucks — a standard ramp trailer loads without issue. For a vehicle with less than 4–5 inches of front clearance, confirm the ramp angle on the specific listing or look for a tilt-deck configuration.

• Standard configuration: fold-down ramps at the rear
• Ramp angle varies: 10–18 degrees depending on the trailer — steeper is harder on low-clearance vehicles
• Right for: most vehicles with standard ground clearance (4+ inches at the front bumper)
• Clearance concern: confirm ramp angle or look for tilt deck if vehicle has less than 4–5 in of front clearance

A Brief Word on Size

Deck length and GVWR: the two size variables to check

Once the configuration is resolved, two size variables determine whether a specific listing fits the vehicle. Deck length needs to exceed the vehicle's overall length by at least 2–3 ft to allow proper positioning and tie-down rigging. Most passenger cars — up to 16 ft long — fit on a 16–18 ft car hauler deck. Full-size pickup trucks and large SUVs (17–21 ft) typically need a 20–22 ft deck.

GVWR determines payload: the vehicle's weight must stay within the trailer's payload capacity with margin. Check both numbers against the specific vehicle's dimensions and weight before booking any listing, regardless of which configuration has been selected.

• Deck length: trailer deck must exceed vehicle length by at least 2–3 ft
• Most passenger cars: 16–18 ft deck covers the large majority
• Full-size trucks and large SUVs: 20–22 ft deck typically required
• GVWR and payload: vehicle weight must fit within payload capacity with margin — confirm before booking

Insurance and Damage Protection

Before towing a rented trailer, contact your auto insurance provider to ask whether your policy covers liability and towing-related damage claims — and whether the vehicle being transported is covered while on a rented trailer.

Eligible rentals booked through Big Rentals also include Basic Rental Protection at checkout. This added protection can help limit your financial responsibility for certain damage or theft events during the rental period.

For full details on how Basic Rental Protection works, including deductibles, exclusions and renter responsibilities, review our FAQ and platform terms.

The Short Version

For most single-vehicle moves, the right configuration is an open, single-deck, bumper-pull trailer with standard ramps — widely available, easy to load and appropriate for everyday vehicles in standard condition. Step up to enclosed for classic or high-value vehicles, tilt deck for low-clearance vehicles and gooseneck for heavy or oversized loads. Confirm deck length and GVWR against the specific vehicle before booking any listing.

Once the configuration is confirmed, see our guide on how to load and tie down a car on a rental trailer before pickup. Still deciding between a full car hauler and an auto dolly? See our car hauler vs. auto dolly comparison.

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