The Big Rentals Guide to Towing a Car Hauler Trailer in and around Denver, CO

In most cities, hauling a car is a flat-ground errand. In Denver, the road tilts. The Front Range car market moves vehicles across the metro all day, and plenty of those trips run up and down I-70 and the canyon roads, where a loaded hauler leans on its brakes coming down and fights thin air going up. The car on the deck is the easy part here; the grade is what you plan for.

Get the trailer sized, the tie-downs tight and the descents respected, and a car hauler is the most dependable way to move a vehicle around the region. This guide walks through the sizes, the Colorado rules that kick in the moment you couple up, and the grades and altitude that make a Denver haul its own thing.

Why Denver Renters Choose Car Haulers

Start with the market. A fast-growing metro buys and sells a lot of cars, and dealers, auctions and private sales keep vehicles moving to new owners across the Front Range. A car hauler is how they travel when they should not be driven. Read more about how open and enclosed car haulers compare.

Then there is the mountain pull. Cars head up to the ski towns and back down for the season, and Denver's deep enthusiast community keeps project builds, classics and track cars on trailers year-round. A barn-find or a build that does not run under its own power needs a hauler and a winch. Read more about how to tow a non-running vehicle with a rented car hauler.

Whatever the car and wherever it is going, you will find trailer rentals across the Denver area from local owners near you.

Colorado Towing Laws to Know

Brakes and breakaway

Colorado requires brakes on all wheels and a battery-powered breakaway at 3,000 lb, able to stop the trailer within 40 ft from 20 mph (CRS 42-4-223). A car runs 3,000 to 4,500 lb on its own, so a loaded hauler is past the line, and on I-70 those brakes and that charged breakaway battery are what save you on a descent. Confirm the trailer's brakes, the breakaway and your tow vehicle's controller, and check the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) before you book. Read more about what GVWR means and how to read it.

Securing the car

Tie the car down at four rated points to its designated tie-down spots, not the suspension, with the parking brake set and the car in gear. On a grade this matters more than on the flat, because a car that creeps on a steep descent moves the whole trailer's balance. Recheck the straps after the first few miles and again before a big drop. Read more about how to load and tie down a car on a rental trailer.

Speed and the Express Lanes

Colorado sets no separate towing speed limit, so the posted number applies, but on the canyons the grade sets your real speed well below the sign. The Express Lanes are worth a note: unlike Texas, California or Utah, Colorado does not bar trailers from them, but they run HOV3+ or toll, so a truck-and-trailer needs three or more occupants or an ExpressToll pass. With a car on the grades, the general lanes are the better place to be anyway.

Width and license

Width is capped at 8 ft 6 in, which a car hauler sits inside, and a standard license covers a personal car haul.

Matching Trailer to Car

Deck length

Car haulers commonly run 16 to 20 ft of deck. Measure the car rather than trusting the category, since a long sedan, a classic with overhang or a full-size truck eats more deck than you would guess, and check the trailer's payload against the car's curb weight.

Ramps and winch

A low or lowered car drags on a steep ramp, so match the ramp angle and deck height to the car. If it does not run, you need a working winch and a plan, so confirm the winch before you go get the car.

Open or enclosed

Mountain weather, high-altitude sun and road grime are hard on a nice finish, so an enclosed hauler earns its cost for a classic or a track car. For a daily driver or a project shell, an open deck is fine.

Hitch and balance

Match the coupler and receiver to the loaded weight, confirm the brake controller, and set the car forward for 10% to 15% tongue weight. Leave altitude margin on the tow vehicle too, because a combination that feels strong in town has less to give on a long climb.

The Grades, the Air and the Snow

Coming down

The descent is where a loaded hauler is most dangerous. Gravity plus the car fades the brakes on a long grade, so downshift and let the engine hold your speed, watch for the runaway-truck ramps that exist for a reason, and if you smell hot brakes, pull off and let them cool.

Going up

Thin air robs the engine of power, so a rig that climbed fine at sea level labors here. Plan a lighter combination or a stronger truck for a mountain run, and keep an eye on the temperature gauge.

Winter traction

Colorado activates traction and chain requirements on I-70 through the winter. A loaded car hauler on a snowy pass is not where you want to be caught out, so check CDOT conditions before you head up and do not haul over a pass in a storm.

Insurance and Damage Protection

What about 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.

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.

One thing worth being clear about: that protection applies to the trailer. The car riding on it is a separate conversation, and for a valuable car it is one to have with your own insurer before pickup day.

Ready To Book?

Size the deck to the car, confirm brakes and a winch, tie the car down at four points, and downshift on the descents. Do that and a car hauler is the safest way to move a vehicle across a region where the road goes up. When you are ready, browse car hauler trailer rentals in Denver from local owners near you.

The Short Version

• Car haulers move Denver's Front Range car market, its mountain-town trips and a deep project-and-classic scene.
• A car puts a hauler over Colorado's 3,000 lb threshold, so all-wheel brakes and a battery breakaway are a given (CRS 42-4-223).
• Tie the car down at four rated points, parking brake set and in gear, and recheck before a descent.
• No separate towing speed limit, so the grade sets your real speed; the Express Lanes do not ban trailers but run HOV3+ or toll, and the general lanes are the better call on the grades.
• Downshift on I-70 descents and watch for runaway ramps; leave altitude margin on the climbs.
• Choose enclosed for a classic, check CDOT in winter, and keep 10% to 15% of the weight on the tongue.