The Big Rentals Guide to Towing an Enclosed Trailer in South Florida
Morgan Wisneski
October 1, 2026
From Miami to Tampa Bay, the reason to rent an enclosed trailer is what is inside it. Sun, salt air and a downpour out of nowhere are hard on cargo, and an enclosed box is the one trailer that keeps all three off a load an open deck would ruin. That is the appeal on both coasts, whether you are moving a house, hauling gear or protecting something valuable.
The catch is that the box has a climate of its own. Heat and humidity build inside a sealed trailer, hurricane season shapes when you move, and a tall box catches a crosswind on the causeways. This guide covers the enclosed sizes that fit real South Florida loads, the Florida rules that apply once you couple up, and the heat, storms and coastal conditions to plan around.
Why South Florida Renters Choose Enclosed Trailers
Weather-proof moves lead. Household moves across a hot, wet, sunny metro on both coasts ride better in a closed box that keeps furniture, boxes and electronics out of the sun and the afternoon rain. Read more about when an enclosed trailer is worth the extra cost over an open one.
Valuables and gear come next: business equipment, event and A/V gear, and anything that cannot ride open in salt air and sun moves locked and dry. Hurricane season adds its own logistics, moving belongings and equipment out of harm's way and back, with the enclosed box protecting them in transit. And owners of bikes, karts and powersports gear keep them out of the weather the same way.
Whatever you are carrying, you will find trailer rentals across Florida from local owners near you.
Florida Towing Laws to Know
Brakes and breakaway
Florida requires brakes on all wheels over 3,000 lb, plus a breakaway that holds at least 15 minutes (Fla. Stat. § 316.261). A loaded enclosed trailer clears 3,000 lb, so assume brakes and a breakaway, and confirm the trailer's brakes and your tow vehicle's brake controller. Check the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) before you book. Read more about what GVWR means and how to read it.
Secure the hidden load
Florida requires the load secured so nothing shifts or escapes (Fla. Stat. § 316.520). Inside a closed box that means strapping the load so it cannot move against the doors or walls, with the heavy items low and forward. The walls hide the load, so what you cannot see is exactly what shifts. Read more about how to secure furniture and appliances in an enclosed trailer.
Speed, express lanes and size
Florida sets no separate towing speed limit, so the posted limit applies. The 95 Express and 595 Express lanes bar vehicles pulling trailers regardless of occupancy, so keep the trailer in the general lanes. Height is capped at 13 ft 6 in and width at 8 ft 6 in, and a standard Class E license covers the haul.
Matching Trailer to Load
Sizing
Common enclosed sizes run from 5x8 up to 8.5x24. A 5x8 to 6x12 handles gear and small moves; a 7x14 to 8.5x24 covers full moves and equipment. Interior height is the dimension people forget until a tall item will not stand up, so measure the tall things. Read more about choosing the right enclosed trailer size for your load.
Hitch and tracking
Match the coupler to your ball size, confirm the brake controller, and set the trailer up balanced so a tall box tracks straight, which also keeps it steadier in a coastal crosswind.
Balance and moisture
Aim for 10% to 15% of the load weight on the tongue, and load heavy items low and forward so the walls are not hiding a sway. And do not seal a damp load in, because a closed box in Florida humidity holds moisture with the cargo. Read more about the common mistakes people make when renting an enclosed trailer.
Heat, Storms and Causeways
Heat inside the box
A sealed box bakes in the Florida sun and holds humidity, so anything moisture-sensitive needs a dry load and, ideally, a shorter midday haul. Load dry, and do not trap damp air in with the cargo over a long trip.
Rain and hurricane season
Sudden storms are the norm and the season shapes the calendar. Keeping the rain off is the whole point of the box, but plan around storm days and do not haul into a named storm.
Causeway crosswinds
South Florida is flat and laced with causeways and high bridges on both coasts, and a tall enclosed box catches the wind. Ease off in a strong crosswind on an exposed span, and keep the load balanced so it tracks straight rather than wandering.
Salt, tires and lanes
Coastal salt corrodes the hitch, wiring and lights, so test the lights before you pull out. Heat is hard on trailer tires, so check pressure cold, and keep the trailer in the general lanes since the express lanes bar trailers.
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.
Ready To Book?
Get the size right, confirm brakes over 3,000 lb, secure the hidden load, load it dry, and keep the trailer out of the express lanes. Do that and an enclosed trailer is the most reliable way to move anything across South Florida that cannot take the sun, the rain or the salt. Find an enclosed trailer with a local owner near you, whether you are on the Atlantic side or over on the Gulf Coast; the links for each city are just below.
The Short Version
- Enclosed trailers are South Florida's choice for weather-proof moves, valuables and gear, and hurricane-season logistics on both coasts.
- A loaded enclosed trailer is over Florida's 3,000 lb brake threshold, so assume brakes and a breakaway (Fla. Stat. § 316.261).
- Secure the hidden load so it cannot shift against the doors, and do not seal a damp load in Florida humidity (Fla. Stat. § 316.520).
- No separate towing speed limit, and the 95 Express and 595 Express lanes bar trailers, so stay in the general lanes.
- A tall box catches causeway crosswinds, so ease off in the wind, and coastal salt corrodes the lights, so test them before you go.
- Keep 10% to 15% of the weight on the tongue, and check the tires cold in the heat.
Find enclosed trailer rentals near you:
