- Cargo Trailers
- Utility Trailers
- Equipment Trailers
- Snow / ATV Trailers
- Trailer Knowledge
Key Takeaways
- Southeast Ohio hill country is the natural recreation destination for Columbus.
- The drive is long enough that how you haul genuinely matters.
- Open trailers suit occasional trips; enclosed protects machines and gear on regular runs.
- Browse trailers near Columbus to match a trailer to how you get out.
Where Columbus Goes to Get Outside
Head southeast out of Columbus and the flat central Ohio farmland gives way to genuine hill country. Hocking Hills is the best-known destination, drawing people year-round for the gorges, waterfalls, and cabins, but the broader region - the Wayne National Forest and the trail systems and private parks scattered through the hills beyond it - is where a lot of central Ohio riders and outdoor people actually spend their weekends.
It is close enough to be a regular thing and far enough that the drive is part of the trip. An hour or more each way, much of it on two-lanes, with whatever the weather is doing. That distance is what makes the trailer decision worth thinking about rather than defaulting to whatever is cheapest.
What You Are Actually Hauling
For most people it is some combination of machines and gear. ATVs and side-by-sides for the trail systems. Camping and cabin gear for a weekend. Sometimes both, plus the tools and fuel that come with running machines away from home. The mix matters, because a trailer sized for one machine and a trailer sized for a machine plus a weekend of equipment are different purchases.
The Case for Open
If you get out a few times a season, mostly in good weather, and you are hauling one machine, an open utility trailer or a purpose-built ATV trailer is the sensible buy. It costs less, tows lighter, loads in a couple of minutes, and stores easily the rest of the year. The trade-off is that everything rides exposed - which on a fair-weather Saturday is fine, and on a rainy October drive home is less fine.
The Case for Enclosed
If you go regularly, haul machines worth real money, or make overnight trips, an enclosed cargo trailer changes the experience. Your machines arrive clean rather than coated in road spray. Gear, tools, and fuel cans lock up at the trailhead or the campsite instead of riding in an open truck bed. And it doubles as dry, secure storage at camp - which for a weekend trip is worth more than it sounds.
The other quiet advantage: an enclosed trailer stays packed. For people who get out often, not unloading and repacking every trip is the difference between going and finding a reason not to.
Sizing for the Trip, Not the Machine
A common miscalculation is sizing to the machine alone and discovering there is nowhere for the gear. Think about the full weekend load: the machine or machines, riding gear, tools, spare fuel, camping equipment, and whatever else accumulates. Then leave margin, because it always accumulates. A 6x12 handles a single machine plus gear comfortably. A 7x14 or 7x16 covers two machines or one plus a serious kit.
Before the Season
Whatever you tow, the pre-season check is worth doing - tire pressure, lights, bearings, and the coupler. The two free 40-point safety inspections that come with every new trailer are a straightforward way to get that done properly rather than hoping. Browse trailers near Columbus and come talk through your trips at the Grove City store.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is the good riding from Columbus?
The hill country southeast of the city starts about an hour out, with Hocking Hills and the Wayne National Forest region beyond it. Close enough for regular trips, far enough that how you haul matters.
Open or enclosed for these trips?
Open utility or ATV trailers suit occasional fair-weather trips with one machine. Enclosed makes sense for regular use, valuable machines, or overnight trips where secure storage matters.
What size trailer do I need?
Size for the full weekend load rather than the machine alone. A 6x12 handles one machine plus gear; a 7x14 or 7x16 covers two machines or one plus a serious kit.
Does an enclosed trailer really stay packed between trips?
That is one of the main reasons people buy them. Not unloading and repacking each time removes a real barrier to actually getting out, especially for people who go often.
Where do I start near Columbus?
Browse inventory near Columbus online, then visit the Grove City store to see the sizes in person.
