- Trailer Knowledge
Key Takeaways: Quick Decision Guide
- Measure the ramp, not the box. The door opening on an enclosed trailer is narrower than the interior, and that is what stops most machines.
- A 7-wide is the safe enclosed answer for a full-size side-by-side. A 6-wide suits narrower sport and utility models only.
- Open tilt decks load lowest and skip ramps entirely, which is the simplest option if weather and security are not concerns.
- Axle count matters more than length once you carry a four-seat machine or two machines at once.
- Measure your own machine at its widest point, which is usually the mirrors or the rear tires, before you shop.
If you are hauling one full-size side-by-side in an enclosed trailer, start with a 7-wide. The reason is the ramp. A 6-wide enclosed trailer gives you roughly 5 feet 8 inches of interior width but only around 5 feet 3 inches of rear door opening, and most full-size machines are wider than that once mirrors are accounted for. The machine would fit inside. It cannot get through the door. A 7-wide opens that gate to approximately 6 feet 5 inches, which clears nearly every side-by-side on the market.
If you do not need the trailer enclosed, an open tilt deck is usually the better value and loads at a shallower angle. Both routes are covered below, along with the payload figures that decide axle count. Sizes and options across the enclosed cargo trailer lineup vary by configuration, so treat the numbers here as a starting point rather than a final answer.
The Ramp Opening Is the Number That Decides It
Every enclosed trailer has two widths, and buyers almost always shop the wrong one. Interior width is the space inside the walls. Rear door width is the gap you have to drive through, and it is always smaller, because the frame and the door hardware eat into it.
Across the Interstate enclosed lineup the gap runs about 5 inches on the narrower models and stays close to that as the trailers get wider. Here is how the three practical width classes compare:
- 6-wide: interior width of roughly 5 feet 8 inches, rear ramp opening of approximately 5 feet 3 inches.
- 7-wide: interior width of roughly 6 feet 6 inches, rear ramp opening of around 6 feet 5 inches.
- 8.5-wide: interior width of roughly 8 feet, rear ramp opening of approximately 7 feet 9 inches.
Please note: Listed dimensions and specifications are approximate and subject to change. Please verify exact dimensions with your local store before purchase.
Most full-size side-by-sides measure somewhere between 60 and 65 inches across the rear tires, and mirrors add to that. Sport models and smaller utility machines often come in narrower. Measure yours at the widest fixed point rather than trusting a brochure figure, because accessories change the answer and a rock slider or a wider aftermarket tire can cost you the clearance you were counting on.
Enclosed Sizes That Work for One Machine
The 7x14, which is where most buyers land
A 7x14 enclosed trailer runs roughly 14 feet 5 inches of interior length, about 6 feet 6 inches wide, and close to 7 feet of interior height in the taller trim. Its rear ramp opens to approximately 6 feet 5 inches wide and around 6 feet 6 inches tall. Rated at 7,000 lbs with a payload in the range of 4,750 lbs, it carries one machine and the gear that travels with it without working near its limit.
The interior height is worth attention if your machine has a roof, a light bar or a windshield. Height varies by tier more than buyers expect, spanning roughly 14 inches across trailers of the same width, so the model matters as much as the size.
The 7x16, when gear travels with the machine
Stretching to a 7x16 adds roughly 2 feet of interior length and gives you room for fuel cans, a spare, tools and riding gear behind the machine rather than around it. At the approximately 7,000 lb rating payload lands around 4,640 lbs. There is also a heavier version rated at approximately 9,990 lbs with payload in the range of 7,220 lbs, which is the one to look at if you carry a four-seat machine plus a full load of gear.
Going to 8.5-wide for two machines
Two full-size side-by-sides do not fit beside each other in any trailer, because two machines at roughly 60 inches each exceed even the approximately 8 feet of interior width an 8.5-wide provides. Two machines travel nose to tail, which makes length the constraint rather than width. An 8.5x20 gives you roughly 20 feet 5 inches of interior length with a ramp opening close to 7 feet 9 inches. In the 7,000 lb rating payload sits near 3,830 lbs, which two machines can approach quickly, so the heavier version rated around 9,990 lbs with payload in the range of 6,460 lbs is usually the more sensible choice for a pair.
Please note: Listed dimensions and specifications are approximate and subject to change. Please verify exact dimensions with your local store before purchase.
Open Decks: Tilt and Utility
Enclosed is not the only answer, and for a lot of riders it is not the best one. An open deck loads faster, costs less, tows lighter and lets you see the machine in the mirror. The gravity tilt trailers solve the loading problem differently: the deck itself tilts to the ground, so there is no ramp angle to manage and nothing to stow afterward.
Three tilt sizes cover most side-by-side work:
- 6x12 tilt: deck of roughly 11 feet 10 inches by about 6 feet 4 inches, rated near 5,200 lbs with payload around 3,590 lbs.
- 7x13 tilt: deck of roughly 14 feet by approximately 6 feet 9 inches, rated close to 7,450 lbs with payload in the range of 5,350 lbs.
- 7x16 tilt: deck of roughly 15 feet 10 inches by approximately 6 feet 9 inches, rated close to 7,450 lbs with payload around 5,200 lbs.
Please note: Listed dimensions and specifications are approximate and subject to change. Please verify exact dimensions with your local store before purchase.
Carry-On open decks are the other route, and the braked tandem versions are the ones to look at for a side-by-side. A 7x16 Carry-On tandem gives you a deck of roughly 16 feet by approximately 6 feet 10 inches, rated near 7,000 lbs with payload around 5,350 lbs. That is more deck width than any of the tilt options and enough payload for a four-seat machine with room to spare. The heavy-duty landscape version of the same size is rated closer to 9,990 lbs with payload in the range of 7,790 lbs.
Please note: Listed dimensions and specifications are approximate and subject to change. Please verify exact dimensions with your local store before purchase.
A standard single-axle open utility trailer is the budget option, and it works for lighter machines. A 6x12 Carry-On single axle gives you a deck of roughly 12 feet by about 6 feet 4 inches, rated at approximately 2,990 lbs with payload near 2,115 lbs. That is enough for a small utility machine and not much else once gear is aboard, so check your dry weight against it carefully rather than assuming.
Please note: Listed dimensions and specifications are approximate and subject to change. Please verify exact dimensions with your local store before purchase.
Weight, Axles and Brakes
Payload is the figure to shop on, not gross rating. Payload is what is left after the trailer's own weight comes off the gross rating, and it is the number your machine, your fuel, your gear and your tie-downs all have to fit inside.
Riders hauling a single two-seat machine are generally fine on a single-axle trailer in the 2,990 lb class if the machine is light, though the margin is thin once gear is added. A four-seat machine typically pushes you into a tandem-axle trailer in the 7,000 lb class, and anyone carrying two machines should be looking at the 9,990 lb class rather than trying to make a 7,000 lb trailer work.
Tandem axles also change how the trailer behaves, not just what it carries. They ride flatter under an uneven load and recover better from a sway input, which matters on a long highway tow. The tradeoff is tire and bearing cost across the life of the trailer. The comparison between single axle and tandem axle goes into that in more detail.
Enclosed or Open: How to Decide
Security is usually the deciding factor. A side-by-side sitting in a motel parking lot overnight is a different risk inside a locked box than strapped to an open deck, and for riders who travel to ride, that alone settles it.
Weather is the second factor. An enclosed trailer arrives with the machine dry and the gear dry, which matters more on a three-day trip than a Saturday run. Open decks win on everything else: lower purchase cost, lighter tow weight, faster loading, easier storage and better visibility of the load while you drive.
Riders who mostly run to a local trailhead and store the machine in a garage are usually better served by an open deck. Riders who travel, camp out of the trailer or carry a lot of gear generally end up enclosed within a couple of seasons regardless of what they bought first.
See the Ramp Opening for Yourself Before You Buy
Every figure here is a starting point. Machine widths vary by model year and accessory package, and trailer specifications vary by configuration, so the only reliable check is putting a tape measure across your machine and then across the ramp opening of the trailer you are considering.
TrailersPlus is the nation's largest independent trailer dealer, with over 90 locations nationwide and more than 11,600 trailers in stock. It is the only retail seller of Interstate, America's number one brand in cargo trailers, and carries Carry-On across the open utility range. Roughly 95 percent of trailer weight is sourced in the USA, and customers rate the company 4.8/5 across more than 10,000 reviews. Bring the machine or bring the measurement to a trailer dealership near you and walk the ramp before you commit. You can also compare configurations in the current trailer inventory ahead of the visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a full-size side-by-side fit in a 6x12 enclosed trailer?
Usually not. A 6-wide enclosed trailer offers a rear ramp opening of roughly 5 feet 3 inches, and most full-size side-by-sides measure wider than that across the rear tires. Narrower sport and small utility machines sometimes clear it. Measure your machine at its widest fixed point and compare that against the ramp opening on the specific trailer, not the interior width.
Do I need brakes on a trailer for a side-by-side?
It depends on the trailer's rating and on the rules where you drive, which vary by state. Trailers in the 7,000 lb class and above typically come with brakes as part of the tandem-axle setup. For lighter single-axle trailers the answer is less consistent, so check with your state agency for the thresholds that apply to you rather than assuming a national standard.
Is an open or enclosed trailer better for a UTV?
Open decks cost less, load faster and tow lighter. Enclosed trailers keep the machine dry, keep it out of sight and lock. Riders who travel overnight generally prefer enclosed for the security. Riders running to a local trailhead and storing the machine indoors are usually well served by an open tilt deck.
What size trailer do I need for two side-by-sides?
Plan on hauling them nose to tail rather than side by side, because two full-size machines exceed the interior width of even an 8.5-wide trailer. That makes length the constraint, and a 20-foot trailer is a common answer. Pay close attention to payload, since two machines plus gear can approach the limit of an approximately 7,000 lb trailer quickly.
How much does a side-by-side weigh for trailer sizing purposes?
Dry weights vary widely by model, and the figure that matters is the loaded weight with fuel, accessories and anything strapped alongside. Look up the dry weight for your specific model and year, add fuel and gear, then compare that total against the trailer's payload rather than its gross rating.
