I finally manned up and bought a trailer for my Jeep last night. I’d been looking casually for a few months, then a neighbor of mine put this one for sale in front of his house. It’s a 20-foot Big Tex with 12,000 lb. axles (nothing like a little overkill, right), brakes, integrated ramps…everything I was looking for essentially.

When you’re in the market for a trailer for your Jeep, here are a few things to look for:

  • Length - Obviously you’ll want to purchase a trailer that’s long enough for your rig, but don’t forget about other stuff like tools, camping gear, gas cans, etc. I wanted a trailer big enough so I could bring along a four wheeler or motorcycle with my Jeep.
  • Width - I’ve got stock axles on my Jeep and between the side rails of my trailer I’ve got about 6-inches of leeway. If I had full size axles under my Wrangler, I wouldn’t be able to get it on the trailer. Sounds stupid, but make sure your trailer is wide enough to accommodate your Jeep’s axle width. I didn’t think about this before I purchased my trailer. I got away with one this time.
  • Load Capacity - Your average Jeep weighs around 5,000 lbs. Make sure you get a trailer that can accommodate that plus a few extra pounds for accessories, gear, fuel, etc.
  • Ramps - Look for a trailer with integrated ramps. Some trailers have ramps that fold up perpendicularly to the back of the trailer. Others have the kind that slide into pockets beneath the trailer. Both are good options and much better than carting around separate ramps all the time.
  • Brakes - The combined weight of a large trailer and Jeep are enough to make stopping dangerous without an extra set of brakes. Make sure your trailer has brakes on at least one if not both axles.
  • Deck - Trailer decks can be anything from diamond plate to wood. Mine came with a wood deck that’s in good shape, but is looking a bit weathered. I’m planning on putting a heavy coat of oil on the wood to protect it. Make sure if your trailer comes with a wood deck, it’s in good shape. Replacing an entire deck can be costly and a lot of work.
  • Lights - This is another duh item, but make sure all the lights work. Trailers of every kind are notorious for having lighting/wiring problems.

Hopefully this info will help you when you’re on the lookout for your next Jeep trailer. Happy trails.