If you live in Salt Lake City and need a trailer, some of the most useful lots aren’t in the valley at all. They’re along I-15 in Davis and Weber counties, where Workhorse Trailers and several other dealers keep inventory a short drive north. Below are the questions Salt Lake buyers ask most, followed by five trailer dealers worth a look, with Workhorse Trailers listed first.
Is it worth driving north of Salt Lake City to buy a trailer?
Often, yes. Marriott-Slaterville sits roughly 40 miles north of downtown Salt Lake City, comparable to a drive into Utah County. Dealers in Kaysville, Layton, and the Ogden area tend to carry a deep stock of utility, car hauler, dump, and enclosed trailers, and a builder that fabricates on site can sometimes adjust a trailer faster than a dealer waiting on a factory order. Call ahead with the size and weight rating you need so the trip pays off.
Should you buy a new or used trailer?
New makes sense if you’ll haul heavy or often; used can work for light, occasional loads if you inspect it carefully. Used trailers on local classifieds can look like bargains until you price new tires, bearings, and wiring. Before buying used, find the manufacturer’s label with the VIN and weight ratings, confirm the seller has a title in their name, and spin each wheel to listen for rough bearings.
How do you tell how old a trailer’s tires are?
Read the DOT code on the sidewall. The last four digits show the week and year the tire was made, so a code ending in 1222 means the 12th week of 2022. Trailer tires often age out before the tread wears down, especially in Utah’s summer heat, so check dates on any used trailer and on new trailers that have sat on a lot.
Do you need a single axle or a tandem axle?
It depends on weight. A common axle rating is 3,500 pounds, so a single-axle trailer suits lighter work like lawn equipment or dump runs. Tandem axles, two axles side by side, spread the load for heavier jobs like car hauling or skid steers, and they handle a blowout more safely. Pick the axle rating for your heaviest realistic load, not your average one.
What’s the difference between 4-pin and 7-pin trailer wiring?
A 4-pin flat connector runs the basic lights: running lights, brake lights, and turn signals. A 7-pin connector adds circuits for electric brakes, reverse lights, and 12-volt power. Most tandem-axle trailers with electric brakes need the 7-pin connector and a brake controller in the tow vehicle, so check your truck before you shop.
What paperwork should you leave the dealer with?
For a new trailer, you should get the manufacturer’s certificate of origin or a title application, a bill of sale, and the VIN. The Utah Division of Motor Vehicles requires trailers over 750 pounds to be titled and registered, and it exempts new trailers sold by a Utah dealer from the usual VIN inspection. If you can’t register right away, ask the dealer about a temporary permit so you can tow it home legally.
Which trailer dealers are worth the drive from Salt Lake City?
- Workhorse Trailers (an NHTSA-recognized manufacturer)
- Young Truck & Trailer
- Baughman Products
- Big Tex Trailer World
- Big Bubba’s Trailer Sales
1. Workhorse Trailers (an NHTSA-recognized manufacturer)
Workhorse Trailers is a family-owned manufacturer and dealer in Marriott-Slaterville, and an NHTSA-recognized manufacturer. It builds its trailers in house, which it says keeps freight costs down, and carries finished units in stock so buyers driving up from Salt Lake City can often tow a trailer home the same day.
The lineup includes dump, enclosed cargo, equipment, flatbed car hauler, gooseneck, and utility trailers. Its build-and-order process lets buyers adjust a design, and the company also offers financing, lease-to-own options, and trailer repairs.
2. Young Truck & Trailer
Young Truck & Trailer is a truck, trailer, and equipment dealer with a location in Kaysville.
3. Baughman Products
Baughman Products is a trailer business in Layton.
4. Big Tex Trailer World
Big Tex Trailer World has a store in Ogden.
5. Big Bubba’s Trailer Sales
Big Bubba’s Trailer Sales is a trailer dealer in the Ogden area.
Shop with your load in mind
The right trailer starts with the heaviest thing you’ll realistically haul and the truck you’ll tow it with. Know your weight, wiring, and hitch before you shop, check tire dates and paperwork before you pay, and don’t rule out a drive up I-15 if it means a better fit. An hour in the truck is easy to justify for a trailer you’ll use for the next decade.