Snowmobile Trailer Buying Guide: Enclosed vs Open, Sizes and Features

For most South Dakota riders, an enclosed snowmobile trailer is the better buy. It keeps your sleds out of road salt, slush and wind on the highway, gives you a dry place to gear up at the trailhead, and locks up at the hotel. Open trailers cost less and weigh less, but your sleds ride exposed. Here’s how to choose the type, the size and the features that matter.

Enclosed vs open snowmobile trailers

  • Enclosed: protects sleds from salt, sand and weather; doubles as a warming and changing space; stores gear, fuel cans and tools securely; can haul a UTV or ATVs the rest of the year. Costs more and is heavier to tow.
  • Open: lower price and lighter weight; easy to load and unload; but sleds, covers and windshields take a beating from road spray on long highway trips.

If you trailer more than a few times a season, or drive to Black Hills or northern Minnesota trails on salted highways, enclosed usually pays for itself in less cleanup and wear.

How to size a snowmobile trailer

  1. Measure your sleds. Note overall length and ski stance width. Mountain and crossover sleds are longer than trail sleds.
  2. Count the sleds you haul now, and the ones you’ll add. Most riders end up wishing they had bought one size up.
  3. Leave room for gear. Helmets, bags, fuel and a spare belt all need floor or shelf space.
  4. Check your tow vehicle. Your truck’s towing capacity has to cover the trailer’s loaded weight, not just its empty weight.

For reference, the Aero SnoBear 8.5′ x 20′ on our lot has a 2′ V-nose, 264″ x 100″ of interior floor, 90″ of interior height, and a 9,990 lb GVWR with a 3,500 lb empty weight. The SnoBear gooseneck is 8.5′ x 24′ with an 8′ upper deck for bigger groups and longer trips.

Features worth paying for

  • Beavertail or drive-on ramp: lets you drive sleds in instead of pushing them. The SnoBear has a 4′ beavertail.
  • Ski guides: keep skis tracking straight and protect the floor.
  • Tough flooring: carbide runners and studs chew up plain plywood. The SnoBear uses Tred-eXtreme 3/4″ flooring.
  • Side door: get to gear without dropping the rear ramp. SnoBears have two side doors with RV latches.
  • D-rings: solid tie-down points so sleds don’t shift.
  • Power and lighting: LED lights, interior lights and a 110V inlet/outlet for chargers and heaters.
  • Brakes and tires: tandem axles with brakes and load-rated tires for winter highway miles.

Bumper pull or gooseneck?

A bumper pull works with most pickups and SUVs and is easier to store. A gooseneck tows more steadily at highway speed, carries more, and adds an upper deck for gear, but it needs a pickup with a gooseneck hitch. If you haul three or more sleds plus gear, or plan long trips, a gooseneck is worth a look.

See snowmobile and UTV trailers in Watertown

We stock Aero SnoBear snowmobile trailers, built right here in Watertown, plus Aero and Cross enclosed UTV trailers. See snowmobile and UTV trailers in stock, browse Aero trailers, or apply for financing. Questions? Call or text 605-753-5022.

Frequently asked questions

Can I haul a UTV in a snowmobile trailer?

Often, yes. An enclosed snowmobile trailer with a rear ramp or beavertail can carry a side-by-side or ATVs in the off-season. Check the rear opening height and interior width against your machine first. Our Aero SnoBear 8.5′ x 20′ has an 89″ rear opening and 100″ of interior width.

Are Aero SnoBear trailers built locally?

Yes. Aero builds the SnoBear line in Watertown, SD, the same town where Advantage RVs & Trailers sells them.

Can I finance a snowmobile trailer?

Yes. Advantage offers trailer financing, and rent-to-own is available on select trailers. Rent-to-own is not available on RVs, toy haulers or fuel trailers.