Snowbird toy transport
Boat Trailer Transport
Moving an empty boat trailer to meet the boat, or home at season's end.
Overview
How boat trailer transport works
Empty boat trailers move constantly during snowbird season, usually because the boat and the trailer end up in different states. The boat went south by water or on a flatbed, the trailer stayed in the garage in Michigan, and now the owner needs the two in the same place.
An empty trailer is light and awkward, which changes how it is priced. It is rarely worth a dedicated truck on its own, so the practical options are towing it behind a carrier's tractor or stacking it on a flatbed with other freight.
Towed empty
The cheapest option when the trailer is roadworthy. Lights, tires, bearings, brakes and coupler all need to actually work, because there is no boat weight to settle the trailer and light trailers sway more, not less.
Loaded onto a flatbed
Used for trailers that are not road-legal, have flat or rotted tires, or are for sale as-is. It costs more but removes any question about whether the trailer survives the trip.
Paired with your other move
If your boat, car or golf cart is already going the same direction in the same window, tell us. Coordinating them is usually cheaper than booking two unrelated shipments a month apart.
Quoting
What we need to quote your shipment
- Trailer length, width and axle count
- Empty weight and tongue weight if known
- Coupler size (2", 2-5/16", pintle, gooseneck)
- Brake type: surge, electric, or none
- Tire condition and age
- Registration status and whether the trailer is currently road-legal
Enterprise Auto Transport is a licensed broker (USDOT #2273104, MC #774106). We arrange transportation with qualified motor carriers whose equipment and authority fit the shipment — we do not own trucks or employ drivers.
Before pickup
- Air the tires to the sidewall rating and check for cracking
- Grease the bearings or confirm they were serviced this season
- Test running lights, brake lights and turn signals with a working plug
- Remove straps, boards, tie-down hardware and anything loose on the frame
- Confirm the jack works and the coupler latches and locks
- Have the registration and any title paperwork ready
From experience
What commonly goes wrong
- Rusted-through frame members are the most common reason a driver refuses an empty trailer at pickup.
- Bunk boards and rollers are easy to lose at highway speed if the hardware is soft.
- A trailer that has not moved in two seasons should be treated as a maintenance job, not a ready load.
Questions
Boat Trailer Transport FAQs
Is an empty trailer cheaper than a loaded one?
Usually somewhat, but not proportionally. The truck, the driver and the miles cost the same. Weight is only one of the inputs.
Can you move a trailer with a flat tire?
Not by towing it. Either the tire gets replaced before pickup or the trailer goes on a flatbed.
Before pickup
Condition and repair responsibility
Tires, brakes and anything that rolls: the owner's responsibility
- Anything that rolls or tows on its own wheels — boats, RVs, campers, utility and enclosed trailers, equipment trailers — must be roadworthy before pickup. That means sound tires with tread and no dry rot, correct air pressure, working bearings and hubs, functioning brakes and lights, a good coupler, safety chains and a spare if one is available.
- Equipment that has been parked for a long season is the most common problem. Tires that look fine can be dry-rotted and years past their date code, and bearings that have not been greased will run hot. If your boat or trailer has been sitting, have the tires and bearings checked before transport.
- The customer is responsible for the cost of any repairs needed to make the unit safe to move — tires, wheels, bearings, brakes, lights, couplers or anything else that allows the unit to roll or operate.
- If a tire blows out, a bearing fails or the unit becomes disabled in transit, the customer is responsible for the cost of towing to the nearest service facility and for the parts and labor to repair it. Roadside service on the highway costs considerably more than doing the work in advance.
- Repairs made on the road can add days to the delivery window. Enterprise Auto Transport is a licensed broker and is not responsible for the mechanical condition of the equipment, for the cost of repairs or towing, or for delays caused by them.
Get started
Request a quote for this shipment
Not sure what kind of hauler you need?
Don't worry. You don't have to know whether you need a power-only truck, flatbed, enclosed trailer, RV driver or specialized carrier. Just tell us what you're moving, its approximate size, where it's going and when you need it moved. We'll review the shipment and determine what type of transportation is appropriate.
Please note: Anything that rolls on its own wheels must be roadworthy before pickup. The customer is responsible for repairs — tires, bearings, brakes, lights — and for towing and repair costs if the unit becomes disabled in transit.
Ready to move your boat, RV or toys?
Equipment-specific quoting on dimensions, weight and trailer condition — with a coordinator who answers the phone.