Snowbird toy transport
Travel Trailer Transport
Bumper-pull trailers towed by a carrier's truck.
Overview
How travel trailer transport works
A bumper-pull travel trailer is the most straightforward recreational tow-away there is — right up until the point where the trailer is not in shape to be towed. Almost every problem on this type of move traces back to tires, bearings or brakes.
Carriers tow these behind a pickup or a medium-duty truck with a receiver hitch and the right weight-distribution setup. The trailer's own running gear does the work for the whole trip.
Standard tow-away
A carrier hooks to your ball coupler and tows. It works well for units up to roughly 35 feet and within the truck's rated capacity, which is why we ask for GVWR and not just dry weight.
Weight matching
Trailer weight has to sit inside the tow vehicle's rating with margin. A 9,000-pound loaded trailer is a different assignment than the same trailer empty, and it changes which carriers can take it.
Quoting
What we need to quote your shipment
- Length (box length and overall with tongue), width and height
- Dry weight and GVWR
- Ball size and whether weight-distribution bars are included
- Electric brake condition and whether the breakaway cable works
- Tire DOT dates
- Registration status
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
- Dump and flush the tanks
- Retract the awning and lock the arms
- Remove the propane tanks or close and secure them
- Latch every compartment and lock the entry door
- Take out anything loose inside — drawers open on the road
- Repack or verify the bearings and check tire pressure
- Leave the battery connected only if the brakes require it; otherwise disconnect
From experience
What commonly goes wrong
- Sway is the number-one risk on a light bumper-pull. Loading the rear heavy makes it worse.
- Roof seams and skylights are the parts that leak after a long haul. Inspect and seal before you send it.
- A trailer stored outdoors all winter in the north often needs a full brake service before it is safe to tow 1,500 miles.
Questions
Travel Trailer Transport FAQs
Can I leave belongings inside?
Light items secured in cabinets are usually tolerated, but they are not insured, and weight inside affects the tow rating. Keep it minimal.
What if my trailer has no current registration?
Tell us before booking. Some states require it for towing; if it cannot be registered in time, the unit may need to go on a flatbed instead.
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.