When shopping for a car trailer, understanding width specifications is essential for ensuring your vehicle fits properly and meets legal requirements. Appalachian Trailers car haulers are 82 inches wide between fenders, a standard dimension that accommodates most passenger vehicles, sports cars, and light trucks while remaining street-legal without special permits.
This car trailer width measurement applies to all single-vehicle models in the Appalachian Trailers lineup, including wood floor light duty trailers (7K GVWR), standard duty models (10K-12K GVWR), diamond floor car trailers, and professional series configurations. Whether you’re hauling a classic car to a show or transporting vehicles for a dealership, knowing the exact width between fenders helps you make informed purchasing decisions.
Understanding Car Trailer Width Measurements
The 82-inch specification refers to the usable deck width between the trailer fenders. This measurement is crucial because it determines which vehicles can safely load onto your auto hauler without wheel or fender interference. The overall trailer width will be slightly larger when accounting for the fender housings themselves, but the between-fender measurement is what matters for vehicle compatibility.
Standard car hauler dimensions include not only width but also deck length and dovetail design. Wood floor car trailers feature a 2-foot dovetail, while diamond floor models offer a 4-foot dovetail. This extended dovetail on diamond floor trailers creates a more gradual loading angle, making it easier to load low-profile vehicles without scraping. For ultimate convenience, hydraulic tilt car trailers eliminate the need for ramps entirely.
Multi-Car Trailer Width Specifications
For customers needing to haul multiple vehicles, Appalachian Trailers offers two car hauler trailers and larger configurations with different width considerations. The two car hauler trailer features an open center design with 24-inch wide diamond plate runners and no fender interference, allowing you to load dually trucks comfortably. Three car and four car trailer models provide even more versatility for commercial operators.
Gooseneck car trailer options are also available for those who need the towing capacity of a gooseneck hitch. These gooseneck two car hauler trailers maintain the no-fender-interference design, making them ideal for transporting larger vehicles or multiple cars simultaneously.
Legal Width Requirements and Regulations
One of the advantages of an 82-inch car trailer is its compliance with federal and state regulations. Standard legal width limits for non-commercial trailers typically allow up to 8.5 feet (102 inches) without requiring special wide-load permits. Appalachian Trailers’ 82-inch between-fender measurement keeps the overall trailer width well within legal limits for highway towing in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and across the United States.
When towing a car hauler trailer of this width, proper mirror setup is essential for safety. Most half-ton and three-quarter-ton pickup trucks can safely tow these single car trailers without additional modifications, though extended towing mirrors may improve visibility and lane positioning.
Choosing the Right Car Trailer Width for Your Needs
The 82-inch standard width works well for most applications. Standard passenger cars typically have track widths (wheel-to-wheel measurements) between 60 and 65 inches, providing ample clearance on an 82-inch auto hauler. Sports cars and compact vehicles fit easily, while larger trucks and SUVs also load safely within this width specification.
Storage considerations also factor into width selection. An 82-inch wide car trailer fits comfortably in most residential garages and commercial storage facilities. The compact width improves maneuverability in parking lots and tight spaces while maintaining the structural integrity needed for safe vehicle transport.
Contact Appalachian Trailers Today
Whether you need a single car trailer for personal use or a multi-vehicle configuration for commercial auto transport, Appalachian Trailers offers durable, professionally-built car haulers with consistent 82-inch width specifications. Our car trailers for sale are manufactured at our Northeast Ohio plant and available for pickup at our Ohio or Pennsylvania locations.
Call 330-277-4141 today to speak with our sales representatives about car trailer width specifications, GVWR options, wood floor versus diamond floor configurations, and financing options. Let our team help you select the perfect car hauler trailer for your vehicle transportation needs.