The "Two-Foot Regret" I see happens all the time. A customer pulls onto the lot with a specific measurement in mind. They have a car that is exactly 18 feet long, so they single out the 18-foot trailers. It makes sense on paper: My cargo is 18 feet long, the trailer is 18 feet. It fits.
They buy the trailer, hook it up, and drive off happy.
Three months later? I see that same truck pulling back onto the lot. The customer walks into the office, looks at me, and says, "I messed up. I need the 20-footer."
Let’s call this the "Two-Foot Regret." It is definitely one of the most common mistakes I see buyers make. Honestly, it's one of the most expensive mistakes, too. Trading in a barely-used trailer to buy the one you should have bought in the first place costs way more than just buying the bigger one upfront—especially once you factor in depreciation and your time.
If you are on the fence between two sizes, here is why I almost always tell you to size up.
Bring a Tape Measure! When manufacturers say a trailer is a "6x10," they are usually measuring the frame or just rounding up. They aren't accounting for the real-world usage of that space. A 7’ wide trailer in reality is often 82” or 83” wide. Depending on ramps (particularly with enclosed units), the door frame can take up a few inches of your length, too.
If your UTV is 9 feet long and your trailer deck is 10 feet long, you technically have 6 inches on either end. But have you ever tried to stow cargo on an already full trailer? Where do you put it? Do you even have enough room to secure the straps?
Think about loading your nice 20’ car into a 20’ enclosed trailer. How do you strap it down? You have to get pretty creative if whatever you're moving fits EXACTLY inside a cargo trailer. You need space to walk around the cargo to check your tie-downs. Those extra few feet aren't just for cargo; they are for your sanity.
Pro Tip: If you're moving cars, you want to know the dimensions bumper-to-bumper, but also the wheelbase. If you are too long because you only used your wheelbase measurement, you might overhang in the rear or the front. If you plan on tying down to your wheels, you need to make sure you still have proper distance from the wheels to the tie-downs to get the right angle.
Your Cargo Will Grow Right now, you might just be hauling a zero-turn mower. But what about next year? Maybe you upgrade to a bigger deck size. Maybe you decide to add a weedeater rack, a toolbox, or a spare tire mount to the front of the trailer. Suddenly, that 16-foot deck that was "perfect" is now 6 inches too short to close the gate.
I’ve never had a customer call me to complain that they have too much space. But I get calls all the time from people who ran out of room because they bought a cooler, a generator, or a new piece of equipment that they didn't plan for.
In my time working here, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen us use a trailer as "temporary" storage only to find out a year later it's completely full!
The Resale Reality Let’s talk about money for a second. The price difference between adding a few feet is usually pretty small. If you finance the trailer, that difference is pennies a month. Even if you pay cash, that extra few hundred bucks is a cheap insurance policy against having to sell the trailer later.
From what I see in the market, prices go up and down all the time. That trailer you bought last year might have a new model year at a lower price. The dealer also has to leave room for profit on a trade-in. So, if you plan on trading it in, expect a lower value.
If you're planning on selling it yourself, ask yourself: how much longer can you own it while it sits? Is this trailer versatile enough for the general market? You could very well end up owning this trailer for months after you list it for sale—unless you discount it greatly.
The Verdict Look, I am not trying to upsell you on a massive hauler you can’t park in your driveway. If you have a strict storage limit at your HOA or a tight garage, obviously stick to what fits.
But if you have the room, buy the extra two feet.
It actually drives better, too. Believe it or not, a longer trailer is easier to back up than a short one. It gives you room to upgrade your gear, and it saves you the headache of trading it in when you inevitably need more space.