Box trailer vs cage trailer: which one for the job

A box trailer and a cage trailer are the two most hired trailers in the country, and they are closely related. A cage trailer is simply a box trailer with a tall mesh cage bolted on, so the choice comes down to how tall and how loose your load is.

A box trailer is an open steel tray, usually 6x4 or 7x5, with low drop or fixed sides. It is the pick for heavy, compact loads that sit low: soil bags, pavers, a washing machine, green waste for the tip or a small furniture run. Open sides make it easy to load from any angle and shovel out.

A cage trailer adds height with a mesh cage, so you can pile light, bulky loads that would fall off or blow out of a flat tray. It is the tool for a rubbish clear-out, boxes, a mattress, garden prunings or a share-house move, where volume runs out before weight does.

The trade-offs are simple. The cage gives you more capacity for bulky loads but adds height you have to watch under carports and awnings, and a tall load still needs a net over the top. A box trailer is lower and easier to load heavy items into, but a big light load will overflow it.

A useful rule: if the load is heavy and low, hire a box trailer (from $40). If it is light and bulky, hire a cage (from $50). Either way, strap and cover the load before you drive.

Trailer Hire Near Me lists local yards that hire both, so you can pick the right one for the job. Tell us what you are moving and we send you their numbers, free.