1. Decide on the type of cargo your trailer will be carrying. It is important to know what you are expecting to carry within your trailer because it will determine the type of trailer you’ll be purchasing, the weight of the trailer, whether it will have a ramp and or rear door, and if it will be open or enclosed. It will help you to determine how wide, long, and high the trailer must be. 2. Purchase from a trusted Trailer Manufacturer. It is vital to know that the company you are buying your trailer from is reliable and legitimate. In terms of purchasing a stable trailer that will be long lasting, you must find a manufacturer that has had its trailers approved by the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM). Their decal of NATM will be placed above a trailer’s tongue. This indicates that the trailers have gone through a voluntary program that establishes that the trailers meet federal safety regulations and industry standards. 3. Observe the appearance and build of a trailer to ensure its durability. The better quality that the trailer looks will almost always show the durability it has. A paint job can signify the quality of a trailer because those of high-quality are primed before painted, where as lower quality trailers are not. In addition to this, trailers with cross members that are more than 24 inches apart may not be able to carry a large amount of weight. Cross members between 12 to 16 inches apart can be used to carry very heavy materials. 4. Consider the amount of weight you will be hauling. This goes back to knowing the type of cargo you intend to carry within your trailer. Will you be transporting livestock or horses? Lawn materials or motorcycles? Whatever it may be, you must find a trailer that will be able to hold the amount you need it to, and then some, just in case. You should definitely purchase a trailer that will be able to carry a little more than you need. Manufacturers give their trailers a gross vehicle weight rating or a GVWR that accounts for how much the trailer itself actually weighs and the maximum weight it can carry. Also, consider the type of vehicle that will be hauling the trailer. Will it be able to tow what you need? It is vital to know that your vehicle can handle the weight you need it to and whether the vehicle’s hitch is able to safely tow that amount. 5. Rear Doors. Deciding whether you need rear doors goes back to the question of what kind of cargo you will be carrying. Rear doors with ramps would be necessary to transport motorcycles, animals, or other vehicles. You could also choose a double door trailer which would be better for those carrying cargo that they can go into the trailer and retrieve themselves. 6. Take careful thought when transporting live animals. It is important to know that when you are transporting animals such as livestock or horses within your trailer, you must not only take your own needs into consideration, but those of your live cargo as well. You must account for how many horses/livestock you will be transporting, the number of times you’ll use it a year, and how much room they will need to comfortably fit within the trailer for the ride.