Open car trailers are specialized vehicle transport trailers with an open deck, designed to carry automobiles without an enclosed body surrounding the vehicle. Their straightforward construction provides easy access for loading and unloading while allowing the transported vehicle to remain visible during transit. Open car trailers are used for moving cars between dealerships, repair facilities, auctions, private locations, motorsports events, and vehicle storage facilities.
For diecast collectors, Open Car trailer models provide an excellent way to expand a vehicle collection beyond individual cars. An open car trailer can be paired with a scale pickup, commercial truck, or other towing vehicle to create a realistic vehicle transportation scene. Models may represent simple single-car trailers as well as larger configurations intended to carry multiple automobiles.
What Is an Open Car Trailer?
An open car trailer is a towable trailer specifically configured to transport automobiles on an exposed platform. Unlike an Enclosed Car trailer, it does not have a roof and full side walls surrounding the vehicle.
The basic design typically consists of:
- An open loading deck
- Trailer frame and chassis
- Ramps or an inclined loading surface
- Axles and wheels
- Fenders or wheel guards
- Tie-down or securing points
- Trailer hitch or towing connection
- Rear loading area
The exact design depends on the trailer's size and intended application. A small open car trailer may carry one automobile behind a pickup, while larger vehicle transport trailers can carry several cars and are commonly associated with commercial vehicle transportation.
The open construction makes the trailer practical for vehicles that need to be loaded and unloaded frequently. It also gives diecast models a particularly recognizable appearance because the transported car remains completely visible.
Open Car Trailer vs. Other Car Trailers
There are several types of trailers used to transport automobiles, and understanding the differences can help collectors choose the appropriate model.
Open Car vs. Enclosed Car Trailers
The most obvious difference is the body surrounding the cargo. An open car trailer leaves the automobile exposed, while an enclosed car trailer provides a roof and side walls.
Open trailers offer easier visibility and accessibility, while enclosed trailers provide greater protection from weather, road debris, and public visibility.
For diecast displays, the difference is equally important. An open trailer allows the collector to see the car being transported, making the automobile itself an important part of the display.
Open Car vs. Flatbed Car Trailers
A Flatbed Car trailer is also designed to transport automobiles, but the term generally describes an open-deck vehicle carrier configuration. The distinction between the two categories can vary depending on how a particular trailer is classified.
Open car trailers may include smaller recreational or utility-style car haulers, while flatbed car trailers can represent more specialized commercial vehicle transport equipment.
Open Car vs. Lowboy Trailers
A Lowboy trailer is primarily designed to transport heavy equipment and uses a lowered deck to accommodate tall machinery. Although a lowboy can carry certain vehicles, its construction and intended application are different from a dedicated open automobile trailer.
Common Uses for Open Car Trailers
Open car trailers serve many purposes because they can transport vehicles without requiring a specialized enclosed carrier.
Common applications include:
- Moving passenger cars
- Transporting project and restoration vehicles
- Taking race cars to motorsports events
- Delivering vehicles to repair shops
- Moving cars between storage locations
- Transporting vehicles purchased at auctions
- Dealership and fleet transportation
- Recovering non-running vehicles
- Moving classic and collector automobiles
For collectors, the motorsports and classic-car applications can be especially interesting. A race car positioned on an open trailer behind a tow vehicle can create a convincing pre-race or transportation scene.
A Brief History of Automobile Trailers
The development of automobile trailers followed the rapid growth of car ownership during the early 20th century. As automobiles became increasingly common, there was a growing need to move vehicles that could not or should not be driven under their own power.
Early automobile transportation relied on relatively simple platforms and adapted trailers. As vehicle production increased and automobile transportation became a commercial activity, manufacturers developed more specialized equipment for moving cars.
Open designs remained practical because they provided straightforward loading and unloading while keeping trailer construction relatively simple. Ramps, stronger frames, improved suspension, dedicated tie-down systems, and multiple-vehicle configurations gradually expanded the capabilities of automobile trailers.
The same basic principle remains familiar today: provide a stable platform, load the vehicle using ramps or other equipment, secure it properly, and tow it with an appropriately equipped vehicle.
Features to Look for in Open Car Diecast Models
The best open car trailer models reproduce the mechanical and functional details that make the real trailers recognizable.
Depending on the particular model, collectors may find:
Loading Ramps
Ramps provide the transition between the ground and trailer deck. They may be fixed, folding, removable, or represented in a stored position.
Open Deck
The exposed deck is the central feature of the trailer. Its surface may include structural beams, textured panels, crossmembers, or other details representing a real vehicle-loading platform.
Wheel Fenders
Single-car and smaller open trailers often have fenders positioned around the trailer wheels. Their shape and placement can have a noticeable effect on the model's appearance.
Tie-Down Details
Real vehicle trailers use appropriate methods to secure the transported automobile. Scale models may reproduce tie-down points, wheel straps, rails, or other securing features.
Axles and Running Gear
Axles, wheels, tires, suspension components, and the trailer frame add realism, particularly on larger-scale models.
Hitch and Towing Equipment
The front hitch connects the trailer to its towing vehicle. A properly proportioned hitch helps create a convincing complete truck-and-trailer combination.
Open Car Trailers and Diecast Collecting
An open car trailer creates an opportunity to display two vehicles together: the trailer's towing vehicle and the automobile being transported.
This makes these models particularly useful for collectors who enjoy automotive storytelling. Instead of simply displaying a classic car, race car, or modern vehicle, the trailer can suggest that the car is being delivered, restored, transported to an event, or moved to another location.
A small open trailer behind a pickup can represent a private owner transporting a project car. A larger vehicle carrier can represent commercial automobile transportation. A race car on a trailer can create an obvious connection to motorsports.
The same trailer can therefore support several different display themes.
Pairing Open Car Trailers With Scale Vehicles
The towing vehicle is an important part of an open car trailer display. Depending on the size and design of the trailer, suitable companions may include pickups, SUVs, medium-duty trucks, or heavy-duty commercial vehicles.
Collectors can explore the Pickup category for smaller towing combinations or the Truck category for larger commercial applications.
For motorsports collections, an open car trailer can also be paired with vehicles from the Racing Models category. A race car secured on a trailer behind a tow vehicle can create a compact paddock, transport, or pre-event display.
Choosing the Right Scale
Scale compatibility is one of the most important considerations when adding an open car trailer to an existing diecast collection.
Depending on the manufacturer and trailer design, open car models may be available in scales such as 1/18, 1/24, 1/32, 1/43, 1/50, and 1/64.
1/18 Scale
Larger models provide substantial visual presence and allow trailer construction, ramps, wheels, and securing equipment to be more easily appreciated.
1/24 Scale
1/24 is a natural choice for collectors with larger passenger-car collections. An open car trailer can be paired with similarly scaled automobiles and towing vehicles to create a balanced display.
1/43 Scale
1/43 offers a compact alternative while retaining enough size for recognizable trailer and vehicle details.
1/64 Scale
1/64 is especially useful for collectors who want to build larger transportation scenes. Multiple cars, trucks, trailers, and accessories can be displayed together without requiring as much space.
Because manufacturers may produce similar trailers in different scales, always check the individual product specifications before purchasing.
Building an Automotive Transportation Diorama
Open car trailers are particularly effective in automotive dioramas because they naturally connect several vehicles into a single scene.
A collector could create a classic-car transport scene with a pickup towing a trailer carrying a vintage automobile. Another display might show a race car being transported to a track, with a truck and additional racing vehicles nearby.
An automotive repair or restoration scene can also incorporate an open trailer. A project car positioned on the trailer can suggest that it is being delivered to a workshop or moved after a purchase.
For a commercial setting, a larger open vehicle carrier can be displayed with several cars and a heavy-duty tractor, representing the movement of vehicles between distribution points or dealerships.
What Collectors Should Consider
When shopping for an open car trailer model, consider how the trailer fits into your existing collection.
Vehicle Capacity
Determine whether the model represents a single-car trailer or a multi-car carrier. This can dramatically affect the size and appearance of the finished display.
Towing Configuration
Consider what type of vehicle would realistically tow the trailer. A small trailer may pair naturally with a pickup, while a larger commercial carrier may require a truck tractor.
Trailer Detail
Look at the ramps, deck, axles, wheels, fenders, frame, and securing details. These features can add considerable visual interest.
Car Compatibility
If the trailer is intended to carry a specific scale of automobile, make sure the vehicle fits the deck dimensions and proportions appropriately.
Display Space
Larger multi-car trailers can become substantial display pieces. Measure available space if you are building a detailed automotive transportation scene.
Why Open Car Trailer Models Are Interesting Collectibles
Open car trailers have a practical simplicity that makes them immediately recognizable. Their exposed decks, loading ramps, wheels, and towing equipment provide a different collecting experience from enclosed automobile transporters.
They are also versatile. The same basic trailer concept can be used to display a classic car, race car, project vehicle, modern automobile, or other compatible vehicle. This makes open car trailer models useful accessories for many different types of automotive collections.
For collectors who enjoy combining vehicles into realistic scenes, an open trailer adds context and purpose to the automobile it carries.
Shop Open Car Trailer Diecast Models
Whether you are building a motorsports display, collecting classic automobiles, creating a vehicle transportation diorama, or simply looking for a distinctive trailer to complement your diecast vehicles, an Open Car trailer model can be a practical and visually interesting addition.
Browse the Open Car category at DiecastModelsWholesale.com to explore available scale automobile trailers and find a model that fits your collection, towing combination, or next automotive diorama.
