Box Trailer

Prototype Information

Bumper pull box trailers started as simple wooden crates on wheels in the early 1900s. Early car owners built these homemade rigs to carry extra gear on unpaved roads. By 1914, companies like the Detroit Trailer Company began mass-producing basic utility trailers for the public. The 1920s and 30s saw a massive boom in “house trailers,” led by brands like Covered Wagon. These manufacturers standardized the rear-hitch design we use today. The term “bumper pull” eventually emerged to distinguish these trailers from larger fifth-wheel and gooseneck designs.

Designers improved these trailers significantly after World War II. They used new steel manufacturing and axle tech to build tougher, specialized boxes. During the 1950s and 60s, these trailers moved beyond camping and into the commercial world. Businesses began using them as mobile workshops and dedicated equipment haulers. In the late 20th century, makers adopted aluminum skins and aerodynamic shapes to save fuel. Today, the bumper pull box trailer remains the most popular towing choice for everyone from landscapers to weekend racers.