Carry-On Trailer
Carry-On Trailer is a U.S. manufacturer of utility, aluminum, equipment/car hauler, enclosed cargo, and dump trailers, producing across seven American factories and selling exclusively through a nationwide authorized dealer network serving both individual consumers and commercial operators.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersLavonia, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Carry-On Trailer does
Carry-On Trailer is a privately held American trailer manufacturer headquartered in Lavonia, Georgia, founded in 1996 and operating through the legal entity Carry-On Trailer, Inc. The company manufactures a full line of light- and medium-duty trailers, including utility, aluminum, equipment/car hauler, enclosed cargo, and dump trailers, spanning GVWRs from roughly 2,000 lbs to 14,000 lbs. Production runs across seven U.S. factories and incorporates robotic welding and automated guided assembly for frame fabrication and component integration.
The product portfolio is anchored by an extensive line of utility trailers, including the differentiated SmartFold sub-brand with adjustable folding side rails, alongside dedicated aluminum, enclosed cargo, equipment/car hauler, and dump series. Beyond complete units, Carry-On monetizes a parts catalog (brakes, suspension, lighting, couplers, axle assemblies) and an accessories line (hitches, ramps, tarps, cargo management, electrical) sold through its website and authorized dealers, creating an aftermarket revenue layer on top of new-trailer sales.
The company sells exclusively through authorized dealers and retail outlets, with no direct-to-consumer channel; prospective new dealers are vetted through a structured dealer inquiry process. End customers are split between individual homeowners and recreational users (lawn care, snowmobiles, home projects) and commercial operators (landscapers, contractors, equipment haulers). Marketing combines digital content (blog, how-to videos, social media on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube) with the physical dealer network. Carry-On self-describes as America's #1 selling national trailer brand by volume, supported by a sales associate base of more than 1,100 across the dealer channel.
Carry-On Trailer firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Carry-On Trailer
- Legal name
- Carry-On Trailer, Inc.
- Website
- https://carry-ontrailer.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Carry-On Trailer is a U.S. manufacturer of utility, aluminum, equipment/car hauler, enclosed cargo, and dump trailers, producing across seven American factories and selling exclusively through a nationwide authorized dealer network serving both individual consumers and commercial operators.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Carry-On Trailer industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Trailer Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Truck Trailer Manufacturing (336212), Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing (33621)
- SIC
- Truck Trailers (3715)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Trailer Manufacturing (Utility/Enclosed/Flatbed/Car Hauler) (IMACAGAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Truck Body & Upfit Manufacturing (Box/Dump/Service/Refuse) (IMACAGAC)
Keywords
Where Carry-On Trailer is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lavonia
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Carry-On Trailer business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Trailer Sales: Primary revenue from manufacturing and selling trailers through dealer network. Trailers sold in various categories including utility, aluminum, equipment/car hauler, enclosed cargo, and dump trailers.
- Parts Sales: Replacement parts for Carry-On trailers including brakes, fenders, hardware, lighting, suspension, tongue components, and wheel assemblies. Sold directly through the company website and dealers.
- Accessories Sales: Trailer accessories including hitches, spare tires, cargo management items, ramps, tarps, covers, electrical components, lighting, license plates, and wheel chocks.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Dealer-direct pricing model |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Carry-On Trailer product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Carry-On Trailer designs and manufactures utility, aluminum, equipment/car hauler, enclosed cargo, and dump trailers at seven U.S. factories using robotic welding and automated guided assembly. The company also sells replacement trailer parts and accessories, distributing all products exclusively through an authorized dealer and retail outlet network across the United States.
Product overview
Carry-On Trailer is America's #1 selling national trailer brand offering a comprehensive portfolio of trailers and related products. The core product lines include Utility Trailers (featuring the innovative SmartFold series with adjustable folding side rails, plus traditional G Series steel mesh and GW Series models), Aluminum Trailers (lightweight AGA and AGW series), Equipment & Car Haulers (heavy-duty deck-over and tilt deck configurations), Enclosed Cargo Trailers (multiple series for cargo protection), and Dump Trailers (low-profile tandem axle designs). Supporting the trailer products are two add-on modules: a comprehensive Parts catalog (brakes, suspension, lighting, wheel assemblies, couplers) and an Accessories line (cargo management, ramps, tarps, electrical). The company operates seven factories in the USA and distributes through authorized dealers nationwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Utility Trailers Open-deck utility trailers for everyday work or weekend recreation, available in steel mesh floor and solid floor configurations with GVWR ratings from 2,000 to 9,990 lbs. Multiple series including G Series, GTTR Series, GW Series, GW2K Series, and SmartFold, with features including ramp gates, E-Z Lube axles, and treated wood floors.
- Aluminum Trailers Lightweight, rust-resistant trailers constructed with aluminum alloy for durability without constant maintenance. Available in AGA3K, AGW, and AGW7K series with capacities up to 7,000 lbs GVWR.
- Equipment & Car Haulers Heavy-duty trailers designed for transporting cars, tractors, and construction equipment. Features include rear stabilizer jacks, deck-over and tilt deck configurations, and GVWR ratings from 7,000 to 14,000 lbs.
- Enclosed Cargo Trailers Locked trailers that protect cargo from elements and provide security at job sites. Available in multiple series including CGVEC, CG3K, CG7K, CGR10K, CGBN, CGRBN, CGCM, and CGEC series with GVWR up to 10,000 lbs.
- Dump Trailers Trailers for hauling loose materials like dirt, gravel, mulch, and brush with low-profile design for easier loading/unloading. Available in 5K, 7K, 10K, 12K, and 14K configurations with tandem axle options.
- SmartFold SF2K Series Utility trailer with adjustable side rails that fold down for barrier-free loading and can be lowered during transport to reduce wind resistance. Features 2,990 lbs GVWR, 1,250 lbs payload capacity, and 6' x 8' deck size.
- SmartFold SF3K Series Larger version of the SmartFold design available in 6' x 11' and 6' x 13' configurations with 2,990 lbs GVWR and 1,925-2,040 lbs payload capacity.
- Trailer Parts Replacement parts for Carry-On trailers including brakes, fenders, hardware, lighting, suspension, tongue components, and wheel assemblies. Categories include brake assemblies, hub/drum assemblies, breakaway kits, couplers, leaf springs, axles, and tire/wheel assemblies.
- Trailer Accessories Trailer customization accessories including hitch adapters, spare tire carriers, cargo management solutions (tongue boxes, landscape boxes, utility racks), ramps, tarps and covers, electrical adapters, lighting accessories, license plate brackets, and wheel chocks.
Quantifiable outcome
- Award-winning customer service through more than 1,100 sales associates
Companies that use Carry-On Trailer
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Carry-On Trailer technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Carry-On Trailer partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Carry-On Trailer competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Pace American: Pace American is a major US manufacturer of enclosed cargo, utility, and specialty trailers sold through a national dealer network, competing head-to-head with Carry-On across multiple trailer categories.
- PJ Trailers: PJ Trailers manufactures a broad portfolio of utility, dump, equipment, and car hauler trailers sold through authorized dealers across the US, making it one of the closest head-to-head competitors to Carry-On in the light/medium trailer category.
- Bravo Trailers: Bravo Trailers produces enclosed cargo, utility, and snowmobile trailers via a dealer network in North America, overlapping with Carry-On on both utility and enclosed product categories.
- Load Trail: Load Trail builds dump, utility, equipment, and car hauler trailers sold nationwide through a dealer network, directly overlapping with Carry-On's core utility and dump product lines and dealer-led GTM motion.
- Continental Cargo: Continental Cargo manufactures enclosed cargo and specialty trailers distributed through a dealer network, directly competing with Carry-On in the enclosed cargo trailer segment.
- Sure-Trac: Sure-Trac produces utility, equipment, dump, and enclosed cargo trailers distributed through a US dealer network, putting it in the same product and channel bucket as Carry-On in the mid-tier light trailer market.
- Wells Cargo Trailer: Wells Cargo manufactures enclosed cargo, motorcycle, and utility trailers sold through a US dealer network, representing a direct competitor specifically to Carry-On's enclosed cargo category.
- Kaufman Trailers: Kaufman Trailers manufactures utility, equipment, and car hauler trailers sold through dealers across the US, competing directly with Carry-On on utility and car hauler SKUs for both consumer and contractor buyers.
- Haulmark Trailers: Haulmark produces enclosed cargo and specialty trailers (contractor, motorcycle, car) through a national dealer network; it competes directly with Carry-On's enclosed cargo line and shares the same dealer-led B2C/light commercial model.
- Big Tex Trailers: Big Tex Trailers is one of the largest US utility and equipment trailer manufacturers, offering utility, dump, equipment, and car hauler lines sold through a national dealer network — directly comparable to Carry-On across product, channel, and target customer.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Carry-On Trailer social profiles
Digital presenceCarry-On Trailer financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Carry-On Trailer leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Carry-On Trailer funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Carry-On Trailer M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Carry-On Trailer
What does Carry-On Trailer do?
Carry-On Trailer designs and manufactures utility, aluminum, equipment/car hauler, enclosed cargo, and dump trailers at seven U.S. factories using robotic welding and automated guided assembly. The company also sells replacement trailer parts and accessories, distributing all products exclusively through an authorized dealer and retail outlet network across the United States.
Is Carry-On Trailer a public or private company?
Carry-On Trailer is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Carry-On Trailer founded?
Carry-On Trailer was founded in 1996. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Carry-On Trailer based?
Carry-On Trailer is headquartered in Lavonia, United States, in the North America region.
How does Carry-On Trailer make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Trailer Sales are the primary driver. The others are parts Sales and accessories Sales.
Who are Carry-On Trailer's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Pace American, PJ Trailers, Bravo Trailers, Load Trail, Continental Cargo, Sure-Trac, Wells Cargo Trailer, Kaufman Trailers, Haulmark Trailers and Big Tex Trailers.
Does Carry-On Trailer have an API?
No public API is recorded for Carry-On Trailer.
What industry is Carry-On Trailer in?
Carry-On Trailer's product category is Trailer Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMACAGAA, Trailer Manufacturing (Utility/Enclosed/Flatbed/Car Hauler), with a secondary code of IMACAGAC, Truck Body & Upfit Manufacturing (Box/Dump/Service/Refuse). Its NAICS code is 336212 and its SIC code is 3715.