People drive a long way for a trailer. Not usually — but for Car Mate, they do.
We see buyers come up the lakeshore, and we see them come from Chicago, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Detroit and Cleveland. Which is a fair question in itself: why drive past who-knows-how-many trailer lots for something you could theoretically buy closer to home?
It comes down to three things. Where we sit on the map, what Car Mate actually builds, and whether you can put your hands on one before you buy.
We’re the furthest-west Car Mate dealer
Car Mate builds in Pennsylvania, and the authorised dealer network gets thin as you head west. We’re the last one going that direction.
That’s the whole reason the Chicago and Milwaukee calls come in. If you want this brand and you live west of us, your options are order it sight-unseen from a long way off, or make the drive. Holland is an easy lakeshore trip from most of the upper Midwest, and you go home towing the thing rather than waiting on it.
Read the model number first
Car Mate model codes look cryptic and aren’t. The digits are just the size.
CM612CC-HD is 6ft by 12ft. CM716CC-HD is 7ft by 16ft. CM820C-CT is 8ft by 20ft. The letters on the end are the series — HD for heavy-duty, CT for the car haulers. Once that clicks you can read the whole Car Mate inventory at a glance.
Here’s roughly how the range lays out:
| Model | Size | GVWR | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| CM406CC | 4 x 6 | 2,000 lbs | Small hauls, motorcycle, storage |
| CM508EC | 5 x 8 | 2,990 lbs | Single axle, light and easy to tow |
| CM612CC-HD | 6 x 12 | 7,000 lbs | The popular one — work gear, moving, toys |
| CM714CC-HD | 7 x 14 | 7,000 lbs | Crews and bigger equipment |
| CM716CC-HD | 7 x 16 | 7,000 lbs | Contractor builds, side-by-sides |
| CM820C-CT | 8 x 20 | 9,990 lbs | Car hauling |
Note the jump between the 5x8 and the 6x12. That’s not just two feet — it’s single axle to tandem, and 2,990 lbs to 7,000. Most people who think they want a 5x8 and then describe what they’re hauling end up in a 6x12.
What people come for
Buyers who already know the brand come for the build. Tube-frame construction, decent axles, and an options list long enough that you can spec the trailer around what you actually do instead of settling for what’s on a lot.
That last part matters more than it sounds. Car Mate is built to order, so a contractor package, a sport build for toys and gear, or a plain cargo box are all the same conversation — just different boxes ticked. If we don’t have your spec sitting out front, we’ll order it.
Enclosed cargo or car hauler?
This is the fork most people hit, and it’s worth being clear about.
The CC models are enclosed cargo — gear, tools, furniture, bikes, anything you want out of the weather and behind a locked door. The CT models are purpose-built car haulers with the length, the ramp setup and the 9,990 rating to match.
People do haul cars in long enclosed cargo trailers, and it can work. But if hauling vehicles is the main job rather than the occasional one, buy the trailer built for it. If you’re still weighing the options, our full enclosed cargo inventory is the wider view.
If you’re making the drive
Two things make an out-of-state trip go smoothly.
Call first. Tell us which models you want to see and we’ll have them pulled up front and open when you arrive, rather than you standing in the lot while somebody goes hunting for keys.
Sort the money before you leave. Ask about financing ahead of time if you need it. Nobody wants to drive four hours and then discover paperwork is the hold-up.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the closest Car Mate dealer to Chicago?
Car Mate builds in Pennsylvania and the dealer network thins out heading west, so options west of Michigan get scarce fast. We’re the furthest-west Car Mate dealer, which is why a lot of Chicago-area buyers make the lakeshore run rather than order blind.
What sizes does Car Mate make?
On our lot the range runs from a 4x6 up to an 8x20 car hauler. The middle of the lineup — 6x12, 7x14 and 7x16 — is where most buyers land, and it’s where we keep the deepest stock.
How do I read a Car Mate model number?
The digits are the size. CM612 is 6ft by 12ft, CM716 is 7ft by 16ft, CM820 is 8ft by 20ft. The letters after that tell you the series — HD for the heavy-duty builds, CT for the car haulers.
Can I order a Car Mate with custom options?
Yes. Car Mate is built to order and the options list is long — that’s a big part of why people seek the brand out. If the exact spec isn’t on the lot we’ll put the order in for the build you want.
Is it worth driving from out of state for a trailer?
Depends what you’re after. If you want a Car Mate specifically and there’s no dealer near you, then usually yes — call ahead and we’ll have the models you’re interested in pulled up front and ready when you get here.
Come see the lineup in Holland
If you’ve been hunting a Car Mate and coming up empty closer to home, the lakeshore trip is probably worth it. We’ll walk you through sizes, options and pricing, and help match a trailer to how you actually use it rather than to the biggest one on the lot.
Closer to Grand Rapids? Our sister store stocks Car Mate too, and often has units we don’t: Car Mate inventory at Grandville Trailer.