2018 Sure-Trac 16' Car Hauler — Should You Buy One?
Typical asking price: $5,000–$9,000. There is 1 high-severity known issue you need to know before handing over a check.
Kestrel Take
Sure-Trac builds honest, well-made steel car haulers at fair prices. The 16-foot is the most common size for a single vehicle. At 7 years old and likely used for car hauling, inspect the tie-down D-rings, diamond plate, and wheel bearings.
What we checked
Not checked against public records
Towable trailers are in NHTSA’s database and we intend to use it. We have not switched it on yet because recall notices name sub-brands and floorplans rather than the model we key on, and folding them in carelessly would put another trailer’s recall on this page. What follows is our own write-up, and it has not been reconciled against an official record. Treat it as a starting point, not a verdict.
Known Issues for the 2018 Sure-Trac 16' Car Hauler
Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents. How we decide that.
D-rings for vehicle tie-downs take constant load from strapping. Inspect the welds around each D-ring for cracking or pulling. A failed D-ring under load causes an accident.
Repair cost (estimate): $50-$200 per D-ring to re-weld
Source: not yet checked against public records.
Diamond plate steel rusts from outdoor exposure. Check for lifting, splitting, or heavy rust that compromises the surface.
Repair cost (estimate): $200-$600 to replace sections
Source: not yet checked against public records.
Car haulers at 7 years need bearing inspection. Check for play and heat.
Repair cost (estimate): $100-$300 per axle
Source: not yet checked against public records.
Walk-Away Red Flags
- ✗D-ring welds cracked or pulling from the frame
- ✗Diamond plate with significant rust lifting or structural damage
- ✗Bearing play or heat after towing
Good Signs
- ✓D-ring welds solid on inspection
- ✓Diamond plate surface solid without significant rust lifting
- ✓Bearings repacked within 2 years
More from Sure-Trac
Similar trailers & campers
2019 Diamond C LPX 207 Equipment
$5,500–$8,500
2019 Big Tex Trailers 14ET Equipment Trailer
$6,000–$10,000
2019 Cargo Mate 7x16 Enclosed
$6,000–$10,000
2020 Lamar 83x16 Equipment
$4,500–$7,500
2019 Continental Cargo 7x16 Enclosed
$4,500–$7,500
2019 Covered Wagon Trailers CW16 Open
$4,000–$7,000
2020 H&H 8x20 Car Hauler
$3,800–$6,500
2018 Look Trailers Element SI 7x16 Enclosed
$7,000–$11,000
2019 Aluma 7814 Utility
$3,500–$6,000
Also in the guide: RVs & Motorhomes
Found a specific Sure-Trac 16' Car Hauler?
This page covers what goes wrong on the 2018 Sure-Trac 16' Car Hauler in general. A free read looks at the one you're considering— it checks that seller's asking price against the market and names the issues that matter most for this exact year.
Get a free read on it →Instant, on the page, no card and no account. The year, make and model come with you — you add the asking price and the mileage.
The free read stops short of a verdict, because that needs the photos. The full report — $7.99 takes your photos and the seller's description, does the fair-offer math, and ends in BUY, NEGOTIATE or WALK AWAY with a negotiation script. Delivered to your inbox, usually within minutes.
Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.
No bullshit, no upsells, no affiliate links. One report, one price — we'll never charge you rent for your own thinking.
Think we got something wrong? Tell us — a real person reads every message.