Open deck vs enclosed: I was wrong about aluminum haulers

I spent 5 years using enclosed carriers for anything over $30k, thought open deck was for junkers and fleet cars. Then a Kia Telluride came down from Denver on an open hauler with 2,000 miles and zero rock chips. The driver had a good tarp system and ran the inside lanes through Nebraska. Now I ask about tarp coverage before I book, not just the trailer type. Anyone else loosened up on open deck for nicer cars?

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hayes.oliver14d ago

Yeah I loosened up a lot after a similar thing. Used to be strictly enclosed no matter what, but a few years back I had an Escalade come up from Texas on an open rig with a good cover over the front and it was perfect. The real trick is asking what they do for the front grille and windshield. Some of these guys have magnetic bra's and window shields that make a huge difference. Also check what routes they plan to take. A driver who avoids the interstate construction zones and sticks to the middle lanes is way more careful than someone who just bombs down the highway. Tarps are not all created equal either, I've seen some that flap and scratch worse than nothing at all. So now I always ask for photos of their setup before I commit. It's still a gamble I guess but a lot smaller than it used to be.

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