vitamin c orange
Well-Known Member
My wife gave me the go ahead to order a car hauler. I have a '69 RR, what length would work best?? I'm looking for good ideas on trailers and the specs that would be good for me. Thanks in advance.
Enclosed car hauler
- Thread starter vitamin c orange
- Start date
patrick66
Well-Known Member
Enclosed rigs are nice. Assuming you are looking for a single-car hauler, I'd go with a 22' to 24' unit. This gives you room to manuever yourself inside without too much trouble, plus leaves room for stuff. Lots of good trailers out there. Lots of junk, too.
Ideally, you want a ramp door, plus access doors on both sides. A winch is very handy. Room upfront for a small tool box and perhaps spare parts, which a side-to-side tire rack or something similar works great for that. As far as lighting goes, are you looking to need a lot of lighting and a generator to go with all that? I'd get #7,000 eight-lug axles with the best trailer tires you can get, along with wheels designed FOR trailers and not light trucks or cars. There are soooo many options available.
Ideally, you want a ramp door, plus access doors on both sides. A winch is very handy. Room upfront for a small tool box and perhaps spare parts, which a side-to-side tire rack or something similar works great for that. As far as lighting goes, are you looking to need a lot of lighting and a generator to go with all that? I'd get #7,000 eight-lug axles with the best trailer tires you can get, along with wheels designed FOR trailers and not light trucks or cars. There are soooo many options available.
440ronnie67
Well-Known Member
What are you using to pull it with?
vitamin c orange
Well-Known Member
Chevy pickup truck
- Local time
- 8:56 PM
- Joined
- Dec 4, 2009
- Messages
- 35,602
- Reaction score
- 46,234
- Location
- Pasadena, Texas
Uh, what size Chevy? 3/4 ton? Diesel or gas? Gear ratio? My enclosed trailer (22' iirc) weighs over 4000 lbs empty!
MoparMitch
Well-Known Member
- Local time
- 9:56 PM
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2011
- Messages
- 3,826
- Reaction score
- 2,893
- Location
- Friendship, Maryland
Had a helluva time hauling my 4000# enclosed trailer with my 87 R30 dually 454 th400 4:11 gear. Hauled out to the Nats a few years ago and it was a nightmare. Got 7 mpg engine ran a little warm. Worst of all , the transmission overheated so much that I had to pull into a parts store and add an additional trans cooler. Sold it last year in favor of a 92 D250 Cummins Diesel . 22mpg/18 towing. Best move I've made lately.
Blackheart
Well-Known Member
- Local time
- 9:56 PM
- Joined
- Dec 20, 2010
- Messages
- 400
- Reaction score
- 233
- Location
- Burlington, North Carolina
Just curious, why does he need a 24' trailer if he just wants to haul the car, I can understand if he's wanting to race out of it, but just to transport a car I don't see needing it that large and heavy. Maybe I missed his intention for the trailer's purpose.
vitamin c orange
Well-Known Member
I've got a 3/4 ton truck with air bags. For extra long hauls I was going to pull it with RV diesel pusher.
- - - Updated - - -
Concerning the length of trailer, my RR is 17' long and weighs 4,000#. I would use this trailer for car shows greater than 2-3 hours away from home (Nationals, Carisle)
- - - Updated - - -
Concerning the length of trailer, my RR is 17' long and weighs 4,000#. I would use this trailer for car shows greater than 2-3 hours away from home (Nationals, Carisle)
- Local time
- 9:56 PM
- Joined
- Mar 10, 2010
- Messages
- 30,831
- Reaction score
- 54,695
- Location
- Hanover, Pennslyvania
When buying a trailer you first have to consider the GVW, gross vehicle weight. My 22 foot trailer (box measures 22') has a gvw of 7000#. My car weighs 3,600#. The trailer weighs 3,700#. That's 7,300#, a little over.
The next thing you have to consider is the tow vehicle. A trailer the size of mine needs a 3/4 ton minimum. I have a 2500 Dodge, 350 Hemi and wouldn't want anything smaller for horse power. It does great but I have found a couple of hills that slowed me down. Also "load levelers" would be a plus if I had them.
When you title and tag your vehicle it has to meet your states requirements for pulling a certain weight trailer. If you have a accident and the tow vehicle is tagged to light for what you are pulling, even if the vehicle is heavy enough, you could be in a lot of trouble. I'm title and tagged for 10,000#. A lot more expensive for tags but I'm covered.
My trailer has a 22 ft box, my car is almost 17 ft. That's 2' 6" front and back of the car inside the trailer. My trailer is also a 1998. Hopefully the newer ones are built lighter with the same gvw.
Hope this helps....
The next thing you have to consider is the tow vehicle. A trailer the size of mine needs a 3/4 ton minimum. I have a 2500 Dodge, 350 Hemi and wouldn't want anything smaller for horse power. It does great but I have found a couple of hills that slowed me down. Also "load levelers" would be a plus if I had them.
When you title and tag your vehicle it has to meet your states requirements for pulling a certain weight trailer. If you have a accident and the tow vehicle is tagged to light for what you are pulling, even if the vehicle is heavy enough, you could be in a lot of trouble. I'm title and tagged for 10,000#. A lot more expensive for tags but I'm covered.
My trailer has a 22 ft box, my car is almost 17 ft. That's 2' 6" front and back of the car inside the trailer. My trailer is also a 1998. Hopefully the newer ones are built lighter with the same gvw.
Hope this helps....
ilm65
Well-Known Member
I have a 22' Haulmark with a 40" Escape Door on the driver's side--you'll NEVER be sorry you got the escape door. Pulled the trailer (3600 lbs.) and the Satellite (3404 lbs.) to Cleveland with my F150 Ecoboost Twin Turbo and got 18.1 mpg both ways (truck is rated at 11,400 lbs. towing).
Michael789
Well-Known Member
I think I'd just drive my car to the shows.I myself personally think there's nothing better than pulling up in your car and just popping the hood.I guess if you have a 100 point car you'd have to trailer it but other wise I'd really enjoy that puppy every time I could.
- Local time
- 6:56 PM
- Joined
- Jan 16, 2011
- Messages
- 73,612
- Reaction score
- 111,609
- Location
- NorCal Sierras
trailer brakes is a must also, side doors are nice, I've had from 20" to a 45" 2 car haulers,
the bigger is nicer always, you will fill up any extra space,
I like a light trailers too like the Featherlites, saves on fuel & less dead weight,
2 axles min, 3 9if your going to haul heavier stuff...
allot depends on what you going to tow with also,
goose neck, 5th wheel or tag along all have different attributes,
there's allot of the limitations right there...
decisions !! decisions !!,
I'd suggest
Buy the biggest you can stretch your expense $$$$ for, you won't regret it...
good luck
the bigger is nicer always, you will fill up any extra space,
I like a light trailers too like the Featherlites, saves on fuel & less dead weight,
2 axles min, 3 9if your going to haul heavier stuff...
allot depends on what you going to tow with also,
goose neck, 5th wheel or tag along all have different attributes,
there's allot of the limitations right there...
decisions !! decisions !!,
I'd suggest
Buy the biggest you can stretch your expense $$$$ for, you won't regret it...
good luck
Coyoteduster
Well-Known Member
I have been in the trailer industry for over 30 years on the supplier side as well as manufacturing and dealer development, and I Personally I would not get anything less than a 24' box with tandem 5k axles and brakes with each axle. Your tow vehicle dictates how much trailer you can pull and while many 1/2 ton trucks have plenty of towing power, they don't have the suspension or brakes necessary to keep everything in a straight line should driving or road conditions deteriorate. I would not recommend anything less that a 3/4 ton truck with a quality hitch and sway control. There are plenty of car haulers on the road with tandem 3,500 lb axles (7,000lb gvwr) but they are rolling on the ragged edge of design capacity. Tandem 5k's ensure that you aren't working your equipment to death while transporting your pride & joy. (There is also a little known option of tandem 5,200 lb axles for a minimal upcharge)
I would also recommend Dexter TorFlex, independent suspension torsion axle running gear over conventional leaf spring axles. They allow for a lower ride height which makes it easier to load and unload your vehicle as well as a smoother ride with minimized bouncing and a truer tow. Dexter is the industry leader and trailers with this suspension are widely used and not hard to find. (link below)
The reason for a minimum 24' box is simply space for your stuff. The number one complaint from customers over the years is that their trailer was too small and they wished that they would have bought the next size up. The escape door option is nice, but usually very pricey. For less money you can get a winch which negates the need for the door and also comes in handy when your ride won't move under it's own power.
Much like tow vehicles, the best trailer brand will always strike up a healthy debate. The only thing that I can tell you is that all the major manufacturers have been bought out or closed down completely since 2008. Prior to '08, the top three affordable mass producers were Pace American, Wells Cargo, and Haulmark, after '08 the water gets murky. Pre '08 trailers from these three, assuming that you're buying used, will offer good quality as long as they have been taken care of. (I would not recommend the Pace "Outback" model)
There are many higher end manufacturers such as Featherlight, Millennium, United, ATC, and others that are of excellent quality, but are priced accordingly.
At the risk of offending some members here, I will not list recommend brands to stay away form, however I would be happy to provide them via PM. I will recommend racejunk.com for used units. They usually have an excellent selection of fairly priced trailers.
Good luck with your search.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...5pJQXGKWJmmRCNNNw&sig2=h2BUipNbjDQbV2ygcL1S2Q
I would also recommend Dexter TorFlex, independent suspension torsion axle running gear over conventional leaf spring axles. They allow for a lower ride height which makes it easier to load and unload your vehicle as well as a smoother ride with minimized bouncing and a truer tow. Dexter is the industry leader and trailers with this suspension are widely used and not hard to find. (link below)
The reason for a minimum 24' box is simply space for your stuff. The number one complaint from customers over the years is that their trailer was too small and they wished that they would have bought the next size up. The escape door option is nice, but usually very pricey. For less money you can get a winch which negates the need for the door and also comes in handy when your ride won't move under it's own power.
Much like tow vehicles, the best trailer brand will always strike up a healthy debate. The only thing that I can tell you is that all the major manufacturers have been bought out or closed down completely since 2008. Prior to '08, the top three affordable mass producers were Pace American, Wells Cargo, and Haulmark, after '08 the water gets murky. Pre '08 trailers from these three, assuming that you're buying used, will offer good quality as long as they have been taken care of. (I would not recommend the Pace "Outback" model)
There are many higher end manufacturers such as Featherlight, Millennium, United, ATC, and others that are of excellent quality, but are priced accordingly.
At the risk of offending some members here, I will not list recommend brands to stay away form, however I would be happy to provide them via PM. I will recommend racejunk.com for used units. They usually have an excellent selection of fairly priced trailers.
Good luck with your search.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...5pJQXGKWJmmRCNNNw&sig2=h2BUipNbjDQbV2ygcL1S2Q
vitamin c orange
Well-Known Member
Coyote duster, I tried to pm but got a message that your storage was full.
mmissile
Well-Known Member
I really like my STORM "Cyclone". It's 28', and like closets, garages, and basements....if ya have a good pulling truck, ya won't mind having larger than you need. I should have gotten a 30' trailer.
Coyoteduster
Well-Known Member
Should be good to go now ...
- - - Updated - - -
I really like my STORM "Cyclone". It's 28', and like closets, garages, and basements....if ya have a good pulling truck, ya won't mind having larger than you need. I should have gotten a 30' trailer.
That's a quality trailer and a hell of a nice looking rig!
mmissile
Well-Known Member
Thanks. The trailer is very well made, but is a few lbs heavier than most. It's all tubing, without that "hat" and "Z" channel in the walls. I had it built to my specs[first trailer I ordered] and still would change a few small things.
Similar threads
