car trailer purchase

[John H.]

I am considering purchasing a enclosed car trailer. Either 20' or 24'.
I will pull it with a 1500 v8 chevy truck with equalizer hitch. I currently
use it to pull a Sooner 2-horse bumper hitch trailer, works well.
My question is what brand car trailer do most of you recommend.
It would be with 5000lb axels I assume.
I haven't located a vendor that has a driver's exit door that is low enough
to clear the car's drivers door, without inside boards raised up.
Some people say forget about that left side door, it's useless.
I am leaning towards aluminum trailer but my budget might not make it.
Also have seen v-nose on some. I would only haul about 2-3 times a year.
Also like VHB outside smooth surface. I'm in souther Louisiana, can drive
to get it with in reason.
Any suggestions on what YOU HAVE, would be appreciated. Big John

[Stephen L.]

Re: car trailer purchase

Forget the DriverEscape door and invest that money in a winch... About $300.... Works great and can load/unload with one person. Can also load non motorized stuff such as rolling chassis or a body on a dolly

[Mike M.]

Re: car trailer purchase

i use my enclosed 5 th wheel to haul restored ncrs trailer queens and to haul our autocrosser/drag vette. i wouldn't have a trailer without the left side door that allows me to drive the autox vet in after a weekend(assuming it is still under its own power) rather than winch it in--lot quicker to drive in rather than winch it in.also like the idea of side door to allow lite in when we're at the tracks--we've been know to party in the ole featherlite. no question about mfgr--either featherlite or wells cargo. make sure the trailer has a one piece aluminum roof--that's where they leak. good luck, mike

[Warren F.]

Re: car trailer purchase

John:

Agree with Mike. I have 2 Featherlite enclosed trailers, a 20ft V-nose bumper pull and a 34ft tapered nose gooseneck. Very well built trailers and all aluminum construction, with exception of hitch portion (they are steel).

Look under e-bay listings, all kinds of great trailers for sale.

[Bob B.]

Re: car trailer purchase

I had Jeff Smith, who formally worked at Trailer World in Bowling Green KY, designed one for my needs. For years all Jeff would do is pull trailers to mostly Corvette shows for delivery and/or sale. Jeff suggested for my purposes the following:

slope nose
no longer than 18ft long
white interior
2 dome lights
36" curb side door
48" roadside door with low interior wheel box
6' reduced height
36" ramp flap
aluminum fenders and wheels
spare tire box located under the floor

Keep in mind this is for trailering a show car and show car only. I have used five other trailers over the years and this one is by far the smoothest and easiest one to tow with, not to mention turning around in a small area.

Thanks Trailer World of Bowling Green and former saleman Jeff Smith for an excellent product.

Bob Beck 1977 Corvette still on the MSO

[Larry S.]

Re: car trailer purchase

My only advice on a trailer is that smaller is better.Or should I say get the size you need.The bigger the trailer,the harder it is to pull.And when your on a long drive getting thrown around on the highway youll wish you had a little less mass behind you.

It may seem like its only slightly bigger,but that added mass on the highways is a burden.the tractor trailers passing you suck you in to there lane when they pass you.And the added mass work against you on a windy day.

You can never have enough doors on a trailer.If not to get out of the car but to use as an added area to reach in and check your bindings.

[William C.]

Re: car trailer purchase

I just picked up a Pace America 20' model, and I was able to have them build it with an axle combination that they have available to lower the effective wheelhouse height to allow the driver's side door to be usable, much easier to drive on and off rather than winch. In my searcing, it looked like the Pace also has better sealing between the inside and outside (underneath) to keep out dust when travelling.

[Michael S.]

Re: car trailer purchase

Buy a HIGH END trailer used instead of a low end New trailer. You will get a MUCH better product. You will not save any money but will get a much better trailer.

Look at Featherlite, Exciss and other high end trailers. The cheap $6-$8K new trailers made in Elkhart Indiana have poor resale on the used market. Why, because they are inexpesive trailers built for occasional use. Look at what people who haul for a living or haul week in and week out use. It's not a Pace, Haulmark, Cargo Mate or all the other lower end trailers.

Sure, these do work fine for most hobbyist's for occasional use however why go with average when you can have MUCH better for the same money or a little more by purchasing a used HIGH end trailer. You do not see the Nascar showcar guys or other commercial users pulling a Haulmark for there single car show car trailers!

I purchased a HIGH end used enclosed car trailer 15 years ago and it still performs flawlessly today. I STILL have people ask to purchase this trailer today. I can still get my money back or make a nice profit if I chose to sell. Realize that this trailer is aluminum framed with stainless steel exterior and an Oak hardwood floor. It was not cheap new and would be VERY expensive to build today.

In January this year I purchased a 1995 2 car tag open trailer. This is my third car trailer in addition to the enclosed and the one car open trailer, all for different uses. Again the same old story, nice low mileage, hardly ever used trailer from the original owner at a price that was CHEAP! This trailer is still made today exactly as the one I purchased. I just saved over 75% off the cost of a new one in the same specification since the seller no longer had a need for this trailer and wanted it out of the yard. He really never had a need for this trailer, just a want! These deals are usually not around when you want one however a little effort and looking can produce stellar results.

Now is a great time to look for used high end enclosed trailers. It's the holidays and sometimes a dealer/private seller may need/want Christmas money. NOW is the time to buy a used high end trailer Leave the lower end new trailers on the dealer's lot and get shopping for USED trailers!

[Dick W.]

Re: car trailer purchase

Mike is right. I have a 1984 high end trailer that I have put over 250,000 miles on. Only thing that I have ever done is rebuild brakes brakes and pack original wheel bearings. Heavy built, but durable. Will probably still go more miles than I am able to go.

Do your shopping and do not get in a hurry. There are plenty of "want" trailers sitting around.

[John H.]

Re: car trailer purchase

A BIG thanks to each and everyone who responded. It is all very good information. Steve your door idea sounds right on, Warren I also like featherlite, Larry your size comments make good sense, Bill it sounds like
you did good, Mike and Dick used but superior quality has been one of my
primary preferences. Thanks again to all, this information has been very
helpful. Big John
I will try to e-mail Warren and Bill with a few more detailed questions.

[Mike Cobine]

Right on the Mark

Mike is right on the mark on this. I just flipped through some on eBay since I'm looking for an open trailer and decided to check the enclosed for this discussion. Here is a 24 ft Haulmark, listed as 7000 GVWR. It has a pair of 3500 lb axles.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4506118669&category=80769

Here is another:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4505601471&category=80769

My '84 Wells Cargo 24 ft trailer had a pair of 6000 lb axles and rated at 10,000 lb GVWR. I actually scaled once with 13,000 in it.

While most will say, "hey, 7000 pounds is plenty!", think in terms like this:

Corvette - 3500 lb
trailer - 2800 to 3500 lb
===============================
GVW 6300 to 7000 lb.

Now add anything else you toss in there, like an awning, cooler, toolbox, etc. Oh, you want those redlines to show and the street tires to cruise the rest of the weekend on? More weight.

Of course, this doesn't seem to be the time for buying trailers, but rather selling them. The prices are definitely high right now, for some unknown reason. Used open trailers that should be in the $750 to $1000 range are selling in the $1500 range right now. Trailers that should be around $1500 - $2000 seem to be running $2500 to $3000.

These are OPEN trailers, not enclosed.

The enclosed seem to be up also, from what I see tonight. Take your time, wait until those Christmas bills come in January and people begin to need some money.

[Mike Cobine]

Here's a Pace

It is also 8.5 ft wide by 24 ft long and only a 7000 GVWR.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4505867236&indexURL=7&photoDisplayType=2#ebayphotohosting

And it doesn't use springs but torsion axles. A lot of people like these for the smooth ride, but if one goes bad, you don't simply replace a spring, but the axle and they are not cheap to buy, especially on the road. A friend's FIL had to have one of these types of axles replaced on his RV.

[Mike Cobine]

Re: Here's a Pace - His Empty weight

I said in the other post you have to think of Corvette 3500 lbs plus 2800 to 3500 lbs for the trailer. Well, this pace is 3800 empty. So you have:

Corvette 3500
Trailer 3800
================
GVW 7300

If someone wants to give you a hard time, they can legally make you unload to continue, after they fine you. It isn't very likely, but if you happen to make some officer's day miserable, he has the potential to really make yours miserable.

[Dick W.]

Re: Here's a Pace - His Empty weight

Most of your price trailers have 3,500 axles and small brakes. Tires that are marginal for the load. A disaster waiting to happen. I have towed tag a longs all over the US over the last 40 years. If it can go wrong, I probably have had it go wrong. Bearings, tires, lights, brakes, etc. If you are buying a new or used trailer you need a GVW well in excess of the weight of the trailer and car. You forgot the 200# of tools, 200# of the "Beast", luggage, spare tires, parts, jacks. If I was building a new trailer for one car I would start with 5,500# axles, the largest brakes (12X2 1/2 I believe) and probably 16" radial tires. Not trailer special tires either. They have a very limited life. Some recommend the shortest trailer that you can get your car in. But as mentioned above, usually there is a lot more than car in trailer. People recommend that you build it as low to the ground as you can. Ever heard the sickening sound as your trailer drags over the curb when you pull into the gas station? The lower the trailer, the higher the wheel box is inside. Low overall height? That is fine if you are as short as Carlton Colcoloch, but for the average individual you need a minimum 6' inside height. A lot of the price trailers are either screwed or pop riveted together. The exterior skin on these trailers are just decorative. They do not contribute any strength to the trailers. The premium trailers either are buck riveted or welded together. This way, the top and the sides contribute to the strength. The top rub rail is a major structural member in these trailers. Crossmember spacing is important. Some trailers have them on 24" or more spacing. The floor sags when you load the car.

I am not trying to suggest as to what you buy, but be aware of some of the pitfalls of the low end trailers. If you only use it once of twice a year for short hauls you can get away with it. The old trailer that I have used to get about 20 trips a year, some as far away as 800 miles one way. The trailer used to gross 18,000# or more, plus the tow vehicle. I used to have 26,000 tags on my dually.

[Dick W.]

Re: Here's a Pace - His Empty weight More

And I forgot one thing, ask Dr McCagh how sickening it is to see your luggage flying out the back door of a trailer at speed. And it was even worse when Moma Lea got though with him